Has Weight Watchers gone insane?
Replies
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I couple of years ago I decided to go to my local WW group, but when the leader was introducing the plan I interrupted her because something she said shocked me and just had to point out how scientifically wrong that was, she stopped mid sentence and said "You're new, how could you even know this sort of stuff?" so I came back with "Well having lost 50% of my body weight inside 2 years and having maintained it for a year doing exactly what you're advising everyone NOT to do, I think I might be living proof that your pseudo science is wrong" ... She thought about it for a moment and said "So if you know so damn much, what exactly are you doing here, maybe should shouldn't attend again" I was slightly taken aback, but I said "I'm here because my daughter wants to join next week, so asked me to come and check it out, but I'm not impressed so far, so I think I'll tell her to try Slimming World" and got up and walked out.
My daughter didn't try Slimming World and I wouldn't give these "Pay to lose weight" programmes a penny - if it's making money out of your desire to lose weight, it will not lead to long term success, because if everyone eventually wins the battle of the bulge, then they're out of business and then what do they do - as a business demographic that is severely flawed, so you have to keep failing and returning ... simple!21 -
Fitness_and_FODMAP wrote: »I couple of years ago I decided to go to my local WW group, but when the leader was introducing the plan I interrupted her because something she said shocked me and just had to point out how scientifically wrong that was, she stopped mid sentence and said "You're new, how could you even know this sort of stuff?" so I came back with "Well having lost 50% of my body weight inside 2 years and having maintained it for a year doing exactly what you're advising everyone NOT to do, I think I might be living proof that your pseudo science is wrong" ... She thought about it for a moment and said "So if you know so damn much, what exactly are you doing here, maybe should shouldn't attend again" I was slightly taken aback, but I said "I'm here because my daughter wants to join next week, so asked me to come and check it out, but I'm not impressed so far, so I think I'll tell her to try Slimming World" and got up and walked out.
My daughter didn't try Slimming World and I wouldn't give these "Pay to lose weight" programmes a penny - if it's making money out of your desire to lose weight, it will not lead to long term success, because if everyone eventually wins the battle of the bulge, then they're out of business and then what do they do - as a business demographic that is severely flawed, so you have to keep failing and returning ... simple!
What was the psuedo-science the leader was spouting? Do you remember by chance? I'm always a glutton to watch others get put in their place like that. (see what I did there? lol)4 -
suzannesimmons3 wrote: »spiriteagle99 wrote: »But who eats a whole pineapple? I love it, but that's a lot of food.
How do you think people get fat???
Not primarily by consuming whole pineapples.4 -
HellYeahItsKriss wrote: »Alatariel75 wrote: »Here's a more fulsome list:
•Boneless skinless chicken breast
•Boneless skinless turkey breast
•Ground lean chicken
•Ground lean turkey
•Thin sliced deli chicken breast
•Thin sliced deli turkey breast
•All fish and shellfish (this does not include smoked or dried fish)
•Canned fish that is packed in water or brine (i.e. canned tuna or canned salmon in water)
•Tofu and smoked tofu
•Quorn fillets, ground Quorn, and Quorn pieces (meat substitute)
•Eggs
•Nonfat plain regular and Greek yogurt
•Plain soy yogurt
•Fresh, frozen, and canned beans and lentils that are packed without oil or sugar (Lentils, chickpeas, black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, split peas, soy beans, and more)
Wow.. that list is... LOL...
Seriously. Again, they're making unfounded judgment calls on foods. Like, sodium aside -- if an ounce of canned salmon is 47 calories, and an ounce of smoked salmon is 33 calories ... why does the canned get to be unlimited but the smoked does not?6 -
collectingblues wrote: »HellYeahItsKriss wrote: »Alatariel75 wrote: »Here's a more fulsome list:
•Boneless skinless chicken breast
•Boneless skinless turkey breast
•Ground lean chicken
•Ground lean turkey
•Thin sliced deli chicken breast
•Thin sliced deli turkey breast
•All fish and shellfish (this does not include smoked or dried fish)
•Canned fish that is packed in water or brine (i.e. canned tuna or canned salmon in water)
•Tofu and smoked tofu
•Quorn fillets, ground Quorn, and Quorn pieces (meat substitute)
•Eggs
•Nonfat plain regular and Greek yogurt
•Plain soy yogurt
•Fresh, frozen, and canned beans and lentils that are packed without oil or sugar (Lentils, chickpeas, black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, split peas, soy beans, and more)
Wow.. that list is... LOL...
