Poll: Does Weight Watchers Really Work?
By Rob
I’m wondering if Weight Watchers actually works, if it teaches health or just portion control. Weight Watchers was my first experience with dieting and I went as early as grade 5. I was 175 pounds at the time and my mother thought that I shouldn’t be so heavy. She first took me to the doctor who told her that I would “grow into it” as I got older. She didn’t think that was the right answer and so we joined Weight Watchers together.
[UPDATED: see my note and link at the bottom]
I barely remember the food program as my mom handled that part, but I did go to the weekly weight ins. I remember taking more and more pieces of clothing off each time we went in, and even began removing my keys, my wallet, my belt, shoes and socks to get that extra quarter pound.
I know little of Weight Watchers now, but I’ve heard that it’s mostly about portion control and little about health. I admit, I do not know their current program, so I want to ask the question. Does Weight Watchers work? are you currently following the program and are you getting results. More importantly, are you learning anything about health and nutrition, or just about portion control.
It’s my belief, and the basis of what I teach my clients, that a successful program should educate the user about health principles that they can take with them wherever they go. I believe that it’s more important to fully understand how digestion works, how to support the colon and manage blood sugar as well as making nutrient dense foods the primary focus of your meals.
So what about Weight Watchers? I know it teaches portion control, but what else? If you’re following the program, are you happy with the results and if you’re a former member of Weight Watchers, why? Did you lose weight and leave the program or get pissed off at them?
In the poll below, please choose any and all answers that apply to help myself and others understand. It may take a full 60 seconds for the answers to be recorded. Please bear with the server until the results are shown. Nothing is broken – just slow.
Loading ...If there is more to Weight Watchers, either good or bad that I’ve not included in the poll options, please leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Update: I have a few friends and clients who use weight watchers for support and accountability where they are in the world. They’ve been filling me in on some of their experiences.
First: have a read of Does Weight Watchers Consider Scale Weight vs Inches Lost and the psychological impact the scale has, when weight watchers clients are exercising and gaining muscle weight.
Second: I just learned some alarming things about the beverages weight watchers recommends. I’ll be writing a post on that soon.
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This entry was posted on Monday, January 28th, 2008 and is filed under Fun, Weight Loss.Tags: Poll, Weight Loss, Weight Watchers
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January 29th, 2008 05:02
Success following Weight Watchers, as with any weight reduction program, depends chiefly on what you bring to the table. I’ve lost 130 pounds following Weight Watchers and have kept it off for 7 months so far.
My experience following the program and watching others who have followed it tells me that it is possible to follow the program and even lose weight without adhering to a healthy diet, especially on the Flex (Points) plan. But their Core plan emphasizes whole, healthier foods and discourages reliance on processed white flour foods. Most people shy away from that aspect of the program, with most of the comments I hear being along the lines of “I can’t give up my bread,” or something similar.
January 29th, 2008 09:43
Thank you for the contribution. I’ve heard about the Weight Watchers Core program. I’ll have to look into it.
January 29th, 2008 12:19
I was on WW about ten years ago, and what struck me the most was the emphasis on “trying to have it all”. They were fanatical about discussing low-fat, low-sugar desserts, cookies, candies, treats of all kinds. It really wasn’t about learning any new eating habits… only about finding substitutes so you could keep eating what you wanted. I wanted to learn about healthier eating patterns, but didn’t find any real support there.
Now I’m finally losing, through a combination of exercise and diet, with some help from acupuncture.
January 29th, 2008 18:10
I lost weight doing weight watchers, but I didn’t have the energy to exercise. I do not think it is very well suited for an active 20 something looking to lose 30-40lbs with exercise.
January 29th, 2008 21:24
WW was the first attempt I made at losing weight. However, like many members I took the weight off and then rejoined because I began to put in on again. It wasn’t until the second time that I realized that it wasn’t teaching me healthy eating habits and I was becoming a slave to the scale. I know that it can work but for the majority, it is not a long term or life plan.
