I will say that my leaders have discussed the change to points plus as a way to encourage members to choose more fruits and vegetables. They said too many people would choose a 100 cal bag of chips over a carrot, and while just having lower calories will allow people to lose weight, they wanted to ensure people were learning healthy habits for life, and that included having fruits and veggies in their diets.
I was just having this exact discussion with a coworker yesterday who is thinking of signing up. I told I'd done old programs before when the fruit had points and I would rarely eat fruits because I didn't want to "waste" those points on something healthy (how ridiculous is that?!). Now, though, I love eating fruits and veggies and the healthier I eat, the less I want or need sugary foods. So when I do have chocolate or whatever, I can eat it without feeling guilty. It's just one of the many reasons why I love PP.
I strongly believe that WW is way overrated. I also don't believe WW's statistics that the majority of their members have achieved and maintained goal weights for years. WW is annoyingly complicated and a lot of hard work. After 13 years (6 or so of these on WW) of struggling and making attempts at losing weight, I finally reached my weight goal NOT on WW, but succeeded with a food delivery program.
Please don't take ANY of this the wrong way, I'm merely curious.
First of all sorry that you feel so negatively about WW. If it didn't work for 6 years, why keep using it? There had to be something that kept you there or you wouldn't have stayed.
I have seen literally hundreds of people just in my meeting alone reach goal weight with WW so I don't know why you would think their statistics aren't real. Millions of people have reached goal weight. WW is a lifestyle change, not a diet. It's something you have to do for the rest of your life, as it should be. WW is not some new fad diet that people are jumping on, it's been around since 1963.
Are you still eating pre-packaged food or have you come off of it and how is that going with maintenance? I've just known so many people (at least 5 or 6) who have used the Nutrisystem diet and who have come off of it and failed because they don't know a. how to cook healthily and b. eat normally because now that they aren't eating meals that are prepared for them they have no idea what to cook or even how to go about what caloric intake they need to stay under. (Yes, I know this has happened to people on WW as well, because they cannot control the way they eat when they're off the program, but that's a whole different kind of problem because the people I know who haven't stuck to WW are usually eating what they know they shouldn't be.)
I don't understand why all you lovely ladies leaders would have some people doing one program and some doing the old program. When we switched over to PP our ENTIRE group switched, unless someone was not paying for meetings and sneaking in with their old materials there should be no reason why everyone wasn't on the same page. Or unless someone was attending PP meetings and being resistant to the change, which I could see would cause issues for them.
What was complicated for you about WW and what did you find such hard work?
I think WW is incredibly easy and cannot understand why people have trouble with it, but that's just me. I've never had any problems with tracking. I guess if you're tracking on paper it could get frustrating because it takes time, but any weight loss is going to take time.
I personally have lost 34 pounds in 4 months with WW and fully plan on reaching goal and sticking with it the rest of my life.
Last edited by tessendicott; 02-14-2012 at 11:22 AM.
I don't think there is one perfect diet plan that works for everyone, and that the responsibility of losing that weight is 100% on that diet plan. If it was like that, there wouldn't be the multitude of options and approaches we see now. I do think that WW's changes try to include more people in being successful, or get new people to try their plan. It's not good business to intentionally create a flawed plan, or to replace a plan with something they think doesn't work. PP is the only plan I've tried so I can't compare.
People need different things to stay engaged, on track, motivated. Lynnien thinks no cooking and grocery shopping of meal delivery is wonderful, but to me that wouldn't appeal at all. I love to cook and grocery shop (most of the time anyway - like anyone, sometimes I like a night off!). I love trying out new recipes. This week I am excited about trying one new recipe, and tweaking two old recipes to be healthier that I used to make. I'm kind of picky (though I'm working on that, and definitely getting better) and would chafe at the idea of someone else picking out/making my food all the time, and would worry if I ever stopped getting the meals I wouldn't be able to maintain. Other people can't stand the thought of tracking ever, maybe would fare better on a plan where they had their diet laid out for them or that had less emphasis on everything in moderation and more on restricting food groups/types.
