Comments on: Why I Don’t Trust Weight Watchers Points System

By: Nan

Nan — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:06:32 +0000

Hello Everyone,

I see this was started a long time ago but still going in 2011. I recently rejoined WW. I have lost 6 pounds in 3 weeks. This has been the easiest 6 pounds I have ever lost. WW has fine tuned their program. It is now Points Plus and it is the easiest ever. Probably it isn't perfect, afterall what is....BUT you will become very aware of what you are eating and how it effects you body and that is a very good thing.

I have probably been on every diet there is in my life time and this one is one that anyone can do and live with.

Congratulations to all who have a handle on their eating and to those of you who don't.....don't give up. Just get going.

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:09:09 +0000

Also beware on WW for your sodium intake. Consumer Reports published that based on sample WW recipes (not their frozen foods), WW daily sodium was way over recommended amounts.

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:05:50 +0000

I say go with calorie counting and exercise. There are numerous issues that I have found with WW, some of them already mentioned. The biggest are that WW expects that people will go over their points, so in order to be successful, they intentionally give you lower points to eat. This way you can fudge the tracking and still lose most weeks. At 29 points on PointsPlus, a woman is eating less than 1000 calories a day. Way too low! I agree that this is a surefire way to slow down metabolism, and become emaciated. If you are a committed and honest calorie counter, there is no reason to go under 1500 calories, especially if you are active. Another factor, salmon with all of its' healthy fats is treated the same as a food with saturated fat! All fats are not equal, yet WW treats them (and punishes them) all the same. These days you can buy CalorieKing books for 8 bucks, a blank notebook and pen, or keep track of calories on your cell phone as you eat. With WW, there is extra steps, first find nutrition info, then convert to points. It is not necessary. After a while of calorie counting, you know how much each food value is the same way you memorize point values. The only difference is that with points, you are always dependant on WW. What happens when they switch point values? Time to relearn all the values. Very expensive for something you can get for free! And check out their success and return customer rates. That says it all. Consumer reports has it right. You are better off on your own, or doing a Jenny Craig or Slimfast or Nutrisystem if you want to not calorie count at all. Another thing, the WW cookbooks and recipes are terribly complicated. Both in the ingredients they call for, and in the food itself. Most people do not want to eat such fancy food combos most days. And who has the time to track down those ingredients and then actually cook these recipes? Like tossed greens with goat cheese, dill, and capers. Alrighty then, what a quick lunch to make for myself on a Tuesday! Give me a break!

By: Glenn

Glenn — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 05:27:11 +0000

Yes you are right. Watching your caloric intake is important in weight loss, but ONLY counting the calories and nothing else is outdated... Studies have shown that although the amount of calories is a good indication of your intake, you have also take into account how much of EACH macronutrient you are taking in. Weight Watchers now has a new formula that does not count calories, but it counts protein, carbohydrates, fat, AND fiber. With this new system, it is recommended that you continue to count your calories outside the points system to aid in portion control.

By: Amber

Amber — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:01:19 +0000

Hi. I have been on W.W.'s in the past. After my first baby and agian after my 2nd baby. I lost 40+ lbs. both times. After my third baby, I have not lost the weight yet. So...I am starting w.w. again this week. One question, if you lose consistently at first and then hit a plateau what do you do to jumpstart weight loss again?

By: pamela

pamela — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:31:48 +0000

Hi all, the thing I love about WW is all the talking on the notice boards. I am guilty of emotional eating but now I express my feeling on the board and get a lot of support from people I don’t know. I have also learnt so much about food. WW teaches me about portion size and what food is good for you. This is only my second week and I have learnt so much and I am aware of everything I eat. The online membership has articles about all health issue, for example learning when you feel full to understanding fats, carbs, protein etc….. I have learnt a few facts from reading all your comments today. Thanks everyone…..;0)

By: c-ko

c-ko — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:52:00 +0000

Hi there. WW helped my mom loose a ton of weight in the 90's (35 lbs). She eventually decided to eat whatever she wants and now weighs even more than before. She has tried every diet without great success because they all require calorie counting or eating only one type of food.

She's back on WW with her friends, I am too to help encourage her. I am so proud of her, she has already lost 3lbs in about a week. She is finally eating healthily and cutting out the massive amounts of junk food. WW inspired her to eat healthy foods, other diets were not sustainable and she eventually went off them. This time she is dedicated to staying on WW for life. Please don't hate on ww, it helped my mom once, it will again. Plus, it is allowing me to really observe what I eat and how much crap I usually put into my body.

I still go to Taco Bell, but I eat 2 fresco tacos that are 3 points each instead of the Crunch Wrap, with fries supreme, which is almost all of my points in one sitting. I did this regularly, I wont anymore. I used to just figure that what I was eating was about 500 cals for the whole thing. But WW made me realize that it is not. I pay attention to my food intake at a fast food restaurant for the first time in my life.

