So, by way of introduction, I am back to WW for the 6th time. I just turned 40 and am ready to fully live life, which I don't think I do 100 pounds overweight. I am also worried about my health. Though I don't have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, both run in my family and my dad had a massive stroke at the age of 45 and was dead by 50. So, I worry...
Ok, I joined WW in person about 30 pounds and 7 years ago. I hated the meetings and felt like I was basically paying only to be weighed. Otherwise, I got nothing out of it.
I have done WW online, WW on my own and that one time at the center. I know everyone is different, but is there any consensus on which is best? One thing that bugged me the time I went at the center wasn't only the meetings, but the fact that nobody there needed to lose more than 50 pounds, NOBODY. As usual, I felt like THE biggest, most obese, person in the room and I didn't want to feel like that at WW. I even at different times to get a different group with no luck.
Any advice? I re-started today and am just counting points at home. I know so much about the program I don't need starter materials or anything (which is both and ), but I did order a journal off Ebay.
How unique is the fact that no one had over 50 lbs to lose! We have 2 people at our meetings who have lost over 100 lbs (one of them has lost 173 lbs and made goal last week) and many many more who need to lose over 50 lbs. Have you checked around to other meetings?
I personally love my meetings and my leader. It's the kick in the pants I usually need every week to pull this all together. If you choose to do it from home, make sure you check in here ALOT! I know I do and I actually go to meetings. There is tons of support here and someone usually has just what is needed for the day.
You have to decide what's right for you. Personally, I have lost 40 pounds in 3 months by just using the online version. I don't think I would do well going to a meeting to be weighed in front of people and I feel I can accomplish what I need to by tracking my points online. However, I think if a person needs a lot of support to keep motivated, the meeting may be the way to go. I have found that as the weight has come off, I have been able to keep myself motivated and I hold myself accountable when I go off plan. As with any weight loss plan, to be successful, you have to stick with it through the good and bad.
Princess - Congrats on the weight loss!!! I do not mean to say either way is better than the other. Just that personally, I need the meetings and my leader. It also shows because I show up here so much ;-)
I don't believe I would be where I am if I hadn't went to that first meeting. I joined online, did WW for about 3 weeks on my own and was losing when I decided that there was probably info I was missing.....based on that I decided to go to ONE meeting to get the info. The first week that I missed was last week....week #39 in this journey. The meetings clicked for me. When I started I needed to lose 100+ pounds, and while we never really discussed the number that each of us needed to lose, there were people there who were larger than me as well as the ones who were smaller than me. There still are larger and smaller people there. Everyone has to do what works best for themselves, but I do urge you to give the meetings a try again, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Oh, and as I side note......I've only ever been to one ww location, so I'm not sure how all of them work with the weigh in. I do want to say at the location that I attend they have 3 scales. Two of the scales you can't see the readout at all, the only person who can see it is the employee behind the desk. On the third scale (the one that can only be used by passholders, the person weighing as well as the employee can see it, but no one else can see the readout. In essence you are weighing in front of other people, but the info is still kept private.
Love the meetings. Don't worry about anyone else's journey except your own. We all have different paths to follow. Your meeting should feel all-inclusive, and if you feel left out or overlooked, you need to find another. If, on the other hand, you are discouraged because you have a long way to travel, just keep in mind that everyone's journey started with just one step. You are not alone, and the meetings are definitely helpful.
Best of luck!
Bibbler, you truly are paying for lots more than being weighed when you go.
If the meeting you went to didn't seem right for you, try another. There are different leaders and they all have their own style.
Also, I think lots of people feel like everyone is staring at them when they first go to meetings and this is not true. I think everyone is so focused on their own issues that they are not noticing if a person has 100 pounds to lose. If anything, I do look over at one of these people sitting there and smile at them. I wonder if I should say something to them? I often waver and wonder if calling attention to them would make them uncomfortable?
But, I am generally wanting to go over to them and say something like "I'm so glad you are here and trying to lose weight, I know it will be hard".
At any rate, maybe you were fighting it before when you went to the meetings? Maybe if you opened your mind and went thinking this was the thing that was finally going to help you?
I wish you success! Take care of yourself. You only get ONE body in this life and it is up to you how to nurture it.
Please keep posting and perhaps others can help you!
Bibbler, I use the online version and so far it has worked for me.
As said above, each journey is an individual journey. What works for me may not work for you and what works for you may not work for me. I wish you luck.
Everyone, thanks for your wonderful comments. I am going to give myself about a week or two and see if I can things in line but if I find myself losing focus (something that shouldn't happen when it's new) I will join the meetings IRL. I'm not fooling around with this any longer, so I will do whatever it takes. I kind of feel like meetings are the way to go for me, but the past experience did kind of ruin it for me... we'll see.
Anyway, thanks so much. I do appreciate all the wonderful words.
The trouble is that everything about meetings rests on the leader. Years ago I went to a WW and couldn't find a leader that new her stuff.
Recently I joined with the monthly pass and went to one meeting meaning just to stay the first month. We have a GREAT leader - it makes all the difference.
BACK on WW.. which is best?
and 
), but I did order a journal off Ebay.
