Humiliation, Plain and Simple
Written: Jun 24 '00 (Updated Jun 24 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Hmmm....
Cons: I gained weight, I felt like a failure, and I could not run out of there fast enough!
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| magenta321's Full Review: Weight Watchers 1-2-3 Success Community Meetings |
Last summer I started the Weight Watchers 1-2-3 Success program. The diet allowed me to eat whatever foods I chose, to a certain extent. There are point values assigned to every type of food imaginable. Depending on your weight-loss goal, you are allotted x number of points for a given day. You subtract the points from everything you eat from your daily total, and when you reach zero, you are done eating for the day. So obviously, you need to plan ahead and "bank" points so you can make your food last all through the day, and save up for days when you want to eat out, or eat something which is a lot of points.
How did the points work for me?
At first I thought the points would be restrictive, but I soon realized I wasn't eating ENOUGH to be within my points range most days. This meant I always had points left over, so I could splurge some days. I was so pleased to have a diet that finally was do-able.
Meetings
Weigh-In
The meetings always started with a weigh-in. Everyone would wait in line for their turn to hop on a scale and find out how they did that week. Your first week gives you your base weight. From this, you figure out how much you want to lose before you are at your goal weight.
Sound-off
Once everyone was weighed, everyone filed into the meeting room to start talking about what had happened that week. Most people were pretty quiet, and let a few loud-mouths hog the spot-light. In my group, there were probably about forty people, and maybe eight of them would get a chance to talk.
Information
From what people were talking about, the instructor would lead into her prepared talk scheduled for that day. She would give some tips and advice for successfully losing weight, as well as personal stories.
My Experience
I joined Weight Watchers with my mother, so we could be mutually supportive. The first week, when we were weighed in, we were upset with our weights, but optimistic. We really thought we could make a difference, and Weight Watchers would help us do it.
The next week, my mother's weight was about the same, but I had lost nearly five pounds. As a reward, I got a book-mark, and my accomplishment was shared with the group. It felt good to have people clap for me, and acknowledge my effort. My mother felt awful that day, because she was not as successful as I was.
Week three, my mom lost weight. I, on the other hand, gained seven, that's right seven pounds. I had dieted my butt off that week, and went for power-walks in the sweltering heat only to gain weight. I felt so hopeless at that point. The best name I had for myself was "Failure." I tried to suck it up for that meeting, but I was crushed. I fought back tears the entire meeting, and bolted out of there as soon as it was over.
Why I Gave Up
I have never returned to Weight Watchers since. I was really frustrated with the points system, because it wasn't like cutting calories or fat. Calories and fat are easy to calculate, and I have always lost weight by cutting back on either one of these in the past. With this point system, I found I was forcing myself to eat, just so I would get to the right number of points for the day.
I am sure many people have lost weight with Weight Watchers. Yes, you can say I gave up too quickly if you want. All I know was that was seriously detrimental to my mental well-being to gain weight when I was trying so hard to lose it. Even as I write this, I am fighting back tears, still thinking of myself as a failure.
From now on, I know I can't do any of these silly diets. Why pay money to have someone give me a book mark for doing well with a diet? Why not let my body be it's own reward? Why not stick with what works -- cutting fat and calories? That's what I have decided to do, from now on.
I will never have to sit through another hour of a hellish meeting, listening to everyone else tell me how wonderfully they are doing, all the while thinking that I am worthless because I am a failure. That thinking is not healthy. Weight Watchers might not promote that attitude, but failing in a group of people who are succeeding will sure bring those feelings out.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
magenta321
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Location: Connecticut
Reviews written: 258
Trusted by: 291 members
About Me:
I am cool and that is it, and everyone else is full of...
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