Buy Walking VideosWhat You Need To Know About Weight Watchers
Everything online about Weight Watchers sounds like a commercial. Let me tell you the truth about it without all that sugar coating.
Why I Stay With Weight Watchers Even Though I Have The Points Program Memorized By Heart:
It’s not about the Points. If I could follow the program by myself, then calorie counting would have worked for me. Points is actually more complicated than keeping track of calories, yet it’s the first program where I was able to keep the weight off.
It’s not about the Core Food List. There is no magic food list that would have worked for me. I tried limiting my intake of food before. I did lose weight, but I gained it right back when I “fell off the wagon.”
It’s not even about the Tools For Living. They are very powerful and helpful parts of the system, but the first time I read them, they were useless to me. It wasn’t until I sat through several classes describing their use that I was able to use them.
The meetings and the accountability are the one thing that have kept me on track week after week. I suggest finding a leader that you love. Go to the same class every week. Get to know the people at the class. Be honest when you say how you’re doing. Participate in the class. You can’t replace the accountability that you will receive when you attend the same class at the same time with the same leader EVERY week.
The Flex Points Program:
There have been three patents registered to Weight Watchers concerning the Points Program. Here are the links to the publicly recorded information about the Points Program:
- U.S. Patent 6,040,531 Dated 07-18-97
- U.S. Patent 6,436,036 Dated 08-20-02
- U.S. Patent 6,878,885 Dated 04-12-05
According to these documents, this is the formula used to calculate the Points value for a food:
Points = (Calories/50) + (Fat Grams/12) - (Fiber Grams/5)
How many Points you are allowed each day depends on your weight. Here is what is listed in the patents:
Less than 150 pounds = 18-25 Points
150 to 174 pounds = 20-27 Points
175 to 199 pounds = 22-29 Points
200 to 224 pounds = 24-31 Points
225 to 250 pounds = 26-33 Points
Over 250 pounds = 28-35 Points
This differs in the patent versus the amount that they give us in the class. There is an intricate Flex Point System that can be tailored to your needs with the help of your leader. The way it works in the class:
Less than 150 pounds = 20 Points
150 to 174 pounds = 22 Points
175 to 199 pounds = 24 Points
200 to 224 pounds = 26 Points
225 to 250 pounds = 28 Points
250 to 275 pounds = 30 Points
275 to 300 pounds = 31 Points
300 to 325 pounds = 32 Points
325 to 350 pounds = 33 Points
Over 350 pounds = 34 Points
You are allowed a total of 35 Flex Points that can be used in whatever quantity you desire each week. The two methods are essentially the same except that the new Flex Points program allows you 7 more Points a week. I personally preferred the previous system where you Bank Points to save for special occasions.
Update 09-06-06: Starling Fitness » Why I Don’t Trust Weight Watchers Points System
Activity Points:
These are harder to calculate. The calculation is based on perceived exertion. Light, Moderate and Heavy. They base the levels on sweating and breathing levels, which leaves asthmatics and heavy sweaters in a strange conundrum.
In January 2005, Weight Watchers released recommendations for Activity Levels based on Heart Rate:
They use the typical calculation for Maximum Heart Rate:
Maximum Heart Rate = 220 - Age
They state you can calculate your activity levels based on the following:
- Light is about 40-54% Maximum Heart Rate.
- Moderate is 55-69% Maximum Heart Rate.
- Heavy is equal to or greater than 70% Maximum Heart Rate.
I used much more vigorous percentages in my estimations, so this bit of news made things much easier for me.
Once you’ve calculated how much time you’ve exercised at a certain activity level, here is the registered calculation for Activity Points:
Light Activity Points = Weight X Minutes X .000232
Moderate Activity Points = Weight X Minutes X .000327
Heavy Activity Points = Weight X Minutes X .0008077
You can add Activity Points into your total for the day. The Flex Points plan states that you need to use the Activity Points on the day that you use them. The older plan used to let you Bank a maximum of four Points and save them for up to a week.
The Core Plan:
You can choose to follow the Flex Plan or the Core Plan. The Core Plan does not require a food journal or recording the Points values of your food. It does require that you eat from a limited list of foods that have a low risk of abuse.
You are supposed to eat these foods until you feel satisfied, not full. That’s a pretty fine line for me, so I have never followed the Core Plan. You are also allowed 35 Flex Points a week to fit in foods that are not on the Core Food list. Those items need to be tracked in your food journal.
The Eight Good Health Guidelines:
I have seen healthy suggestions similar to this in The No Fad Diet and the Prevention Magazine’s Eat More - Lose More Plan. They follow the old food pyramid pretty closely:
- Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
- Choose whole-grain foods whenever possible.
- Eat two servings of low fat dairy every day.
- Eat two teaspoons of healthy oil every day. Healthy oils are: olive, flaxseed, canola, safflower and sunflower.
- Eat two servings of protein a day.
- Limit refined sugar and alcohol.
- Drink at least six glasses of water every day.
- Take a vitamin pill every day.
Meetings:
This is the best aspect of the program. There is a weekly meeting in addition to the weigh-ins. The leaders are instructed on the class that they will teach each week, so the meetings are very similar from one leader to the next. The most important thing, however, is finding a leader that you like and respect. Each leader adds their own personality to the classes that they teach and getting a leader who is a good fit will help you greatly.
The accountability of weighing each week in front of someone who isn’t there to judge you, but there to help you through this process is incredibly helpful. Sometimes the people who mark my weight feel like they are just trying to rush me along with the rest of the crowd. I make sure that I weigh in with my leader, not the other people, even if I have to wait. She is better able to see my progress and work with me when there is none.
Tools For Living:
There are a whole collection of Tools For Living that help you through uncomfortable situations during the weight loss process. I’ve seen similar tools in books like The Thin Commandments and The No Fad Diet, but having the teacher there to help you use them is much better than just reading about them.
There are classes throughout the year that focus on each of the Tools For Living. There isn’t a tool that I haven’t found myself using at some time or other during this long journey. They are even helpful for goals and situations other than weight loss.
The Cost:
There is an intial fee to start and then a weekly fee after that. It differs from state to state. In Utah, the fee is as follows:
Registration and First Week Fee = $35.00
Weekly Fee until week #9 = $10.00 a week
Weekly Fee week #9 and future = $ 8.00 a week
They give a $1 a week discount if you pay for 10 weeks at at time: 10 weeks = $70.00
I find this worth every penny. Seven dollars a week is nothing compared to what I earn in health and peace of mind. Considering how inexpensive healthy food is compared to processed food, I more than pay for my weekly membership by eating healthy.
Weight Watchers also has an online program:
It costs $16.95 a month unless you sign up for three months, where you get a savings for the longer program.
Summation:
Weight Watchers is a healthy program that has helped me get the weight off and keep it off. Even when we were dead broke, we scraped together enough money so I could go to my meetings every week. It was that worth it to me.
Weight loss is your responsibility. Don’t think that you can just follow the Points and get the full benefit of Weight Watchers. Having this information isn’t the secret. The secret to being able to lose weight and keep it off is commitment. If you are willing to set aside just one hour and $7 a week, then you are on your way to getting to goal.
If you’re not willing to set aside the time and the money, then you’re not committed. You might as well not waste your time trying to lose weight. Just stay at the weight you’re at and let yourself be happy about it.
Update 11-17-05: Added the Weight Watchers article about Heart Rate and Activity Exertion Levels.
Update 11-27-05: Added the link to the Weight Watchers Online program.
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September 1st, 2005 at 10:39 am
Thanks for your viewpoint. For me, I found that when I went to meetings — and I’ve had some of the best leaders ever — I got caught up in the “lost weight = good week” and “stayed the same = bad week” mentality. I also was surrounded by people, mostly women, saying that they were “so good” this week or “so bad” this week. Also, when I was at my skinniest, I got dirty looks and actual snark from other members! One woman actually said to me, “You, you’re pretty skinny! What are YOU doing here?” I’m like, “Hey, I wasn’t skinny 65 pounds ago!” (Duh, woman, how do you think I got this way?) So now I do the program via the website, read tons of blogs and magazines about nutrition and exercise, and do my own thing. I think it’s better for me this way. LOVE the blog!
September 2nd, 2005 at 8:08 am
Great summary! I’ll be linking to you in my blog on Saturday. I joined the WW at Work program 3 weeks ago. I really like it. We have a good counselor, but since I have a conflicting meeting I can only make it for the weigh-in, which is the way I like it. I already KNOW everything they want to tell me, I just need the focus and discipline. Our counselor says any week is a good week if you think it is - whether you lost, maintained, or gained less than you feared! You make your own success.
