Weight Watchers

CathJ

CathJ

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I had to think twice about starting this thread after some of the comments over in the "fuller figure" thread... but here goes anyway.

Over in the weigh-less thread some people mentioned that weight watchers has worked for them. It sounds interesting, because it seems as though they concentrate on realistic food, that doesn't cost a fortune or take ages to prepare.

The problem is that all the places in my area have their meetings between 8:30 and 17:15, which is when I (and most other people) are at work! Do only bored housewives need to lose weight?

So... is there any way you can follow their program without going to the meetings? I know the motivational side is important to them, but to be honest I do better on my own anyway. I could probably make it to occasional meetings, to be evaluated initially and reevaluated when (if!) I reach each goal, but I don't think they'd be happy if I didn't turn up every week.

Can anyone who's followed the program comment?
 
I have the same problem with the time as you!! They sent me a mail saying that their UK Branch does it online!! But nothing in SA yet. I would love to do this but the times are screwing things up for me too.

And I’m anti social i hate gatherings,

Hi I’m Mila and I’m fat!!!! Sheez.... not for me thanx.

My friend told me about weightlosslab. (She has lost 13kgs went on holiday cheated like mad for two weeks and gained only 1kg)
 
Quick question that immediately comes to mind: why the need for a meeting to help you lose weight? Just change your diet and do a little exercise instead of what they prescribe, which is "buy our products forever or you'll get fat again".

They're just marketing their products to you imo and you're better off changing your own lifestyle rather...
 
MY wife joined weight watchers 4 weeks ago and have lost close to 6 kgs in 4 weeks, with actually eating more often, but smaller portions, and a lot more healthy.

She does not really go to any meetings, they have a weigh session once a week, where they go, and see if they lost any kgs, then according to the results they get the next weeks menu, and thats that.

She's enjoying it, me, I find the food horrendous (blech who wants green when you can have steak), but as a good husband I have learned the artful skill of not being seen while eating the good food
 
DJK said:
Quick question that immediately comes to mind: why the need for a meeting to help you lose weight? Just change your diet and do a little exercise instead of what they prescribe, which is "buy our products forever or you'll get fat again".

They're just marketing their products to you imo and you're better off changing your own lifestyle rather...
Click to expand...

Because they help you change your diet, and give you ideas of better things to eat that are still convenient.

They aren't product-based, they make their money off recipe books and membership fees. And because they rate food by points, it gets you into a habit of evaluating and comparing the things you eat so that you start making healthy choices.

I'm not really into the meeting and motivational side, it's more likely to make me want to gain weight just to spite them :D If I could get all their books and stuff without joining I'd happily do that. Although... it might be a good way to meet people too, which is another goal of mine.

Edit: They could also presumably help and explain when, despite two weeks of eating healthily and exercising, you've picked up another kilo. Which frequently happens to me.
 
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DJK said:
Quick question that immediately comes to mind: why the need for a meeting to help you lose weight? Just change your diet and do a little exercise instead of what they prescribe, which is "buy our products forever or you'll get fat again".

They're just marketing their products to you imo and you're better off changing your own lifestyle rather...
Click to expand...

+1 that's exactly what I did and 8 weeks later, I'm down 13kg! :)
 
Mila said:
My friend told me about weightlosslab. (She has lost 13kgs went on holiday cheated like mad for two weeks and gained only 1kg)
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In those 3 words lie the essence of the problem. 'Cheated' implies that she sees the diet or eating programme as a temporary thing to be escaped from, in which case it will never give lasting results.

I hate to agree with DJ, but eat in moderation and exercise daily or 3/4/5 x per week is a better solution for someone who wants to lose weight permanently.
 
i don't like diets... my mom is on something called osolean right now and i must say it really looks good :D even my dad is losing weight.

They just do a bit of excercise and cut out all white things like pasta and rice and bread(which we stopped eating a while ago).

And then she has this powder before 2 meals a day...
 
CathJ said:
Because they help you change your diet, and give you ideas of better things to eat that are still convenient.

They aren't product-based, they make their money off recipe books and membership fees. And because they rate food by points, it gets you into a habit of evaluating and comparing the things you eat so that you start making healthy choices.

I'm not really into the meeting and motivational side, it's more likely to make me want to gain weight just to spite them :D If I could get all their books and stuff without joining I'd happily do that. Although... it might be a good way to meet people too, which is another goal of mine.
Click to expand...

They're very much a brand these days, make no qualms about that. Those recipes will no doubt include muchos marketing.

Regarding the meeting new people bit: I've always been a great proponent of hanging around people who you aspire to be like. If your intention is to drop the weight quickly, then make friends with the skinny ones I'd say :p

But overall, if attending the meetings helps you to self-motivate then by all means. But I just don't see the issue with changing one's lifestyle without attending a meeting to do so.

