Q: Could I take my toddler along to my Slimming World group with me?
A: Do bring your child with you to the group if you cannot make other childcare arrangements. Your Consultant will appreciate it if you let her know and if you can bring some toys, colouring books or story books to amuse your child during the group. Many daytime groups have lots of young parents as members, and these will often have toys provided.
Q: Do I have to cook separate meals for myself while I'm slimming?
A: No, the whole family can benefit! Meals based on rice, pasta, potatoes, or lean meat and fish, with plenty of fruit and vegetables, are great for everyone's health. It's fine for children aged five and over to eat the same healthy meals as you do.
Q: Do you do exercise in the group?
A: No, however we encourage you to combine healthy eating with an active lifestyle. Being active can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure as well as help protect against osteoporosis and diabetes. It can have positive effects on mood, self-esteem, stress and anxiety levels, and improve sleep, energy levels, and general fitness.
However, Food Optimising doesn’t rely on you sweating every evening at the gym or training for the marathon from day 1! Food Optimising properly without exercise will result in a weight loss – we guarantee it! Food Optimising with exercise will bring even greater results. For further information, have a browse through our 'getting active' section
Q: How do I register for LifelineOnline?
A: Lifeline Online is our exclusive group members-only website.
To register visit Lifeline Online by clicking on the 'Sign up/log in' icon from the top of the www.slimmingworldusa.com homepage or by clicking here
Click the 'Register' button, and you'll be asked to complete a short registration form. We don't give or sell these details to anyone else - they're purely for us to recognize you each time you login. You'll be asked for your email address, which will become your username, along with a personal password - something memorable that you will use each time you logon, plus we'll ask you to enter your member card number and the personal PIN you received in group.
Handy hint: Lifeline Online is case sensitive. We recommend you register all in lowercase. Each time you logon, use all lowercase letters.
Q: How much can I eat?
A: With Food Optimising you eat until you're satisfied. You're actively encouraged to eat, as opposed to not eat. You're actively encouraged to pile your plate high with normal, everyday foods that will satisfy the heartiest appetite. And the foods that we'll be asking you to 'lighten up' on by eating in generous quantities are also the foods that will give you maximum protection against cancer, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, high blood pressure and a whole range of health problems that are caused by poor nutrition.
Q: Can I lose weight whilst on the contraceptive pill?
A: We would like to reassure you that we do have many members who are losing weight very successfully whilst taking all sorts of different medication and treatments, including contraceptive pills. We are aware that some contraceptives can cause fluid retention, which can make it more difficult to see a weight loss at times.
However, even if your weight shown on the scales tends to be more erratic due to fluctuations in fluid, your monthly weight loss should be good if Food Optimising 100%. There is a limit to the amount of fluid that can be gained in this way and members following Food Optimising will still be losing body fat, despite no change on the scales from time to time. The regular loss of body fat should soon start to show as a great weight loss on the scales!
Q: Can I still eat chocolate?
A: Yes you can. You'll probably find that you'll eat it less of them in time and quite soon you'll find you don't actually want them as much as you used to, but eating for wellness and well-being means being able to have a bit of what you fancy.
Q: Can I still drink alcohol?
A: Yes you can - you can have a bit of what you fancy.
Q: Can my child join Slimming World Online only membership?
A: No, sorry Slimming World Online only membership is available to adults aged 18 and over.
Q: I have a lactose intolerance. Is Food Optimising suitable for me?
A: Limiting intake of dairy products should not be a problem when Food Optimising - it's very generous and flexible and does not require you to stick to any set meal plans. Because you get to choose the foods you want to eat it should be suitable for all dietary requirements or preferences.
We do have a section within Food Optimising, Healthy Extras, which helps ensure you obtain a good source of calcium each day. Although this section does contain a number of dairy products, dairy-free choices such as soya or rice milk are also options.