Weight Watchers? What do you think?

[Mom22weewuns]

After my scare yesterday (I posted that on the Type 2 board), I behaved myself a little too well and ended up with a headache from not eating. I really need more guidance and accountability and was thinking of going back to Weight Watchers. I started to do pretty well on it a few years ago, then hubby lost his job and I could no longer afford it. Things are much better now and I will actually have a lunch hour after next week (changing jobs).

I know the weight loss will help me immensely. I'd like to lose at least 55 lbs (although according to their ideal weight goals, I should lose 100). What's the thought on Weight Watchers and diabetes? Trust me, I value the opinions I get from everyone here more than I would anywhere else.

Ellie

[dbaratta]

I know the weight loss will help me immensely. I'd like to lose at least 55 lbs (although according to their ideal weight goals, I should lose 100). What's the thought on Weight Watchers and diabetes? Trust me, I value the opinions I get from everyone here more than I would anywhere else.

Ellie

Everyone is different as far as how their body reacts to carbs. I know that weight watchers limits fat and calories and sugar type carbs. It could be very good for you, it sure can't hurt to give it a try. I like the Adkins diet because it limits carbs and I have a real hard time when I eat simple carbs, even complex carbs can be hard but not as bad as the simple ones. I feel that anything you do to better your diet can't hurt........

[Moonglo]

Well, I'm definitely not an expert, but I know that even when I was prediabetes I did well on Weight Watchers, until I got depressed because the nutritionist didn't like it and fell off the wagon.

Last I heard, they had a plan called the core plan, which was lower carb (or maybe it focused on eliminating certain carbs? can't remember) and lots of people I knew had success on it.

[fgummett]

I believe we have some folks here with a positive experience of WW. I understand that they now offer programs flexible enough to help manage D... possibly even a lower carb option?? ...not sure about that one but hopefully someone will correct or confirm.

My feeling is that you need to determine and use what works best for you: some like to sneak up slowly on a new eating plan*, while others make whole-sale changes overnight -- going "cold-turkey". Some like to plan the whole week's meals ahead of time while other "wing-it" while making sure that they only have "safe" foods in the house. Some like to work it out themselves while other like the help and support of a group.

Which approach works best for you?


*"diet" is the term for "what we eat" but it tends to have negative connotations and implies a short-term drastic change, rather than something you can maintain naturally for life.

[Gozelle]

Weight Watchers may help, but you still have to watch your carbs. Unless you need the reinforcement, save your money. Instead, read and test a lot, and keep coming back here. I am 2 months in, and I know we can do it with a little help from our friends.

[dbaratta]

Well, I'm definitely not an expert, but I know that even when I was prediabetes I did well on Weight Watchers, until I got depressed because the nutritionist didn't like it and fell off the wagon.

Last I heard, they had a plan called the core plan, which was lower carb (or maybe it focused on eliminating certain carbs? can't remember) and lots of people I knew had success on it.

My nutritionist didn't like what I was doing either, but I was keeping a good BG and losing weight like crazy on my own diet, when I went on her I gained and felt bad all the time. I think we need to listen to our own bodies and what we need individually. They use a "one size fits all" program that I do not agree with. :(

[foxl]

My nutritionist didn't like what I was doing either, but I was keeping a good BG and losing weight like crazy on my own diet, when I went on her I gained and felt bad all the time. I think we need to listen to our own bodies and what we need individually. They use a "one size fits all" program that I do not agree with. :(

Yes, they DO. And of course it also varies a great deal, from one group to another. If you have a group that can motivate you, well, fine, otherwise ... PPPPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPP!

[e||ement]

well i think it's a personal thing: some people thrive on a program like weight watchers, others fail miserably.

personally i did well on it and lost 70 pounds the first time i joined. i managed to keep that off for four years, except the last 15 pounds of a pregnancy i can't seem to lose.

i've just joined again...and have lost about 6 pounds in as many weeks.

if what you are looking for is a program to keep you accountable to your weight loss journey, and to give you guidelines on healthy eating, you will do well.

weight watchers is only a tool to help manage your weight loss. you have to take control of your own diet by limiting what carbs you cannot tolerate and so forth.

i'm not sure about the states, but in canada they don't use the flex/core plans anymore. like any business, they've changed the "strategy" but it's all the same, really.

anyway, those are my thoughts. personally, i know what i should and shouldn't be eating and am very conscious of what i eat...my problem is eating too much of it! so for me, having to be accountable to a scale and a tracker every week keeps me in check (for the most part!).

good luck!

[Abra]

I too lost 70 lbs on WW, although it's all back 6 years later. I wouldn't do it now, though, for several reasons. Because you get to "average" your food throughout the day, there's nothing inherent in the program that will prevent spiking or even out your eating throughout the day. Carbs play a big role in their program, and now that I'm eating low carb I don't think I'd get enough to eat on WW, since what they give you to work with is "points" and proteins and fats, having lots of points, would be quite limited. Personally I find eating to my meter to be a very effective program, at least for me now, as a complete beginner.

[foxl]

I too lost 70 lbs on WW, although it's all back 6 years later. I wouldn't do it now, though, for several reasons. Because you get to "average" your food throughout the day, there's nothing inherent in the program that will prevent spiking or even out your eating throughout the day. Carbs play a big role in their program, and now that I'm eating low carb I don't think I'd get enough to eat on WW, since what they give you to work with is "points" and proteins and fats, having lots of points, would be quite limited. Personally I find eating to my meter to be a very effective program, at least for me now, as a complete beginner.


Abra, do you see any reason you could not add on the support of WW, on top of eating to your meter, though?

[e||ement]

I too lost 70 lbs on WW, although it's all back 6 years later. I wouldn't do it now, though, for several reasons. Because you get to "average" your food throughout the day, there's nothing inherent in the program that will prevent spiking or even out your eating throughout the day. Carbs play a big role in their program, and now that I'm eating low carb I don't think I'd get enough to eat on WW, since what they give you to work with is "points" and proteins and fats, having lots of points, would be quite limited. Personally I find eating to my meter to be a very effective program, at least for me now, as a complete beginner.

i don't know...i guess it's how you approach the program. i eat low carb for several meals...low enough where i don't have to bolus for the food i'm eating at all.

i don't feel limited at all. and i would disagree that carbs play a big role in the WW program. they don't tell you what to eat, they give you healthy guidelines to consider when making choices. but perhaps when you were on it carbs were a part of the program, so i don't want to make assumptions... ;)

there are other things that are low carb and high in points if the concern is not eating enough points...like cheese, salmon, nuts, for instance.

anyway, my two cents (again!). to each his own though, i can respect that!

[Abra]

foxl - because I was only an online member, the only support was from the WW boards, which, pardon me one and all, are populated with more ninnies that you can shake a stick at.

ellement - I wonder whether it's different as a T1, or a person on meds, who does have a way to compensate for meals containing more carbs? It's great that it's working for you!

[fgummett]

Ahhh.. if it's on-line support you want then stick around here on DF. I do think that some folks prefer the support of a real group that meets frequently and perhaps even the "motivation" of not wanting to let others down.

[jkane13]

I am not motivated by what anyone else thinks. And I tend to ignore most anything someone else says! :T WW does nothing for me but take the money and run with it. My wife really frustrates me because she goes on and off WW all the time. But ... she is motivated by their weight check days and it seems to work for her when she is on the program.

So, if that kind of group pressure and weekly weight checks by someone else motivates you, then go for it! It really is what works, not what someone else thinks works.

As for food, they don't tell you what to eat, they tell you how much and you pick the actual food.