Weight Watchers??? Yes or No???

Yes!! I started WW last July. I did it on my own, using a discarded set of books from a friend. It has been wonderful! I lost 15 pounds and feel (and look) MUCH better than I did. It was so much easier than I thought it would be.
I found support on an AOL message board, (http://messageboards.aol.com/aol/en_us/articles.php?board...)
or you could try the forums at Dotti's Weight Loss Zone (http://www.dwlz2.com/forum/)

Good Luck!

YES!!! I didn't read the other comments but I am just sharing my experience with you. This is my 11th week doing WW. I am not going to the classes or doing the on-line version. My mom did it many years ago so I am just doing it with her old books. I have lost 18 lbs so far. I am not a dieter, WW works because I don't have to deprive myself. The biggest thing that has helped is writing down everything I eat. Good luck!

I have not done Weight watchers but I used to work at a place that was very similar. It has helped me to continue to eat healthy and stay at my goal weight. I have had friends who have done it and they were successful. If I were you, I would continue to do it! If you get frustrated with the results, you may want to consider going to a class (do they have them anymore?)- they always helped me. Good luck!

Most "diets" will work for people ....short term....because you are being mindful of what you eat and in this case you are blocking out time to hold yourself accountable by finding support.
I won't repeat what Deb T and Dena G have already written but their responses are worth re-reading. If you choose to use WW as your support then be mindful of the junk food you are "allowed" to eat and choose to eat the whole foods you are also allowed to eat and cost you far less points. I don't know many people who want to count points forever so it's critical to learn skills that last a lifetime especially now that you will be influencing the behaviors and food choices of your children. It's also critical to balance the other areas of your life that may "cause" you to eat when you are not hungry or make choices that are less than optimal more than occasionally or that don't allow you to fit in exercise that you enjoy.

Go you! for taking charge of your health which is more than the number on the scale. I can't wait to hear how you do....long term.

P.

I love the following web sites:
whfoods.org (whole food education)
cincyhealthcoach.com (for free newsletter)

I dd weightwatchers succesfully for a long time but got lazy. The meetings are to help you through that rough patch were all you crave is junk. If you can find others in your area that are on it you can get on messenger and have virtu-meetings. It also helps if you get your partner (Hubby,BF...) in on it. Also remember it IS NOT a diet, it is simply a correction to a eating problem.

Yes I have done it. I started right after I gave birth to my son and it worked! I'm now smaller than I was before I got pregnant. I did it from home and didn't attend meetings, (who has time once a week for that?!) It works so well and it truly is a lifestyle change. I dont follow it to the tee anymore but I know what foods to eat and what not to. Best of luck in your weight loss!

Yes, I have tried it and it DOES work- as long as you stick to it. I had started by actually going to the meetings, but then, I ended up just doing online as well. They have really good recipes on the website that I think are great and my husband would even eat them! Good luck!

I'm a WW leader, and can tell you that YES the program definitely works! I've seen many people start with the online program from home, but then realize they can be more effective by actually attending meetings. If you find that it's not working, I would really recommend the full program of coming to the meetings---great support, a roomful of ideas, motivation, and the much-needed accountability!

I vote yes. The first time I did WW I joined online and lost over 35 lbs. Well marriage and 1 son put back the weight. Again I joined about a year ago and went to the meetings and I lost over 30 lbs and I am back to my wedding weight. I am pregnant again and will def. go back after I have this baby. I like it because it teaches you how to eat and you don't have to eat diet food. I have motivated several of the women I work with and they seem to like it and are having good results.

I didn't join, but just bought a book and the points calculator. I figured out on my own how many points I needed and kept track. I have lost 24 pounds so far! I only have 6 more to get to my goal weight!

I vote for SPARKPEOPLE.COM and it is free! I am down 40 pounds. My cousin is down 70! Good luck to you!

