weightwatchers opinions please
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Yeah, the new plan is pretty high calorie. I did it for like 8 weeks when it first came out and only lost like 2 lbs. I also tracked calories at the same time just to see and I was over 1800. So the painfully slow weight loss makes sense because I don't burn much more than that. If I did it again I'd need to lower my points target. Eating 1800 felt like no diet at all, which was great, but if I'm going to take the time to count, I want to see a little bit more scale movement. Maybe I'll try it again in Jan.I did weight watchers over 10 years ago and lost over 20llbs. I tried it recently and found I was barely losing 0.5 lbs per week.0 -
Not sure I want to pay to read it, until I know more about what he is up to.
"Discredited" might largely have to do with to whom one wishes to give credit, however, I would love to see who is discrediting Gary Taubes, and to determine for myself if they have a "dog in the fight." so to speak. Kindly post some sources, if you have themTaubes has largely been discredited.
Start with James Krieger at www.weightology.net0 -
It's just a web site. No payment needed.0
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My niece has lost 50lb with Weight Watchers so it worked for her. The only problem I have with it is that it doesn't really educate you about healthy eating and the calorie content of food, wrapping it all up in magic "pro points", so you are bound to them for ever. If you enjoy the social aspect or feel that it helps to go to meetings and have the support of the group leader then go for it! This whole weight loss journey comes down to whatever works best for you!
Good luck :flowerforyou:
This isn't really true, at least not for me. I've been doing Weight Watchers for a while now and I did it before a couple years ago.
Their meetings are there to educate you about healthy meetings. Topics of meetings I've been to have included taking a healthy snack with you everywhere, eating in moderation on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, getting an appropriate amount of sleep and how it can help you make better food choices, quick healthy dinner meals, and so many more. I'm sure there a lot of people who go and learn nothing because they don't want to, but there are people like me who learns a lot.
Their points are not arbitrary, they're based on protein, carbs, fiber, and fat. They heavily favor a low carb, high protein diet. It's become very easy for me to look at a food and quickly estimate what the points value is going to be. I do this a lot in the grocery store or out to eat or something and I'm almost always right or a point off.
OP, the meetings vary by location and leaders. I'd go to one (i'm pretty sure you can attend one meeting for free) and see how you feel about the leader and the people. This has made a huge difference for me. My leader is phenomenal. She's knowledgeable, fun, and is very willing to help. The people who I see at the meetings every week are also awesome. Everyone is very supportive, come on we clap for people when they lose five pounds! It's great. It's not for everyone though, so make sure you mesh well with the program and the leader.
As for how the plan has worked for me...I love it. I eat much healthier now, I eat fruits and veggies because they're "free." Yes, I know they have calories, so I don't eat ten bananas in a day. A common misconception I think, is that just because Weight Watchers says fruits and veggies are free, they're advocating eating ten bananas a day and that's fine! They're not, they're simply trying to get you to choose a healthier choice. One of the first things you'll be asked if you're consistently not losing is going to be "how many fruits are you eating?" Also, it's my understanding that they've somehow adjusted in other parts of their plan for the "free" foods, but I could be wrong about that.
It's really something that has a ton of variables and won't work for everyone and that's okay. Give it a shot and try it out if you want.0 -
Whatever happened to the "Deal-a-Meal" program pushed by the Sweating to the oldies guy?
Anyone try it?
You can get something very similar at TOPS.org. They are a non-profit - costs $28/year to join. I haven't tried it but was looking into it as an alternative to WW.0 -
I was once a strong advocate of weightwatchers. I particularly liked their core plan (from about 10 years ago) that didn't require a lot of tracking if you ate from a list of healthy foods and paid attention to satiety levels. It was a good plan that really did teach you how to eat healthy. That plan was too successful. People were not bound to the WW points system/database anymore so they changed it - made it more complex (and changed they way they calculate points, too). Now they still have a list of foods that are healthy but the list of exceptions is not made clear - you have to consult their online tracker (that you have to pay monthly to access) in order to follow the plan. They just made some more changes to it - more foods are now considered "power foods" but they refuse to tell their members what criteria makes them power foods - they tell you to check the tracker.
