Weight Watchers Maintenance Frustrations

I've been a pretty happy lifetime member of Weight Watchers for about 7 years and with them have learned so much about my own eating habits and improving them. I've managed to remain at my Weight Watchers goal weight for most of that time. Though in the past year it seemed as though a successful monthly weight in required eating absolutely nothing until after weighing in and making sure I wore the lightest workout clothes I could. And still, I hovered just above my goal weight, but within the 2 lb allowable for maintenance.

6 weeks ago I logged into MFP for the first time to see if counting calories instead of points would spice things up enough to break this year-long plateau. Well, it worked! I lost 5 1/2 lbs giving me that buffer and helping me to avoid the stressful monthly weigh in at WW. In this time, I've been watching my weight very carefully, weighing myself often (too often), but to simply watch....see what my body is doing. My highest weight throughout the day/week is still well below my WW goal weight and this morning my home (Weight Watchers brand) scale weighed me 5 1/2 lower than my goal.

Though when I got to Weight Watchers, I was a pound and a half heavier! I know this seems like not too much of a deal, but when WW requires you to stay within two lbs of your goal weight to avoid paying, 1 1/2 lbs is pretty big, right?

First, I'm so relieved I figured this out. For the past year I have felt pretty bad and even frightened by the possibility that I may be looking at a future of stead, even if small weight gain. With the help of MFP, I feel I have more control and certainly better outcomes.

Second, as frustrating as this is to realize (feeling as if I've been toyed with), I am grateful for what Weight Watchers has taught me at the beginning. If gave me a healthy way to lose and tools for a healthy lifestyle that I've brought into my work here on MFP.

While I will continue to weigh in at Weight Watchers in order to benefit from the online tools and recipes and articles (it's still a good place for me to start), I will trust and follow my home scale numbers as I begin maintenance with MFP.

Also, your thoughts, stories, ideas, feedback and encouragement has been helpful to creating a healthier lifestyle all around.

Thank you.