Seriously. Again, they're making unfounded judgment calls on foods. Like, sodium aside -- if an ounce of canned salmon is 47 calories, and an ounce of smoked salmon is 33 calories ... why does the canned get to be unlimited but the smoked does not?
I’m so confused on the smoked has points thing?? Why Weight Watchers??
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sadiepie10 wrote: »collectingblues wrote: »HellYeahItsKriss wrote: »Alatariel75 wrote: »Here's a more fulsome list:
•Boneless skinless chicken breast
•Boneless skinless turkey breast
•Ground lean chicken
•Ground lean turkey
•Thin sliced deli chicken breast
•Thin sliced deli turkey breast
•All fish and shellfish (this does not include smoked or dried fish)
•Canned fish that is packed in water or brine (i.e. canned tuna or canned salmon in water)
•Tofu and smoked tofu
•Quorn fillets, ground Quorn, and Quorn pieces (meat substitute)
•Eggs
•Nonfat plain regular and Greek yogurt
•Plain soy yogurt
•Fresh, frozen, and canned beans and lentils that are packed without oil or sugar (Lentils, chickpeas, black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, split peas, soy beans, and more)
Wow.. that list is... LOL...
Seriously. Again, they're making unfounded judgment calls on foods. Like, sodium aside -- if an ounce of canned salmon is 47 calories, and an ounce of smoked salmon is 33 calories ... why does the canned get to be unlimited but the smoked does not?
I’m so confused on the smoked has points thing?? Why Weight Watchers??
Because Oprah doesn't like smoker salmon?9 -
It's not that different from most low carb diets. I lost significant weight twice with Atkins, eating all the meat, eggs, and cheese I wanted. Vegetables were allowed, most fruit was not, at least not in the first weeks. I never had the slightest idea how many calories I was eating. I found that by focusing on protein and fat, I was full longer. I'm sure that's the same idea with weight watchers. If you eat 16+ oz of chicken breast, you get full. If you eat it frequently, you get both bored and full, so don't want as large a portion.
By demonizing simple carbs, they make sure that you don't overeat the foods that not only don't make you full, but can trigger binge eating in some people. When I couldn't eat sugar, I didn't really crave it. When I did, I wanted more and more.9 -
spiriteagle99 wrote: »It's not that different from most low carb diets. I lost significant weight twice with Atkins, eating all the meat, eggs, and cheese I wanted. Vegetables were allowed, most fruit was not, at least not in the first weeks. I never had the slightest idea how many calories I was eating. I found that by focusing on protein and fat, I was full longer. I'm sure that's the same idea with weight watchers. If you eat 16+ oz of chicken breast, you get full. If you eat it frequently, you get both bored and full, so don't want as large a portion.
By demonizing simple carbs, they make sure that you don't overeat the foods that not only don't make you full, but can trigger binge eating in some people. When I couldn't eat sugar, I didn't really crave it. When I did, I wanted more and more.
But not everyone is satiated or has cravings for the same foods. I find deli chicken and turkey, eggs, and fruit really easy to overeat. I rarely overeat junk-food-type carbs. I crave and boredom/emotional eat meat, nuts, and cheese. I would be a disaster on Atkins, and on this new version of WW.8 -
Weight Watchers was very good to me in the beginning of my weight loss but I will overeat anything if it's put in front of me without restrictions.5
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I haven't read your post, BUT, just by the title I will answer "Yes" I've always thought the program insane. I was on Nutrisystems site forever, they had a great little free calorie counter then they switched it up like WW and made it impossible to know what to add. That was what led me over to MFP so many years ago.
It also doesn't help that some of the most horrible people I have ever known in the world for Pro-WW, so it may be that I'm just biased.1 -
I'm positive on the list I have smoked fish is included as being Zero.
Here's the list
https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/sites/default/files/freestyle_zero_points_foods.pdf
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I have been saying this ever since they got rid of the old points system. But brace yourselves...2018 is coming soon and the commercials will be everywhere!0
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Weight Watchers are getting desperate, who needs them, when mfp is on line with free help and advise, plus fitbit to help.7
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spiriteagle99 wrote: »But who eats a whole pineapple? I love it, but that's a lot of food.
A volume eater.
There are people who get satiated by a lot of food. If fruit and veg are free food? PARTY TIME!!!!!
In fact, I'm sitting here now eating almost a pound of broccoli.12 -
Cooked or raw?GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »spiriteagle99 wrote: »But who eats a whole pineapple? I love it, but that's a lot of food.
A volume eater.
There are people who get satiated by a lot of food. If fruit and veg are free food? PARTY TIME!!!!!
