Do Frozen Weight Watcher Meals Help you loose weight ?

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Replies

  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    The key to losing weight is staying at a caloric deficit. Stay in the range of your allowed calorie intake that MFP sets for you and you will lose weight. So yes, you can lose weight eating smartones, lean cuisines ect....as long as you're not eating 10 of them a day.

    But as a side note - like many others have already commented, microwave meals are not the healthiest choice. Over processed and lots of sodium. But I admit, I'm guilty, I eat them sometimes too :blushing:
  • samantha1480
    samantha1480 Posts: 9 Member
    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.

    Weight Watchers DOES work. It is the EXACT same thing as my fitness pal. They tell you how many calories, fat, etc you should have per day based on your personal information...only they convert it into a Points System. I joined Weight Watchers and had great success because they teach you how to eat healthy and with proper portions. They NEVER pushed their product on me or even talked about their product at meetings. They do have Smart Ones out there in grocery stores but Smart Ones are not a focus at all on what they teach. You don’t have to buy anything related to Weight Watchers, you simply pay a meeting fee if you choose to attend their meetings. I put my weight back on because I stopped following the program and was eating more per day than I should have. Weight Watchers is not anything like Jenny Craig or NutriSystem where you have to eat AND BUY their foods to be on their program.

    I just thought I'd clear that up :)
  • Speedtrap
    Speedtrap Posts: 216
    I do eat them everyday for lunch, I know the sodium is high but for portion control they work for me.
    My work is surrounded by fast food places so I look at is as the lesser of two evils. When I don't have them here I find myself going out for fast food.

    That being said, when I talked to my nutritionist she told me she would rather have me eating them instead of the crap I use to eat. If you can find them on sale it is a cost effective option, for me at least.
  • gatorgirl7
    gatorgirl7 Posts: 103 Member
    They help w/ portion control but always leave me hungry so I have to do something like steamed veggies or a salad on the side. They're also PACKED with sodium so I wouldn't eat too many. When I did WW, they recommended no more than one a wk.
  • beckyyoungers
    beckyyoungers Posts: 18
    I love the Amy's frozen meals - they are made with more nutritious ingredients than your mainstream brands - of course, they are also way more expensive! But I eat them from time to time. I find it a great way to get a hot, satisfying meal for 300-400 calories. Especially during the winter when I'm always freezing, the last thing I want for lunch is a sandwich or a salad.

    Also, Amy's has a low-sodium line of frozen dinners. :)
  • Marll
    Marll Posts: 904 Member
    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.

    Weight Watchers DOES work. It is the EXACT same thing as my fitness pal. They tell you how many calories, fat, etc you should have per day based on your personal information...only they convert it into a Points System. I joined Weight Watchers and had great success because they teach you how to eat healthy and with proper portions. They NEVER pushed their product on me or even talked about their product at meetings. They do have Smart Ones out there in grocery stores but Smart Ones are not a focus at all on what they teach. You don’t have to buy anything related to Weight Watchers, you simply pay a meeting fee if you choose to attend their meetings. I put my weight back on because I stopped following the program and was eating more per day than I should have. Weight Watchers is not anything like Jenny Craig or NutriSystem where you have to eat AND BUY their foods to be on their program.

    I just thought I'd clear that up :)

    I think that you missed the point of my post. The prepackaged stuff is not meant to be the core of Weight Watchers, and in fact are more of a revenue generator for them for people that don't like/want to cook. Having a friend that did Weight Watchers (with some initial success, but much more once he went Paleo) I know that they base their system around more or less real food, not "Buy our frozen meals".
  • rowdy47879
    rowdy47879 Posts: 9 Member
    I say do what works best for you! If you are losing weight then as the old saying goes "if its not broken, don't fix it!" Nutrition wise they are probably not the best option due to being so processed. But in those times where you need something quickly, they are a much better option than fast food, etc. I know I keep some around for that very reason. I do not eat them all that often but its a better option when my choices are limited!
  • Butterfly3730
    Butterfly3730 Posts: 220
    I can't do the frozen foods/processed foods -- WAY too much SODIUM and I never seem to feel fulfilled. I go with whole foods (mostly home cooked). More planning, yes but I feel better. But I'm not doing this just to lose weight, I want to be as healthy as I can be too. So it is not just about calorie deficit and portion control but also what I'm putting in my body and how it makes me feel too.
  • Martha_VH
    Martha_VH Posts: 386 Member
    I have been eating the Lean Cuisine meals. One person said to look at the ingredients, which is true, you want to know what's going into you. Chances are if you don't recognize it as food, its probably not, and not good for you. The Lean Cuisines are pretty good. I usually eat them with a side item. Carrots, an apple or orange.

    And again, in moderation.
  • clarkeje1
    clarkeje1 Posts: 1,641 Member
    I love Healthy Choice and Lean Cuisine especially at work or when I don't have time to cook. Just watch your sodium for the rest of the day!
  • staceyseeger
    staceyseeger Posts: 778 Member
    They helped me learn portion & calorie control. They were part of my lifestyle change for 1 1/2 years. I have since learned about healthier food choices. It's amazing what you can eat for less calories/fat content in processed food AND not be hungry.
  • thepanttherlady
    thepanttherlady Posts: 258 Member
    I eat Lean Cuisine, Eating Right etc. on a daily basis. Yes, I can make salads etc, but I like a hot meal for lunch and eating these prevents me from going to a fast food joint which used to be a daily occurrence.

    I have found some that didn't taste as good as others and some that are definitely yummy. The sodium content is not as horrible as people claim. As with any meal, the sodium may be higher or lower depending on what you're eating. As another poster stated, you can plan your day so you don't go over the recommended amounts.

