Clubwise: Slimmer's Support Group

Every week, we bring you the latest on the UAE's clubs, associations and groups. We choose one each time and profile it, highlighting its purpose and activities. We also bring you bits of news from other such groups. So that you know what is happening when, where and why. This week: Slimmer's Support Group

It is fairly easy to gain weight living in the Emirates, what with its abundant restaurants and supermarket shelves bursting with food. It may not seem like a lot to begin with, but the weight creeps on when the laidback lifestyle becomes habitual.

The Slimmer's Support Group, also known as the Weight Loss Group, is a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping men and women achieve their target weight over a period of weeks or months.

The group meets every Saturday morning at the Dubai Physiotherapy Clinic from 9.00am to 10.00 am and begins with half an hour of safe toning exercises conducted by the physiotherapist.

The group has been functioning successfully for over a year and recommends a combination of good nutrition and cardiovascular exercise.

"I don't like to give everyone the same diet. Weight loss should be for life and is possible by making small changes," says Carol Sadler, clinical nutritionist. Sadler conducts the weekly meetings and often reminds people that "weight loss is a lot about positive thinking and feeling good about yourself". She regularly picks 'relevant' topics to talk about and suggests maintaining a food diary to monitor what one is eating.

Sadler also suggests that substituting some foods may prove to be a vital part of losing weight. "Something as simple as brushing your teeth after a meal or chewing on sugar-free gum can stop you from eating desserts. Or playing computer games as opposed to watching television. TV can make you a couch potato, games can stop you from snacking," maintains Sadler.

The nutritionist feels that small, everyday changes made over a long period make a big difference and also help sustain the reduced weight. "You should pick an exercise or an activity that you enjoy doing, some people like the gym and others may prefer to climb the stairs to their office or learn salsa. It is absolutely not effective to go on a crash diet; weight loss should be done gradually," explains Sadler.

Sadler has assisted many of her clients to lose over 15 kilos over a period by just changing their eating habits. However, the most difficult part of weight loss is maintaining it, especially if you are in company or eating out at a buffet. Difficult, but not impossible. Sadler gives effective strategies to follow when having to go through any of those situations.

Furthermore, she makes the class feel motivated about losing weight. In most of her classes she talks about ways that one can feel great if you are slim. She talks about better health, which can reduce the risk of heart disease, blood pressure, diabetes and improve the quality of your sleep.

It also adds to the confidence and increase in self-esteem. She adds that shopping for clothes can be fun, there is a bigger variety available and most of all, you feel full of energy.

The group has an international mix of people and Sadler meets most of her clients individually before putting them on a plan.