I don't know what to say other than if this hasn't worked for you in the past, and you can't figure out what about it didn't work so you could try to change that part... it is totally fine to explore something else.
I tried WW once, and I was bored. The only meeting I could get to did not have a nursing friendly nor vegetarian friendly leader. I really couldn't get into the "group" at this meeting because of that, and I couldn't try a different meeting with my schedule at the time. So I wasn't getting the support I needed from that meeting and I quit and started looking more at online for the community part of it (better!).
I couldn't do ww either. I didn't lose much and felt terrible when I weighed in higher and was accused of cheating. I also didn't like how they took something like calorie counting and made it complicated with the point system. I actually spent a lot of time studying the points and it's about 1 for every 50. I can do that at home. I think the support was good for a lot of people. But when I went, I felt like they were just trying to get money outta me and didn't truly care- although all the members we nice.
Just my thoughts on it. I think it's great for the people who love it- anything helps. It was just really not for me.
Last edited by MikoMarcia; 03-25-2010 at 02:08 PM.
Reason: Mispellings- typing on iPod is hard
I first joined WW four years ago and I lost 42lbs on plan. (I started out at about 203lbs) When I first started I went to get weighed in and went to meeting but as time went on I thought, "ya know, I can weigh in at home and save the money" and thats what I did. Honestly, in my own opinion I had success at home without the meetings and weigh ins. I found the points system to be really easy and as you go along you just know the points for certian things off the top of your head. I could never count calories, im busy, busy and just dont have my comp around to look up foods that arent labeled! If you notice my ticker ive gained all the weight back, but not because WW didnt work, I stopped working at it and I was on some awful meds that made me pack on wieght like crazy. I just started WW again! Good luck, and do what works for YOU!
I lost weight on WW in high school and kept it off for about three years. I gained it back when I started college and didn't have mommy to cook healthy meals for me (she lost 30lbs on WW). I've been trying to lose it again, and I know what works best for me is the "Simply Filling" plan, formerly known as the "Core Plan." On that, you don't have to track points. You can eat whatever you want from a list of "Filling Foods," most of which are whole foods. There are a few rules, like you can only have pasta/potato once a day, but you can have as much as other kinds of whole grains as you like (quinoa, barley, etc). This has worked great for me. Points made me kind of bitter, because as a short, not terribly overweight female I only got like 20.
If you decide to rejoin, look into this. Not many people do it, but it might work well for you. I find meetings keep me accountable. It's like going into class and getting a grade, or something. If I had a scale in my house I'd obsess over it, also.
I lost 35 pounds on WW years ago, then thought I could do it on my own and stopped going to meetings (the leader I liked left, and it seemed like a good time for me to go too). It was not a good idea. That was 20 years ago, and I've been "doing it on my own," rejoining, dropping out, etc. I'm one of those who found the old, pre-Points, more restrictive plans worked for me, and it's slowly occurring to me that the beauty of WW is that you can really use almost any nutritional goals within it. Whole Foods? Absolutely -- probably the best. Just count the Points (or look into Simply Filling, as was suggested above).
When I have been successful (in small bursts ) it's when i was committed, and didn't start becuase it was the first of the month, or I wanted to lose 20 pounds by Christmas. If you start out thinking it won't work, it won't. But it is a very flexible plan, and there are a lot of people here who have made it work. I hope we hear from some of them.
Your reasons are going to be a lot more important than anyone else's, but I understand the dillemma.
Recently, I've been thinking of rejoining Weight Watcher's or TOPS. The weekly accountability really helps me stay more committed, but the expense (especially of the Weight Watcher's) is an obstacle.
I prefer TOPS (taking off pounds sensibly), because it's far cheaper than Weight Watchers (about $25 to join and $3 monthly, some groups charge more or less for the monthly dues, but it's usually under $5). I love the monthly magazine that's included with membership, and the little competitions and contests the group sponsers (not all groups have contests). I even like the "fine" for weight gain (a dime a pound in our local group). And you can follow any food plan you'd like.