    Just my two cents. :smile:
  • BetteLovr
    BetteLovr Posts: 15 Member
    I agree with the others about convenience but I think it is important to relearn how to cook.. Don't you agree? I do like the breakfast egg while and hash brown meal for something a little quick and different in the a.m.
  • Fraileya19
    Fraileya19 Posts: 42
    I used to LOVE them... until my BP starting going up and my DR. put me on Metoprolol and a waterpill. Now, I try and stay away from them due to their soldium content. I retain water like no other! Bah humbug,
  • jenn_is_trouble
    jenn_is_trouble Posts: 114
    I usually have a Healthy Choice/Lean Cuisine/etc for lunch when I am at work (M-F).

    I wouldn't eat them for EVERY meal. I think if you're having a healthy breakfast, a frozen meal for lunch and then a healthy dinner with lots of water in between and some exercise, you will do just fine.
  • vger11
    vger11 Posts: 248
    sodium in those processed meals is the devil. just sayin. Go whole foods instead :)

    agree

    they help with portion control, tho
  • SLaw4215
    SLaw4215 Posts: 596 Member
    I have completely stopped eating them about 97% of the time because I spent a year living nearly off of these meals and I wasn't losing weight and it was expensive. With a little planning you can make your own -- who can't portion frozen broccholi a piece of chicken and freeze it in a Gladware container...and save yourself a bundle of money and get some variety... eating the WW & LC meals are high in sodium and THEY DON'T TEACH us how to feed ourselves. I'm thinking I have to find a long-term solution to my eating and habits and I think reaching for frozen meals is a trap (bad habit) and gimmic.... just my two cents...
  • SLaw4215
    SLaw4215 Posts: 596 Member
    I agree with the others about convenience but I think it is important to relearn how to cook.. Don't you agree? I do like the breakfast egg while and hash brown meal for something a little quick and different in the a.m.
    I agree
  • Natz_20
    Natz_20 Posts: 62 Member
    Hey!

    Just thought I would post on this topic. I am all for weight watchers as I joined two years ago and in 6 months had lost three and a half stone and went from a size 18 to a 14!!! I love weight watchers meals and find them really filling. I especially love the lasagne and it is great for a lunch time meal nice hot meal mmmm. I also bought all of the cookbooks and make a lot of things from them.

    When i have some spare time I will stick some recipes on if you like?

    I have joined this now as I have put all the weight I lost back on due to an abusive relationship!! Thankfully I seen a way out and now it is safe to say I have my head screwed on again and focused to get into that bikini in July!!

    Hope this helps!!?

    Natalie

    xx
  • dhara06
    dhara06 Posts: 18 Member
    I need to have one for lunch today because i didn't bring anything...how much water should I drink to get the sodium out?
  • dmunroe8
    dmunroe8 Posts: 2 Member
    People tend to repeat what they hear from others. If you don't have high blood pressure and don't eat them everyday there is nothing wrong with them. They keep the portion under control I add a veggie with them. So go for it whatever works for you :)
  • Ashwee87
    Ashwee87 Posts: 695 Member
    I was eating them, but they have WAY too much sodium in them, which I don't need.
  • itsjilly
    itsjilly Posts: 40
    IMO, its better than Fast food, but not as good as making something yourself!

    I keep cooked chicken sliced in the freezer for those days that I don't have time.


    The frozen meals have way to much sodium in them!
  • YoungDoc2B
    YoungDoc2B Posts: 1,593 Member
    Sure. So does cheese burgers and pizza, ice cream & cookies, etc. The take home message is that there's no single or group of foods that will "help" you lose weight moreso than the others. When it comes to weight loss, ALL you need is an appropriate caloric deficit. You could fill your day with Reese's cups if you wanted. However if your goal is to be healthy, that's another story.
  • Donnarose82
    Donnarose82 Posts: 71
    I don't eat them but I heard they are pretty sodium laden. I prefer to cook my own meals so I know what's going into it, usually I do a cookup on a Sunday.
  • taylorwaylor
    taylorwaylor Posts: 417 Member
    Eating at a calorie deficit will help you lose weight no matter what. Most people say that the frozen meals are unhealthy... I never realy looked into why they are... BUT, if they are easy for you and help you stay within your calories then i'd say they are fine... Just try to make your own homecooked meals most of the time! I think that the only time you reeeaally need a to eat and not eat certain things is when you have goals other then "losing weight", such as gaining muscle, losing fat, recomp and so on..

    :)
  • JenRun1
    JenRun1 Posts: 212
    I'm guilty of having them on hand and will eat them a few times a week. I prefer to make my own food but with my schedule sometimes I do have to default to them.
  • jadams1650
    jadams1650 Posts: 139 Member
    Much easier to chew if they are cooked.
  • twinketta
    twinketta Posts: 2,130 Member
    I used to have the occasional beef hot pot/beef in red wine casserole or shepherds pie.

    Since the `horse meat` in ready meal scandal I have stopped buying them. I emailed WW to ask if they could verify that their food did not contain horse... they told me that they ` followed food standard regulation` so am not eating it...I love horses and don`t want to eat any :angry:

    So much easier to make my own stuff, if I just make the time
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    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!

    Lean cuisines are around $1.50, especially if you have coupons. Even with an added serving of veggies, it comes in at my goal of $2 per meal. It isn't my cheapest meal, but it is very reasonable.

    Some of them, however, are own right nasty, I can't argue with that. I do love me those lean cuisine deluxe pizzas, though!
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