Do Frozen Weight Watcher Meals Help you loose weight ?

TheCountryLife

Do Frozen Weight Watcher Meals Help you loose weight ?

Example : Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine & Smart Ones

cgrout78

They can help you to control your calorie intake. I usually have to have something on the side though because they don't fill me up. They're good in a pinch and I eat them once or twice a week, but they have a lot of sodium, so just be warned.

I think they can really help with portion control though.

shybelle

I eat them a few times a week. They are quick and easy. I really like Smart Ones. They are high in sodium so just make sure to drink water and get your sweat on!

TheCountryLife

Yes, I defiantly agree that they help with portion control. I've been eating them every day @ lunch during the week. I want to make sure I'm not doing more damage by eating them :-(

chevy88grl

Well. They are quite processed and have a lot of sodium in them. That being said, I do eat them occasionally (usually on work days when I'm just too tired to do anything more than shove something in the microwave). Will they HELP you lose weight? Well, you'll only lose if in a calorie deficit. But, unlike a lot of people - I don't think having them occasionally will hurt.

andreacord

I think it would have to do with the portion and calorie control aspect of it. I only really eat them if I'm craving something like fettuchini and don't want to go overboard. Careful on the sodium though.

JaeDeeCaterpillar

Like the PP said, they definitely help with portion control in a pinch. I always add 1/2-1 cup of frozen veggies to them before microwaving to bulk them up. Oh and drink a bunch of water to compensate for the sodium content.

tamheath

Ditto to what the other said. I often keep on hand in my office fridge a bag of ready-made salad, and have that on the side. And yep, drink up that water! :happy: There are lots of people totally opposed to eating those things, but sometimes I'm just too busy at night to make my healthy lunch for next day. THAT'S when they save me.

Marll

Only in the sense that you are likely controlling portions and going into a caloric defecit. As far as the quality of food it's total garbage and you'd be better off making something yourself.

If things like Weight Watchers really worked, and worked long term, everyone would eat their pre packaged meals. I think that some people can loose weight on the weight watchers plan, but best to prepare your own foods within their guidelines, the meals themselves are just a revenue generator for them.

jillerymaker

I agree...super convenient to grab in the morning for lunch. I do also try to have a small salad to supplement; otherwise I am still hungry. But I think they serve their purpose for portion control and convenience as long as that's not all your eating!

tamheath

I think it would have to do with the portion and calorie control aspect of it. I only really eat them if I'm craving something like fettuchini and don't want to go overboard. Careful on the sodium though.

Yes to fettuccine! And the little pizzas! :drinker:

Heidi1987

I never trust or enjoy microwave meals. so much junk and very little nutritious ingredients.

erika010

I used to eat frozen meals but now I don't. I have noticed a huge difference in my extra tummy flub now that I make all my meals from scratch (I'm not even making anything fancy, just grilled chicken and veggies mostly). I agree, they do help with portion control but the preservatives and sodium are just not good for you. Probably ok to eat occasionally but too much salt, even if you "flush out with water" (I don't necessarily agree that this works) still leads to a host of long-term health issues.

gorgeouss9

I was once hooked on Lean Cuisine. I did lose weight when I ate it for lunch, and sometimes dinner. Mostly because it helped me know exactly how many calories i'll be eating. And, the sodium on their dishes are about 500mg for each meal. But, after a few weeks on it, it didnt satisfy me. I would begin looking for more to eat, and would sometimes eat more than one meal at a time. Also, I noticed that when I made my own meals @ home, the sodium was much less- and the protein and vitamins were more. And, the cost was too high for what you get.

katcod1522

sodium in those processed meals is the devil. just sayin. Go whole foods instead

BECav0602

I think they are fine in moderation-a couple of times a week. Life happens and sometimes we just need something convenient. However, I have been making big bathces of chili, spaghetti sauce, casseroles, etc. and freezing them in individual containers. Put them in the fridge the night before and by lunch the next day they are ready to microwave. Most of the time those are better, fill me up and have less sodium.

havingitall

Instead of eating them frozen...I'd try warming them up

guppygirl322

I have to be honest. I don't consider anything that highly processed to be real food. Yes, it is low in calories, and portion control will help you lose weight. If you look at the ingredient list though, there's hardly any real food in them. Once in a while probably won't kill you, but I certainly wouldn't rely on them. You could eat a home made grilled veggie salad with some protein of your choice, and be able to eat twice as much food for the same amount of calories.

tnknights

But, any calorie restriction will work. We go to the grocery and fill up in produce and meats / seafood. We buy canned tomatoes but for the most part avoid the canned food aisle. Same for boxes except oatmeal. And we go to the frozen section for veggies and stuff like that.