My husband, though likes Weight Watcher's better, because of the stricter routine, and because everyone is on the same plan, and the leader tends to be more knowledgeable (at least about the WW food plan). In TOPS groups, often the discussions didn't apply to the food plans hubby and I were following, so hubby found some of them a "waste of time." TOPS is also a more "touchy-feely" group, in that there's usually been a lot more discussion of the emotional aspect of overeating, rather than the physical.
I could join TOPS and he could join Weight Watcher's (that would solve the money issue, because we could easily afford this, while both of us on WW would be pretty tight), but because we're both on disability, and I don't drive (poor reaction time), hubby and I are somewhat joined at the hip. It would make more sense for us to be on the same program, than to be on different ones.
I'm more willing to rejoin WW than he is to rejoin TOPS. I like TOPS a little more than WW, and he likes WW a LOT more than TOPS. So we're left with finding a way to afford WW for both of us. I sure wish they have a family discount like TOPS does. TOPS gives a discount for household members, because they then only send one copy of the monthly magazine.
As far as WW is concerned, I preferred the older food exchange based WW program, which is more compatible with the TOPS exchange plan (you're not required to follow it, but it's available if you want it), but I recently realized that the point system really is compatible with the exchange plan because
protein exchange = 1 point
bread exchange = 1 points
fruit exchange = 1 points
veggie exchange = 0 points
dairy exchange = 2 points
fat exchange = 1 point
Hubby always says "we can do it just as easily at home," but the fact is that we both do better when we have the weekly accountability and something tangible at stake. Not wanting to waste money (whether it's $3 or $40 a month), may not be the most important reason for weight loss, but it is a tangible consequence.
Why did WW work for you?
What did you struggle with? Keeping points? Keeping track of every little morsel?
How did you make it your own?
I would rather eat whole foods if possible. How can you do this on WW?
I have lost over 100 lbs doing Weight Watchers.
I strongly believe for me WW works because I go to meetings. A lot of people can do it on their own, but I find if I don't go (because of something else going on) I get off track. I also believe you need to find a meeting that "fits" you. If you don't like the meeting your not going to want to go. I look forward to going each week...I get up at 5:50 AM every Saturday to go!
I wouldn't say I struggle with anything really, but I can get lazy with tracking and keeping the Healthy Guidelines.
Eating whole foods on WW should be a cinch! You can eat whatever you want, just keep track of what you eat and keep it within your points. I never buy any of the WW food items, they just don't appeal to me.
Thanks for all the replies!
I've heard of TOPS. Is that the one where you have to fast or soemthing so you can actually see what hunger is? I'm probly wrong there. BUt that would be hard for me--low blood sugar.
Congrats on those losses!!
I may go to a free meeting and go from there.
I know there is one leader who is still there that I really didn't care for. I always felt like I wasnt' up to par or something.
So, will go when she isnt' there.
I wish I had a buddy to go with.
I think that would help alot to have someone to do this with.
I've lost 50 lbs (and counting) following the WW plan on my own at home. I find the points system to be less complicated than counting calories, because quite plainly there are less of them. It's easier for me to count to 27 than to 1800. Not to mention, I like that the points system takes fat and fiber into account. It really gets me to eat more healthy foods.
