I successfully lost weight the two times I joined WW (once in 2003, once in 2005). I managed last year to succesfully lose about 15 lb on my own (just counting calories/hot yoga).
However, since August 2010 I have managed to gain that 15 lb back due to not being able to exercise and not counting calories/points.
I am debating joining WW again, or wondering if I should just try on my own.
It seems for whatever reason that WW (going to meetings, etc.) really works for me. But honestly, it's not really rocket science, I know I just need to keep track of what I am eating, and exercise.
Should I spend the money on joining WW because it obviously makes me more accountable, or give myself a kick in the a** and just start tracking calories and exercising?
The program isn't rocket science, you're right. But for me, the support is huge. Also, now with the monthly pass that you can purchase...go as many times in a month as you want (or need) and e-tools is included for only $39.95. Just thought
How about getting a 1 time monthly pass, go for a month to see if you need that extra support (and calculator/supplies), and at the months end re-evaluate. I've been doing WW on my own at home (along with 3FC support and working out at home), but I'm finding I'm starting to slack for some reason.. so as soon as I can find a job, I'd like to join the meetings.
Personally for me, the way I lose weight isn't nearly as important as the support. I can lose weight on most plans, but to stick with it, I need the support, structure, and accountability of a weekly meeting with people on the same path as I am.
For me, it doesn't have to be Weight Watchers (and I prefer exchange plan dieting, which Weight Watchers no longer supports, which is too bad it was and is a great plan). I chose TOPS (taking off pounds sensibly, a non-profit weight loss group), because it allowed me to follow any plan I chose, it was far cheaper (on a fixed-income this was a big draw) and because of the small and sometimes silly contests that I find especially motivating.
I'm not bashing WW. I have to credit WW with my love of exchange plan dieting. During most of it's existence, WW was an exchange plan. They changed to points in 1997. I don't think Weight Watchers swithched from exchanges to points because the old plan wasn't effective. I think they did it for purely business reasons (they can "own" points and pro-points, they can't own exchanges, because they didn't invent the exchange system, the American Dietetic Association and the American Diabetes Association did).
And I'm not saying that to "bash" Weight Watchers, in any way. WW is a good program, but it's also a business and from a business standpoint it makes sense to create a proprietary program (It's also possible that there were legal issues involved in using exchanges - though I've always assumed exchanges were within public domain, because the ADA/ADA wanted it that way - but I have no evidence of that being true).
The issue isn't really WW or some other plan though, I think the issue is what do you find most helpful - the diet plan, or the accoutability/support of an in-person meeting.
For me, the answer is definitely the meetings. I've even thought of joining WW (if I could find a way to pay for it) for the extra meeting. In TOPS you can only be a member of one chapter (you can attend another group a visitor, but you can't weigh in - but all the groups locally meet on Monday or Tuesday, too close together for a second meeting to be helpful), however ou can belong to other weight loss clubs, including WW.
Because the support is so important, and I feel so motivated the day after and the day before a meeting, that I'm seriously considering joining another weight loss group, just to have the same motivation mid-week as I do before and after my meeting.
Sometimes I feel a little foolish for needing and benefitting so much from support, but it would be more foolish to ignore what I know works best for me.
You need to decide what you need - what is the source of your success, the method or the support. And if it's support, how can you best get it (if coming here is sufficient, that's great - but if you need more support, that's ok too).
I agree that the biggest thing that WW offers is in-person support.
It comes down to what YOU need. Did you learn through your journeys that you absolutely must have in-person support in order to succeed for longer? Then at the very least you need to reach out and get it in some manner, be that joining a WW meeting, or a TOPS group, or even something more localized.
WW is just a rather convenient way of getting that support.
Kaplods is actually the reverse of me in one amusing manner. I'm a WW member, but looked for TOPS meetings in my area (sadly none close enough ) that I could go to for a second in-person support group!
It's good to know what you need, and then reach out for it
I guess I'm not sure what I need. But the past would dictate that I was most successful when I had weekly support and when I was accountable. It leads me to believe I should probably at least try WW again - get back on track at least.
I think actually now that I write the above, maybe that's part of my problem. I'm all over the place/vague with my goals, needs, etc. I need to clarify my needs and set concrete goals instead of just thinking "I'm gaining weight, I need to lose it..."
You did WW in 03 and 05, i hear that people returning to WW now for the Points Plus version have great success and also were more likely to stay on track since it is so flexible. Lovin points plus!!
I do WW online, and I find that just tracking every bite I am putting into my mouth is what is working for me. I tend to be a loner and a little shy in large groups, so I didn't think WW meetings would be a good fit for me.
I think that there are sites like Sparkpeople - or something like that - where you can track calories similarly to how you can track WW points, but Sparkpeople is free. That might be a free alternative for you.
Debating joining WW again
) that I could go to for a second in-person support group!
