Every year after Christmas, Slimming World members all over the UK take part in a 6-week Slimathon in aid of our charity SMILES (Slimmers Making It a Little Easier for Someone) which, this year, is supporting the NSPCC.  And we're delighted to announce that 2008's results have now been finalised and 2008's grand total is £42,000! An enormous thank you and congratulations to all 400 fabulous slimmers who took part and lost an incredible 232 stones between them for this incredibly worthwhile cause.

This year's shining Slimathon star is Jan from West Sussex.  Jan has lost an awesome 1st 4lbs, raising £1,000 in the process, and wins two tickets to the glittering Slimming World Awards ceremony in November.

For more information about SMILES, visit www.slimmingworld.com/smiles.asp.

A wet summer might be good for the garden – but not for your waistline! As climate experts predict above-average rainfall this summer (not again!), a new Slimming World survey reveals that almost 80% of slimmers dread a rainy holiday season more than a sunny one. That’s because staying indoors means there’s more temptation to eat and less chance to get active!  

Even with a bit of sunshine, slimmers still see summer as a high risk season:

• 52% say that going on holiday is the most challenging time
• 33% think eating outdoors at restaurants and cafés with tempting dishes is difficult
• 25% believe BBQs are the main culprit for weight gain

Come rain (boo!) or shine (hooray!), Slimming World groups are the sizzling place to be this summer, with plenty of practical, realistic, everyday solutions for the season – whatever the weather.  So whether your summer features theme parks, barbecues, weeks abroad, family days out (or in) or the occasional motorway service station stop, you’ll find ideas galore to make your summer slimmer!

Click here to find your nearest warm and friendly group today and fill your summer with sunshine and support: http://www.slimmingworld.com/join/join_a_group.asp

Here comes the sun – and here comes the July issue of Slimming World Magazine! Dive in and discover how you can shine with our special summer body confidence section – plus much more:

‘Making time for myself helps me look after everyone else’. And taking time out to read Sharron Millen’s story will help you journey towards your target, too. Plus how cover girl Paige Ataou lost 3st and found the way to achieve her dreams.

 

7-day ‘summer slimdown’ eating plan. One week’s menus for wonderful weight-loss results! Try our easy-to-follow and fabulously filling plan.

5 ways to inner body confidence. You don’t have to be at target to have true body confidence.  Try our simple strategies and see your self-esteem soar this summer!

 

Cooking with herbs. Seven fresh and fragrant recipes – high on flavour, low in Syns. Plus the secrets of a perfect Slimming World pizza, and easy-to-make meals for kids who love to help Mum in the kitchen.

 

A fitter, firmer you in 4 weeks. Our summer exercise plans have been put together by experts – but you don’t have to be an expert to do them! Choose your favourite Body Magic activity and see and feel the difference in a month.

 The new issue of Slimming World magazine is available in group and on a newsstand near you on the 29th May.  Don’t miss it!

The News of the World this week reported that doctors in the North West are spending twice as much on obesity drugs as they do in the south, with £8.3million spent on diet pills in Manchester and Liverpool in a year. The smallest bill for pills was the South Central Health Authority which spent only £2.6million. The article claims that the NHS is set to spend £50million on obesity drugs this year. 

Is there an alternative?  Yes, yes, yes! 

Slimming World pioneered Slimming World on Referral as a way of working hand in hand with UK health professionals to help manage overweight and obesity from within the heart of local communities. The scheme is designed so that health professionals – from a single GP practice to a local health authority – can buy 12-week Countdown packs at a subsidised cost, while the patient benefits from Slimming World’s expertise and support free of charge. 

Members who are referred to Slimming World by their GP receive a 12 week course that costs just £44.50 – around ⅓ of the price of a 3 month course of anti-obesity drugs and at a fraction of the cost of a stomach stapling operation at around £7,000. People who attend Slimming World on Referral learn how to change the way they eat, become more active and receive the warm and friendly support of a group. They learn how to make the lasting lifestyle changes that will help them lose weight effectively and in the long-term – saving the NHS money and being more effective!  

Dr James Stubbs, research officer at Slimming World says: “The key to successful and long-term weight loss and maintenance is to make healthy habits a part of your everyday lifestyle. Research has also shown that the support that you receive at a Slimming World group plays a key role in boosting your confidence to make the changes and keep weight off in the long term.” 

Visit our Real Success section to discover how Slimming World on Referral was just what the doctor ordered for members Patricia and Lyndsey:
 www.slimmingworld.com/real_success/letter_patricia_hart.asp
www.slimmingworld.com/real_success/letter_lyndsey_stanley.asp

Researchers at Karolinska Institute in Sweden have recently announced that eating like a caveman can help reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. 

