Weight Loss Information Blog
Posts tagged Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers online – Part 1
Jun 7th
The Weight Watchers company was originally founded in the 1960s by Jean Nidetch and has always sought to offer diet products and services to help consumers lose weight and maintain a healthy figure. The company’s beginnings were humble; it started as a discussion group on how to lose weight and has since expanded into 30 different countries. The company has also enjoyed many famous spokespersons such as Jenny McCarthy, Sarah The Duchess of York and Lynn Redgrave.
Weight Watchers offers a Flex program and a Core program. The Core program operates similarly to the famous Atkins and South Beach diet, and lets dieters choose certain “core” foods which they can eat to satisfaction. These foots include fruits, vegetables, fat-free dairy, whole grain and lean meat. Non-core foods are alloted to a point system, which the eater cannot exceed in a week. The Flex plan are assigned a number of points on all foods that they are allowed to eat each day (based on their weight) and they can earn more points by doing sufficient exercise.
Weight Watchers Online is the online version of the traditional program and still has the point system (with calculator) but adds more features like online chat and support groups and newsletters. How does the Weight Watchers Online program rate with consumers? No doubt, the system has worked for many and some dieters may find the point-system effective in controlling appetite. However, just as many dieters find the point system “gimmicky” and more confusing than simply learning about low-Glycemic carbohydrates and other weight loss specifics. However, this conventional program of diet and exercise is still considered safer and more effective than using diet pills. Weight Watchers is also more expensive than eDiets, another popular online weight loss program with high sign up and monthly fees. What truly separates Weight Watchers Online from the competition is not necessarily the quality but the world famous name.
Pros and cons of the Weight Watchers weight loss program – Part 13
May 13th
The Weight Watchers weight loss program is a popular weight loss program which many people choose. The pros to following the program far outweigh the cons.
The Pros:
1) It is a safe way to lose weight while getting all the necessary nutrients. You learn to follow either the Flex or the Core Plan; there are instructions for vegetarians and nursing mothers following the plan too so no one is left out. It is good for teens through the elderly. If you listen to the meeting leader and read the booklets that are handed out to you, you should choose at least five servings of vegetables and fruits, a couple of servings of protein, some whole grains, milk products, fats and plenty of water for a very well-rounded, healthy program.
2) You should experience continued weight loss which is monitored by the Weight Watchers staff and your doctor. If you are following the program and don’t lose weight, you can approach the meeting leader, and she will go over your journal and figure out what you are doing wrong with the program.
3) It is liveable; you can enjoy eating while you learn to measure portions on the Flex Plan and count points or you can eat until you are in the “comfort zone” while following the Core Plan. There is a set daily amount of pounts for you based on your current weight, and you can use 35 extra points weekly either at one special occasion or broken into smaller increments during the week.
4) You get a strong support system with this program: It has caring meeting leaders, and you can make friends at meetings or online.
5) It can be followed without attending meetings with the purchase of the program’s books, Pointsfinder, Activityfinder, and food scale, measuring cups and spoons.
6) Many doctors recommend this program as being a healthy and safe way to lose and then maintain weight if you follow it correctly and stick with it as mine did.
7) The health benefits far outweigh any inconveniences in adjusting your lifestyle to the program. After following the program awhile, many people experience improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar and other health issues.
You can prepare dishes ahead, divide them into individual portions, and freeze them. You can also divide snacks into individual portions and bag or wrap them to be used when you’re in a hurry.
The Cons:
1) The costs of meeting fees can be prohibitive, and some people stop going to supportive meetings because of this. Some people cannot even
Pros and cons of the Weight Watchers weight loss program – Part 8
Mar 5th
I’ve never been a fan of diets that you must pay a “membership” fee for, simply because there is no motivation for the company to actually help you to permanently achieve your goal. Companies like Weight Watcher’s rely on return customers as much as they rely on the word of mouth of their temporary successes.
That said, I’ve had a number of close family members and friends join the Weight Watcher’s program in the last few years and I have been incredibly impressed with the results that they have achieved. I have had the opportunity to see the members-only materials and to ask the participants what they liked about the program and how they used it.
One particular friend has been obese almost my entire life – managing to reduce her weight to merely “overweight” on occasion but never being able to get all the way down to a healthy weight range. She is now just a few months away from having reduced her high-risk weight to a healthy level.
Weight Watchers offers a variety of programs and support components that allow participants to “mix and match” to create the program that is right for them. My friend has chosen their online support which she pays a monthly fee for. She is not the type to attend meetings face-to-face and mix with strangers who have little else in common but their weight problem but she recognized that she couldn’t go it alone. She accesses the site almost daily, looking up new recipes, calculating calories in her meals and reading the inspirational stories of other people’s successes. She also receives their monthly magazine and her face lights up when it arrives – she says she finds it ultimately inspiring and loves the recipes and exercise challenges.
Of the available eating programs my friend has chosen the points program. Foods are allocated points according to their calorie count and participants have a point limit each week. They can actually eat whatever they want and can gain “minus” points through exercise. Vegetables are “point free” and can be consumed in whatever quantity the participant desires. The important feature of this program for my friend is that she loves bread and couldn’t stay on a diet that didn’t allow her a slice of toast in the morning.
She finds it easy to stick to the eating plan even when eating out because she knows the approximate point count of the meals and can easily balance out a “special meal” with some exercise.
I’ve watched my friend develop healthy eating habits, portion control and a better understanding of how to manage her weight in an ongoing manner. I would have to say that I think the current Weight Watchers program has far more pros than cons.