I dropped over 5 pounds in the first 2 weeks, and a half pound the third week. No reason to stress over “only” half a pound, as the scales weren’t going in the right direction before I started the program, so any loss is a huge gain. Plus, I have stepped up my walking as I am in final marathon preparation and I can tell I have lots of muscle-building and fat-loss going on.
In fact, I think we need to turn things around and not say we have lost weight, but that we’ve gained fitness or gained lean. Loss is negative, we need to focus on the positive.
February 14th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
This is a great help. Is there a maximum of exercise points you can reduce your total by in a day? I exercise for 45 minutes everyday and get my heartrate up to 144 bpm which qualifies me for the heavy category, but 9 extra points sounds like it’s too many for me to get just for an intense 45 minute workout. I know there is a 4 point bank cap, but is there a cap if you eat the points that day? Thank you for your response.
Andy Marris
West Allis, WI, USA
February 21st, 2006 at 8:22 pm
WW has worked for me. I achieved my lifetime last June after a 45 pound loss. I find meetings not only make accountable but I needed the social factor. As a SAHM, it was my me time without children. It helped me unwind, feel better about myself and reduce stress. That would help other areas like better eating too.
For Andrew, no there is no cap on eating the points. If you earn 7, 8 or 9, you can eat the points. However, you are just consuming the calories you worked so hard to burn if you do so.
Thanks for the good read … very informative!
March 17th, 2006 at 3:58 pm
Really appreciated the information. I have been following the Weight Watchers Point System for almost two weeks now. Being a single Mom of three little ones I can’t get down to meetings but my friend at work that is a fabulous Weight Watchers success story has been helping me and offering support. Great freedom in the program and I love the way it is structured to lead you to a overall healthy lifestyle with the choice to indulge a little when called for!
April 2nd, 2006 at 4:31 pm
I found the meetings to be helpful in the first 3 months. But then they became repetative and boring. Someone posted on this site that the meetings became about having a “good” week vs a “bad” week - and people (mostly women) talking about how “good” they were this week. I had the same experience and came to similar conclusions. I decided that the self-control and methods to achieve weight loss has to come from within. I still follow the weight watchers plan and do subscribe to the on-line weight watchers web site, but I will never go to another meeting. I have lost 35 pounds.
April 3rd, 2006 at 12:50 am
I just joined, and I think the meeting was really cheesy. I didn’t hate it but it was like a highschool health class. I thought it was a bunch of depressed older women mostly, and the ones who had “achieved their lifetime goals” had only lost 30 pounds or something like that. While that’s great and all, to be honest, I wanted to hear from someone who lost 100 pounds, or 200 pounds. That would have been truly inspiring. Anyway, I’m planning to keep going to the meetings in the short-term - I’ll give it 3 months or so before I decide whether I like them enough to pay $11/week.
April 5th, 2006 at 1:55 am
so im currently doing flex plan and im so anxious to see when will the weight start coming off…?can anyone tell me how long it took them for the weight to start going away???very curious…
April 25th, 2006 at 9:17 am
I started going to the meetings in February. I had lost 50 lbs on my own a year ago, but started to stray from my diet, and gained 15 of it back. I have now lost 30 lbs on weight watchers. My girl friend is who helped me join. She is like 4 lbs from her goal, having lost 57 lbs thus far.
April 30th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
I joined Weight Watchers in March of 2004(I weighed 188 pounds on a 5′2″ frame). I made lifetime in November of 2004(136 pounds for a loss of 52 alltogether). It is now amost May of 2006 and I am still about 131 pounds. The program works if you work it!! You have to go into the program ready to make some lifetime changes. I did it on the flex points(they did not offer core until after I made lifetime). My MIL is on core and lost abot 50lbs on it.
May 13th, 2006 at 9:17 pm
weight watchers is better thean all the diet plans out there i can have all the foods i love and it costs so little and it is so much fun i’ve gone from size 15 to size 10 just in 2 or 3 monthes and i’ve lost so much wheight.
June 7th, 2006 at 6:43 pm
I lost 100 pounds 11 years ago by restricting calories on my own and exercising but the hard part was maintaining it. I had “successfully” kept if off by adopting an eating disorder. Since August 2005, I have been in a program and have been free of bulimia. However, every person in my class, both male and female, had been on Weight Watchers and we all agreed that being in a room of people discussing weight, people reminding us of how good we looked as we lost weight, and weighing our self esteem on a scale, just made us all feel worse and act negatively in private. Since August I have not dieted but follow the Cdn. food guide and I am healthier than I have ever been. I say save your money and learn why you overeat and why it is so important for you to lose weight because knowledge and acceptance of self is the key - not how low the scale is. WW is a diet and diets don’t work - healthy eating and healthy esteem do.
June 9th, 2006 at 11:15 am
I’m new to the weight watchers program, I was wondering if someone could explain to me how the activity express works with the flex plan? It says on this flex plan sheet I have, aim for 28 each week. Roughly how much exercise is that? Thanks!
June 14th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
Cool summary! I had never thought about figuring out formulas for the points. Interesting. I joined Weight Watchers in 1994 (during one of the earlier program evolutions) and, by sticking to the program religiously and exercising frequently, lost 115 pounds in 10 months, made Lifetime, and went to work for WW as a leader. I thought life couldn’t get any better and that I had it wrapped around my finger. Then, so that I could speak knowledgably on the total program, I tried Fat ‘n’ Fiber (a variation of the plan similar to the current CORE). By the time I realized that I was out of control it was “too late.” Repeated efforts to rein myself in failed and I just gave up, eventually gaining back all that I had lost plus about 20 pounds more. Ten years later, now middle aged and single to go with my XXXL, I had moved to a new town and started going to the gym (I promise I didn’t wear SPANDEX). One fateful day I fell off my bicycle going about 2 mph, landed on my knee, and sustained a compound fracture of my femur. I really felt bad for the poor EMTs and ambulance guys that had to lift my 330lbs into the ambulance. After I recovered I started back to WW. I have now lost 112 pounds in the last year (taking it slower) and have never felt better. I have another 28 or so to go, but I’m certain I’ll make it. By the way, I met my new wife at the meetings (she lost over 70) and the belt that barely went around just me now goes around both of us. True, sometimes meetings can get a little “cheesy” and it’s true that the topics can be repetitive, but try to find a leader that lets the group “run” the meetings and it can really get pretty entertaining. And don’t be afraid to speak up – you might just be the person that inspires someone else.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:32 am
I just read everyone’s messages and I am left feeling inspired. Congratulations to all who have lost weight on WW. My husband and I are starting it. I have 4 children and stay home with the 3 year old. IT is hard not to sit around and snack. I am walking 30 min a day and eating healthier. I hope I can report back with my own weight loss.
June 27th, 2006 at 1:48 pm
I joined WW just before Memorial Day, and was happy to have lost 4 lbs. I have gained 2 lbs back, but am determined to stick with it. I find that I can do the Flex Plan, but we traveled several weekends in a road where good food was not an option, and it has stalled my weight loss. Someone in another post said that WW is a diet and diets don’t work. I don’t believe that statement… I truly feel that WW is a way of modifying your eating behaviors by giving you the tools and guidelines to teach yourself the appropriate and healthy way to eat.
My husband and I don’t have a lot of money since my husband is the only one that works, but my meetings are important to me… while I don’t want to sit around at my meetings talking about a “good” week or a “bad” week, I understand why its important to acknowledge it… it shows that you’re paying attention to what you are or are not doing. And openly acknowledging it at a meeting can be great motivation if you’re having a so-called bad week to get back on track! I’m hoping to get back on track myself and maybe I can post my success in the near future!
July 5th, 2006 at 11:15 am
I found the information on this website very helpful (as well as all the comments). I started WW a week and 1/2 ago and convinced my husband to do the same thing a day after I joined. We are doing it online as we don’t have schedules conducive to the meetings. We are motivated to make real life style changes for the good of us and our family. I think it is important to have support and since we are doing the program together even though we aren’t going to meetings we can keep each other on track. We decided to join because this is the one weight loss program that lets you eat real food and learn to control your portions, the food types you eat and encourages a more active life style. This is not a diet but our new way of eating & living. Good luck to everyone.
July 17th, 2006 at 6:37 pm
I started WW 1 week ago. My first weigh in is tomorrow and I’m as excited as a child is for the first day of school. Since I’ve only been to one meeting can’t say they are boring yet - I consider it a face your actions type of meeting. If you’ve been a bad girl for the week, you’ll have to face it, no excuses. I’ve never found a diet I could stick with or worked for me - as I’ve always viewed it as doing without. If I feel like I can’t have an oreo, I’ll want the whole bag. But with weight watchers, knowing that I can have anything I want - or more of something good for me, I haven’t eaten one oreo this week
Though I don’t weigh in until tomorrow my scale shows 5 pounds and I’ve lost 1 inch in my waist - that is definitely a step in the right direction!!!!