Well, having to refer to the tracker for everything is a non-starter for me. I just left WW because they are unwilling to give me the info I need to succeed with their plan, so I'm unwilling to give them any more of my money.
Unfortunately, MFP doesn't quite fit the bill for me either. The constant tracking drives me nuts and then then I rebel and go off-plan.
If anyone knows of a good alternative to the WW Simply Filling plan, I'd like to hear about it.0 -
Core was the plan I lost all my weight on, too. I don't think it 'merged' into the new plan because it was too successful, though. I think they tried to get the best of both worlds into the latest plan.
I do champion their programs but I too don't like the company and don't pay them anymore. Here, it's a state-wide franchise and they charge more than the corporate locations for everything.
bjbrown- Why not just do Core again yourself? Or if you want to do the new plan without paying them, I have a spreadsheet that works as a points calculator. You don't need to know their exact rules and foods lists, just make your own rules for the stuff outside of the basics. I think I have a booklet around here of the specifics of the latest plan, though I picked it up when the latest plan was new, about 3 years ago. You don't have to use Etools. Or at least here in AZ you don't.
The new points are roughly 40 calories each. High fat foods will be a bit lower and high fiber foods a bit higher but I found most foods I eat fell into that 40 calories per point category.0 -
Never heard of such a bigger rip off in my life. Charge more for smaller portions and hide it under a pro points mask of falseness.
Have to agree that ww isnt a lifestyle IMO its a quick fix as it cuts your cals but isnt sustainable longterm,
have you looked at the nutritional info on the side of the boxes some of the fat is double the daily allowance
and the sugar can be huge, but again only my opinion,
do what you feel is right for you
weight watchers allows you to eat anything you want. Its not just boxed food from the program. Of course they have snacks and stuff you can buy...but that would be the members choice, its not a requirement.
Oh isn't that kind of them letting you eat what you want? You could do that anyway without being conned for overpriced crap products that don't have a silly pro points tag on them.
Channel 4 did a documentary on them. Many of their members meetings are just a glorified sales exercise and products eg their crisps just have the same nutritional value per gram as all the standard brands but cost more and come in a smaller packet.0 -
WW has been around for 50 years, does $1.8 billion a year in revenues and is widely recognized as one of the most effective, sensible diet plans available.
But if channel 4 did an expose on the price of their crackers... :laugh:0 -
I'm not allowed to say since last time I had an opinion I got a strike on here. I really wish I could say...... don't waste your money. Wonder if I'm allowed to say that. I worked for them.. when I didn't know better.0
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It's just a web site. No payment needed.
Oh, I guess when I get this:Already a subscriber? Log in here!
Otherwise, click the Paypal button below to subscribe on a monthly basis at $7.99 per month…
I must be mistaken.0 -
2 co workers were on weight watchers when i started here 3 years ago. they have both gained back all the weight and then some. one of them was down 70 pounds. not to say anyone who loses weight doesnt have a shot at gaining the weight back, but yeah i say save your money and learn to have a smarter healthier relationship with all food.0
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Bump0
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All diet plans stop working when you abandon them and go back to your old habits.It's just a web site. No payment needed.
Oh, I guess when I get this:Already a subscriber? Log in here!
Otherwise, click the Paypal button below to subscribe on a monthly basis at $7.99 per month…
I must be mistaken.
I go to weightology.net and type 'taubes' in the search field and all kinds of free content comes up.0 -
Totally a scam ... the diet companies make billions off of vulnerable people. Pretty sad really.0
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I think WW philosophy is that they would rather you eat fruit than ice cream, or an unhealthy snack. I recall when they changed fruits to free food, they also changed the points value on all foods to make up for the "free" fruits.