ABSOLUTELY! WW in my opinion is the best way to go. The program is truly a tutorial on how to eat properly and is easy to stick to. I did it after my 2 year old was born and lost 40lbs the right way and never felt deprived. What I love the most is that it doesn't deny you living your life - if you have a party and you know you're going to have a drink or a piece of cake - you can - you just have to modify the rest of your day/week. At first keeping track of everything can be intimidating but it gets to be second nature. I did the online version as well - I had no interest in going to meetings etc. However there are great support groups online too if you want to "talk" to other members. I continue to use it to keep track of what I'm eating and will get strict about journaling etc. if I start to get off track. GOOD LUCK!

If you're ready to lose weight, WW (Weight Watchers) is the way to go. It works IF you stick with it. It allows you to eat anything you want, but you have to count for it. Once you start you will realize how badly (if you're like me) you've been eating. It really puts things into perspective. My mother and several friends have had great success with WW. Some have gained part of it back and others are still going strong (years later). I lost 35 pounds and then got off track and gained it back. Then lost 20 with WW and then got pregnant. Now that I'm post-baby, I'm seriously considering going back to WW to lose the remaining baby weight and then some. Any step towards a healthier lifestyle is a great first step! Good luck!!! :-)

YES
weight watchers was recommended by my doctor.It hasbeen very successful for me. However Ifind Ido better by attending the meetings to get cooking idea's and other strategies from others. Lots of encouragement thatway

I did the Weight Watchers program on-line last summer and lost 12 lbs. (my remaining baby weight). I really liked the program and thought having to log on and keep track of points, water, exercise etc. was very helpful to keep me on track. I continue to do it daily to help me maintain my weight. I am a chocolate and ice cream lover and highly reccomend the Weight Watcher fudge bars-yum! Good luck.

Weight Watchers is a great program. The best part about it is being held accountable each week for a weigh in. I'm not sure if doing it at home will have the same benefit. It is about food portion sizes. Many of my friends have done the program and all had great success. Having a support system will help you meet your goals.

Exercise is also critical. Building muscle will burn more calories, make you stronger, reduce stress, and increase energy. Look up on-line exercises for core strength. Being active especially with your young children will benefit both of you. I highly recommend a daily game of tag, kickball, walking, tossing a ball, dancing while watching a movie or tv show. If you get on the floor and start exercising they will too. You will be setting a great example for them and having fun too. Good luck and stay with it. It's not easy, but worth every once of effort.

I did it online 3 years ago and lost 15 pounds. I really enjoyed doing it online. It became my hobby and something I looked forward to doing every evening. Of course that was before I had my son so I had the time, and I did it in the summer when there was no good tv to watch. Keeping track of my points and my exercise online was enough to motivate me, and I didn't have a lot of weight to loose really, so I didn't miss the interaction with people at the meetings.

Definitely yes! I did the WW online for awhile and loved it. I have canceled the online service and now do it on my own. If you google WW points calculator, there is one you can use for free. Their are numerous WW support groups that you can join also, for example I believe Cafemom.com has one. I'm doing WW with my husband. We've tried to make it a "lifestyle." I'm always amazed at how easy it is to lose the weight when you stick to the program! Best wishes :)

Yes!!!
I had great success and all I did was go off of some information that my mom had given me. She lives about 2 hours away but she gave me the basics. I thought it was wonderful and I lost about 30 pounds doing this. Easy to do. Good luck!

I say yes. It is a great way to learn how to live a healthier lifestyle. They encourage you to eat lots of fruits and veggies, get your dairy, drink plenty of water, and exercise...plus watch portion control. These are all things anyone could benefit from learning! I did WW after the birth of my 2nd child and became a lifetime member...now I don't have to go to the meetings/pay the money because I just kind of 'know' what I need to do when I want to lose or maintain my weight...you figure it out after you do it for awhile what works for your body. Right now I am working on paying more attention to points as I am trying to lose after the birth of #4&#5...twins.:) It also helps if you have a partner/friend doing it with you...someone to share your success/frustrations with since you aren't going to the meetings. I think it is a great way to lose...good luck!!! :)
S.

I am definitely a believer in the WW program. I started it at the beginning of January. I go to the meetings and get weighed in by the leaders, but I still think this is a great program and you should do great doing it at home. Etools is amazing and very helpful. I have already lost 32 pounds! Good luck!!

