You are all right ww isn't for everyone. I personally love ww, but I do suffer from COE and MIA and usually can't last more than a month on ww. When I do use it it is wonderful and I love the support I get. I don't think the person who was originally posting was trying to bash ww, but a lot of people got really defesive. I think she was trying to open up about her illness and was shut down. Sweetie, I'm sening you a pm.

Having been a long time in and out member of WW, I think their new plan requires far more discipline than any other of their older plans - the price of freedom of choice I suppose.

I liked the older, more regimented plans myself and didn't use this one. The thing that surprised me ALOT was reading posts of people here on the plan. Many admitted to obsessing over the food choices to get the maximum volume of food they could - 1 apricot or 3 apples kind of thing. I've also seen others who ate completely unsound nutrition - a bag of popcorn and a hot chocolate with mini marshmallows for dinner and they'd admit they ate badly but always ended it with BUT I STAYED ON POINTS FOR THE DAY. Ugh. Not exactly real food for a real world kind of thing.

I know for a fact that WW does not advocate this kind of eating. It still requires the basic core of the program of portion control, good foods and the right balance of the food groups. Treats are earned by either allocating food portions or by stepping up the exercise.

I would just have to agree with what I've seen from others and Happyness' remarks. Not bashing the program, but be aware of what you're getting into and make sure you follow the program as it was INTENDED. For some, maybe this isn't the best route.

Well, it has been quite some time since that first post and I have to say I am thoroughly surprised to see that it is still getting read. Obviously I have touched a nerve with some of you. Most of you who have posted have got my point - that if ever you have suspected yourself of being obsessive about food then you should probably avoid WW and all diet plans that stress weight loss over healthful non-emotional eating.

For those of you who have said that anyone who has an eating disorder should not be dieting, you are correct! One should not diet while suffering from an eating disorder. However, in my case, I never had the eating disorder till I started WW. When I was 20 I lost 30lbs on Nutri-System. I gained 15 lbs back within a few years and then lost those 15lbs at the age of 24 using my own knowledge about healthy food. I was able to stay on track for many years. Since beginning our efforts to conceive at 28yo I have gained 35 lbs. Since beginning WW I have gained 15 lbs. My problems with bulimia, obsessiveness and BED only really began AFTER beginning WW. The WW concept of assigning value to food made my tendency toward obsessing over food blossom into a full blown case of bulimia. My head was filled with POINT, POINTS, POINTS!!! The other diets I used previously did not cause a flare up, I think, because they took a more traditional approach to weightloss, namely that you should eat for health and not concentrate completely on numbers. My psychologist said I was not the first she had seen with this same problem after starting WW. WW is just bad news for people who have a tendency towards bulimia.

Since my last post I have visited a specialist. It turns out that I am anemic and am not getting enough calcium so I have been taking supplements. What a difference! I feel tons more energetic and positive. I think that actually DOING something besides dieting has helped raise my spirits considerably. My doc is funny and not at all grave or disapproving of me. I feel able to open up and spill all my secrets. Since vowing to never diet again and only eat for my health I have lost 7 lbs. Ironic, eh? That I should start loosing weight only after I stop "dieting"?

I probably won't be coming back to 3FC's because my life is about more than what I eat these days but I do wish you all well and hope that you each find success.

HappyNess

i agree with happyness' original post. I was overweight by about 30 # and went on WW. Yes, I think the plan works because I did lose weight. But I became sooooooooooo obsessed with food, i think I eat more now and feel WORSE about myself than I did before WW and I think it only because I exercise a lot that the weight stays off. it is not for everyone and if you want to lose weight you need to seriously consider all the reasons why and make sure you are in the right mind set, do a reality check, see your doctor, consult your friends & family, etc.

I am just now realizing I am eating because of emotional issues and I am getting help for it.

For everyone having continued success on WW, congrats. For those like me, keep your head up and get some help!

Jenn

Erm. I couldn't help but wonder... so... that I post here at 3FC means all my life is about is what I eat?



Forget my kids, my dogs, my working out, my running, my boyfriend, my job- IT IS ALL ABOUT WHAT I EAT! And don't you forget it!

Actually, I don't think Raven's comment was uncalled for. The poster's implication was that people who visit this site do so because their life revolves solely around food. I take issue with that and found it quite condescending, but since the poster professes that she isn't likely to visit the site again I won't waste any more words on it.

I think it takes a tremendous amount of courage to admit that you have an eating problem. It takes even more courage to say that a program is not for everyone--especially when so many people are on that program.

First, I am glad that you are seeking treatment, as having a child might make you happy, it won't 'cure' you.

Second, I hope you find something that works and I believe you will. Your doctor will probably be able to help you find the perfect game plan for your weight loss.

Third, I don't think you were downing the WW program, you just feel that it's not for everyone (and obviously WW agrees since they clearly put the disclaimer on their program). To be fair, I think there is a perfect game plan out there for everyone and not everyone out there will be perfect for everyone. No shame in admitting that and definitely not 'dissing' programs for speaking the truth.

Lastly, I just wanted to say that I'm hear to offer a listening ear to you or anyone who just wants to get things off their chest--not for a problem to be solved, not to be judged, but just to be listened to.

The best of luck to you.

What is with the Raven comment??? As far as I am concerned, I think about food a good amount of the day, but decided that I was going to stop limiting myself to certain foods. It took a while before I could eat certain things again, but now that I eat what I want IN MODERATION, and exercise regularly, I feel the best I have in years. I also do not constantly think about my NEXT MEAL like I used to . I enjoy it rather than worry about it.