July 20th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
I’ve been on the Weight Watchers program now for about 4 months. I’ve lost a total of 54 pounds, making my goal of getting back to pre-baby weight a reality. I’m on maintenance with a few weeks to go for Lifetime.
Prior to having children I didn’t have a weight problem. But 4 kids in 3 years (twins in there) didn’t leave me much of an opportunity to get back into shape.
I found the Weight Watchers program to be really not so difficult, and I rely heavily on information I get from the WW website, especially the recipes for snacks & finger foods (hey, if you were chasing around 4 kids under 5 years of age, all you’d have time for is snacks, too). Most have been really tasty, easily modified to include stuff I like without increasing points values. As an extra bonus, my hubby has lost about 20lbs just eating the food I’m preparing.
I don’t look at what I eat in terms of “good” and “bad.” If I want something, I eat it, but I make sure I count it in my points tracker. It’s a tradeoff. When I want a treat, I just have to allow for it in the daily points budget and I can have it.
I love the fact that the meetings I attend are really interactive. I’m not just sitting and listening to someone lecture on about what I’m supposed to do. Meeting attendees participate and I’ve gotten some great ideas from them.
Bottom line is that Weight Watchers works, and it works well.
July 21st, 2006 at 11:17 am
Great website! I am so glad some one has finally explained the activity points!!!
July 25th, 2006 at 10:30 pm
Hi there. Thank you for the great site. I am wondering about the “extra skin” issue when losing a large amount of weith on this program. Any feed back will be appreciated.
August 1st, 2006 at 2:28 pm
Congratulations to everyone who has lost weight and a “you can do it” to everyone who is just starting! I am just starting myself and your stories are very inspiring. My goal is to lose 50 pounds and become more of the athlete I once was. I’ve started out by walking/jogging two miles a day at a local park. The scenery helps me from becoming bored. Adjusting to creating meals to fit my daily points allowance has been somewhat of a struggle, but I know I’ll get used to it. A friend of mine has already lost 48 pounds on the program. Another friend started the same day I did. I know we’ll be a great support system for each other, which I think is essential.
This is a great website! Thanks for the info!
Good luck and God bless!
August 3rd, 2006 at 8:57 am
I started WW last May or June. I had lost about 18lbs by Oct. Hooray! That being said, I had already lost 50 some pounds on my own…I was loosing motivation and wanted to learn how to cook and eat healthier…WW has helped me do that…
Shot my theory out the window. Still, I was really careful during the pregnancy. I only gained 40.5 lbs total. 
Hooray again!
Anyway..November of ‘05 I found out I was pregnant. No problem, I thought. I’ll just use the breast feeding guidelines because it it really all the extra calories you need…Then I found out I was preggy with TWINS!!!
My girls were born June 28th… At 4 weeks post-partum I could fit into my size 18’s…I couldn’t do that before I got pregnant!!! LOL Went to my Dr on Monday and I’m at 208 (down from 240.5) so I still have 8lbs of baby fat to loose. Then it’s the other fat that was working on before I got pregnant.
I am sooo excited to see my OB next week so that she can give me the go ahead to start exercising and working on the weight loss again!
Soo, I’m 208 right now…my goal is 140..68lbs…I’m giving myself a year to get there…
Wish me luck!!!
Great site and I will be checking back in for more info
August 7th, 2006 at 8:49 am
I have to say I am getting ready to do ww and I was unsure if I could stick to it I have done so many diets and failed at every one but after reading what everyone has said I think I am going to do weight watchers online and I am hoping it will work for me It has been recommended to me by several people including my doctor so thanks for all the help and input I love your site and have book marked it so I can come back
August 7th, 2006 at 12:14 pm
I stated WW today. I had success the last time I followed WW but then I hit menopause… and some ugly heath issues popped up (high blood pressure and severe headaches…). Once we got things undercontrol and after I gained 28 more pounds… I’m back. I’m setting a goal to have four goals so I can have success as I reach for the overall goal by my 50th birthday (3 years, 10months)- my first goal is in six months before my baby gets married. So here we go, I really like this site and I too have it bookmarked. Good luck everybody!
August 14th, 2006 at 7:50 am
I was looking for the formula to figure out activity points and this was the first site that popped up on Google. Thanks for explaining how it works. I have just started to get back into biking again, and wanted to be able to accurately calculate my bike rides into activity points.
I am a Lifetime member, having lost my weight 11 years ago. Sadly I decided I could maintain on my own and stopped going to meetings. BIG MISTAKE. I am now 33 pounds over goal and am committed to geting back there by my birthday the end of the year. This is a great program, and I know it works because I’ve already done it once. I’m totally committed now.
August 22nd, 2006 at 8:29 am
Hello & Thank You for all the information, especially about how to calculate activity points. I started WW back in Nov ‘05, went to 2 meetings, lost 5 lbs & then somehow stopped going & gained 17 pounds. Right now I’m not able to restart the meetings but I wanted to follow the flex program on my own & include activity points. I have lost 25 lbs & I’d like to lose 60 more. One thing that I’d like to know is when I do reach my goal weight (positive thinking:)), how many points should I eat daily to maintain a weight of 146. Thank You in advance to anyone who can answer that question for me. Good Luck to everyone, YOU CAN DO IT!
August 27th, 2006 at 2:52 pm
Hello! I just wanted to say this site is very insightful and a good read-through if you are interested in Weight Watchers.
I was incredibly skeptical before joining and now, after 6 weeks, I have lost 14 pounds. While that is not very common (it’s more common to lose between 1-2 a week), I’m very excited that this will be a great year. I am 20 years old and weighed 267 before I started this. I had been that weight steadily for the past 6 years of my life. I was so excited to learn that I could lose it just by changing things slightly.
I also would like to add it is a VERY good idea to clean out almost everything in your fridge/freezer/cabinets before starting this, that way, there is nothing there to tempt you into eating the bad stuff. Just the good, new things.
Another Tip: Birds Eye makes these great “Steam Fresh Vegetables” in a bag that make great dinners when eating the whole bag, it is free, and there’s cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots.
GOOD LUCK! And you can do it, too!
September 1st, 2006 at 1:49 am
thanks
September 1st, 2006 at 6:23 pm
In 2000, I was 48, menopausal 177 lbs and I felt really, really old. I have 2 kids and a great husband who never gave me a hard time or really even noticed my weight. I was the one that beat myself up about it. I joined WW in Jan. 2001 and made lifetime in Sept. of 2001, after losing 42 pounds. In over 5 1/2 years I have never missed a monthly weight-in and have always been under my goal weight of 145 lbs.
I love the changes that I have made in eating more healthfully and I have become an kickboxing instructor and a brown belt in Tae kwon do. I really feel like a new person and am so thankful to WW. I have been hovering around 140+ for the past year so I have to start being more vigilant about drinking enough water, and keeping track of my points. I plan on going to weekly meetings until I get things headed in the downward direction.
I will never be able to wear a 2 piece swimsuit, but I feel fantastic and I must say that I love working out. I eat a lot of activity points so I know that you are able to eat more food,the more active that you are. It really is a great program and I love the meetings because of the tips that come from other members. I have seen people lose over 100+ lbs and they are an inspiration.
So you new people to WW - don’t look at us skinny ones and wonder why we are there, just say to your self that you will be joining us some day soon when you reach your goal. Good luck to all.
September 9th, 2006 at 7:50 am
Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I have just started WW and needed inspiration. Just a quick piece of “advice” for you others who are new at this: keep trigger foods, even if they’re made BY Weight Watchers, out of your house! I got really excited about Weight Watcher’s chocolate mousse until I realized that I was completely unable to eat just one! So from now on, those will never again be in my refrigerator.
September 28th, 2006 at 6:15 am
You provided a great summary on the program. I thought I would share my own feedback with the program. I have been a “Weight Watcher” for almost 4 years now. All together, I have lost 150 lbs on this program. I would like to stress the need to go to meetings. I thought I could “do it alone” and since then I have put 25 lbs back on. I know a lot of people question the weekly cost of the program, but I can assure everyone it is well worth it. You need the meetings or at least I do to make this work. It is also very important to find a leader that you like. Unfortunately mine left and that caused me to stop going. I am getting back on track now (actually doing the program) and in the process of finding a new meeting group. I hope everyone reaches your goals. Weight Watchers can’t reach them for you, but I have tried all other “diet” plans and this lifestyle change is what I needed to get to healthy.