I did WW prior to babies because I wanted to start out at a better baseline. I lost 23 lbs and between babies and now have pretty much kept it off. I have to say it worked best for me over any other type of weight loss plan. It taught me to eat healthier because I could eat more healthy than unhealthy food considering the point system. I did attend the meetings (at work) until I reached my goal and began to just weigh in monthly following to keep active and not have to start over again. I truly believe it can be done w/o these meetings but to get a good start, it may be a little harder w/o the encouragement that's given at the meetings.

Overall, I think WW is definitely the most realistic weight loss plan out there. It's pretty hard for a month or so because I believe that what happens is portions are cut way down and your stomach first shrinks, then you find yourself getting full faster. But the best part is the healthy food that doesn't count against points as much. It taught me that I just plain out feel much better when I fill up on vegetables/fruits/lean proteins/ltd breads and don't eat too many fatty foods, not to mention I felt so good about myself when I dropped 2 sizes, and my metabolism sped up which is what helped me to keep the weight off even after babies. I hope this helps. :)

I'm doing ww and Love it! I can still eat what I want, when I want. I'm very good about staying in my points and exercising and I've lost 50 pounds! I'm only 10 pounds away from my goal. Good luck.

I am also doing ww the same way you are...I am also working out a few times a week. In two weeks I lost six lbs. Last year I did ww meetings and worked out less and lost more. I think any way you do ww will be helpful though.

I'm glad that you have decided to take control of your health! What is your program or belief system around dieting? Do you feel you have to count calories in order to lose weight? Do you feel you have to exercise excessively?
I'm going to use the example of two different kinds of clients, and I always have these two types of clients in my program (not Weight Watchers). One person thinks "This is going to work!" And guess what? When they are thinking this is going to work, they are feeling excited, open, and trusting. Then the actions that come from that thinking is that they play full-out in the program.

Now, the other example of this is two people can go to the same seminar. One person comes out with tons of value and the other comes out with zero value and saying it was the worst experience of their life. How can two people attend the same seminar and have two completely different experiences? Because you CHOOSE what value you get out of everything you CHOOSE to participate in.

So, to answer your question on "Weight Watchers?" "Yes or No?" It's entirely up to you. You will get out of it what you put into it!

Wishing you all the best!

Live well,
D.

Weight Watchers is an excellent place to start. Helps you to create BALANCE in your eating choices as well as allowing you some goodies once in a while as long as you account for them.

This is all about LIFESTYLE. Hopefully, you can adopt what you learn and maintain life long habits. If you stay accountable to yourself, you don't necessarily need to go to the meetings.

If you need to be accountable, find a friend, family member or neighbor who'll hold you accountable.

Though I didn't join Weight Watchers online, my husband did and he lost 40 pounds. I seemed to loose it fairly fast. Right now he has hit a plateau which now makes it a little harder to loose the last little bit that he wants to but it at least he changed his eating habits which has made him maintain what he has lost.
I like the meals that they have. Alot of them are really good and quick and easy.
Good Luck and I would definitely say yes to Weight Watchers!

Good program. They encourage healthy eating, healthy eating habits and drinking lots of water. I still say that drinking all that water aided in the weight drop.

I lost 20 some pounds while doing it. After I got through with one session, I put the weight all back on and 20 pounds MORE. If you do this, you MUST stick with it or you will weigh more. This happened to my siser-in-law also.

Unfortunately, when you have kids and work full time it is hard to get out exercise, swim or jog outside the home. Working full time is condusive to putting on weight because if you work, you must sit at the office or sit in the car or bus for a half an hour plus each way on the way to and from work. Working full time takes at least 10 hours out of your every day schedule.

Make sure you include exercise such as videotapes if you can't get out of the house to work out. Not only do you have to worry about who is watching the kids during the day, you then have to worry about who is watching the kids while working out. Fitworks by Parmatown has a play room for kids while the parents are working out.

Remember, dieting slows the metabolism. Now is the time to take the weight off. You will have another round of siting down when it comes to the kids homework and sitting at their sports activities when they get to grade school. Give it a try. Good Luck