Well anyway, this brings me to explaining points - directly after signing up you are taken to a step by step guide to how Weight Watchers will work for YOU. Not the skinny anorexic baywatch blonde who just wants to lose those beastly 5 pounds!. Weight watchers is totally geared toward the individual.

So, You are taken to a page that explains how weight watchers is operated by POINTS. From now on, this will become like a new language. I mean, I'm at the point where I feel as though if someone doesn't include the word POINTS in a conversation I just can't listen. But this is foreshadowing and I have to get back to explaining what POINTS are. . .

POINTS

When you sign up you are told to enter your current weight. They give you the (you should weight 102lbs if you are 5'5 thingy) but you get to enter YOUR goal weight. (i.e. my goal is NOT to be skinny but a 10-15 pounds over my suggested weight).

They then take your current weight and set goals for you so that you don't loose an unhealthy amount too fast (i.e. 10% of your current weight by so-and-so date). Things like that. They then assign you a POINTS number. For example, you cannot eat more than 26 points a day and effectively lose the weight you want.

So what the hell is 26 points worth? Well, this is where access to their resources comes in handy (and what one is paying for mind you). There is NO stress, confusion, or excuse for ignorance or denial. You can never again say, (Well, just one more tablespoon of icecream can't hurt can it?) or (Like 1 more chip will make a dent?) The answer is, YES IT WILL! You wouldn't be at a dissatisfactory weight now if it weren't for that "extra tsp or chip".

EVERYTHING is broken down to a number in WW.

For example:

1 Slimfast Meal bar is 220 Cals, fat=45, fiber=2
Points = 4

REALITY

Okay, I know everyone is thinking, "But what stops me from emotional/stress induced binge sessions? I mean, 26 points doesn't sound like it covers a lot of food."

Well, this is true. The entire point of weight watchers is to FULLY inform people about the foods they eat. For example, while taking trimspa I would occasionally not eat any junk for days at a time, smug and sure that by eating bowls of (home made) split pea and lentil soup and rice (to satisfy my carb cravings) would send me on the swift road of slimdom. Ha. To put it in perspective, I know know that 1 cup of split pea or lentil soup = 4 on the WW meter, so does 1 cup of rice. I was eating . . .oh, 6 cups of soup 10 cups of rice a day. That puts eating these "harmless" foods at a total of 38 points over what weight watchers would recommend for a day.

So, sigh, just think about those days I was eating the pizza, chicken cheese steaks, and (gulp) cinnabon.

RESOURCES

Meal plans. WW has a, seemingly, infinite number of recipies, prepared meal plans, the online community chips in recipies.

Suppose you can't cook though (pointing at myself). Well, it has a log of nearly any food you can think of, have ever eaten, or will ever eat and the points for them.

Resturants? No problem, listed. You should take a look at those menus and the points. I will NEVER have a Burger king shake again! EVER!

Okay, continuing:

POINTS tracker. This is where you log in the food you've eaten for the day and you get an instant tally for every entry and it shows you how many points are remaning, blah, blah.

The points tracker doesn't just apply for food though. It also tracks your 'activities' (if you have any that is) and, get this, you are rewarded for your activities with more food points!

Okay, this brings us to the 'type' of plan advertised here. FLEXPOINTS. Flexpoints are really cool and simple to comprehend (as if everything about WW). You are given an additional 35 points per WEEK for . . . well, for whatever. You can use them, or not use them, as you wish. I, however, have definitely been using mine but I haven't abused the poor things, I still have some left.

Flexpoints are mainly for days when you are just a little bit freakin' hungrier! Or for a day of the week where you simply Must have so and so. Or for a day out where you don't want to watch your points like a hawk eyeing its prey.

. . . . You set a day of the week where you want to weigh yourself (you only need to weigh yourself once a week) and your flexpoints also reset on this date.

It is always recommended that you use all your POINTS because it is well known dieters always eat less than their basic nutritional/caloric requirements and end up starving later on (ala binging). You don't have to use your flexpoints though, that is your choice.


SO...

Okay, at first I was obsessed with points. Point for an apple, point for an orange, point for thinking about points . . Omg, I consulted my points cards for every single gulp of air that passed my lips. However! After the first 2 weeks I never had to look again. I memorized the (easy-to-memorize) points calculator and can just look at the labels on any food before buying and have memorized the points for fresh foods, etc.

Anyway, I now work out 4 times a week (this is from the girl who laughed like a hyena 2 months ago at the thought of going to a gym) and have lost 10 pounds!!!

I was 'supposed' to have lost around 14 but I couldn't resist a few extra helpings of desert. *doh!* Still, I didn't GAIN weight, I simply didn't lose it, lol.

******

Oh - The following still apply to all diets: Consult your Physician or whatever, drink 6-8 glasses of H20, Multivitamins, and Vegetables are point free so indulge, blah, blah. Like I said, common sense.

I imagine the meetings would be an added bonus when I start to get tired of eating POINTS and need motivation for why I can't have a number 29! But I'm not there yet. Their resources are a godsend and I don't think I would have ever gotten a clue as to the TRUTH about foods before I joined WW.

Oh, I hope I haven't 'divulged' the secrets or anything. I mean, this is all pretty common knowledge and stated right up front on their webpage so I suppose it's okay . . . Hmm.

Oh! Another cool feature is the pie chart thingy. You know, the food pyramid for those who want a BALANCED diet or a Higher Carb, Protein, whatever diet. They chart it specifically according to your points so you don't have to even do the work on that.

They basically take calorie-counting excuses to why people just don't better their diet out of the equation. No excuses, it is ALL here and ALL explained and laid before your unblinking eyes. If you need more 'control' or to be 'monitored' I would suggest you attend the weekly meetings (though they are prices - min of $11.00 bucks a week to more).

Oh, found out some other interesting info while surfing, like:

1 pound is 3500 calories. So if you cut 3500 cals from the total number of calories required to *maintain* your weight you will lose a pound. Under weight watchers they cut 7000 a week to give the 2lbs a week results. Good to know why I didn't gain weight after my binge. I ate 2500 cals in that binge but it only affected the 3500 they already set aside for me to *lose* so I didn't gain anything. Weee! I LOVE it! No more yo-yo weight or quick regains!! This is the best ever!!


Recommended:
Yes

Approximate Monthly Cost (US$) 59.99
Food Variety Restrictions You eat any food you want
Restrictiveness of Portions Satisfying