Weight watching/diet food in the U.K.

So I'm trying to lose some "excess baggage" right now -- I will be moving to London and starting school in September (*so excited*)  And I honestly don't remember being at the grocery stores and seeing what they had for frozen food/weight reduction options like the Weight Watchers and South Beach stuff they have here in the U.S.

So is the variety pretty good over there?
Cheers, friends!

There is plenty of WW brand food here. No worries! There are also WW meetings all over the place, if you're interested in joining. And lots of us here on UKY are doing WW, South Beach or just plain trying to lose that "excess baggage"!

actually the ww brand of foods has EXPLODED since i moved here.  there are SO many!!!!!!  these are just some of them:

http://www.weightwatchers.co.uk/food/fdb/index.aspx

Also there are times i get annoyed as i can't find fat free sour cream, etc...but then i just suck it up and use something else (like 0% greek yogurt or light creme fraice) and I'm not down anymore!

The WW meals are here, but the SB ones aren't (though I've read they're too high in sodium and some contain questionable ingredients anyway).  Like Aimiloo said, it's sometimes difficult to find a low-fat option for some things, so you do end up doing a lot of substitutions.  Once you figure out what you can and can't find here, it gets easier.  I've finally given up looking for sugar-free fudgsicles!   

Health food stores are a disappointment here  as  well..variety is limited..  but I have seen WW  foods at the regular supermarket.  It can be done..   

Health food stores are a disappointment here  as  well..variety is limited..  but I have seen WW  foods at the regular supermarket.  It can be done..   

I think it just depends on where you live....there's an excellent independent health food store on my high street!  I could spend days in there! 

You are very lucky Lola..

trying to stay healthy and not having access  can be difficult..

Ah, but you can get fruit, veggies, and lean meats anywhere!  Are there any markets where you live?  There are a couple here and the produce is a lot cheaper than in the grocery stores -- you can get four punnets of strawberries for £1 as opposed to one punnet for £1.30! 

Ah, but you can get fruit, veggies, and lean meats anywhere!  Are there any markets where you live?  There are a couple here and the produce is a lot cheaper than in the grocery stores -- you can get four punnets of strawberries for £1 as opposed to one punnet for £1.30! 

Mmmm... strawberries! Markets are the best. I do most of my shopping at the market and/or farm shop in the summer. I just use Tesco for stuff like toilet paper and my much-needed Skinny Cows.

You know, even just the change in lifestyle will make a huge difference.

I moved over in August 2004 and manged to lose 40lbs. by February 2005.  I've joined a gym since then and have lost an additional 5 to 10lbs. I didn't even really try - it was a combination of all the additional walking I had to do and the smaller portions.  I've also done a lot of trips that involved activities such as hiking, bike tours, etc.

The only thing I did was a concious effort to eat healthier - more cooking at home & veggies and less pizza, McDonald's, etc.  A big thing is that I also don't drink much beer - I'm the only guy at the pub drinking vodka and oj but I really don't care (I'm comfortable in my masculinity enough to drink the "girly" drinks ).

You know, even just the change in lifestyle will make a huge difference.

I moved over in August 2004 and manged to lose 40lbs. by February 2005.  I've joined a gym since then and have lost an additional 5 to 10lbs. I didn't even really try - it was a combination of all the additional walking I had to do and the smaller portions.  I've also done a lot of trips that involved activities such as hiking, bike tours, etc.

Same here -- I lost 30 pounds in the first year I was here...didn't even try.  Seems like several people have had that experience.  Easiest diet I ever went on!   

Cool!

I plan on doing lots of walking and exploring. And as much as I love beer and cider, I'm going to be on a budget. So booze on a regular basis in London probably ain't gonna happen.

I've also been thinking of starting up freezer meals again (cooking every 1-2 weeks and freezing portions.) I did this a couple years ago when I was really bearing down to save money.

Thanks! 

Same here -- I lost 30 pounds in the first year I was here...didn't even try.  Seems like several people have had that experience.  Easiest diet I ever went on!   

unfortunately I was  the opposite.. I  didn't work  and  being in jeans and a sweatshirt was s OK..  but when I tried on my  'real' clothes'  nothing fit..seriously!!  I had to go out and buy  new  trousers.  We really don't have the money to be doing that.. Tops were OK..mostly sweaters..but i couldn't wear skirts  for a while..  That is what got me to really look at what i eat..but I agree that  I made  more of an effort  to  exercise  beyond the regular  'get about town'  walking  and trekking.. I do not own a scale  but I use my 'fat' clothes as a guide..   fortunately or unfortunately ..  (not sure) the few  clothes I did buy in the UK (after figuring out the sizes  (kind of)  ..they don't fit anymore.. as well as the clothes  my mom sent..because I had told her I gained weight..  :\\\'(

Same here -- I lost 30 pounds in the first year I was here...didn't even try.  Seems like several people have had that experience.  Easiest diet I ever went on!   

My weight stayed the same ... which, unfortunately, was not what I expected! I knew that I was being far more active and doing so much more walking, so I assumed the pounds would start to drop off. However, what I didn't count on was how incredible the food was over here. I've never been a fastfood eater, so I didn't miss that. But all the delicious local cheese ... fresh baked breads ... cream teas ... oh, man, I had a field day!!! Luckily I didn't actually gain weight, since I was more active -- but I had to make big changes in order to start shifting the pounds.