September 30th, 2006 at 5:23 pm
I was just wondering about ’serving sizes.’ I eat whole wheat tortillas, and one is zero points, but two are two points. So if I eat one now, and one later, is that two points, or zero each time? Things like that are confusing for me!! Thanks for all of the information though, great site!
October 2nd, 2006 at 8:43 am
I have just started weight watchers today. 2 years ago I was in weight watchers and i lost 20 pounds in a month, i felt so good about myself. I am not going to the meetings but i have all of the books and im going to try it out for a month and see what happens if i do it by myself. Do you think this is a good idea?
October 3rd, 2006 at 4:56 pm
I signed up for WW today on line and attend my first face to face tomorrow night. I too have had success with WW and tried on my own after I lost a considerable amount of weight. Early this summer I hurt my knee really bad and am not able to enjoy the activites Ihave in previous summers. As a result I have gain about 20 pounds over the last 4 months. I know the longer it is on the harder it is to get off. So my surgery to correct the problem is next week so I thought what a better time to start! I will combine my pyshio(sp) with my points tracking and I know I will come up with a winning combination. This has been a very helpful site. By the way where does all that excess skin go?
October 6th, 2006 at 2:58 pm
Great article! For all of you with specific questions I highly recommend going to the message boards at weightwatchers.com - it’s free to join the discussion. Some of the boards can be a bit “clique-y” but I always got good information (and company!) from the 50+ Pounds to Lose board.
I used WW Online to lose almost 60 lbs, with the message board as my support group, but 2 years later I’m starting to backslide a bit. My husband just joined meetings (he needs to lose at least 60 as well) and we’re both getting back on track. I agree, the points system is very useful, but it’s not flawless and you do have to pay attention to the healthy habits and be responsible enough to make sure you’re “spending” your points on foods that are both nutritious and filling. For example, I learned to always include a little protein with every meal, because it kept me from feeling hungry later, and that whole grains really are more satisfying (filling) than overly-refined grains.
Like any diet plan, there’s no cookie-cutter solution that works for everyone. You have to learn to pay attention to your own body and what it really needs… the big-picture stuff is way more important than the tiny details. Are you eating enough healthy foods and meeting your nutritional needs? If you feel like you’re starving all the time then something’s probably wrong with your food choices. Are there foods you really can’t control yourself around? When are you eating because you’re hungry and when is it just a habit or something to do? Are you getting enough exercise/activity? These are things that apply universally, but if having a structured system to force a reality check on what you’re doing is what you need (like I did) then this seems to be one of the most flexible and well-balanced ones out there.
PS.. if you lose at the recommended gradual rate, get plenty of water, and a reasonable amt of excercise, your skin should have time to shrink along with the rest of you! Losing too much weight too fast is usually what causes sagging skin…
October 16th, 2006 at 1:02 pm
So if you start out with WW, you buy the food right–is it part of the program fees? How do you buy the food–just in stores and not online?
Do you eventually stop eating the WW food or do you continue eating it?
Thanks!
Im excited!
October 23rd, 2006 at 4:51 am
I’m just starting weightwatchers after every diet has failed, i’m only 168lbs on a 5′9″ frame but i’m not happy with the extra weight, i was a bit worried about starting WW as i didn’t think i could stick to it, but so many women have been successful that it has boosted my confidence and i am now determined to stick to it, thanx everyone u have shown me it can be done x
October 24th, 2006 at 9:26 am
I joined WW in Feb 2004 and by April 2004 had lost 20 odd pounds and reached my goal weight. Unfortunately, after maintaining for a year and a half I split up with my partner and went crazy - going out drinking and eating garbage. Much to my disgust I have managed to put pretty much all the weight back on again. I have taken control however and in the last month have managed to lose 5 pounds and am happy that the scales are going the right way for a change. Weight Watchers really does work. My mum, and four of my closest friends have been on it and all have lost weight! They, unlike me have been disciplined and have kept it off!! I cant wait to get back into all my clothes that I purchased in my ‘weight watchers thin’ days. Thanks for this website and the calculations. I have always wondered how to calculate the exercise component accurately. Good luck to everyone on WW. It works!
October 26th, 2006 at 8:26 am
This is a great site! I just started out WW online 2.5 weeks ago, and hearing success stories that aren’t sponsored by the company selling the program is very uplifting.
I just wanted to respond to Judy–What you are thinking of is Jenny Craig, not WW. True there are WW foods (frozen dinners, breads, special low-calorie candies and other snacks)but none of these are necessary for the program. On the POINTS program, you can eat any type of food you want (although obviously healthy food is better to eat than three chocolate bars a day) so long as you don’t eat more points than you are aloted, based on your current weight.
November 6th, 2006 at 7:45 am
It looks like Elle has put ALL of this info together and I cant thank you enough…..I have done WW a million times and every time i get back on track i wonder why i haven’t stuck with it, it’s so easy
So I’m wiping the slate clean and today I start….baby steps! I cant wait to not only fit into my clothes and feel better about myself but, #1 is to get healthy once and for all!
thanks for all the posts and info……..have a fabulous and “skinny” day!
Reenie
November 6th, 2006 at 8:00 am
Speaking to what Ranae said way back there in the second or third comment about not eating your exercise points because you’re re-consuming all the calories you just burned…
That’s actually a bit of a common fallacy. Here’s why.
1) A food point is about 50 cals, give or take. An exercise point is about 100 cals, give or take. So if you “eat” an exercise point, you’re still ahead by 50 calories.
2) Exercise also leads to a brief period of increased metabolism each time you get a good work out–meaning you’ll burn a few extra calories above what you burned during the workout over the next couple of hours. If you don’t feed that metabolism, you’re going to slow it down and it’s almost impossible to imagine that after a workout which burns 900 calories, you won’t have a bit of an increased appetite.
EAT YOUR POINTS! Or rather, eat as many as it takes to comfortably satisfy your hunger. Everytime you sit around with your stomach gurgling and your head aching, you’re sending a message to your metabolism that fuel is scarce and it had better turn the furnace way down.
November 10th, 2006 at 2:03 am
Thanks so much for the info. I’m trying to lose weight before I get married in June. Hopefully WW will work for me. A friend of mine has lost almost 30 lbs. in 6 months! She’s really looking great. So now I’ve decided to follow her lead, but combine it w/ those Power 90 videos. The workouts are short but make you sweat! I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
November 15th, 2006 at 8:35 am
Looking up weight watcher points vs. calories and found this great site. Puts in writing some of my thoughts. I think calories might be easier to calculate.
I’m trying to lose weight before my granddaughter’s wedding and seeing the ex.
November 15th, 2006 at 8:12 pm
I have only been in the program for 2 weeks. I’ve dropped 11 pounds out of a target of 115.
I participate in the online program only - no meetings. I don’t feel that I need the motivation of a group - the desire to maintain my health is enough to keep me counting points.
I found it difficult to stop my eating habits… but once I actually forced myself to eat slower and get up and walk away from the table once I hit my points total for that meal, I discovered that I actually ended up full. No need for a third helping of mashed potatoes.
The points system forces me to make choices. Do I want ice cream after dinner? Sure, but I might have to sacrifice slices of cheese on my sloppy joe to give myself the points. We had chili tonight and I literally measured out my 1/3 cup of shredded cheese and cup of oyster crackers. I was still full at the end of the meal. But I saved myself a cup of crackers and at least 2/3 of a cup of cheese. That’s about 10 extra points that I would have ordinarily eaten. Do I want that Kit Kat bar? Hell yeah, but it’s not worth having to eat a plate of steamed vegetables for dinner. So I snack on some baby carrots and save my points for mealtime.
The exercise-for-food-points system makes me want to exercise. I really don’t like exercise and don’t want to bother with it. Maybe it’s not great that I’m motivated to exercise by the desire to eat what I want, but it does work for me. I can use exercise to buy myself an extra treat or two during the week, then I can save my flex points for Saturday night Chinese food or deep dish pizza.
I had something strange happen to me last weekend, my second weekend on the plan. I discovered that I didn’t want to eat much past my second slice of deep dish pizza. I could have probably put down 4-5 slices before the diet. But now that I’m controlling my portions, I’m getting full.
November 27th, 2006 at 7:27 am
I joined WW on Oct 4th, 2006. I have exercised every day since, usually walking 30 minutes a day or bike riding. I have a lot of weight to lose, like 80 more pounds.
