FIGHT THE FLAB AND FEEL FAB (Rosemary Conley Slimming Club)

Member Name: wardenblw431

Product:	Rosemary Conley Slimming Club
Date:	04/09/03 (2624 review reads)
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Advantages: A GREAT WAY TO MEET PEOPLE, LOADS OF ENCOURAGEMENT ALONG THE WAY, DON'T FEEL YOU'RE MISSING OUT ON NICE FOOD

Disadvantages: CHOCOLATE ON TAP NOT ALLOWED :(

Recently, I decided to embark on a new diet to help me shift the excess pounds I?d put on following the birth of my second child. Despite breastfeeding, which I was told helped you get your pre-pregnancy figure back quicker, and running after my 6-year old daughter, I was finding losing weight a struggle.

With my best friend in tow, I joined our local Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Class. I must admit that it took a lot of courage for me to go there as I have been to many slimming clubs in the past, but found them full of ultra slim stick insects that looked down at you. But kicking and screaming I went in the door and was met by the very friendly instructor, Maggie.

She immediately took us under her wing and told us that we had already done the hardest part, now was the time for fun. She gave us both a starters pack, which included a free Rosemary Conley diet magazine, a pack of recipe cards and a really handy pocket-sized calorie and fat converter book. I take this everywhere with me and it is really helpful as it lists almost every food and gives you the amount of calories and fat in a 100g serving. As well as these there is a self-help tape particularly useful for those times when you feel like giving in. Rosemary?s soothing words encourage you to carry on and after 5 minutes or so of listening, you are ready to carry on.

We were also handed a form to complete which asked for any medical conditions that we may have, our past diet history, and more personal details like age, address etc.

On completion, we handed it back and we received our weighing-in cards. These are to be kept with you and handed in every week so that your weight can be recorded.

Next came the worst part, the weighing in. I stood on the scales sweating, willing the numbers to stop rising so quick, but Maggie reassured me and said that I was fine, and that I would soon shift those buggersome pounds. She recorded my weight and height an
d worked out my target weight from a chart. This is different to everyone as your age is taken into account. Maggie also wrote down my daily calorie allowance. This is reviewed when you lose weight so you will see the allowance falling, meaning you eat less calories.

Unlike some slimming classes, the weighing session is very discreet, in a quiet corner out of earshot, so no-one hears if you?ve had a bad week and put on weight instead of losing. However, people can soon tell how well or badly you?ve done by the look on your face. Because everyone in the class is here for the same reason, there is no animosity towards any other people. Everyone encourages each other and there are many laughs to be had. We?ve made quite a lot of good friends in the short time we?ve been going so I?m pleased I joined.

The Rosemary Conley Diet itself is very easy to follow. Although calories are counted, the diet itself works on the principle that everything you eat should be 4% or less fat. This is simple to work out as most foods have nutritional information on their packaging. Say, for a jar of cook-in sauce to work out the percentage of fat, it will give you a 100g serving and for that 100g there should only be 4g of fat.

As well as following the 4% rule, Rosemary Conley states that exercise also helps shift pounds and doing the two together you will find the weight will come off quicker. The good thing about this slimming class is the fact that exercise is included. At the moment I attend two classes a week, but I could go more often if I wanted. The initial cost of the slimming class is £6.00 registration fee followed by £4.95 for the weigh-in and exercise. Should you want to attend more exercise classes these cost just £1.50 and last for an hour. The routines are quite high impact, but can be followed at your own pace and no one makes you feel like a dancing hippo, as they are more concerned about what they look like. There are also no
lycra-clad bimbos at this class; everyone wears tracksuit bottoms or baggy shorts to cover up, so you don?t feel so self-conscious. Be prepared for an hour of torture though, your instructor will get you in a sweat, but after a couple of weeks or so, you will find your fitness levels rising and will soon be able to get through the session without getting a bright red face.

I mentioned before the Rosemary Conley magazine. This has proved to be a great addition to my diet. If I ever need inspiration, this is where I can find it. The magazine features various success stories of other former fatties who have reached their target weight as well as different recipes and ideas to try out. And there are also additional exercise routines to try at home. The magazine costs £2.30 in most supermarkets and newsagents, but they are also available from your slimming class with a small discount. There are other forms of merchandise to help lose weight including videos and recipe books from Rosemary.

Although most of your diet will revolve around the 4% rule, you are given a few treats a day, these could be extra portions of fruit, extra potatoes, rice, or even biscuits and chocolate. If like me your weekends revolve around socialising, then it?s possible to keep one treat a day for the weekend, that way if you have a drink, or an evening meal out, you don?t have to worry that you?ve caused damage, as you have saved up for it.

I would recommend this class to anyone else who finds losing weight a struggle. I have found the whole experience a good one, and although it is a diet, I don?t feel like it is, as I am eating more than I did before, but it?s obviously healthier. Even my family eat recipes featured in the plan and they can?t tell the difference. I used to hate other slimming classes as I found that preparing two different meals a day made me give up. I always wanted what everyone else was eating, well now I can and I?m still losing weight
.

For those interested, but can?t find a class nearby there is still hope. Rosemary Conley has now set up an online slimming club where you can diet and exercise in the comfort of your own home. For more details log onto www.slimwithRosemary.com.

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