Hi all! I am a former WW at home(er). I am thinking about joining WW Online so I can keep up with program enhancements and take advantage of their online tools. Has anyone heard or or tried this program? I am looking for some feedback!
Thanks,
GinaMarie

The message boards on the WW website are free to use--although you have to register, you don't have to pay for that feature. You might try asking opinions on some of the forums over there--many of the people who post there are online members.

My impression from reading there is that the online membership offers some useful features if you were contemplating doing the program on your own anyway. I think the online members miss out on some of the explanations of the program that are in the written material, as evidenced by the frequency of questions posted to the board that are pretty simple to answer if you have the program booklets!

For your fee, you'll get access to, among other things:
- An online database of foods to give you points values, which I gather is pretty comprehensive. OTOH, I've been doing the program without it for years now and almost always can come up with points for things from SOMEWHERE--standard reference books, Dotti's site (www.DWLZ.com), online nutrition references (www.calorieking.com, for example).

- An online points calculator, which I gather is sorta buggy (if you tell it you ate enough broccoli, it charges you points, because it just looks at the cal/fat/fiber). You have a slider, so it's not a necessity for you. And with the formula (posted by LM below, or a simpler, roughly mathematically equivalent version I can give you), you can work out points on your own.

- An online points booster for activity points which does NOT impress me --it seems to give very odd, inconsistent AP's to things and I think it's confusing, misleading, and counterproductive to eat more points because you vacuumed the house. Just my opinion here.

- A recipe builder that works out points for your recipes. Also has a reputation for being buggy. You can use various programs such as Mastercook for this.

- An archive of recipes not available to non-paying customers. Whether this is worth it to you or not depends on whether you are much of a recipe-hound. I'm not.

- An online journal, which tracks your points and your bank balance and so on, which strikes me as an advantage over paper journaling only if the novelty of doing it on the computer appeals to you. Otherwise, I've seen enough stories of the online journal "not letting" people do things that are perfectly within program guidelines to think it's just a pain in the neck.

So, have I sold you? Actually, I think it might be of some use, depending on what you like.

Because my daughter is WW convinced and because she doesn't have a minute to get to WW mtgs., she finds the program online very helpful. She likes keeping track of her points on the computer. To each her own! Good luck with whatever you decide.
219/218.2/lower

I'm not knocking it (although I know it sounds like I am)--I'm just saying they haven't done the best job of giving all the information WE get to the online members. Luckily, your daughter has YOU, your experience, your materials, your points finder, etc. Online members aren't given anything they can take to the grocery store to check points! I think onliners should get the at-home package of materials, the paper pointsfinder and the pointsbooster, AND access to the online tools. If you have all that, you probably have it all. Meetings aren't for everyone, logistically, philosophically, or for whatever reason. I'm just not impressed with how well the online-only people have been taught the program by the website.

Just so you know a little more about me, I am an old At Homer, so I do have the materials that you spoke of. It just no longer appeals to me because I have no one to be responsible to . I figure, if I do the program on-line, I may have some more motivation... Thanks for all the help!
GinaMarie

I'm like you Gina Marie, I have all the stuff (thanks to my sister's photocopies) and I became an onliner for the support.
I don't subscribe to the journal and all those things, just because it isn't for me. I like the support I get on the boards. Yes, some things do get repetative but it's also partly due to the fact that new people are joining. I like the fact that if I have a question I can post something and someone is bound to answer it fairly soon and vice versa. It's also nice to share new finds and recipes.

It's free to register so I'm not losing anything. Give it a try and if you don't like it you don't have to visit the site again.

see you there

What boards to you post to at WW? Do you use the same or a different name?
G

GinaMarie, I remember you from back when a bit...... well before my latest child. How are you?! I haven't been able to read the boards as completely in the last year or so and when I see a familiar name I get excited

Anyway if I remember correctly you are pretty good at following along with the program at home and you already have some tools to use. You might find getting the support from the forums (here or somewhere else) might be enough.

I suspect the online WW has some of the same supports that can be found elsewhere.

If I remember correctly we are also similarly sized, if you want a 'buddy' I'd be interested......... I want to get back to this but have been having a difficult time committing completely to it and I also could use some help (motivation) with fitting the workouts in.

Bumby, I found your posts nicely informative. Thanks.




Barb C.

I certainly do remember you! You have the right gal. I went off program last year after I had a car accident and surgery. I started with WW online about a month ago, and guess what... I just had another surgery related to that accident! That is why it has taken me so long to get back to you... Sorry about that. I would love to hear from you! Feel free to pm me or send me an e-mail! I am back OP today post surgery and am ready to get back to work! Let me know how you are doing.
g