I really dont know what to make of this post

First and Foremost I think that somethings may work for some, and somethings may not work for others. I don't think however, that WW causes someone to BINGE. Slimfast, LA Weightloss, Atkins, I've tried all three!!! Those Three can make someone Binge because you DEPRIVE yourself of certain foods. The Difference with WW, is you eat what you want however you control your portions, and how you use your points. It takes some time getting used to, but it works!!! Anyother diet I've been on I feel deprived, starved, not on WW. They Have great recepies and so many foods that are 1 to 2 points!!!

I say if you Binge eat you're going to Binge eat no matter what Program you try. Its mind over matter, learn to say enough is enough, control how much you eat, and eat better foods. I am enjoying learning about the good foods vs the bad, and think in the long run I am going to be heathier in the end!

IrishGirl, That is exactly what I am trying to say. The OTHER diets are what can cause problems. Once one can stop thinking about WHAT they are putting in their bodies, they will be better off. I am not saying you should eat junk all day, but if you try to maintain healthy daily habits, you can not freak out about an occasional candy, sweet or soda. This is what WW allows you to do. The binge comes from mental problems that can be spurred on by constantly thinking you cannot have something. Good point Irish!

Hi everybody! I am new to 3FC and would just like to put my 2 cents in. I went to WW all of last year and lost about 20 pounds. That is all I needed to lose. I felt so terrific because it taught me a new way of looking at my food intake and got me exercising, even running. I stopped going to WW in Feb of this year. Then I started getting really lazy and eating whatever I wanted and gained back the 20 pounds I lost. I am back on the WW plan but without going to the meetings because I don't want to pay the money anymore. This was the only diet program I ever tried and I am lucky to have not been overweight until in my 50's after I quit smoking. I am a recovering anorexic and I talkied about this at my meetings. I did feel a little jealousy coming from others since I did not have a lot to lose but I feel I brought a lot of information and good comments at the meetings and my WW leader used me at time to get a perspective of eating disorders which I am sure some of the women had and just did not tell her. I have never been bulemic but feel I understand it and I can see why that would make you crazy about the points. People with eating disorders need counceling to get help with that and any diet plan will not help them unless they get help with their disorder first. I haven't been anorexic in 10 years but still know that it is always with me. The WW point system worked for me because I totally followed the program. I am sure it is not for everyone because I saw a lot of people come and go. I also saw a lot of women reach their goal in a safe manner, and learn how to eat and have a better life and feel better about themselves. I also had a wonderful leader who was open to anything we wanted to discuss. She was very intelligent about all diet plans and products and feel she was a big reason for my success. I hope all of you with eating disorders find the help you need to make yourselves happy. Good advice from all.

Hey gang

I think Raven made her comment in jest.......note the smileys. She posts in a forum I post in regularly, and she is a fun person. So don't read so much into it

I am glad WW is there for those who need it, and it has worked for many. However, if I were to ever do it again, I would definitely concentrate more on eating whole, clean foods to get my points, using perhaps a few for treats. I did just the opposite when I was on it before, and it never worked.

I no longer follow Body Rx......I am on a program called Physique Transformation. It has a tracking system that is very detailed......you learn a ton about food, and you know exactly what is going in your mouth!! I have also learned that your fat LOVES certain foods, though this can be very individual. Once you are willing to let go of certain foods for a time, the fat comes off. The foods which I lived by in WW were definitely not good for me!!

Robin

About Weight Watchers, I was on it for 7 months but only went to meetings for 4. It was a good program essentially but I also began to eat very little in the day in order to cram all of my points into one meal. For instance if I was going out to dinner or having pizza and wings at home I would not eat all day in order to have as much as I wanted at night. I guess that's not very healthy but it's healthier than weighing 272 lbs. !
My problem was that in the weeks that I would not lose weight or gain a pound my meeting leader was very rude. She would pointedly ask me why I had not lost that week and honestly this was before I started fasting all day to save up for the nights so I had no clue what to say. She basically accused me of cheating and I felt very badly about myself those weeks. I suppose some people think that sort of thing motivates but for me I grew up with my mother criticizing every bit I ate (and I was a skinny child!) and criticism only leads me into shame eating in secret. I also was not given the rules up front so when I lost my 10% and kept it off for six weeks I asked about lifetime membership (i.e. free meetings) and the same leader rudely told me that I had a long way to go. No one had even discussed a goal weight with me and I had no idea how things worked.
Hopefully this new flex points thing works, I have wanted to start up again but am intimidated from going back due to my past experiences and feel like it will be the same no matter where I go to my meetings. Frankly, I am considering gastric bypass but it totally frightens me, next week I am going to an info seminar on it. Well, that's my two cents.
P.S. : I should say that my grandmother has been a lifetime member since the mid-70's and still practices the old diet when she needs to and uses maintenance almost everyday and looks fabulous.

I'm sure the Weight Watchers organization would not be very supportive of a leader that was belittling to the paying clients. I would have reported her.

I was in and out of WW several times. The overall program is good, but in my opinion, the meeting leaders have the ability to make or break your enthusiam and justify the weekly expense of the meetings. I had one terrific leader and several so-so leaders. I must admit, after a string of not so great leaders, I was hard pressed to join up again.

Sometimes we need the old finger shaking to keep us on track, but no one has the right to belittle a person. Hope you have better luck in the future. I guess it's like finding a doctor, keep checking out meetings until you find a leader you like. There is also the online WW option too.