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
I have finally found a program that works, the Healthy For Life Program. It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle change. Following a low-glycemic plan that dosen’t spike your blood sugar. A plan that will help you with your health needs, lowering your cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes and the side effect is weight-loss. What a plus!
I was in weight watchers in the early 2000’s. I lost a few pounds, if I recall…maybe as many as 14? I had quite a few more to go…
I reached a plateau while I was with them, and I stopped losing. I was also hungry pretty much all the time. Honestly, that probably was my own uninformed/poor food choices, going for what tickled my taste buds, rather than what satiated my hunger and was healthy.
The thing was, it seemed that the “points” method of calculating food limits kind of encouraged that in people already predisposed, or ignorant of how to eat well…not that it is a totally bad program, just maybe too easy to fudge around with your food and not learn to eat right.
There was a good woman leading our group, who was also a good example of having lost and kept off a healthy amount of weight. She also encouraged us to increase our fiber intake to help with a healthy diet and feeling full, so I have no complaints about the personnel. The group support I would say would depend on the group dynamics, which are different from place to place, and usually depend about 50% (give or take) on the leader. Our meetings were mostly good.
Overall, I wouldn’t say this is a “bad” program-pretty reasonable price if you can get a large group, or if your workplace helps out with a wellness program. But I do agree with the review, that it is pretty “gimmicky” and kind of puts the reality of changing eating habits up in the atmosphere somewhere; you have to work hard to get it, and/or your group leaders/members have to be willing to make suggestions.
And let’s be honest: sometimes it’s easy to sit back in a group and let others do the talking, or fake that all is ok, if we’re afraid of our mess-ups, or so beat up by the things that have made/kept us overweight that we can’t be real.
That’s where I was in 2000. I left weight watchers, and didn’t go back; I regained all my weight, plus about 22 lbs…not through any fault of weight watchers, but my own issues.
I don’t think I’d do weight watchers again, because it didn’t fit my personality-since then I’ve learned to enjoy much healthier foods, and have dropped about 8 of those extra 22 lbs, and kept them off since about 2004. I am working more honestly with the deeper issues, and I think that I will lose the rest I need to over time through gentle persistence and self-respect as I continue to change my thinking/exercise/eating habits.
In any case, I would suggest more research before making a commitment to any weight-loss program, and take whatever gentle steps you need to heal and respect yourself-after all, it’s your life, not just your body.
Weight watchers is okay, but my husband is having a hard time trying to lose weight with their point system. I feel the diet needs to focus more on lowering the amount of carbs, especially the bad carbs.
With all the pasta and desserts out there you can be within your alloted points but still pack on the weight if you keep eating the wrong foods. My husband does a very good job watching his points, but seems to gain weight on weight watchers, because he’s eating some of the worst carbs out there. I just feel like WW would be much better if more emphasis were placed on the good/bad/dangerous carbs people are eating.