Hello, My Name is Pops and I'm a Weight Watcher.
Written: Jun 12 '04 (Updated Jun 14 '04)
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Product Rating:
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| Helpfulness of Suport |
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Pros: Easy To Follow
Cons: Easy to binge, this isn't their fault
The Bottom Line: This is a plan, that is very liberal in its variety, makes weight loss easy.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Weight Watcher's Points Weight Loss Program with F... |
Yes, it's true. I have been a weight watcher for over 35 years. I have had weight problems, overweight that is, ever since getting married. The life style of going out to dinner, less physical activity and a wonderful wife that also happens to be a fantastic cook have all contributed.
The real fact however is that I just eat the wrong foods and compound that by eating them at the wrong times.
EAT POINTS NOT FOOD
Well this may not sound appealing because it isn't. We DO eat real food on Weight Watchers but we do it in a controlled way and with support.
Food is broken up into point values and its following these values or just keeping your guide at hand for reference that helps you learn what constitutes healthy food choices. The charts give guide lines of value to everyday foods that you may purchase. This, I found, makes real eating choices something that is doable. Swapping points from one type of food for another and being able to bank points or exercise them off and swapping points makes this a real living food plan.
POINT BOOSTERS
WW suggests being flexible with points. A POINTSbooster slide helps you to calculate exercise into point values. The slide is easy to use. A combination of intensity level, minutes, and body weight all come together to let you know how many points the exercise equals. This gives you knowledge of how physical activity functions along with food points.
I found that this was enlightening in that I could see that even just a bit of moderate exercise a few times a week can help build points to use or,if you like, let the body burn more unneeded weight.
The QuickTrak System
Every week you are given a booklet that helps you to track points. Inside there is a Points Target. It is done by weight. The leader does go over all of this in very simple detail. Teens get a couple more points per day. There are others factors too.
The booklet helps you to monitor your daily intake of points. It has a used points column and a deposit earned column that can be used for physical activity or "action steps" as they are called to be swapped for points.
The booklet helps you to monitor water intake. I found that drinking water helps my overall weight loss immensely. I have learned not to drink three glasses full just before going to bed. The extra exercise of getting out of bed and walking to the bathroom really doesn't add up to extra "action steps".
Along with water the chart includes your fruit intake and milk intake. Both are important for healthy weight loss.
A cool part of the system is that every week you are given 35 FlexPoints that are yours to use or not use. If you have one of those special days out, perhaps going to a fine restaurant, and you want to use more points. "Go on, use them." They are free for the taking. I have used them and at other times I never did. I found that the weeks where I didn't use them, I happened to lose a bit more weight. This isn't all that scientific in that I am only in the program seven weeks.
WEIGH INS
I suppose this is the most important moment to so many who join. Will they lose a few pounds OR was it a tough week and they gained.
The weigh-in process, though done in an open room, is confidential. You are given a book and a computer read out label is printed out showing your ID number, the date, weight for the day, weight loss or gain for the week and the total weight loss or gain since joining. The fee you paid is also on the stick-on label that is placed in your book.
I like that the scales give out computer generated results. I don't have that feeling that the person weighing me may have read things wrong or didn't place the true weight in the book.
MEETINGS
Every week there are meetings. These are important for motivation. The leader is a trained person who also knows the system through personal experience. Most of the leaders I have run across have been holding a significant weight loss for many years. Some leaders are better than others and some you may relate to better. There are many meeting time choices at my center. Mornings and evenings every day are available. Find a leader you like. That can be very important to you.
I have found that most try to use some humor in their patter and get some of those attending to tell about their own struggles but more importantly about how they have overcome those "tough times" when the refrigerator is calling them by name.
Each week at the meeting a different topic is talked about. Exercise, eating out, when to eat, overall diet health and other topics are talked of. I have found that none of the talks are really in much depth because topics at hand for individuals are brought up throughout the meetings. I am not disappointed by this because most of what is discussed does relate to me and I'm sure many others at the meetings.
Every week upon weigh-in a booklet is given that pertains to the week number you are in. They are helpful. Some work on certain exercise programs such as a workout for the abdomens and others give info on living well and long.
Small motivational awards are given. After the first five pound you are given a ribbon and an acknowledgment of applause. As silly as it sounds it is good to have that pat on the back. Little gold stars and refrigerator magnets are also given for particular weight loss levels.
WW PRODUCTS
Though many people seem to purchase some kind of product or other at the meetings, I don't. I have found that the choices I can make are easy enough for me with regular foods from the market or restaurants. Every week they seem to have samples of their product open for trial pieces. I have tried them and I have to say they do taste good. For some I'm sure having some choices available in the place makes it easy for them.
Cost
There are a couple of plans. There is a registration fee that is waved at certain times of the year. I pay $9.95 per week. That must be paid every week. I believe you do have two or so misses within a period of time. Another payment schedule has you paying a few dollars more per week but gives you much more flexibility. I found that knowing I pay the lesser amount every week seems to get me to the meetings without excuses.
My feelings
Weight Watchers has been around for a long long time. You get to eat real foods with it now. It is no longer the salad and can of tuna in water diet. They will show you how to find out how many points of everyday real foods, like a piece of pizza, may have. You can pick and choose points and the booklets make it easy for charting daily intake and choices.
I am now getting to know a few of the people at the meetings and it is good to see familiar faces. I have lost 29.8 pounds in the last seven weeks. This big guy has a lot more to lose, but I haven't found this method of eating very restrictive. I can eat real foods at restaurants and plan my day much easier with their guides. My wife and daughter have now joined me. That may make the motivation even easier.
Recommended:
Yes
Approximate Monthly Cost (US$) 39.80
Food Variety Restrictions You eat any food you want
Restrictiveness of Portions Satisfying
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