My mom knew I was planning on doing weight watchers. I'm poor, seriously in the poverty level. I work full time at an elementary school and I still qualify for state medical care and food benefits. I don't get much and I often have to decide between healthy food and cheap food. Eating healthy is expensive. I have been more conscious of the deals and coupons which is almost a second full time job just to afford healthy, fresh food. It is seriously not a good thing that my mind is almost always on food after I get home from work, tracking down food deals, cutting coupons, checking advertisements,...etc. It adds to the stress, which adds to the stress eating, which adds to the weight gain.
Why is weight watchers not poverty friendly? Other systems works out without charging for absolutely everything until you're spending your paycheck (in my case its not too far off) just trying to lose weight and not be obese.
Online only - $12
Monthly pass - $43.00
Monthly pass + etools $43 + $12
Active link + $5
So I can track calories for free with My Fitness Pal or pay WW $12 a month
I can buy a fitbit and pay $7 a month to keep track without have to pay for the website in addition.
I can go to free meetings here and there but always as an outsider or I can join message boards like this one for free and be a member.
I'm not trying to be to hard on weight watchers. I really love the idea. The concept is great, but my son (with his grandmother's help) just got me the WW activelink for Christmas. They thought it was like fitbit, $5 a month no extra cost. I've been wearing it around so my son thinks I'm using it but I can't pay for $17 a month just for an online subscription and the active link tracker, but I can't make him feel sad over buying me a gift I can't afford. He was really sweet when I unwrapped it, and I was excited, too...until I realized all the fees I'd have to shell out.
So here I am with an Active link wearing it around having to pretend I love it whenever someone asks me about it around my son. I guess I'm mad about that too. Wear it or hurt my son's feelings.
What do all of you think about the price? Is there a way to get around it?
PS: I just realized this post was from 2008, but its still around so...I'm reviving the conversation.