As of 11-22 I had lost 30 pounds, in which I am very pleased, but in the past week I have gained 5 pounds back and have done nothing different but exercised more, like an hour a day. Has anyone had a problem like this one. I am really discouraged this morning after the scale. I can see 1 or 2 pound increase but 5 is really a bit much to me. Another thing is that I have just turned 49 so I am not sure if the close to menopause age is effecting my weight loss.
November 29th, 2006 at 3:42 pm
This is for Donna:
Congratulations on your 30 lb loss. You may be experiencing a “plateau” which is normal and just a hump you need to get through. It could also be water weight. Don’t allow it to discourage you. You also just experienced Thanksgiving and you may have eaten more points than you’ve been eating or more sodium which can retain water. I bet that you will lose weight if you stick to your plan.
WW has been the only plan that has ever worked for me. It is not really a diet…it’s not a fad. It teaches you how to eat healthy so that you can control your own habits for the rest of your life. Your family also benefits because they are now eating healthier due to the changes you’ve made in the home.
My sister, mom and aunt have all lost weight on WW. My sister lost 70 lbs after her first baby, kept it off until the next baby, then took 50 off and has kept it off. She is in amazing shape, too because she and her husband go to the gym every evening after work with the kids (there is a kids club there).
December 3rd, 2006 at 9:52 am
Hi all.
I’m heading into week 4 of the WW plan with the girls from work. So far it’s going well, but I’m finding it hard with the holiday approaching. I’m getting sick of smart pop popcorn, and find myself craving things I never did before. Does anyone know some good snack ideas that are low points for the holidays?
December 13th, 2006 at 2:35 pm
I have been in the WW program since March 2004 and have taken off 53 pounds so far — with 18 more to go to goal. It’s been a slow process to retrain myself — I’ve been overweight as long as I can remember. Every aspect of the program makes sense, but there’s no question that at different times different behavioral changes have made the difference. I agree that it’s important to go to meetings, and especially important to find a leader and a group that “fits” who you are and what you need. I tried several in my area before I found a good match.
I just moved to Mexico at the end of October to live with my daughter before I go to Eastern Europe with the Peace Corps in March 2007. Being healthy enough to pass the medical exam was part of my motivation. I miss my group meetings but have found WW Online to be an okay substitute.
For the person who asked about buying WW products, I would answer that I’ve purchased none. I do lots of label reading, weighing and measuring, and calculating. I enjoy eating a variety of foods, including ethnic foods, and am primarily vegetarian. My choice has been to limit portion sizes and frequency, rather than to eliminate favorite foods, and for me this means no feelings of deprivation.
BTW, this is a great article. I found it because walking, hiking and yoga have been my usual activities, and I found that figuring out out to calculate activity points for time spent rebounding was impossible until I found this site! Jumping on the mini-trampoline is fun, and my granchildren think it’s fun that Grandma can do it, too. I will say that it’s challenging to lose weight and change longterm habits when you are over 60 (I’m 66), but it’s definitely worth it. And yes, if you lose slowly enough, even older skin has enough elasticity to tighten up.
January 1st, 2007 at 10:29 am
I first did WW in 2001 (17 women and me) - I lost about 30 lbs. I’m a 5′10 male, now 43 years old. In the last 6 years, I put the 30 lbs. back on - and after several vein attempts to lose the weight on my own, I’m back ‘on the plan.’ It was my fault that I slipped back into old eating habits. But I am not joining WW’s officially this time. I know the program, have a gym membership, and just need to be committed. To me, the WW plan is simply a well-designed way to monitor caloric intake, plain and simple. The weigh-ins were the best part of the program for me (it’s motivating!). And I suggest the meetings for any first-timers, if only for the weigh-ins. Headed for 170 - knowing that nothing tastes as good as thin feels.
January 9th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
I am so glad I found this website! I really needed to hear all the success stories. I am planning on joingin WW soon and wanted to see if it really worked. I lost 45 lbs on my own about a year ago and I am finding it hard to get the last 30lbs off. I also wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions on how to beat cravings in the evening. I do so well during the day, but the minute I get home I want to pig out on whatever I can grab. Please help!
Thanks again for the great success stories!
January 10th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
I joined WW many times before but realized I never was committed past the first day-embarassing to admit! But! I finally turned an enourmous corner and rejoined- this is my 9th day and I lost 3.2 pounds my first week with 42 more to go! What is helping me is planning my meal plan the night before and eating every 2-3 hours, esp a PROMAX bar during my danger period between 2 and 5 which always sabotaged me in the past. Each time I eat I make sure it has protein. The Promax bar tastes exactly like a candybar but it has 20 G of protein- it is 6 points though so I have to plan ahead to make sure it fits in my plan- it works though because I have egg whites and veggies- zero points- so I have those points to use for later.
January 12th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Just joined two days ago. Weigh 151 pounds - Female - I am five foot three. Need to get to 125.
I AM STARVING! Will this feeling go away? It’s very depressing right now. I am just so hungry.
January 14th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Hello everyone
I started WW on January 10th and I have been cruising the internet looking for information on points and snacks etc…I was really excited after I read Diana’s notes because I am the same weight and height as her when she started. I am 188lbs and 5″2 frame. I was very encouraged to read that she had lost all of her weight in just 7 months. I have been tracking all of my points in my log so that I don’t forget and I plan to start exercising tomorrow. My question is for whoever will answer is, is it ok to use all of the extra 35 flex points that you are given for the week? Will using them in any way affect or hinder the weight loss? Also, does anyone belong to the WW website where you pay each month? Is it worth the money to join? I am interested in finding low point snack ideas that aren’t all veggies and I was wondering if they have them listed on there or if there is another website with this info. Good luck to you all and I hope you all reach your goals. I am going to give it about a month to see if it works and post my opinion. I will be in touch. Kat
January 14th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
For Marcia. Don’t forget about the weight watchers 0 point soup! I could not survive on this diet without it. I eat about two bowls a day. The recipe is in your book, or you can get it off the web. All I can say is thank God for that soup. You can eat it whenever you get hungry and don’t want to use points and you don’t have to count them. That soup is definitely going to be the source of my success on this diet. Good Luck!
January 15th, 2007 at 11:51 am
You name it, I’ve tried it. Personally I found that most of the diets I tried worked. Umm that is until I went off of them.. I lost 135 pounds on herbalife in 9 months in 2002. I kept it off for about 2 years until I started to go through an early menapause. Well what can I say, between the drugs for the hotflashes and moods I not only gained every pound back but then some. I’m not at my heaviest weight in my life.. To go from a size 12 to over 300 lbs in less then 2 years has been to say the least depressing. Last Wed my friend said you’re comming to weight watchers with me and I’m buying you a pass. How could I turn it down ;o).. I’ve been on the diet just one week and have yet to feel hungry. At first I thought I’d try the core plan but have decided I think the flex plan is the one I’m going to go with. I’m not a huge Dr. Phil fan but even he says “YOU CAN’T DO IT ALONE, YOU NEED THE SUPPORT”. I can’t wait to get back to my old healthy happy self. Best wishes and luck to all of us who find ourselves for whatever reason wanting to tip the scales backward ;O).. May we all extend a supportive hand to one another..
Rommel
January 18th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Wow, what an inspiration you all are. I started WW today!! About 6 years ago I lost 63 pounds and kept it off for several years…until about 2 years ago when I became pregnant with my second child…and it all went downhill from there. I gained 90lbs during my pregnancy. Since having my son in September 2005…I have lost about 40 of it. But…I lost that 40 right away and have been the same since. Last time I lost the weight I didn’t do a diet, I just ate right and exercised. I can’t figure out why that is so hard for me to do again. I am hoping that WW will help keep me accountable and get me back on track. My thought is that once I get back in a lifestyle of eating right, it will be easier and I’ll get right back in to shape. Thank you all for your thoughts and experiences and I wish you all of the luck!
Heather
January 19th, 2007 at 7:49 am
hi.
i have been a member 4x now… i went in december and at that time the points values were the same that they have been- i came back- after my uncontrolled holidays- and found that the points system has changed?? when did they do that- does anyone know what thats about- my daily points went up 4 and not because of my weight. wouldn’t people who were on the old plan switching over gain weight??? thanks, jackie
January 24th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
This is for Jackie. As of 2007, WW changed how the points are calculated. The daily points are now calculated based on factors that include sex, age, whether you are mostly active or sedentary on your job and two other factors I can’t remember now. Prior to 2007, the daily points didn’t include any of these factors. Lucky you - your points went up! Mine went down from 20 to 18 mostly because I’m an old woman.
and for Kat….you can use all of the 35 points but you don’t have to and if you don’t use them all, you’ll lose quicker. Personally, I use them because they allow me to enjoy Friday night champagne and other occasional treats.