By: Pedro

Pedro — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:34:23 +0000

I just started a Weight Watchers program and decided that I will have to take the hit of losing a bundle of money (no refunds) because it is not for me. The problem is that I do not cook, shop for food or it out. I am the guy who attends a convention a block from great restaurants and grabs a sandwich in a corner deli because I do not want to waste time eating.

I eat what my wife (a physician) serves for meals, but munch all day long compulsively. I am not a food lover. I would prefer never to think about food and thinking about calories or points is thinking about food.

Two years ago I lost 65 pounds quitting munching cold turkey after a high sugar count. Then when I hit bottom I broke my munching fast and regained 50 of those pounds. I suffered muscle weakening in the process.

I have concluded that the only diet that would work for me is to eat only what my wife gives me. But where I work everybody brings pastries and snacks and they are even served at meetings. It is hard for me to resist partially. I may need behavioral therapy or something, but after the first meeting I decided that Weight Watchers would just make me think more about food.

If I had a pill that provided all the nutrition I needed and made me also never be hungry I would take it and forsake eating altogether. And my best days are when I am so busy I forget to snack (except that if I am tired I start climbing the walls, but usually the mental challenges of my job make up for it).

I should have researched WW before joining (they have a new group at my office) but after the first meeting I wanted to run away. Instead of helping me not think about food it has the opposite effect. But I am told they needed the fixed number to start a group and there are no refunds. I am too cheap to walk away, but I also hate the thought of going back. I tried asking the leader whether in her experience there were people not temperamentally suited for WW and what I got back was a sales pitch. And I still need a plan, support group, or something that will help a compulsive snacker whose wife prepares his main meals (and keeps them limited) but who hates counting anything (but also hates feeling hungry).

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:54:11 +0000

Oh, btw – you can add fiber a lot more natural ways than adding metamucil! It’s called milled flax seed, and you can put it in ANYTHING! It’s not a drug, or anything – it’s an all natural fiber(my kids love my smooties, and yes, I put flax seed in them because I know it’s good for my kids and no it’s not a laxative). Putting such a label on manufactures is ridiculous! There’s more than metamucil to add fiber!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:50:52 +0000

Oh, Whatever to the beginning of this article - for one fat gram only has 7kcals in it - and kcals are not CALORIES! And another thing, go ahead and cut the fiber out of your diet - it's not that important is it? It's important to all the minerals, and unused nutrients trying to get out of the body! AI(adequate intake) of fiber is 38g a day! How much research did you do before posting this crap? If you are trying to lose weight you're going to have to pay attention to the things you eat, what you put into your body. You should get about 30% of your calorie intake from HEALTHY fats! A great example is Olive Oil! Yeah, it is fat, but it helps you reduce the risks of cancer, unlike Trans fats which will increase you chances of getting cancer. Do you think a light smoker gets cancer because she's a smoker, while the heavy smoker does not? Your diet matters too! Put a dab of olive oil on your salad, your veggies, make them taste good as well as be good for you!

And to the 12 yr old on a diet? I think everybody's different. One person might have been on a diet at 12 and it screwed up their life. Do you know what will screw their life up too? Being the fat kid at school - expecially highschool. There's nothing wrong with trying to teach your kid good healthy habits. Here's a book for you. Family Power! Don't point your kid out even among the whole family. Change the way THE FAMILY does everything. The way the family eats, cause the 12 year old didn't get big on it's own. And Weight Watchers is not a bad program for a 12 year old. They will help children as young at 10. Teach your child how to eat right and exercise, before it's too late. My brother is 25 years old, he grew up the fat kid too. He's now over 400lbs, and isn't changing. My entire family is obese so, they didn't bother to teach him and those reasons are why he stays the way he is. I'm 24, a RN with 2 kids and I'm 120.

Look up Mediterranean Recipes! They don't calorie count, and they stay thin and healthy! Your daily intake should compose of 3 MAIN nutrients, carbs protein and fat.

60% Carbs (No I don't mean bread, bread, and bread - carbs are in your milk, your fruits, your veggies their everywhere)

20-30% Fat (Don't grab a tub of lard. Stay away from Trans and Poly fats - keep your Sat fat in moderation. Mono fats are great fats, just like Olive Oil that is mostly Mono fat full of Vitamin E and Antioxidants)

10-20% Protein (Mediterranean's only eat about 2-3 servings of red meat a MONTH(heart healthy). Remember you can get protein in other places! Beans, and legumes are a GREAT source to get protein. Eat more Poultry, your turkeys and chickens are great - eggs. And remember to check your meat for those nasty fats! Keep the volume of those fats lows and the MONO fats high)

And I've done a lot of research with Weight Watchers, If you are out there to loss weight, you're going to have to count those calories, and pay attention to what you eat. After a while, you know how many pts or how many calories are in that favorite dinner of yours. You'll get used to it, and used to eating right, and then that will become your habit.