Hi all,

New to this forum. Have lost and gained weight all my life. Now am 55-60# overweight and feeling lousy. Would like to lose this sensibly and am throwing around the idea of Weight Watchers Online membership. Has anyone had any luck with this? I've been a WW member before (several times) but I can't seem to keep going back just for the weigh in and the payment each week. I know I should go for the meetings but they are not convenient times for where I live and where I work. I lost 15# before on WW and I know I could lose again, I just don't know if online membership is worth the money. My scale at home is 5# lighter than at my doctor's office but isn't theirs always heavier I'm in my 40's now and sure would like to hit a weight I can maintain. Anyone where I am?

I too was considering WW online for the same reasons that you are. As a former many times WW, it was the program I always went back to because I thought it made the most sense and I've had luck in the past with 10 - 30 pound weight losses.

If you are not familiar with the new Points System then being online will introduce you to the specifics of it. Many people I know are following it and really like it alot.

There are 3 things you get from the meetings - 1) recipes and tips which you can also get from the online website; 2) the chance to meet new friends who can become a support group to help you through the ups and downs of dieting - tho you can maybe pick up a diet buddy here at 3FC and most of all 3) I found that attending the meetings and knowing that I would have to weigh in each week and record it kept me more accountable than anything else. If you go with the online program you're still only accountable to yourself (unless you're pairing up with a cyber diet buddy).

Whatever you do, you've got to keep the drive alive within yourself. I'd suggest picking a diet program that you think you can live with and figuring out ways to help keep you motivated and on track.

For myself, I decided it wasn't worth shelling out the money each month for WW online and am doing the above on my own.

Best of luck to you!

Hi Happy2bme,

Thanks for the reply. I guess I'm asking if the online membership to WW helps you to be more accountable.... I already have all the books on the winning points system and what I need is the weigh ins and the motivation to do this again. Guess the latter has to come from within, huh? I look up the meetings in my area and see if I can figure anything out. Thanks for your help!

Hi Brighterdays, I too have a problem with paying money to weigh in and get support. I have made many friends on this site, and there are support groups galore. Under the Weight Watchers forum there are recipes, food and points issues, and a weigh in board too. Jump on there and find yourself some friends, and good luck to you!

Hi Brighterdays..............I am EXACTLY where you are. I am 43 yrs old and currently need to lose 60 lbs.

I have joined WW countless times and while it is a good program (even recommended by my doctor) I also find it difficult to attend the meetings and pay for them. As the others said, this is an excellent place to find support and motivation. I would be happy to be your diet "buddy" as it seems we are in the same situation.

I am currently taking a non-diet approach to losing weight, i.e. making better choices, eating smaller portions and drinking water instead of soda. I am currently lacking quite a bit in the exercise part of it but have recently found some extra motivation to get going.

Good luck to you, you CAN do it!

LJ
225/210/150

Hi Brighterdays. I have just joined weight watchers and I am hoping it will work for me. The last time I was on the weight loss journey I had 2 friends who were also going thru the same thing so we had our own club and followed the ww program and weigh-ins without the cost and it worked just as well. Wish you lived closer and we could do it together. So good luck, I look forward to seeing you post great results.

Hi all,

Thanks for all the replies!

goodforme: thanks for the words of encouragement. I'll get on the ww site and look up some of those things...

huntress: thanks! I knew there must be more people out there like me! Diet buddies sound great. Now, if I can only figure out what approach to try....I'm currently in the non-diet plan now, also. Researching a few more options and adding exercise a little at a time (really hot and muggy outside in Missouri right now).

HunEpot: I wish we lived closer, also. I will probably end up back at WW approach since I need "reining in" on calories/ points per day.

It was so good to hear from you all. I don't feel so alone now.

I certainly can identify with the reigning in. My non-diet approach has worked well since I have lost some initial weight but have reached a plateau and have been there now for a month. Maybe counting those point would do me some good for a while. Even making a lifestyle change cannot always do the job when you find yourself sliding back into old habits. I am at least happy with the fact that the weight I did lose has not come back and in the past as soon as I would slip up I would gain back what I'd lost plus some.

The weather here has also been yucky, rain and thunderstorms for almost 2 weeks here making it almost imposible to walk outside. Good thing I have a treadmill, now if I can just make myself get on it! I did find a good idea on the exercise thread. Someone was walking to Hawaii and when she got there was going to take a vacation. She had gotten the mileage from the internet and had made a map then charts her mileage everyday. So I decided to try it. I don't think I could make it to Hawaii though, I'll have to find somewhere closer. Even walking to Las Vegas (my favorite place in the whole world) is 1474 miles and it would take me years to walk that much.

Have a great day!