If the WW food has ingredients that you don't know what they are then I suggest looking elsewhere.

The advantage of getting light recipes is that your food tastes the way you want. Not like frozen food. I'm just totally against all the weight loss programs out there. None has worked as good as MyFitnessPal and RunKeeper.

CheleLynn44

I always keep the WW mini pepperoni pizzas in my freezer. I shop every Tuesday and try very hard to plan my meals for the week. But its nice to know I have something on hand in case I need a quick meal.

I think if used just once or twice a week they can be beneficial to your weight loss.

But like anything else you HAVE to do what works for you!! I have a friend who eats a lean cuisine or light michelina's everyday she works and so far she has lost 88lbs since April.

wsrsjt

Hi, I used weight watchers (the brand) meals every day and lost 2st in just over a year, however, when I stopped eating them I put on 3 st over 18mths. I'm not saying it was entirely due to stopping eating ww meals - I have a lot of family problems as well which led to binge eating.

I am now trying Diet Chef meals supplimented with veg and/or rice, I use single portion frozen packets to control my portions, and counting the cals on MFP, this seems to be working much better and much quicker for me. Good luck and stick to it.

LisaWixom

I eat them Every day, Lean cuisine. Typically 2 a day. I started January 1 and have already lost 8lbs. The sodium is 600mg on most. I compared it to "healthy" items in my cupboard out of curiosity and its similiar. The amount you need to support body functions is 1500mg. The American heart association recommends 2000mg per day. So as long as you are careful I think they help with calories and portion control. Its easiest for me because I cook from scratch for my family nightly and I don't want to turn around and cook again for myself.

Christinemary6

No. Save yourself money and simply cook your own food from fresh wholesome ingredients.

I have tried them and tried to use them for lunch and dinner; I lasted a week or so...they are not nice!

TheCountryLife

Thank You, these responses have been very helpful :happy:

I think I will start making my own small portion meals :happy:

CMmrsfloyd

I like the Smart Ones breakfast quesadilla (230 calories) in the morning, it's quick and easy to heat up and take with me in the car. And the Lean Cuisine pizzas (somewhere from 300-400 cal depending on what kind you get) keep me from stopping off at Little Caesar's or Pizza Hut. LOL And actually I really like the Lean Cuisine spinach & artichoke dip for a snack (it's 200 calories for the dip and a pita bread). Some of the Healthy Choice frozen meals are quite yummy, and yes some of these items are high in sodium but if that concerns you, you can read the labels and choose items that are lower in sodium (yes there are some options that are not super-high) and you can also balance out the rest of your day with lower-sodium options. The main thing that these meals do is control portions/calories - you can do that on your own cooking from scratch, but for me it's nice to have a couple of options in the freezer that I can just nuke for a couple of minutes every now and then. This weightloss journey does not have to be 'all or nothing', if you personally enjoy frozen dinners then yes go ahead and keep a few of the lighter options on-hand, if however they just don't 'float your boat' then stay away from them and do what works for you. You can even cook more food for your meals and then freeze leftovers in individually portioned containers to create your own frozen dinners. I do that sometimes, too, when I actually cook. LOL

bizco

No. They don't keep you full and satisfied for very long at all which will lead you to eat more. They lack nutrition and are full of chemicals & sodium.

AyabeR

You cant eat them everyday. Every once in a while wont hurt

msmimi

They do nothing for me. Too much salt so I have to counter that with water and not enough food, I have to counter that by adding stuff. So it's a no go for me.

JPsFunkyMojo

I have to be honest. I don't consider anything that highly processed to be real food. Yes, it is low in calories, and portion control will help you lose weight. If you look at the ingredient list though, there's hardly any real food in them. Once in a while probably won't kill you, but I certainly wouldn't rely on them. You could eat a home made grilled veggie salad with some protein of your choice, and be able to eat twice as much food for the same amount of calories.

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Jendulin

I eat them for lunch every day the smart ones anyway. They leave calories at the end of the day so I can have the same thing as my family does for dinner and don't have to make something different. I have recently been going to the lean cuisine because they have a wider variety. I eat the steam bags they give you more than the others do.


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paigemarie93

Yes, I lost two stone last year by eating those