I joined WW almost three months ago, I went to all the meetings for the first 2 months, and then, for various reasons, I had to miss about three meetings, and last week I decided I would not go too even though I actually could have. I have all the information etc and I like the points system, I find it very easy. However (and maybe its only coincidence) I havent actually lost any weight since I stopped attending the meetings! I am not gaining either which is good at least - and I am not going terribly over my points each day, but maybe I am not being as careful as I was before (or as obsessed with food in general) and I am getting sloppy with taking bites of this and that and not counting them etc. I am considering returning to the meetings because, when you go you feel like part of something and youre there with others doing the same thing. I ignore the 'sales' of their products etc, I eat all the food I like, which has always been healthy anyway, and I cut out snacking, cookies, and chocolate, and I have adjusted my serving sizes. I think I might just be sitting on a plateau at the moment anyway... so will keep at it. Personally I really like WW because it means I can choose what I want to eat, I dont like having restricted choices or following someone elses plan of what I should eat, because if I dont like the food I will alter it or add things to make it taste better... or just replace it with something else, and even if thats good food I still feel like I am not following the plan... On my blog I have a few examples of the kind of food I am eating on WW and how much per day, if youre interested weight4suzy.com
I know some people who have followed WW without going to the meetings, and with great success, and others who swear by the meetings. I havent decided yet, but IMO as a way of thinking about eating, I find WW to be very very easy to do and to stick with, generally
I've been doing WW online for a few weeks now, and I love it!
In college, a bunch of girlfriends and I signed up for meetings, and I hated it! A lot of woo, cult like, and very little space for people who are a bit alternative. YMMV.
The reason I've come back is that I really liked the WW point system. It's a lot easier than tracking calories, and the online point tracking interface is hands down the best I've seen (because it's a paid system, they don't depend on ad views for revenue, and so data entry is a lot easier). The points system is especially awesome for keeping track of exercise. I don't like to "trade" exercise for calories, but on the occasions that I've needed to, the points system helps me to see exactly how much I have to "trade" and what overeating is costing me!
Plus, the WW database has a lot of brand name foods, which means I can enter "Coke" instead of "Soda, cola-type, non diet" (oh, FitDay, I don't miss you at all!).
I also like the emphasis on healthy foods instead of just calories. Fibrous foods, natural foods, like dark bread and whole wheat pasta are less points than their bleached and processed counterparts, even though calorie wise, they're about the same. It's really helping me to eat more healthily, instead of just eating less.
Anyway, experiences vary, but if you don't need the support of weekly meetings, I think it's worth paying for the online version. Please let us know what you end up deciding!
Why did WW work for you?
I have been on WW faithfully now for 3.5 months and have lost 31 pounds so yes it is working for me and i am seeing results so i know im losing fat.I think it has worked for me because i dont feel cheated at all, i can go out and have what i want, i am not hunger and it has taught me to make good decisions. What did you struggle with? Keeping points? Keeping track of every little morsel?
The first 2 weeks i struggled with late night snacking, then i just struggled.Things i was used to eating i couldn't anymore because i would have them and then have to skimp the rest of the day, i stopped recording what i was eating around week 6 and have just done it mentally so i would say its hard for me to write everything down. How did you make it your own?
I love finding alternatives!Like Egg beaters(1pt) instead of eggs,real green beans instead of canned..the longer i am on Weight Watchers the more i generally feel good about what im eating and doing, as i drop points(and weight) i learn to adapt and eat even healthier.. when i started we would eat French fries out of a bag now i actually cut up a potato and bake them..iv learned to cut points and eat healthier all while losing weight
I also wanted to add i have only been to 3 meetings, the first 3 weeks
Last edited by Phoenixsmommy; 04-11-2010 at 10:07 PM.
I love WW. The fact that you aren't told you cant have this, you cant have that means you are less likely to slip up.
And although it costs money, the weekly accountability is great! Knowing that I have to step on the scales every week good or bad.
Another fantastic thing about WW is the support! If you have a good week, there's someone to give you a high five and if you have a bad week there's someone to give you a pat on the back and encourage you to do better next week.
I would totally recommend re giving it ago. If its not for you again then try something else.
give me 3 good reasons...
) it's when i was committed, and didn't start becuase it was the first of the month, or I wanted to lose 20 pounds by Christmas. If you start out thinking it won't work, it won't. But it is a very flexible plan, and there are a lot of people here who have made it work. I hope we hear from some of them.