Pros and cons of the Weight Watchers weight loss program – Part 12
Dec 12th
Just like any nutritional plan Weight Watchers has it’s pros and cons. And just like any other the main reason for its success it tried and true practices with real people and a basic logic that we are slowly losing in our over-indulgent society.
Weight Watcher’s pros are:
- two systems of thought; there are now two different routs to success with Weight Watchers. Both ask that you weigh in weekly and stay for the meetings, but the meetings are not mandatory (you pay for the service of them, and you should try and take full advantage, but no one will force you!) But back to the systems. The Points System and the Flex System. the points is the more traditional and well known of the two, it is based in numbers and counting. The benefits are that within those numbers are regulated calories and fat, so you are limiting the intake of those into your body. With the set number of points in a day you are given free reign to eat chat you want, but within your range. If you are really craving that McDonald’s Happy meal, than eat it! but be aware that that might mean you can only have a tossed salad with fat free dressing and a 1/4 chopped chicken for supper, and if you’re hungry carry around some baby carrots! But no one will stop you from it if you really want or need one. The Flex system is based in the good, whole foods. There is a list of foods that you can eat as much of as you want until “you’re satisfied”. The trick is finding the satisfaction point within yourself and actually stopping. But beyond that, eat what you want without worrying about tracking points and numbers!
- The weekly meetings themselves, for both the leaders and the other members are great sources of information and support. Who better to tell you a good substitute when cooking, or a great restaurant that is portion friendly, than someone who has also had to search out these options. Who better know the worries and pressures you might face, than someone who has walked the path before.
- online tools, and recipe books! there is no feeling of loss of what you once had, because there are recipes for everything that just keep in mind good portion control, fat intake and exactly what foods are making past your mouth.
the cons of Weight Watchers are:
- that if you are not committed and honest with yourself, it will not work. If you say you didn’t snack when you had a handful of chips and then some peanuts, you’re not honest and those fats will stay in your body! They can not be dealt with if they are ignored.
- It is expensive for basically a system that teaches you good health guidelines, including true portion sizes, reminding you to eat vegetables, drink lots of water and don’t overeat on fat and oils. Someone with the motivation could get the same results as someone on WW by just making sure to eat 4-5 servings of fruits and veggies, not over eating bread or meat, drinking lots of water and avoiding salt, fat and alcohol. But it’s that key of motivation: WW provides that motivation and encouragment, and that is what they pay for! Someone always pushing them to do better, but remind them how well they’ve done.
Healthy eating tips for dining out – Part 5
May 5th
Is it possible for an arthritic social butterfly to maintain a healthy diet while eating numerous meals out every month? I faced this dilemma when my doctor recommended that I combine my Weight Watchers regimen with a salt-restricted program. Good grief! With four grown children, their spouses, grandchildren, and church friends all inviting me to events that invariably included eating, I faced a significant challenge.
I was not about to change my lifestyle. Interacting with family, friends, and acquaintances is one of the joys of living, and beneficial to physical, mental and emotional health. So, I’ve learned to cope with restrictions and make better food choices, and I continue to enjoy the company of others while dining out. Here are a few tips I’ve found beneficial; maybe they will also help others.
*Try to sit beside the most interesting person in the party. It keeps you from focusing on food.
* If ordering an appetizer, stick to vegetables. Celery, green pepper or carrot sticks offer the satisfaction of chewing, while adding only minimal calories. Skip the dip; it’s probably loaded with unhealthy fats and calories.
* If drinks are ordered, sparkling water is a wise choice. Lemonade made with sweetener, tomato or clamato juice, V-8, or a cold diet pop will also fill the bill, especially if the weather is warm. If you order a vegetable juice, be aware that it will contain a generous amount of salt. If you’re watching your intake, a small glass should suffice.
* Learn to drink coffee or tea black. It takes about two weeks of self-discipline before you begin to appreciate the rich, full-bodied flavor of either liquid.
*For the main course, chicken or fish is the best choice. The proper serving size is about as large as the palm of your hand. Remove any skin on the chicken; that’s where the fat accumulates. White meat is preferable to dark.
* Fish should be boiled or baked. If it arrives at your table breaded, discretely scrape the coating off. If you dribble lemon juice on it, the “fishy” taste disappears.
If you’re really hungry, it’s better to have a larger serving of protein than potatoes. You’ll feel more satisfied and you won’t get hungry again as soon.
* If you choose to have a potato, skip the butter, sour cream, and other toppings. Order it baked and eat the skin. Fiber is a friend.
* For side dishes, request steamed or roasted vegetables. Try a mixture, or some you are not familiar with. Spice them up with pepper if desired. Peas and corn are not the best of choices; they’re very starchy. Starch is not a friend.
* When the bread basket is passed, have a roll, if desired. Eat it Italian style: without butter. Then, ask your spouse, or a friend to place the basket at the other end of the table, as far away from you as possible.
*For dessert, choose any fresh fruit. Nuts, Jello, diabetic pudding, are permissible. Angel food cake or yogurt are the least-damaging second choices. Popping a stick of sugar-free gum in your mouth is a good signal your stomach that the meal is over.
* If the meal has been a particular challenge, and I’ve navigated it successfully, I later buy myself a little “Congratulations!” gift: a pair of earrings or a new lipstick. That’s a underhanded little strategy, but it works for me.
Eating out and eating healthy are not mutually exclusive. All it takes is a little knowledge, a little motivation, and a little will power. If I can do it, anybody can!