In fact, I'm sitting here now eating almost a pound of broccoli.
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spiriteagle99 wrote: »It's not that different from most low carb diets. I lost significant weight twice with Atkins, eating all the meat, eggs, and cheese I wanted. Vegetables were allowed, most fruit was not, at least not in the first weeks. I never had the slightest idea how many calories I was eating. I found that by focusing on protein and fat, I was full longer. I'm sure that's the same idea with weight watchers. If you eat 16+ oz of chicken breast, you get full. If you eat it frequently, you get both bored and full, so don't want as large a portion.
By demonizing simple carbs, they make sure that you don't overeat the foods that not only don't make you full, but can trigger binge eating in some people. When I couldn't eat sugar, I didn't really crave it. When I did, I wanted more and more.
You know what, I initially lost weight low carbing. I also gained weight low carbing. Fullness? Meh.2 -
smithmssycatsmithiris30 wrote: »
Cooked or raw?GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »spiriteagle99 wrote: »But who eats a whole pineapple? I love it, but that's a lot of food.
A volume eater.
There are people who get satiated by a lot of food. If fruit and veg are free food? PARTY TIME!!!!!
In fact, I'm sitting here now eating almost a pound of broccoli.
Lightly steamed.7 -
estherdragonbat wrote: »suzannesimmons3 wrote: »spiriteagle99 wrote: »But who eats a whole pineapple? I love it, but that's a lot of food.
How do you think people get fat???
Maybe it's a blessing that, while I can enjoy pineapple in moderation, too much gives me cankers, then.
I love pineapple, but weighed what seems like an extremely generous amount to me, and it was about 100 cal. I was pleasantly surprised (I'd assumed pineapple was quite caloric) and often have about 50 cal as a dessert.2 -
Shoechick5 wrote: »I'm positive on the list I have smoked fish is included as being Zero.
Here's the list
https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/sites/default/files/freestyle_zero_points_foods.pdf
So how many points are you allowed per day? 10? The majority of the foods listed are foods I eat regularly and I would have some days that are mostly zero days. This makes no sense from a weight loss standpoint because they are saying they don't count? Eggs = 0 when they are 70 calories a piece? Chicken breast = 0 when 4 oz is 120 calories? No wonder WW people don't lose weight.11 -
I think the people who assume that "no one" can ever be overweight from eating fruit and veg aren't older sedentary women. When your TDEE is about 1600 calories (which mine was as an obese woman), there's not a lot of wiggle room for a couple hundred calories of fruit and veg in your intake. And my diet contains a lot of fruit and veg and has since I was 210 pounds.
Thankfully, I have a higher TDEE now.
There's a persistent myth that you can't get fat off of healthy food. It's wrong, and it seems that WW is selling this myth to its customers now.
I can remember sitting in my doctor's office saying "but I'm a whole foods vegetarian!!!!" after she said something to me about my weight.
She rightly responded that what I ate didn't matter, how much I ate did.
Society seems to be moving further and further away from making sense the older I get.
*footnote: I'm still older, but I'm no longer sedentary, and my TDEE is much higher now than it used to be and I weigh considerably less than I used to.18 -
Shoechick5 wrote: »I'm positive on the list I have smoked fish is included as being Zero.
Here's the list
https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/sites/default/files/freestyle_zero_points_foods.pdf
So how many points are you allowed per day? 10? The majority of the foods listed are foods I eat regularly and I would have some days that are mostly zero days. This makes no sense from a weight loss standpoint because they are saying they don't count? Eggs = 0 when they are 70 calories a piece? Chicken breast = 0 when 4 oz is 120 calories? No wonder WW people don't lose weight.
I believe the new minimum is 23 points a day and you can carry 4 over. On Facebook yesterday, Skinnytaste posted a revised recipe under the new plan, it was around 350 calories but now only 2 smart points. and those two points were the avocado, take that out and add a chicken breast and you're looking at close to 400 calories for free. What the hell??? Just crazy.9 -
Shoechick5 wrote: »I'm positive on the list I have smoked fish is included as being Zero.
Here's the list
https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/sites/default/files/freestyle_zero_points_foods.pdf
So how many points are you allowed per day? 10? The majority of the foods listed are foods I eat regularly and I would have some days that are mostly zero days. This makes no sense from a weight loss standpoint because they are saying they don't count? Eggs = 0 when they are 70 calories a piece? Chicken breast = 0 when 4 oz is 120 calories? No wonder WW people don't lose weight.
On the new plan I will get 23 with 42 weekly points. I’m 5’8 and 30 years old with 40 lbs to lose.