No matter what the plan someone is on, a lot of people have issues with food that need to get handled in some way or another or eventually those issues are going to rear their ugly head again. Look at the statistics of keeping weight off in general - what is it, 95% of people regain weight or something? I really do think if I'm going to beat the odds, I'm on the best path right now for myself - gradual changes, moderation instead of restriction, being very involved/aware in my choices and what I'm eating, and using other outlets than comfort foods and eating for emotions and stress.
First of all, Points Plus was the first change of plan in 13 years. They slightly tweak the plan every year but not a new plan. All the WW cookbooks have nutritional information so points can be figured for any plan. No one is required to buy anything after paying the meeting fee and they can still do it. Science changes what = good nutrition all the time. I am glad WW uses the information to make their plan better. They've been around nearly 50 years - and I've been a member for 41 of those year and at goal 38 years so I've been through all the programs. They way you are saying we'd all be eating 5 fish meals a week, having 1 slice of white bread a day, etc.
You are doing WW a great disservice because you don't understand the plan, what is required, or how it works.
You are doing WW a great disservice because you don't understand the plan, what is required, or how it works.
I agree with QuilterInVA completely.
"If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all."
Cracks me up that people get so damn worked up over which diet is "THE BEST OMG CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IT AND NO ONE ELSE CAN LOSE WEIGHT IF THEY AREN'T EATING THIS THIS AND THIS".
This a support group, be supportive. I don't go posting on the prepacked meal board tearing it down and talking about how WW is clearly superior, we would appreciate the same courtesy.
Last edited by tessendicott; 02-14-2012 at 12:59 PM.
As with anything you do, you get out of it what you put into it. I started WW on May 10, 2011. I told myself I was jumping in with both feet, and not looking back. I achieved my goal weigh on January 24, 2012, and had lost 69.2 pounds. If you only give 50% effort, you are only going to get 50% return.
As with anything you do, you get out of it what you put into it. I started WW on May 10, 2011. I told myself I was jumping in with both feet, and not looking back. I achieved my goal weigh on January 24, 2012, and had lost 69.2 pounds. If you only give 50% effort, you are only going to get 50% return.
First of all, Points Plus was the first change of plan in 13 years. They slightly tweak the plan every year but not a new plan. All the WW cookbooks have nutritional information so points can be figured for any plan. No one is required to buy anything after paying the meeting fee and they can still do it. Science changes what = good nutrition all the time. I am glad WW uses the information to make their plan better. They've been around nearly 50 years - and I've been a member for 41 of those year and at goal 38 years so I've been through all the programs. They way you are saying we'd all be eating 5 fish meals a week, having 1 slice of white bread a day, etc.
You are doing WW a great disservice because you don't understand the plan, what is required, or how it works.
Very well said.
If you have a monthly pass (or free e-tools for lifetime members at goal), you can get information online or on your smart phones-- track your points, restaurant information, featured recipes, and on and on. You can also use the new barcode scanner app (love it!) to scan foods in the grocery store. Amazing!
Disclaimer-- I do work for WW. I lost my weight 4 years ago and loved the program and plan so much that I started working for them (very part-time). As others have said-- what you put into the program is what you get out of it. I have seen some amazing success stories and nothing makes me happier than seeing members making positive changes in their life.
Sorry, off topic a bit, but traveling michele, what is that app (scanner) called??
It is weight watchers barcode scanner. Since it is new, not all foods are on it yet, but if a food isn't, it brings you to a calculator to figure out points. The coolest feature is you can track the food right there and it syncs up with your online tracker! You can also keep favorites, make a shopping list, etc.
I am going to say that I hate the scanner. I really do.
However ... I'm with the pro-PP people. WW has been a miracle worker for me -- I lost 30 lbs in 6 months, I sleep better, and I move my butt. My gastritis has completely cleared up. My hypertension is probably not entirely fixable, but I expect to see some gains the next time I'm at the doctor's.
That said ...
Like all programs, it doesn't work for everyone. Jenny Craig was an epic failure for me. South Beach worked but didn't fit with what my body needed and I was constantly sick while on plan. But both work miracles for others. You have to find your own kryptonite -- whatever makes it easiest for you to maintain the way of life in the long term. (Or transition, in the case of JC)
When I first started 2 years ago, I lost most of my weight on Momentum and the rest with P+. It all boils down to tracking and doing some sort of activity!
