Should I join weight watchers to lose 20 lbs?

I agree. Unless you think that you have to attend meetings and weigh in to lose weight, WW will not do anything different for you..that is other than take your money. I did WW for about 18 months, lost ~60 pounds but just couldn't get any lower at that time. I actually moved from WW to MFP because on WW you don't count fruit or veggies. That allowed me to find ways around the points I had, therefore not lose weight. You only can eat so much fruit before the calories do make a difference. MFP is calories in vs calories burned. It doesn't get much simpler. If you aren't losing weight and are following your daily goal, are you exercising? A lot? Could be you need to add a few calories, especially protein. Good LUck

I'm currently floating around 145-149. id like to lose my last 20 lbs but no matter how healthy i eat i cant seem to get out of the 140s.
I'm thinking that weight watchers will help me "watch" what i put in to my body and give me a schedule of when the best times for me to eat are

If you need to be accountable to someone, what happens when you no longer pay for their supervision (WW)?
Can you get the same from some of your MFP friends?

If you eat fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight.
Eating healthy has little to do with losing weight, except that you'd be eating more things which are lower calorie & more filling (vegetables, fiber).

At 5'5" and 145, you're at the top end of a healthy weight range (115 - 145).
Going lower will be a very slow process. If you lose 0.5 lb per week, that's a lot.

If you want to be 130, eat 1300 calories & don't eat back what you exercise. (At least not as a daily practice.)
Weigh / measure your food, track everything, increase your cardio (most efficient way to burn calories - try intervals if you don't want to add to the time), increase your weightlifting (will shape you even if you don't lose weight).


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819925-the-basics-don-t-complicate-it

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/833026-important-posts-to-read


"Most weight loss occurs because of decreased caloric intake.
However, evidence shows the only way to maintain weight loss is to be engaged in regular physical activity."
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/physical_activity/index.html


Goal setting, including weight, calories, and macros
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-06-08-setting-goals-667045

Exercise basics
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-06-08-exercise-667080

Sleep enough
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-08-27-sleep-weight-control-690492

Eating higher protein & lower carbs leads to more weight loss
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-08-09-high-protein-diet-685553
Try 45% carbs, 20% fat, 35% protein

As for the best times for you to eat...
eat about half your calories for breakfast (see the last half of this post for the studies)
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-06-10-some-studies-about-weight-loss-667818


Motivation & encouragement (explained in blog post)
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-07-24-motivation-encouragement-680938

- Set small intermediate goals & celebrate every one.
- Take measurements.
- Take pictures.
- Weigh yourself regularly.
- Be flexible; forgive yourself.
- Celebrate the non-scale victories (NSV's)
- Don't give up!!!!
- Don't make any food forbidden.

If you want in-person support groups, that's fine, but it's not going to help any more food-wise than MFP. In fact, it may present a small problem. WW assigns values to food based on calories, so you're still calorie counting, the same as you are here. But they allow you to eat virtually all veggies and fruits without counting and other things too in moderation, like sunflower seeds. Personally, I'm not a fan of saying some calories count and others don't. I don't believe there is any such thing as a free calorie and eating tons of these "free" things, I fear, would lead to weight gain.

If you want in-person support groups, that's fine, but it's not going to help any more food-wise than MFP. In fact, it may present a small problem. WW assigns values to food based on calories, so you're still calorie counting, the same as you are here. But they allow you to eat virtually all veggies and fruits without counting and other things too in moderation, like sunflower seeds. Personally, I'm not a fan of saying some calories count and others don't. I don't believe there is any such thing as a free calorie and eating tons of these "free" things, I fear, would lead to weight gain.

This!^

If you want to manipulate the WW program bad enough....you can. Fiber gives you points back (or at least it used to).

What to eat and when to eat......not really a factor. You can eat crap & lose weight, or eat well and lose weight. You can eat everything in one meal and lose weight. You just have to find consistency. If meetings & weigh-ins promote that.....then WW will help.

But they allow you to eat virtually all veggies and fruits without counting and other things too in moderation, like sunflower seeds.

Sunflower seeds aren't free. They're high points, given the high fat content. I just didn't want anyone to rush out and join WW for the 'free sunflower seeds' or try it at home. But maybe you meant you can eat them in moderation. You can eat anything in moderation on WW. Like calorie counting, it's just what fits your numbers and what is worth it to you.

Weightwatchers works great for people who have a five day a week job and do the same amount of activity consistently. If you enjoy meetings and that sort support group then WW can be a great tool. I learned quite a bit from weightwatchers, but found that because in my lifestyle, my exercise varies greatly from day to day, it was not the right program for me. Also WW tend to push their weightloss products which don't really interest me. But a lot of people I know have controlled their weight with the help of WW.

I myself have had much more success with MFP.

Have you considered that you may already be at your ideal weight? From your profile pic, you look great (I'd kill to have your figure!). Sometimes we have an ideal weight in mind, but it may not be realistic for our body type and height.

^ THIS.
FIRST.... I know I sound like an old fart (and I kinda am) but NEVER EVER compromise your health for vanity.
I checked out your profile and saw you were within the healthy range for your height,
when I was at your age too, but always thought I was fat and needed to lose more,
and I YO-YOed because I went past what was realistic to maintain for my body type.

Now that I'm twice your age. I think about all the time I wasted worrying about what other peoples perceptions were, not even that i worried about what I thought other people perceptions were. It's not who loses the most the fastest, but who can be the healthiest the longest

But you're beautiful, you're healthy, relax and live an awesome life... Work, play, live, love, laugh... your body is your vehicle for life and there are no trade-ins so keep it strong and healthy. If you want to lose a few vanity pounds, that's fine... but DO NOT stress over it, it will just seem like wasted time and effort 20 years from now. What's important to me now is that I'm strong enough to hike and kayak and throw the great-nieces+nephews up in the air (and catch them!)

I like you.