If you're eating fried chicken, then research recipes for steamed chicken or even roasted chicken instead. Don't eat the skin. Drop the carbs if you're not exercising and replace with healthier alternatives like cous cous or even barley. Steam your veg and flavour with vinaigrettes (really healthy and tasty). Drop the desserts in favour of fresh fruit, sorbets, stewed fruit if you enjoy that kind of thing or buy fresh fruit juices, add gelatine and eat as a really healthy jelly. Eat smaller portions but a lot more frequently to increase your metabolism. Drink plenty of water. Make healthy snacks in large quantities beforehand so you can avoid buying a packet of crisps or similar products when a snack attack hits. The list goes on and that's just off the top of my head. It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change.

Everyone's looking for the quickest possible way to lose weight, but that's just falling back into the trap where you'll pick it up again soon after resorting back to old habits. It doesn't take a support group to get through because most of these things are really tasty, you just have to be prepared to spend maybe 20% more time making them than you would normally. Anyways, I just don't get the meeting - I don't see it as anything more than a money-making support group, who's ultimate goal is profiting from your weight-yo-yo. Not even their branded weigh-less stuff is healthy. They try to mimic flavours/fatty dishes or they just use underhanded marketing to make it seem like it's healthier than it actually is...
 
cathj you can join weight watchers purely for the literature you get ... its incredibly helpful, and a lot of the meetings run till 18:30 as well. If you are unable to attend, you can keep track on your own you get everything you need for the entire process in the pack you get on the first day.
 
Kitten said:
cathj you can join weight watchers purely for the literature you get ... its incredibly helpful, and a lot of the meetings run till 18:30 as well. If you are unable to attend, you can keep track on your own you get everything you need for the entire process in the pack you get on the first day.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that's a helpful answer. I'll try that, then.
 
cathj I don't know if you know much about the weight watchers diet, but they work with a points system ... so for example if you are allowed 20 points, you work out your daily food and see if you're over or under in points. Plus, you can exercise to gain a certain amount of points a day which you can either eat, save, or consider burnt.

On the food side, its really enjoyable as nothing is excluded. A lot of food is considered to be no point value, and then you get restaurant menus in your book which tells you what meal is what value, they have mcd's, kfc, nandos, and some that I don't remember. Very nice program, its not a diet its a lifestyle. They encourage you to eat veggies and fruits as most diets, but you are not excluding sugar. For example the week I lost 2 kilos, I managed to eat out at restaurants twice having alfredo and shank, still had mcd's once or twice. It teaches you a lot of important things such as replacement foods ... beef sausages on a braai instead of wors is worth a third in points for the same portion size.
 
Kitten said:
cathj I don't know if you know much about the weight watchers diet, but they work with a points system ... so for example if you are allowed 20 points, you work out your daily food and see if you're over or under in points. Plus, you can exercise to gain a certain amount of points a day which you can either eat, save, or consider burnt.

On the food side, its really enjoyable as nothing is excluded. A lot of food is considered to be no point value, and then you get restaurant menus in your book which tells you what meal is what value, they have mcd's, kfc, nandos, and some that I don't remember. Very nice program, its not a diet its a lifestyle. They encourage you to eat veggies and fruits as most diets, but you are not excluding sugar. For example the week I lost 2 kilos, I managed to eat out at restaurants twice having alfredo and shank, still had mcd's once or twice. It teaches you a lot of important things such as replacement foods ... beef sausages on a braai instead of wors is worth a third in points for the same portion size.
Click to expand...

I don't know much about it, but what you're saying is exactly what I like about it. It's a way to track what you're doing wrong (overeating, or eating the wrong stuff) as well as an easy way of figuring out which is the healthier option.

And for once it's something I feel positive about - instead of feeling I have to do something, and resenting it, I'm feeling that this is something I want to do and can do!
 
its great then I really recommend it to you ... You see results fairly quickly and feel great about it ... and going over your points isn't a train smash, you can eat a point less each day to make it up :)
 
A friend of mine has been on quite a few diets from weight watchers to the Atkins diet...she stumbled upon a diet or guideline that determines what food is good for you by your blood type.

I thought this was a load of nonsense until I actually saw results (she is doing exercise 3 times a week as well)

I did a lil internet research and found the guideline for my blood type...a lot of it made sense...foods that I shouldn't be eating are actually foods that is I don't like.

I've been following - although very loosely the guidelines as I'm not prepared to give up meat and chocolate - and I have started to see a small weight loss.

I do a fair amount of walking during the day and since my boss is studying to be a pilates instructor I'm getting free lessons :D

I don't know how long it will last but so far so good :D
 
diamondstar said:
A friend of mine has been on quite a few diets from weight watchers to the Atkins diet...she stumbled upon a diet or guideline that determines what food is good for you by your blood type.

I thought this was a load of nonsense until I actually saw results (she is doing exercise 3 times a week as well)

I did a lil internet research and found the guideline for my blood type...a lot of it made sense...foods that I shouldn't be eating are actually foods that is I don't like.

I've been following - although very loosely the guidelines as I'm not prepared to give up meat and chocolate - and I have started to see a small weight loss.

I do a fair amount of walking during the day and since my boss is studying to be a pilates instructor I'm getting free lessons :D

I don't know how long it will last but so far so good :D
Click to expand...

Just like there are exceptions to math rules there are exceptions to rules of your body.

So listen to what your body says, but follow the other guidlines too, and you will find a balance.
 
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