I’ve been on WW since June 2006 and have lost 42 pounds. I’m currently about 13 pounds from my goal. I treated myself over the holidays when I absolutely couldn’t wear my big clothes anymore and spent a lot of time at Goodwill buying great (new and smaller!) clothers at bargain prices. I figure I’ll have to buy some more after I lose the other 13 pounds.
I also just quite smoking 1 week ago - I was waiting until I lost most of the weight because I didn’t want to take on dieting and quitting smoking at the same time. I was concerned that I might gain weight (I’ve read that smoking cessation causes metabolism to slow down). I picked up my activity and have incorporated 2 days of high intensity workout (spinning) and 2 days of moderate-high intensity workout (step). This is in addition to the hour - hour and a half I spend 6 days a week walking - I have two dogs so we’re all motivated to go on the walks. I didn’t gain after the first week of quitting smoking and actually dropped .2 pound.
about the working out, I certainly don’t consider myself obsessed, but I have found that working out makes you want to work out more (even if it is hard to drag yourself to class or out for a walk). as a matter of fact, every day when I go home, I think “rats, I gotta take those dogs out” but inevitably, once I’m out on the walk, I usually walk longer than planned and actually enjoy it.
You gotta be honest with yourself on this diet - you need to write down everything - especially those bites here and there. You’d be surprised (or not) at how they add up, and quickly.
good luck everyone
January 26th, 2007 at 2:19 am
I’ve started WW in the last while and I’ve found it’s great. I’ve lost 7lbs in 9 days. I can’t believe it. I’m getting married in November and I hope to lose a total of about 60lbs. We’ll just have to keep those fingers crossed!
Great site!
January 26th, 2007 at 9:07 am
7 lbs in 9 days, seems like too much. Maybe mostly water. More than 2.5 lbs in 7 days is unhealthy.
Any ways, I don’t get WW. According to them, I’m allowed 25-30 points per day. But according to my records, I average about 40 points per day. Yet I lost 12 lbs last month. I do 30min of excersize daily, maybe that’s the difference. Most people in WW don’t even excersize.
My plan is simple. Excersize, lift weights, and 50% carbs, 25% fat, 25% protein diet. About 2,000 cal per day for me. WW seems like bull to me.
January 26th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
I am excited to have found this page. I am going to rejoin ww. I had great success when I did it befor and I am ready to get back on the plan. I didn’t know they had changed the points.
In response to Clint, if someone finds a plan that works for them, and they are trying to improve their health and life it’s a good thing, even if it isn’t what works for someone else. Also, WW not only encourages exercise and gives “bonus” points when you do, they hand out lots of info regarding exercise and weight-loss.
February 1st, 2007 at 11:09 am
Hi All,
I joined WW on January 1, 2007. I lost 7lbs the first three weeks and now (my 4th week) I only lost 1lb. (weighed in today) I am so discouraged! I do a brisk 2 mile walk 5 days a week and stay within my point range. So, why the 1 lb loss?
February 2nd, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Weight Watchers is a big con. I lost two and a half stone within eight months by walking, exercise and replacing lunch with a high fibre cereal. I am male and my start weight was 15.11 and now I way just over 13 stone.
Weight-watchers is a waste of money, you can do it by yourself.
February 3rd, 2007 at 11:13 am
Marcia (#53): That hungry feeling does eventually go away. I think it has to do with a combination of your body and MIND adjusting. For me, (lost 45 lbs. and still going), I was active and maintained my weight but I was an overeater. My portion sizes were CRAZY! I had to get my body used to the healthy sized portions, and after about 2 weeks I started feeling fuller each day. More importantly, I had to change my thinking. I “thought” I was neglecting my hunger by going on a diet. I started thinking about it as a life change (and how good I was going to look in my swimsuit). Some weeks, I don’t lose anything. Some weeks 1 or 2 lbs. But I know that I’m not gaining, I know that I’m making good choices, and I know that I’m building muscle (which may not result in weight but body shape change) and making myself stronger which in turn makes me look and feel good.
February 3rd, 2007 at 12:12 pm
I joined Weight Watchers on January 21, 2007. I have lost 15 pounds in two weeks. I find myself struggling to eat all of my points every day. I am extremely full but I force myself to stay focused on the plan. I do not use my activity points and I am never hungry enough to use the flex points either.
I made a commitment to myself to not look back but to move forward. Upon joining I have been dedicated to drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day, walking 2 miles a day, jogging a mile every other day, changing my negative attitude, no more pop, & 50 sit-ups daily too.
Two years ago my father died at the young age of 51 of a sudden, massive heart attack at home. His father and his dad’s mother died the same exact way before the age of 55. After my dad died I fell into a silent deppresion while trying to cope with the loss of my dad and trying to keep my mother from giving up on life.
Six months after my dad’s death I had heart surgery. Still to this day the extreme rapid heart beat is still there, which could take my life. This is making me more determined than ever to beat the “family genes.” Getting myself in shape and eating healthier is a must. I will beat the odds of this disease from taking my life before I am 50.
I am determined more than ever to be at my goal weight by Christmas. I have 100 pounds more to loose but accomplishing this will mean that I get my life back!
February 5th, 2007 at 6:25 am
As my weight watcher leader says, You lost the honeymoon weight and now you are into the “HARD LARD”.
What I would do is take a good look at what your doing, follow the healthy living guidelines, and tweak it all. Change your exercise routine, make sure your eating all your veggies and fruits, maybe reduce your salt intake. Things like that. But a pound is a pound and I am thrilled when I lose anything. Once I only lost a quarter of a pound and I was dissappointed until my leader said ” well that is a stick of butter” and I thought “Oh Wow! That’s alot of fat off my body.” You lost 4 sticks!!
Keep up the good work.
February 6th, 2007 at 7:20 am
I am an on-line WW member. My husband is interested in joining the program, but I don’t want to pay double. I am not sure if his points are calculated the same as mine, or if there is a different scale for males. He is 170 pounds. He would like to use the Flex Plan. How many points would he be allowed per day, not including the 35 Flex Points?
February 8th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Gloria.
I just started a few days ago. I calculated my points with the manual. I can tell you the points but i need his age, activity level (ie office job, construction, etc.) and height.
Respond back and I can tell you..
February 10th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
I just found this sight hoping to gain info to see if it really works. Like many others, I have lost and gained the same 50 pounds over the last 15 years after 6 kids. I am going to try this on my own and hope for some help. I am 47 years old, 5′5″ tall and 195. My gosl id 145 for everything health reason there is out there. It seems I start at 24 points, but am unsure about the Flex Points, and the points gained by exercise. Can anyone help me?
February 11th, 2007 at 12:54 am
Hi all
I wanted to let you all know that I lost 7 lbs, but it took me three weeks to do it. I also did not lose anything last week, I stayed exactly the same. So for Bridget, you are not the only one. I think though that it had a lot to do with the batch of zero point soup that I made. I did not like it that much because I made it with the cabbage and so I did not eat it as much…thus I filled up on other stuff. This week I made it with chopped spinach instead and I like it much better. I also started riding the exercise bike while I am watching tv. For Gloria, your husband can have 22 points a day not counting the 35 flex points. Once he gets down to 150 though, it goes down to 20. Good luck all and I will be in touch.
February 11th, 2007 at 12:56 am
For Gloria again, I am using the old chart for points verses the new one. I think that people lose weight faster with the old one anyway. Hope this helps
February 14th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
I just started losing weight on my own approximately 1 1/2 weeks ago when I started eating Weight Watchers meals for lunch. So far I’ve lost 4 lbs, which has motivated me to lose more. I have read every posting on this page, and I’m going to try to do it on my own first. I think from what I’ve read, that I’m allowed 24 points. I’m 5′1″, 186 lbs, and I’m at a desk all day at work. So based on this information, are the 24 point correct? Thank you two ladies that are 5′2″ and were 180+ lbs, you both have REALLY inspired me.
February 20th, 2007 at 7:16 am
I joined WW 1 week ago. Last night was my 1st weigh-in. I lost 4.8 pounds. I am so excited. I can’t wait for next week.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:23 pm
hey everybody! I’m 21 years old and in college. Living away from home has definately put a few pounds on me. i feel healthy, but i look horrible. i weight about 215 pounds and im only 5′5. Since my parents dont help me pay for college, money is really tight. I was wondering if anyone could be so kind as emailing me the point system, advise, and/or guide me in the right direction. I don’t have time to go to meetings because I go to school and work, and in my spare time i go to the community center. If anyone could spare the time to inform me on what I need to be doing I would greatly appreciate it! thank you to all that care.
