Today I took the Plunge......
By betsyraeduke
@betsyraeduke (2670)
United States
August 6, 2009 6:01pm CST
And started the Weight Watcher's program. I did not officially join the program as I can not afford to do this. I simply looked up the rules for how the program works and started applying them. I found the basic rules to the program here: http://www.ehow.com/how_4871080_weight-watchers.html
I am using the information given here: http://www.ehow.com/how_4871046_calculate-many-weight-watchers-points.html to figure out how many points I am allowed per day.
I am using this site here: http://quiddity.cc/rachel/diet/wwfoods.htm and this points calculator here: http://www.webmilhouse.com/pointcalc.php to figure out the point values of the foods that I normally purchase and eat. I have a large list of common foods that I buy with the point values written next to each of them stuck to my fridge for easy reference.
I think this will be a good program for me because
1. It will not force me to prepare special meals that the rest of my family won't eat since I can eat the foods I normally do as long as I keep track of the points and don't go over my limit and,
2. As I understand it, this is a lifestyle change which teaches and instills healthier eating habits rather then a fad diet, meaning I can stick with this basic principal for life and therefore don't have to worry about gaining any lost weight back when I go off the plan. My goal is to lose 50 pounds, please wish me luck!
What I am wondering is, has anyone here actually paid for and been a part of the regular Weight Watcher's program? If so, can you give me any advice or tell me any information that I should know about following this program that is not mentioned on any of the web pages for which I gave links to in this discussion?
(Please keep any advice limited to the Weight Watcher's program only as I am not looking for or interested in advice about any other weight loss program, thanks)
4 people like this
10 responses
@JennyMarie (366)
• United States
7 Aug 09
I have done WW before and it has worked great, but you really need to go to the meetings because it hold you accountable.
I have gone and then stopped and put on more weight.
But when I was going on a regular basis and attending the meetings I really took off the weight. I think part of it was the accountability. I didn't want to go to the meeting and not have lost anything or worse had a gain. Although no one says anything to make you feel awful actually it is the total opposite. They encourage you to have a better week and help you see where you got off track.
One thing that might help you if you can't afford to do the meetings is go their site and get active on the message board, make friends with some of them on there and let them help hold you accountable. Plus the message board has lots of great tips and tricks.
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
7 Aug 09
Thanks for the advice Jenny! I will get on that message board right away! 
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
7 Aug 09
I'm happy to know that I've inspired you to get back on WW. I will try to post my progress on here weekly. Good luck to you too!
@JennyMarie (366)
• United States
7 Aug 09
Betsy that is great. Hey keep up posted on here how you are doing. Just think of this as another group of people who want to help you on your new journey to becoming a new you and to start feeling good.
You have spurred me to get back to WW
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
7 Aug 09
My Mother in Law works at a Weight Watchers and may I suggest if someone you knows works or attends or has some of the point finders or sliders (these help you figure out points from side of box) to do so because they really do help, especially if you like to cook, it is amazing how many points you can cut back with little things like 2% cheese and whole wheat anything. I have been doing it on my own for a little over two years. I had a lot of issues with not losing the weight while on it at first and everyone I knew who was on it lost weight. For me it turns out I have an insulin resistance syndrome which was stopping me from being able to lose the weight. So I started taking meds. for that and went back on WW and am doing much better 15lbs and only 65 more to go...sigh...it is not a quick fix but it will work. Also another trick if you get the Splenda with fiber you can count the fiber on what you eat when you work out the points. 1 Packet of SPlenda with Fiber drops any foods that are on the lower end of the point say your cereal is 4 pt, but just at the 4 mark on the slider. Adding that 1 gram of fiber will drop it into the 3 point area. It doesn't sound like much but it adds up at the end of the day. I add two to my tea and then can add 2 g, to what ever I am eating with it. Also a trick my dietitian taught me which has really helped is to aim for the 25 g of fiber a day then make for the points. Since your brain is trying to get more food it puts your mind in a diffrent frame and since the foods with high fiber are lower in calories this really helps control the points and like I said you feel like your cheating almost even though your not. This was the most helpful hint I ever got.
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
7 Aug 09
I just purchased some Splenda to use instead of sugar in making sweet tea however, I just purchased ordinary Splenda. I did not even know that there was a such thing as Splenda with fiber. Thanks for letting me know about that. I will have to see about getting some.
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
7 Aug 09
If you go to their website they have samples that come with coupons, a good thing because it can be pricey though I realized it is generally a full dollar or more cheaper at Walmart.