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Shoechick5 wrote: »I'm positive on the list I have smoked fish is included as being Zero.
Here's the list
https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/sites/default/files/freestyle_zero_points_foods.pdf
So how many points are you allowed per day? 10? The majority of the foods listed are foods I eat regularly and I would have some days that are mostly zero days. This makes no sense from a weight loss standpoint because they are saying they don't count? Eggs = 0 when they are 70 calories a piece? Chicken breast = 0 when 4 oz is 120 calories? No wonder WW people don't lose weight.
Also, I’ve been on smart points close to 4 months now and have lost and gained the same 5lbs over and over again.
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Shoechick5 wrote: »I'm positive on the list I have smoked fish is included as being Zero.
Here's the list
https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/sites/default/files/freestyle_zero_points_foods.pdf
So how many points are you allowed per day? 10? The majority of the foods listed are foods I eat regularly and I would have some days that are mostly zero days. This makes no sense from a weight loss standpoint because they are saying they don't count? Eggs = 0 when they are 70 calories a piece? Chicken breast = 0 when 4 oz is 120 calories? No wonder WW people don't lose weight.
You don't have to use all of the points. I believe it's -10 to +5 range. I get 23, so I can go between 13 and 28. I only used 19 yesterday. So far 10 today. I still stayed within my deficit. Im at a little under 1000 calories so far. 1200 limit not including half my exercise calories. And as for WW people not losing weight, see my previous post on this thread regarding that.0 -
I just cant get over the free foods list, literally I would have so many days that are 0 points or close to 0 points, thats insane!3
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Shoechick5 wrote: »I'm positive on the list I have smoked fish is included as being Zero.
Here's the list
https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/sites/default/files/freestyle_zero_points_foods.pdf
I had thought the idea was that there was a serving limit on free foods, but that suggests that you can just unlimited eat them. That really is quite bizarre. Is the point limit way lower now?
(I've never actually done WW, so just know about it secondhand.)0 -
sadiepie10 wrote: »Shoechick5 wrote: »I'm positive on the list I have smoked fish is included as being Zero.
Here's the list
https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/sites/default/files/freestyle_zero_points_foods.pdf
So how many points are you allowed per day? 10? The majority of the foods listed are foods I eat regularly and I would have some days that are mostly zero days. This makes no sense from a weight loss standpoint because they are saying they don't count? Eggs = 0 when they are 70 calories a piece? Chicken breast = 0 when 4 oz is 120 calories? No wonder WW people don't lose weight.
Also, I’ve been on smart points close to 4 months now and have lost and gained the same 5lbs over and over again.
My point exactly. Why would anyone want to pay for a program that isn't working?4 -
Shoechick5 wrote: »Shoechick5 wrote: »I'm positive on the list I have smoked fish is included as being Zero.
Here's the list
https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/sites/default/files/freestyle_zero_points_foods.pdf
So how many points are you allowed per day? 10? The majority of the foods listed are foods I eat regularly and I would have some days that are mostly zero days. This makes no sense from a weight loss standpoint because they are saying they don't count? Eggs = 0 when they are 70 calories a piece? Chicken breast = 0 when 4 oz is 120 calories? No wonder WW people don't lose weight.
I believe the new minimum is 23 points a day and you can carry 4 over. On Facebook yesterday, Skinnytaste posted a revised recipe under the new plan, it was around 350 calories but now only 2 smart points. and those two points were the avocado, take that out and add a chicken breast and you're looking at close to 400 calories for free. What the hell??? Just crazy.
I'm so confused. If it's a recipe, doesn't that mean it's "blended"? And if it's blended, doesn't that mean it has points? Don't you have to put everything on the plate separately for it to be 0 calories, or points, or something?1 -
sadiepie10 wrote: »Shoechick5 wrote: »I'm positive on the list I have smoked fish is included as being Zero.
Here's the list
https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/sites/default/files/freestyle_zero_points_foods.pdf
So how many points are you allowed per day? 10? The majority of the foods listed are foods I eat regularly and I would have some days that are mostly zero days. This makes no sense from a weight loss standpoint because they are saying they don't count? Eggs = 0 when they are 70 calories a piece? Chicken breast = 0 when 4 oz is 120 calories? No wonder WW people don't lose weight.
Also, I’ve been on smart points close to 4 months now and have lost and gained the same 5lbs over and over again.
My point exactly. Why would anyone want to pay for a program that isn't working?
LOL! I don’t know!
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It wouldn't be a very lucrative company, if people did so well they didn't come back.7
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