Weight Watchers is a commercial weight loss program that focuses on balanced low fat nutrition, exercise and group counseling. Its latest diet creation is called “TurnAround” and is based on its successful “Flexpoints Plan” and “Winning Points Plan.” Every item of food from pizza to ice cream to carrots to bread has a points value based on its nutritional content. You may eat as you like as long as you stay within your allotment of points.
This new program is basically the same as the old, but uses the points in a slightly different manner. You are encouraged to use an online resource called “eTools,” along with a points “calculator” and recipes provided by Weight Watchers. To assist the dieter in their lifestyle changes all members are encouraged to attend group discussion and counseling sessions, mostly in person, at local Weight Watchers centers.
Weight Watchers programs have historically been good programs, but they are increasingly relying on gimmicks and slick marketing. The new “TurnAround” plan is basically the “Winning Points Plan” with re-freshed marketing. They advertise aggressively, trying to convince overweight people that they can lose weight without sacrificing the foods they love.
The points-based plans control portion size by allowing calories that should be consumed on healthy food with very small portions of potentially unhealthy food. This strategy gives the dieter a false sense of the real nutritional changes they need to make in their lives for long-term success. If one seriously wants to lose weight and keep it off in the long-term, they need to think more comprehensively about the foods they eat.
The program does not put a priority on exercise, which is essential. Long-term group therapy impedes the development of self-reliance and self-discipline, which is clearly the most important trait in those 5% of dieters who succeed in the long-term.
Bottom Line:
Realize that Weight Watchers is not a diet. If you need to lose more than 10 pounds initially, Weight Watchers is not the answer. It’s more of a way-of-life and maintenance program after you’ve reached your goal weight.
To lose 10 pounds or more, I recommend “bootcamp” diets like Nutrisystem or Medifast, where you are forced to eat smaller portions. Yes, the food isn’t 5 star gourmet. Yes, the portions are small. That’s exactly the point and it will force you down to your goal weight. It’s tough, but it’s only temporary. Is 1 or 2 months of strict portion control worth being skinny again? If not, how bad do you really want this?
After you’re down to goal weight, control your lifestyle with a program like Weight Watchers. It will provide you with the tools you need to succeed longterm.
Hi, I'm a dietitian with experience in hundreds of weight loss programs and fad diets. When forming my list of the
WW DOES work!! It has changed my life and the lives of several of my family members. We all suffered from hereditary eating! We all now maintain a healthy weight several years after joining the plan.
I too equate WW with AA. They are maintenance, reminder and support group meetings. I don’t mind that WW sells thing; I like the big green water jug I bought. Recording every thing that you eat in the Quick Track booklets is very effective. I’ve lost 12 pounds in 5 weeks.
Here’s the secret: eliminate sugar. Almost everyone attending WW is a sugar junkie. We love desserts, cookies, ice cream — anything with sugar. Eating sugar sets off an addictive reaction in me that makes me unable to stop eating surgar — for days. Then I read “Potatos Not Prozac,” which is aimed at AAs, and elminated ALL sugar. Now the cravings are gone and I’ve lost weight.
I read some good and bad reviews on this site and I wanted to share my own experience. I joined Weight Watchers in 2003 and was able to lose the weight in the first year and keep it off for two years after that. During the time I stayed on the program, my cholesterol and blood sugar went to normal levels and I did not have to take medication.
Those who say that you can eat what you want as long as you stick to your points must not pay attention in the meetings. Our meeting coordinator always kept on our backs about making sure we got 3 to 5 vegetable/fruit servings per day. I had a hard time with this and she challenged me to eat a new veg/fruit every week to widen my palate.
The only reason I put the weight back on was because I stopped paying attention to what I ate and I stopped exercising. This week I started back on weight watchers with the knowledge this is a lifetime decision, not a quick diet. WW is beneficial as it is set up to be a lifetime commitment. Anyone who wants to stay healthy must make some kind of commitment to themselves to do so.