Regardless, counting points is the same as counting calories. Right now I prefer counting calories and using MFP as opposed to WW.0 -
Wow, Weight Watchers? I'd agree if we're talking about fat burner pills or supplement pyramid schemes or even late-night exercise DVD sales. But WW is a respected company where you can go to learn a sensible diet plan and get some support and accountability. There's no long term contracts. If someone felt scammed, they can simply stop going. It's not even that expensive, compared to like Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem or Shakeology, even. I think it's less scam-like than LA Fitness and most of the bigger gyms. I wonder how much some people really know about it.Totally a scam ... the diet companies make billions off of vulnerable people. Pretty sad really.0 -
Wow, Weight Watchers? I'd agree if we're talking about fat burner pills or supplement pyramid schemes or even late-night exercise DVD sales. But WW is a respected company where you can go to learn a sensible diet plan and get some support and accountability. There's no long term contracts. If someone felt scammed, they can simply stop going. It's not even that expensive, compared to like Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem or Shakeology, even. I think it's less scam-like than LA Fitness and most of the bigger gyms. I wonder how much some people really know about it.Totally a scam ... the diet companies make billions off of vulnerable people. Pretty sad really.
Oh dear, they certainly have convinced you havent they?
Was it the lovely celebrity on the advert who told you that it was a good idea or was it the 'revolutionary' pro-points idea all covering the 'smaller portion at higher cost' plan.
That is all they care about. They are a complete scam, and a lot of the people who finish their plan become so bored and pile the weight back on anyway. How convenient for a company selling stuff to people needing to lose weight....0 -
It was the 50 lbs. I lost in 9 months 10 years ago on the program and being a stock analyst and knowing a little about the company and their programs and the industry and a lot about weight loss plans in general.Oh dear, they certainly have convinced you havent they?
Was it the lovely celebrity on the advert who told you that it was a good idea or was it the 'revolutionary' pro-points idea all covering the 'smaller portion at higher cost' plan.
What convinced you they're such a scam? Oh, yeah, a channel 4 news segment. How long was it... 30 seconds? 90?
Was that also where you learned that you burn 300 calories in 15 minutes running?0 -
It was the 50 lbs. I lost in 9 months 10 years ago on the program and being a stock analyst and knowing a little about the company and their programs and the industry and a lot about weight loss plans in general.Oh dear, they certainly have convinced you havent they?
Was it the lovely celebrity on the advert who told you that it was a good idea or was it the 'revolutionary' pro-points idea all covering the 'smaller portion at higher cost' plan.
What convinced you they're such a scam? Oh, yeah, a channel 4 news segment. How long was it... 30 seconds? 90?
Was that also where you learned that you burn 300 calories in 15 minutes running?
It was the hour long programme and the personal checks I have made. The products I have seen contain very little nutritional benefit over other products, except for they are smaller. It appears that the only pounds they are interested in you losing are nice, round, metal-like ones.
300 calories in 15 minutes - RunKeeper, Garmin - any fitness device where you can track your running. MFP also agrees. Perhaps I run slightly faster than average as running is my main sport and I train for it. You can certainly get similar results from running regardless of speed.
In any case, the point I was trying to make is that running is great for calorie loss and it's doesnt rip you off like your Weight Watcher meals.0 -
It was the 50 lbs. I lost in 9 months 10 years ago on the program and being a stock analyst and knowing a little about the company and their programs and the industry and a lot about weight loss plans in general.Oh dear, they certainly have convinced you havent they?
Was it the lovely celebrity on the advert who told you that it was a good idea or was it the 'revolutionary' pro-points idea all covering the 'smaller portion at higher cost' plan.
What convinced you they're such a scam? Oh, yeah, a channel 4 news segment. How long was it... 30 seconds? 90?
Was that also where you learned that you burn 300 calories in 15 minutes running?
It was the hour long programme and the personal checks I have made. The products I have seen contain very little nutritional benefit over other products, except for they are smaller. It appears that the only pounds they are interested in you losing are nice, round, metal-like ones.
300 calories in 15 minutes - RunKeeper, Garmin - any fitness device where you can track your running. MFP also agrees. Perhaps I run slightly faster than average as running is my main sport and I train for it.
In any case, the point I was trying to make is that running is great for calorie loss and it's doesnt rip you off like your Weight Watcher meals.0 -
STOP!! All of you knocking WW, especially the unlimited fruit and vegetables aspect of their program, need to just stop. I lost 120 on that program all while eating unlimited fruit and vegetables and I lost 120 lbs. The thing is some people get stupid. Lets use some common sense. Just because they say unlimited fruit doesn't mean all the banana's you can eat0
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I've never bought a WW food product. It's not really part of the program, just an optional extra. I can see how the products could mislead a shopper who's not familiar with their actual programs. I don't think they claim 'extra nutritional benefits', just that the points are stamped on the package so it's a convenience, and probably also a more sensible serving size.The products I have seen contain very little nutritional benefit over other products, except for they are smaller.