@AmbiePam (94076)
• United States
7 Aug 09
That's wonderful. My mom followed their plan a couple of years ago and signed up online. She only signed up for a couple of months and then just continued to follow the plan on her own. She couldn't afford to go to the meetings, and she doesn't like that kind of thing anyway. She lost 35 pounds. After that she didn't even have sleep apnea anymore.
@di1159 (1580)
• United States
7 Aug 09
Congratulations on taking the first step! Although I've never done the Weight Watcher's program, I can see that their system works as they've been around for so long. Losing weight, believe it or not, is the easy part. The hard part is learning how to eat properly to maintain the weight. Your new "diet" is a change of lifestyle and that's why I think Weight Watchers succeeds. It teaches you how to eat properly which is a "diet" we all need to follow. Good Luck!
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
7 Aug 09
"Losing weight, believe it or not, is the easy part. The hard part is learning how to eat properly to maintain the weight. Your new "diet" is a change of lifestyle and that's why I think Weight Watchers succeeds. It teaches you how to eat properly which is a "diet" we all need to follow."
My thoughts exactly! That's why I chose the WW program.
Thanks
@metamaterialo (34)
• Sweden
7 Aug 09
there was a saying in my home county that if you want to gain money while losing weight then get e physically demanding job. the more you work the more you gain money and lose weight.
It might sound cruel but i have heard that a lot of people have done it and are really happy that they did.
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
7 Aug 09
Yes I can see how that would work though to be honest, I don't think I'll be doing that anytime soon, at least not a paying one, lol. However, I live in a small apartment with my husband and two children, all of whom tend to mess up the place quite a bit, and we have 3 cats on top of that. I am a neat freak and so I am constantly doing in depth rigorous cleaning around the house to keep it the way I like. Plus along with the litter box being cleaned and/or changed daily, it also necessary to scrub the entire room in which it is kept daily to keep the cat odor away. I am hoping that all that rigorous cleaning along with any additional workouts that I might do count for something. 
@grundmang (112)
• Israel
7 Aug 09
well i started a diet last sunday. nothing fancy ...just watc whaty im eating low on red meat and drink onlky water lost 12 ounds so far...
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
7 Aug 09
Well that's awesome! I'm happy for you. Keep up the good work!
@sweetgirl_k1 (3972)
• United States
25 May 10
Thanks for providing the links. I've been wanting to do WW but I really can't afford it right now either. I'm going to try to use these links you gave and figure out my points and try to go by that and lose weight. I hope you are doing good on your weight loss.
@CJscott (4187)
• Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
7 Aug 09
Well this is no system advice but general advice for achieving any goal you have.
It is called positive thinking, and affirmations. Think slim, and you will be slim, because thinking like slim person, gets you into the habits of a slim person.
You can substitute, slim for Popular, wealthy, smart, successful, what ever you wish in life.
Best of luck to you.
@Jennlk84 (4205)
• United States
7 Aug 09
Weight Watcher's ROCKS!!! If you're willing to work the program - the program WILL work for you! What I love about WW is that you can eat your normal foods - you just have to figure out the points for them and count them. What it really did for me was kept me in portion control.
I would recommend going to a meeting and see if you like it. Meetings really helped me stay accountable. I found that having someone weigh me weekly really helped. I will also tell you that some insurance companies will cover this! So check into that.
GOOD LUCK and if you have any other specific questions, let me know. I've been a member of WW, on and off, for over 5 years. It's an awesome program!!
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
7 Aug 09
Hello Jenn,
I did not know that their were insurance companies that covered WW, I will definitely look into that!
Thanks for the information.
@Angelgirl16 (2171)
• United States
7 Aug 09
Congratulations, on your decision to take the plunge into the world of dieting. I have tried many different programs, including Weight Watchers, they all worked for me as long as I stayed with the program, but as soon as I make the decision to ending the program, I notice the weight creeping back to every part of my body. I guess my reduction in food, did nothing for my belief in myself.
If I had to choose a weight loss program, the Weight Watchers program would be one of my top picks because of the fact that you don't have to rearrange your shopping list and the family can eat the same foods with just a litte tweaking.
I was part of a live paying group, and I did very well on program.
I am sure you can too. Good luck to you.
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
7 Aug 09
Yes, regaining weight is often a problem once you go off a diet program. That is one of the main reasons I chose Weight Watchers. You see, I am not looking at WW as a diet so much as I am looking at it as a lifestyle change, at least in how I eat anyway. That is, I don't intend to ever officially go the program. My plan is to lose the weight that I need to lose, then figure out the proper food point value that I can eat in a day to maintain that weight and in doing so, continue the plan for life.
Thanks for the wish of luck!
Thanks for the wish of luck!