Do you think its appropriate for someone to continue going to their WW meetings right up until their goal weight? I have been going for 4 months so far and have lost 13 lbs. I now weigh 150 and still have about 2 pounds to go to my healthy weight. But I'm feeling a little judged in my weight watchers meetings because I look small. I feel like people are beginning to roll their eyes when I talk about my workout plan or my eating plan. Its uncomfortable and I worry that I make others feel uncomfortable... like I'm an imposter. Any thoughts?
You pay to be there, so you deserve to be there. And I think it's just as likely that you could be inspirational to newer members, giving them tips about what worked for you and reminding them that their hard work will pay off.
I've never done WW but just had to respond! I think of it like this place. I have found those who have lost weight and made it to or close to goal highly inspirational! They're the ones who are showing that this program (whatever the program) works!! I think you of all people should be at those meetings. I would hope that others are gaining inspiration and eating up advice from you.
You have just as much right to be there as anyone else who walks through that door! My honest first thought was the eye rollers are probably jealous that you are so close to goal. Please don't let any of their negativity stop you. I can say that the women who are lifetimers and close to goal are the ones I pay more attention to at meetings. Obviously something is working for them and I want to learn from their experiences.
Is there maybe another meeting you can attend to see if you fit better with that crowd? I will have to change meetings this meetings since the kids will out of school and there are no mommy and me weekday meetings in my area and I am heartbroken about it. I have found a group that I adore and have learned from and I wil miss being a part of it, if even for just the 3 months of summer vacation.
I plan on going right up until I hit my goal and beyond. It is part of my routine now and as a paying member, who hopes to be lifetime when it's my turn, I will be exercising my right to attend!
the eye rollers are just jealous and you shouldnt worry about them. im sure there are women there that you are an inspiration for and you should be proud of yourself.
You pay to be there, so you deserve to be there. And I think it's just as likely that you could be inspirational to newer members, giving them tips about what worked for you and reminding them that their hard work will pay off.
You have as much right to be there as anyone else -- even after you reach your goal and are lifetime. We have women (and men) of all shapes and sizes in our meetings and we are all there for the same reason: to achieve a healthy weight.
Don't let the eye rollers get to you. You are there for YOU.
I just want to say I understand what you are feeling. I do not currently do Weight Watchers, but I became a Lifetime member in 2000, and they gave me the tools to know how to lose weight successfully. That said, when I did WW, I started at 165 pounds and ended at 129. From the very beginning until the end I too felt uncomfortable and like people were less than welcoming because I was not obese. I felt the eye rolls and the "what is she doing here" vibe. I hated going to meetings because of this and ended up just paying $12 a week to weigh and leave. I wasn't worried about making anyone else uncomfortable; I just was not comfortable. I am not saying you should give up on meetings, and certainly not to make anyone else more comfortable. I am sure the people who are motivated by those who are a healthy weight, far outweigh the number of people who are annoyed by them.
Absolutely not - you might just be thinking that folks aren't open to your thoughts ... we have a lot of lifetime members who come and their opinions are welcomed, just as those from someone with loads to lose. No one is too small for a ww meeting - we have those who might be 100 pounds and just over 5' tall ... all shapes, all sizes, all opinions. Your focus is YOU. Some meetings might have more obese people than others, too - just what works for everyone.
Last edited by nationalparker; 04-15-2011 at 01:00 PM.
But I'm feeling a little judged in my weight watchers meetings because I look small. I feel like people are beginning to roll their eyes when I talk about my workout plan or my eating plan. Its uncomfortable and I worry that I make others feel uncomfortable... like I'm an imposter. Any thoughts?
Just to play devil's advocate here. You wrote:
I'm feeling a little judge...
I feel like people...
I worry that I...
Do you have any direct experience or knowledge of a specific person judging you, rolling their eyes, or being uncomfortable in your presence?
If yes, then I would take my group leader aside and mention my feelings to her. It's something that should be addressed to the group.
If no, then I'd say you're projecting your own feelings on to the group. Are you afraid of getting to your goal? Have you been struggling to lose those last two pounds? Is there something holding you back now?
My groups (I alternate between two different Saturday meetings, depending on what time works best for me) are jam packed every week, and there are people of all shapes and sizes in there. There is also a significant number of men, which surprised me in a good way. I look at those "smaller" people with envy and admiration. They've clearly had success with the program and I aspire to achieve my own goals as they have achieved theirs.
Either way, you should take steps to reestablish yourself within that group as a contributing Weight Watchers member. Either have your group leader address your concerns (not singling you out, but as a general statement) or eliminate those thoughts each time you walk thru the doors for a weigh in.
Of course there's a third option... Ignore everyone else. Who gives a crap what they think? This is your journey, your weight loss program, and your success. They can roll their eyes all they want - you're the one who's two pounds away from your goal!
AlleyBride...I would find another WW meeting!!!! I don't have any meetings available to me where I live (100 mi. away is closest) but I always go when visiting my daughter in CA....and have gone to 3 different places....NEVER has there been that issue!!! Some LifeTime members are really tiny....and all ages....oldest at one meeting was in her late 70's.
Meetings are for support...and motivation. What motivation to see someone your size still attending!!! There must be other WW meetings...check them out. This 'judgement' is not what WW is about!!!
If no, then I'd say you're projecting your own feelings on to the group. Are you afraid of getting to your goal? Have you been struggling to lose those last two pounds? Is there something holding you back now?
I often wondered if it was just in my head too, but as was demonstrated on one of these boards a couple days ago, someone mentioned that when they see someone posting here that has 20 pounds to lose, they dismiss them and go to the next post, that they are obviously in the wrong place. I have no doubt that there are people in WW meetings with those feelings too. So, I don't think it is imagined, BUT I don't think those who have less to lose should let the negativity of others get in their way. There are going to be jealous, negative, pessimistic people in our world, we can only control our reactions to them.
I often wondered if it was just in my head too, but as was demonstrated on one of these boards a couple days ago, someone mentioned that when they see someone posting here that has 20 pounds to lose, they dismiss them and go to the next post, that they are obviously in the wrong place. .
^^^^
this is interesting Aimee--- ive often felt that way when i try and jump in and give advice whereever i can...... i know that some people are prob thinknng, what does she know? BUT i only put my starting weight wheni joined 3FC...... ive been as high as 192 before.
But arent the struggles all the same? SO what if someone has a 100 pounds more to lose than the next person. Maybe that next person originally had 150 pounds to lose! i find it very disheartening that people in your weight watchers meeting respond in this way to you...... these are the same people (someof them) who watched you as you worked your program and transformed your body!
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Like so many others here, I look at the at- or near-goal members at my weekly meetings and think, "Wow...if they did it, I can too!" Plus, there are a LOT of women in my WW group who have lost astounding amounts of weight -- one member, at the last weigh-in, officially reached a weight loss total of 280 pounds! I mean, how can you *not* be inspired by that?
I think sometimes (now don't take this the wrong way!) we have a tendency to take our own insecurities and project them onto others. Like LisaP said above, if YOU feel like you maybe don't "deserve" to be in WW because you're near goal, then it's kind of easy to imagine that others are having the same thoughts.
Listen, if you're paying to go, you deserve to be there as much as anyone else! But at the same time, if you *really* don't feel comfortable, and it is because of how the other members make you feel, then changing groups may do you good. I love the group I'm in and I'm glad I feel comfortable there, because it's the only group in town! Good luck in finding your comfort zone.
Too Small for my Meeting