They’re not talking sautéed sabre-toothed tiger or marinated mammoth either!  The stone-age diet included fresh or frozen fruit, berries or vegetables, lean meat, fish, canned tomatoes, lemon or lime juice, spices and coffee or tea, as well as daily portions of potatoes – sound familiar?  They’re all Free Foods when Food Optimising!  

As well as reduced blood pressure, the 20 volunteers who took part in the study lost 2-3 kg over the course of three weeks.  Benefits that thousands of Slimming World members experience month in month out – without giving up their favourite modern-day treats!

Both the Daily Star and the Daily Express carry news that today - the second Tuesday in May - is the best day of the year to start a new slimming campaign!

So if you’d love to start your slimming campaign on the very best day of the year – or whenever the time is right for you – our warm and friendly Consultants (who have all been members of Slimming World themselves – are waiting to welcome you.

Click here to find your nearest group today: www.slimmingworld.com//join/join_a_group.asp

When Elaine Gammond, a manager at the Elliman Resource Centre in Slough, Berkshire heard about Slimming World’s referral programme she approached her local Berkshire East Primary Care Trust (PCT) to fund a trial service for people with learning difficulties at the centre.

The PCT already had a Slimming World on Referral programme in place, so they agreed to the extension of the programme. A new Slimming World group was set up in-house at the resource centre specifically for members with special needs who could be referred by their GP. A Slimming World Consultant ran the group with support from the PCT’s learning difficulties care staff. Members, ranging in age from 20-60 attended the group with their carers for 24 weeks.

Slimming World prepared visual aids such as laminated pictures of low energy dense foods (Slimming World’s Free Foods) and packaging to present Food Optimising, Slimming World’s unique, balanced, healthy eating plan. Members were encouraged to eat plenty of Free Foods and to choose healthier meal options. They also took part in Slimming World’s Body Magic programme which encourages small steps to regular activity. The centre arranged activities such as group walks and keep-fit classes which the members embraced enthusiastically. They also started a local beginners’ dancing class and held a Special Olympics day. Average attendance was 19 weeks, weight change was -4.2kg and 55% achieved a 5% weight loss within the 24 weeks.

“Slimming World welcomes members with learning difficulties or special needs accompanied by their carers at our groups,” says Sue Gibson, Business Development Manager (Public Health). “We have produced weight management support literature in Braille and larger print as well as an audio version for the visually impaired and other patient groups.”

If you love summer, you’ll love Simply Summer! Bursting with 50 flavoursome, Free Food-filled recipes, Slimming World’s vibrant brand new book guarantees a taste of sunshine – whatever the weather! 

From sizzling barbecues and perfect family picnics to easy al fresco entertaining, Simply Summer mixes the very best seasonal ingredients with the most satisfying healthy eating plan around – Food Optimising. 

Whether you’re a budding Jamie Oliver or a beginner in the kitchen, you’ll find every occasion on your summer social calendar is catered for – and your friends and family will never guess you’re slimming!

Choose from sumptuous starters and salads, mouth-watering main courses and delectable desserts – all quick and easy to prepare. And, with over half the recipes being Free on one or both choices and the rest having 5 Syns or less per serving, a deliciously slim summer is well and truly on the menu!

Simply Summer is only available at your local Slimming World group.  Join today and enjoy a simply sensational, slimmer summer!

Last Tuesday Slimming World's Greatest Loser awards ceremony was held, recognising the amazing achievements of our members who have lost the most weight. Between our ten finalists they have lost a staggering 154 stone 4lb! 

The event was held at the Kensington Roof Gardens and was also attended by journalists, health professionals and our very own Slimming World stars from our previous competitions, including Woman of the Year 2007 Stephanie Burgess, Graham Clough our Man of the Year from 2001 and many, many more.

The winner of Greatest Loser 2008 is Roberto Enrieu who attends Jane Smith’s Whitley group in Coventry. Roberto has lost an amazing 22 stone 12lb since joining Slimming World in May 2006. He was presented with a prize of £3000 from Caryl Richards, Slimming World's Managing Director, and Julie Jones (last year’s Greatest Loser) along with his Consultant Jane.

Roberto also featured on Tuesday's ‘The One Show’ (available on iPlayer) and you can also see him on the GMTV website!  Visit Slimming World's website again on Monday to read Roberto's amazing story of weight loss success.