February 22nd, 2007 at 1:08 pm
This all great info, have found all I need to continue on….except the formula for excercise bonus points suggested for my weight/height…
HElP there please!
I was shocked to realize that my 3 harmless cups of coffee a day, with 2 tablespoons of whipping cream,half and half, and a tbl of hazlenut syrup was using up 21 points a day!!!!!!! Tasty drink friends, but it sure tells me where these 5 lbs came from!!!!…All about the black coffee now. maybe regular coffeemate for 1 cup. I am great everywhere else with fruit, vegies, fish..and no junk food.
Just need how many excercise points to do a week, and what constitutes a point? or what is suggested, or how it even works.
thanks!
March 15th, 2007 at 8:08 am
I am 22 and not “over-overweight” (or at least by WW standards) but I joined WW with my mother to help her lose the extra 45 points she cares around. They say that if you have a partner, you lose the weight much faster. My mom needed to lose the weight and I was her support beam. The first night we both got remarks about why I was there and that “skinny” people (I was 148pounds and 5 foot 3 inches) tend to bring the group down. I was so upset. I never said that I was “fat” or made rude comments about the members. However, they found it in themselves to make uncalled for remakes to me. First off, they didn’t know me from Adam and second off WW supports positive feedback and remarks, not negative ones.
My mom and I both went home that night feeling more defeated than we ever had. So we decided that we would have the most support from each other. The next week, at weigh in, my mom and I showed them all up. She lost 7 pounds and I have lost 5 pounds. The second week she lost another 4 pounds and I lost 3 pounds. The third week she lost 4 pounds and I maintained the current weight. Losing all of that weight (for my mother) was like slapping them in the face and telling them, see you shouldn’t have judged.
Overall, the WW program is a godsend. It helped my mother lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. For anyone who is trying to lose weight, WW is a great way to start.
March 15th, 2007 at 11:53 am
I think you are all nuts. It’s really very simple. I’ve looked at the weight watchers foods, points, etc. They are loaded with Carbs (which is mainly sugar-based) and those will turn to FAT if not burned off. If you reduce your sugar intake (aka CARBS) and you exercise and drink water, you WILL lose weight.
ugh.
March 15th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Jaded,
It’s not appropriate to call people who comment here “nuts.” I’ve found that there are many way to improve your health, but berating people isn’t one of them.
I agree that the WW food is just as overly processed as other frozen meals, but the WW plan is a very sensible and healthy place to start.
You’re right, if you reduce your calories, exercise and keep yourself hydrated, you WILL lose weight. There are many ways to achieve those goals, so be respectful.
Thanks for commenting,
Laura Moncur
Starling Fitness
March 22nd, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Well, I definately think this site was helpful. First of all, I am not technically overweight, but for my frame and build, I am carrying some extra weight. My fear is that I will follow in a family history of hitting about age 25 to 30 and gaining quite a bit. With WW, I am hoping this change in eating habit will start a new healthy lifestyle. I only want to lose about 10 lbs with excersize also. After you reach your target weight are you suppossed to change over to the Core Plan?
March 23rd, 2007 at 4:06 pm
i just read jaded’s comments about everyone on here being nuts but i totally disagree, surely the very fact that people are trying to lose weight and become healthier is the point, like so many other people, for one reason or another, i am a food addict so an eating plan has to be able to incorporate foods that i enjoy eating or else i would never stick to it, so at least this way i can enjoy what i am eating and just point the stuff i have as treats and still lose weight now surely thats much better than not following any structured plan and eating anything i want and putting on weight
March 23rd, 2007 at 6:25 pm
im just wondering, i just joined weight watchers yesterday and im 15-and they said 15 year olds should have 31 points and it seems like A LOT of food. I am scared i wont lose weight. is this true or do they know what they are talking about?
March 24th, 2007 at 5:17 am
in reply to jenna, yes i am sure they know what they are talking about, and the consultant is trained to know what a person of your weight and size needs to sustain their body, good luck with it
March 25th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Hi all, back again.
I have now lost 13lbs. I have now 40 more to go. It is coming off slowly, BUT IT IS coming off. This is a miracle for me because I never ever could lose weight in the past without exercise. I’ll write again soon. Don’t get discouraged all, just keep at it!!!
March 25th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
P.S. I am also eating chocolate every day. Just one dove chocolate square is only 1 point. Enjoy!!!
April 2nd, 2007 at 8:03 am
Hello,
I just recieved my WW material in the mail Saturday. I am going to do the At-home program. I have a six month old daughter and have the pregnancy weight to shed. I am very excited about this program and I have recieved a lot of inspiration from the blogs so Thank you everyone! I look forward to reporting back with my weight loss!
April 2nd, 2007 at 10:34 am
I have a question, if I bank points..how long are they good for and is there a max of points I can bank in a given time period?
April 2nd, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Jeanna,
Banking points is the old way of keeping track of points. I don’t believe WW does that anymore. If you want to bank points, they only last a week.
Good luck,
Laura Moncur
Starling Fitness
April 3rd, 2007 at 5:22 am
Thank you for your help Laura, It is greatly appreciated!
April 3rd, 2007 at 1:38 pm
i just wanted to say that i have gained and lost the same 20 pounds on and off of ww over the past 5 years. I have lost the 20 pounds 3 times but have always managed to gain it back after falling of the system. I am back on and plan to lose those 20 plus 20 more and keep them off for good! I am exercising alot more from the start this time and am making it a complete lifestyle change which you all need to realize this is - good luck!
April 4th, 2007 at 10:32 am
I have been on the Core Plan for about 3 weeks and haven’t lost any weight, is there a limit on some of the core foods? I have been exercising also, but haven’t seen any changes on the scale.
Please help!! I am getting discouraged.
April 4th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
I have been back on plan and am spreading my flex pts thoughtout my wk since i seem to be starving if i dont and have been exercising at high intensisty but have not lost any weight or seen any difference - any other time i have done the plan i didnt start to incorporated exercise until after the first few months. the lst 3 time i lost at least 4 pound this first wk but there has been no change on the scale this time around what gives?
April 5th, 2007 at 7:20 am
I joined two weeks ago, and I feel incredible. I’ve already lost nearly seven pounds, and I feel so good. I gained twenty pounds when I switched from waiting tables to being a teller at a bank last year. I’m doing it with my mom, who’s going to the meetings, I’m keeping points on my own. I find it works best to set good, reasonable goals for myself. I’d like to lose four more pounds before our formal in a few weeks. I bought a dress not too long ago that was just a little too snug, and used it as an incentive to keep my points! I love this!
April 5th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Great info on WW. I lost over 40 lbs and have kept it off for over 5 years. First did via kit in the mail with little success, then online then went to meetings where I took off the last 10 pounds. I had the most success and was less likely to go over my points if I knew I was going to weigh in that week. It usually made me “behave” on weekends as the meeting was on Monday. Good Luck to All who try it!
April 6th, 2007 at 8:31 am
So far, so good for me. I have been on the at home program for 5 days. I have lost 7 pounds. I know it does sound like a lot and I am very happy. I am doing the points program. I would just like to say too that when starting other diets I would have to go through my fridge and throw out all the bad food and go shopping and spend too much money buying more, with this program I have not gone to the grocery store yet because there is so much I already have in my home that is practical for my diet. Good luck everyone!
April 10th, 2007 at 5:26 am
For me, WW has changed my entire perspective on life. After I got married and fit into my size 14 Womens wedding dress (I lost 40 pounds to accomplish that), the honeymoon and the diet were out the window. I gained about 35 pounds in 8 months. WOW! So, I joined WW 3 times. I would go to a meeting or two and then I wouldn’t go back for a month or so. Finally I asked, or rather begged, my mother to join WW with me. I knew that I needed a support system. She, like me, needed to lose about 50 pounds. Well, it is one year later and my mother and I both have lost 53 pounds (each!). We are both lifetime members!! Here are a few of my “secrets”: brand new snack..Hostess 100 calorie packs. The chocolate cupcakes are only 1 point for 3 cupcakes. Also, my favotite meal is 1 egg with two whites. Lite bread, toasted and a baked potato that I cut up and sautee in some pam…so much like homefries!!! Also, one good thing about joining WW so many times is that I have a few sliders. One for in my purse, one for in my desk at work and one in the kitchen drawer. I make sure that I always pull it out at the grocery store. One more thing, if you have a friend that will join with you, I really recommend it. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my best friend, my MOM!