You must be a very fast runner. I can't burn half that much running. Most non-obese people can't burn more than around 10 calories per minute.0 -
I did weightwatchers approximately 2 years ago. i lost with it but decided i was tired of paying $18 a month for an online option to track in their system which didn't include many of the foods i eat, which caused anxiety, and so i started with myfitnesspal for free. i never did the meetings. the only difference really between the two programs, to me, is that you get caloric values for fruits and veggies in myfitnesspal, while with weightwatchers, they are free foods. if you use myfitnesspal and stick with low fat foods and a modest caloric goal for each day, it'll probably yield the same results since losing is more about calories burned...0
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Although I have no specifics, I know a lot of people that have had good success with WW. I think the meetings are really important to people who might struggle to do it on their own. Good luck!0
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I did WW and it worked well as long as it was convenient. Like MFP it is what you make of it. If you choose to use points for junk food that is what you do. If you set your calories lower or exercise more you lose more weight. I find WW to be exceptionally expensive for what you get and the support to be more motivating on MFP, but then perhaps I was not as lucky as you were at meetings. I would never go back I am sold on MFP.0
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I did WW 2 years ago. I joined for 3 months, lost about 25 pounds, then continued counting points on my own for a total loss of 35-40 pounds. While is was on WW, I joined MFP to and logged simultaneously for a couple of weeks. WW seemed to restrict my calories more because I racked up so many points with lean proteins.
The group meetings were a bit annoying. The leader didn't do great trying to get to know the clients. Instead she just talked about herself the whole time and how she lost her weight and maintained the loss. But her methods of diet and exercise are very different than mine. I exercise and try to limit prepackaged foods as much as I can. She relies heavily on prepackaged foods (and uses that to sell WW foods) and doesn't exercise much. I am sure with there are great leaders out there that make the meetings wonderful.
I have now switched over to MFP. I focus on calories more than my macros (I find that focusing on filling foods and staying away from prepackaged stuff, I naturally hit my macros). I never took full advantage of the WW tools on my phone, but I find tracking with MFP to be easier than calculating points.0 -
I've never bought a WW food product. It's not really part of the program, just an optional extra. I can see how the products could mislead a shopper who's not familiar with their actual programs. I don't think they claim 'extra nutritional benefits', just that the points are stamped on the package so it's a convenience, and probably also a more sensible serving size.The products I have seen contain very little nutritional benefit over other products, except for they are smaller.
You must be a very fast runner. I can't burn half that much running. Most non-obese people can't burn more than around 10 calories per minute.
If it is a more sensible serving size, it should be more appropriately priced. Bearing in mind that it is a smaller portion, one would assume therefore that there is more nutritional value to the product to compensate for less quantity, but there isnt. Salt values in crisps the same/more in WW, fat values in meat and chicken ditto.
Running at even 5 miles an hour (a bit faster than a fast walk) would burn around 150 calories in 15 minutes for me. More so I would imagine if you are overweight as your body has to work harder. Compared to say 15 minutes of playing football, fitness classes, Zumba and all other comparable exercises which people may take up to lose weight, running does more for calories. Of course it isnt for everyone as I can see the repetitive side of it. I am not saying it is the shining light for all, but it was for me.0 -
I think the base program for weight watchers is good, 50 calories equals one point. I think they've gotten too public. Now they want to include unlimited options, and weather a person thinks that common sense would apply, it doesn't. Dieting companies want to make it sound too good to be true. That was just like the Atkins in the beginning..'Eat all the meat you want and loose weight!' Unfortunately when you live on bacon, hotdogs, and hamburgers you develop heart complications.
There is no easy way around this. If you watch what you eat and take responsibility for your choices, you're golden.
If you need the support of the meetings then pay the fees by all means.
Just don't think that weight watchers is some special secret plan, it's just a bedazzled form of calorie counting.
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Weight Watchers isnt available everywhere
so people lose weight on there own
but if this option is good
and people lose & maintain aswell then thats good
so good luck
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