LJ
225/210/150

Hi Huntress,

I have a treadmill, also, but it is so boring to get on. I usually try to read a book but it is a strain to hold the thing open while I'm walking at a good pace. Someone suggested a book rack from the bike shop---I may check into that this week.

I'm at the same weight lately due to non-committment of plans. I always lose around 4-5# once a month due to hormones/loss of water but then I'm back to that stubborn weight. I have plans to begin weight training again(I have been paying for a membership thru work that I haven't been using much lately!) and have another tai chi class tonight so I'm trying to get on the wagon again.....

I think I'm ready for WW online but need to research it a bit more. I already have the books and slide calculator...what more will they offer me. Have you done the regular ww or the online or both?

185/135

Hi Folks,

I use the treadmill and mini trampoline too and would never get through the time without some help. I've made some cassette tapes with music specifically picked that has a fast beat to match the pace I want to walk at. I pop them in the walkman and found that it does help to get me through my routine. There's always books on tape too as another option.

We had the book racks at the health club. They seem to be more suited to holding magazines rather than books. I found too that if I was going at more than 3 mph it was rather bouncy and hard to read which is why I switched to music instead.

Brighterdays - maybe you should take a few minutes to think about what you seem to have the most difficulty with making healthier changes in your life. If you know what to eat already, maybe you should consider keeping a food journal marking down what you eat and measuring your portions carefully. Have the things you need to eat ready and waiting in the refrigerator maybe with a food list nearby of those things you can eat. Nothing blows the day worse than sticking your face in the fridge, being hungry and wondering "what can I eat". Have it ready before you can think twice about making a bad food choice. Do the same with exercise - commit to some sort of routine and stick with it. Mark down what you've done each day so you can see progress.

It takes alot of hard work and effort to stick to something - especially since it takes so long to get back in shape. So easy to drift off and then give it all up. I think you said it yourself with non-committment of plans. That old "fail to plan, plan to fail" really is true. And don't forget to focus on your successes each day - I moved my body, I made good choices. We're more prone to listen to the voices in our heads that say well you blew it, this is too hard, I'm tired today and give up too soon.

Good luck to you.

Hi All,

I've decided that I'm going to do WW points system. It has to be the best for me to stick with and this is Day One!

Hope you all have a great 4th of July! My family has decided the theme of our get together will be south of the border so we are making tacos and burritos, etc. Should be easier to load those with veggies and stay on points, I hope.

Gotta go....finishing some cleaning projects before my vacation ends this week.

Talk again soon,

Hi Brighterdays!

I have been out of town for a few days and just got back last night. I have not done WW online so I can't tell you how that works. I still have all of my literature and calculators from attending meetings somewhere. I might dig them out this weekend and begin using them until I get back into the swing of things again. I have finally managed to bust this plateau I've been on for a month now and have lost a few pounds.

I find walking on the treadmill rather boring too, I would much rather walk outside where I can see the flowers and trees, but it does come in handy when the weather is bad and I can't get outside.

Have a nice weekend!

LJ
225/205/150

Hi Huntress

Good to hear from you...hope you had a great 4th! My family got together for a taco party and it was much easier to stay OP with all the vegetables and fresh fruits yesterday.

I have committed. I am on WW points program and I went to the thread under Support and the 21 day challenge---great group of people---you should come over. I am on day 3 now and I will probably weigh in on a Monday or Tuesday (so that I can save points for weekend events during the summer). I have stayed OP for all 3 days and I am surprising myself. It is so hot and humid here in MO right now that I think my appetite is waning due to the heat but I'll take any help I can get now! I've tried to walk outside in the early am but it is so humid that I make it one mile and have to come in. Looks like my treadmill needs dusting off!

Hope you had a good time on your trip. Dust off those WW books and come with me....we will get this weight off for good. I'm keeping a small notebook in my purse to write down my food and calculating my points during the day. I've memorized some food points but I guess I'll carry my food companion books along for a few weeks until I get accustomed to writing down pts. again.

day 3/ ?pounds lost? (not due for WI yet)/ block 1

Hi all,

Got caught up in a wt. loss program on TV this am and didn't get to say thanks to Hunepot for the encouragement--I'm committed now so let's do this, okay?

Thanks goodforme and happy2bme for the posts....sometimes you just have to get STARTED to get there, you know?

Keeping it short--many things to do today!

Hi All,
Brighterdays - congrats on finally deciding on a program. You'll find lots of tips and support on the forum as well as throughout the Internet. That's the benefit of of going with such a popular program.

And what's this "I ONLY did a mile" talk? A mile is great! No one said you had to start with a marathon. Now if you walked to the end of the driveway - said it's too hot and went back in the house - now THAT would be bad. It's hot here too in Illinois, most of us are hiding in the basement or in front of a fan on the treadmill or bike. No matter what you choose, just find some way to move each day and keep making those good decisions with food choices and keeping your books for reference.

You're on your way...