April 10th, 2007 at 9:46 am
I joined WW 4 weeks ago (starting my 5th week) and I am in love! I have lost 7.5 lbs. I was on Adkins before, not losing any weight and missing my veggies and fruits too much. I like the flexibility of the point-system because nothing is forbidden, therefore I don’t crave anything too much to the point that I have to cheat on the diet. I simply have it if I want it, and account for it. We’re all adults here so let’s be accountable. Plus, those nice little WW cakes and Hostess 100-cal snacks are helping curb the sweet-cravings. Also, for those of you scared off of meetings, I haven’t stepped one foot in one yet and I don’t miss it. I weight myself in every Monday morning at home, track it on the WW web site and that’s that. WW is definitely for me.. I can totally see me doing this for the rest of my life. Good luck to all of you.
April 11th, 2007 at 8:09 am
Thanks so much for all of this information! I have been looking for this for a while.
April 12th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
I was on Weight Watchers 2 years ago and lost 25lbs……I stopped counting my points and gained 25+lbs back ! I am 5′1″ and weigh 186 now. I had gotten down to 160lbs counting my points. Now I am back counting points. I love Weight Watchers. I never went to a meeting(my mom did and she lost 30lbs also) but purchased the books, points slider etc . I love the program because I can eat what I want (as long as I count the points) and eat out. In other words I can feel human and not have to just eat carrot sticks and lettuce. I know WW works, as it did for me before. You just have to stick with it……a great snack tip for those with a sweet tooth. Buy VITAMUFFINS, they are advertised in WW magazine (which I find a wonderful source!!) They are loaded with fiber and vitamins…..only ONE POINT each. I buy the chocolate choc. chip variety, I put a squirt of FAT FREE whip cream on top(only 5 cals) and a squirt of SUGAR FREE Hershey syrup (only 15 cals and 0 fat in that per decent amount)….so for less then 2 points I have a wonderful high fiber treat !!! Barbara
April 24th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
i have been reading your site and find it very resourceful,im currently researching ww and almost convinced to join, Im currently 200 pounds and need to get this under control asap.My question is how much does it cost to get a points calculator,or do you recieve 1 when you attend a meeting? How much does a ww started kit cost?
April 25th, 2007 at 6:19 am
Geisha, Did you visit Weightwatchers.com yet? It gives you all the information you need, cost etc. It is the only diet that works for me. Since I wrote my last post I have lost 4 lbs ! I really think you should try it. Good luck, Barbara
May 6th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
I stumbled across your blog as I did a google search for “activity points for yoga.” I just wanted to add that I absolutely love WW and will sing the praises of the franchise each and every moment I get. I lost close to 35 lbs. a few years ago and have kept the weight off by consistently counting points and remaining mindful of what I put into my body. I’ve been a lifetime member since 2004. To everyone who may have their doubts, believe me, the program works!
May 10th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Is WW appropriate if you only have about 15 lbs to lose?
May 11th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Here’s some insight from a “nonbeliever”…
A few years back, my folks and my sister joined WW. After about 3 weeks of fuming at how much work it was to weigh & measure everything when I went over to my folks’ for a meal, I noticed I was the only person not losing weight despite my repeated mantra of, “I’m keeping an eye on it.”
Eventually I agreed to at least try using one of the point calculators. We figured out how many points I’d be held to if I joined WW and I went on happily fudging numbers…
…until I realized that even though I was VERY loosely following the basic guidelines, my weight was dropping! In the meantime, after a couple of months my sister (the most disciplined of the family) literally had to buy a completely new wardrobe, and my father dropped fat so fast that one of my friends took me aside and asked if he was OK.
At the “zenith” of my involvement (I’d actually begun to follow the guidelines), I had an experience that proved the popularity of the WW program. At a post-funeral reception, while eyeing a table loaded with cookies, cakes and various finger foods I mused out loud, “I wonder how many points that is” and the dark mood broke when all 20+ people in the room actually burst out laughing — EVERYBODY (ages 65+ down to 20-something) had been silently thinking the same thing!
Fast-forward a couple of years, and we’ve all fallen off the wagon — but my sister still follows the basic guidelines she learned in WW and still looks great (and is still wearing her “new” size clothing). My folks are talking about rejoining WW and I’ve gone back to at least paying attention to point values of foods. I also found public domain freeware for my PDA (I’m a geek, my Palm goes with me everywhere) to figure points and I use it extensively when grocery shopping.
The moral of the story is that WW works even if you apply only the barest minimum of self-discipline; I never actually followed the program fully (and rarely kept to my estimated daily point allocation) and still managed to drop almost 15 pounds in 5 months. I still don’t want to get back into putting a ruler and postal scale on the table at mealtime, so I’ve got to figure out a way around that — but the program does work.
May 11th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
I am in my second week of weight watchers. Initial wt. was 206#, and 5 days later at my first weigh in, I was down 6.5# totaling a loss of 6.5lbs. in the first 5 days! I don’t like the meetings at all, but I need the accountability every week at the weigh in. I am 30 years old, and most of the women in the meetings were 50+, and it appeared they had no social life. The instructor was handing out “BRAVO” stickers, and inducing applause if someone said they were “GOOD” and didn’t go over their points! Like I said, the meetings are velveeta cheesy, but the diet itself is a great one, and it works obviously. I plan on keeping this up until I reach my goal weight of 155-160# by doing the weigh in only! (skip the meeting altogether).
May 15th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Hello All! I am 23, 5′8 and 155.4 lbs. I joined WW today with my mother as support and to assist myself in losing some of this post college weight and resetting my mind set of how to eat healthy for life. I am very inspired by everyone’s entry and congratulations to all who are trying… with or without great success. My question is about the activity points, can anyone reccommend a way of knowing what % heart rate one is working at? Is there something you can buy to indicate for you without having to stop and check your pulse? Any assistance would be appreciated as WW doesnt seem to be real clear on this. Anybody have some basics, like biking for 30 minutes = x amount of activity points? Well, love this blog and think it is great… I will definately tell everyone at next weeks meeting to check it out. Thanks! Cheryl
May 17th, 2007 at 10:38 am
You know, there is so much nutrition information available to us and I feel like I am pretty well up on the latest and the best nutrition options, but my problem is putting it all together!
How do you put it all together to come up with menus, daily eating plans and grocery lists?
I know some of you out there have got to ideas that would help me sort out all this information and put together a plan.
Please help!
May 23rd, 2007 at 1:33 pm
Hello Cheryl,
I have an activity booster from WW which tells you if you have a certain length of activity how many points you earn..of you give me an example of what you would like to know I can look it up for you and then post it here.
Jeanna
May 28th, 2007 at 7:48 am
well i am 36 have 3 kids seperated 2 yrs and 75 pounds heavier i am very skeptical about ww or anything else for that matter i had tried hoodia certified and that does not work after about a month it was hard for me to swallow the 6 pills a day then i tried flush-away,on the contrary it does not do what the name promises,and i have tried the famouse slim-fast to no success.,so i am thinking ww i joined the y.m.c.a and hopefully with that and ww i will be able to actually do great.wish me luck.do you suggest that i go to the meatings or just try it on my own through web site????? thanks
May 28th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
Hello Jeanna,
I walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes at varying speeds (equivalent to around 200 calories burned). A side thought, anybody have any good drink recipes that are lower, points wise? It has been hard to give up my evening beer and was wondering if anyone has been able to conquer this problem! Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Cheryl
May 29th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Hi Martha, I think you should give WW a try. I don’t go to meetings, but some people feel the need to. I love counting points. It’s easy, and you have a lot of freedom as far as what you can eat, which is important to me. On April 12th I was 186 lbs, and today I am 178 lbs. It’s slow and steady…….but something do-able for me. The fad diets do not work for me, nor do pills etc.
Barbara
May 31st, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Question: Does anyone know if the 35 flex points that are “extra” for the week, have to be eaten in one day? Thanks. Barbara
June 4th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Barbara,
the flex points can be divided anyway you see fit over the course of the week. If you use them, great … if not, then they are gone and replaced with 35 new flex points the next week. You can’t bank them.
I am recently back on WW. I lost almost 60 pounds my first go-round, but then I got engaged and put back on 20 of that. Now, I’d like to lose those 20 and maybe 10-15 more.
June 5th, 2007 at 5:48 am
Thanks for the information Dina. Good luck on your weight loss !
Barbara
June 5th, 2007 at 8:15 am
I’ll add my own in here..
I joined WW back when I first got engaged and piddled around a bit.. lost about 10 pounds and gained most of it back, mostly because I wasn’t doing the program.
About 6 months in, I talked my fiance into joining with me. He was skeptical, but was getting annoyed at his own weight, so he went along. He turned into a total convert… and because we did it together, I was finally losing weight too!
From September to January (when I had to make an effort to hold steady for the sake of my wedding dress) I lost 27 or 28 pounds. My