January 30th, 2008 07:36
The result’s are for “yes”. Is good that you’v made this pool
February 10th, 2008 11:57
I had successful weightloss using the weightwatchers program two years ago. I was not significantly overweight to begin with and lost 20 pounds in two months. I was able to keep the weight off and in my opinion weight watchers really puts things into perspective for you. It makes you more aware of what you are eating and how much. I liked the program and still wanting to lose about another 10 pounds Ive tried to begin the flex plan again and am not quite as successful now. I am not interested in the core program and am trying to learn more about it.
February 10th, 2008 21:06
I lost 35 pounds with WW. It is a good way to take a long term approach to losing weight while teaching you to be thoughtful about how you live your life and plan your eating and activities. They are good about bringing you back to the same principles, avoiding fads, and giving encouragement through support of fellow members. This is very helpful especially to people who need to be educated about food, and have grown up in dysfunctional eating situations.
I have not returned because I felt like a slave to the little book which kept me accountable, and I was weary of measuring everything. I honestly preferred fasting to feeling constantly nagged by my own conscience about food. So, yes it works. Yes, you learn a great deal. Yes, it tends towards good health guidelines.
I used the flex program, and not the core program. Long time members told me that flex is good for losing weight, and core is good for keeping it off because you don’t have to measure and count so much.
I may return to the program eventually, but I needed some time off.
It also makes a big difference who your leader is. Some are absolutely excellent, and some are not very helpful.
The harsh reality is that you can’t lose weight and eat whatever and whenever you want. Most people kids themselves about this truth, and get nowhere. You have to face that early on in WW.
February 11th, 2008 13:18
Mindi, thanks for your comments.
I would tend to agree that results may very well vary depending on who your leader is. I was not aware of that term “leader”, but realize that the program is held in many places within one city and of course all over the country. If the leader isn’t “on” with their stuff, the members may suffer as well.
good point about flex being useful for weight loss and core being useful for keeping it off.
once again, thanks for your valuable feedback.
February 24th, 2008 17:07
I’ve lost 50 pounds with Weight Watchers in about 15 months. I did most of the losing with flex, but now I’m on core. I think there are people who “game” the program and eat crap on it, but it’s really not designed to work that way. The 8 Good Health Guidelines are the cornestone of the program, something which a lot of people forget.
I lost half my weight going to meetings and half doing the online program only.
March 3rd, 2008 21:21
I lost over 60 pounds on the WW Core program. I have kept the weight off for over a year now. I attended the meetings almost every week, I am now a lifetime member. I was fat my whole life. I have amazed my friends and family, I am in the best shape ever. I do workout about 4 to 5 days a week. I have become addicted to spinning. I do not think I would have ever been as successful counting points on the flex program. The Core Program was exactly what I needed.
March 4th, 2008 17:41
Awesome Marci – thanks for the feedback on the weight watchers core program.
March 6th, 2008 14:01
I never had luck following any “Diet”. I had to create my own plan for eating.
My opinion is that weight watchers will work for anyone as long as they commit to it. This goes for South Beach as well. Losing body fat is all about self-control, deciding it is time to lose the weight, and exercise.
Scot
The Chub Chronicles
March 11th, 2008 08:25
I’ve lost almost fifty pounds on Weight Watchers and have just started the core program (I was previously on flex). It’s interesting figuring out my comfort zone and I’m looking forward to how it works this week.
They do stress the healthy eating guidelines but I think people still have a diet mentality about it and look for the easy outs like low fat, highly-processed foods.
March 16th, 2008 16:35
I lost 47lbs on WW about 5 years ago became a life-time member and kept it off for over 2 years. Changes in my life, work and increased stress got me eating out of wack again.
I gained almost all the weight back. But it’s clearly my doing… not eating right and not being active.
I went back last week and was warmly welcomed. I think I have found a group & leader that will work. When I heard about Core, I was skeptical. I decided to try it and I think it may be a little harder but probably better long term. Can I start connecting with my sense of hunger, being full etc?
I am very hopeful and excited. WW did wonders for me in the past and I know it will work again.
March 17th, 2008 04:19
IF anyone is interested, Rob has a forum dedicated to Weight Watchers.
http://www.formerfatguyblog.com/community/viewforum.php?f=8
The forum as a whole itself with provide you with interesting ideas, reader comments and is dedicated to a healthy lifestyle. I’d encourage you to check it out. I’m glad I did!
May 4th, 2008 22:05
I have been on WW since Jan 3, 2008. I love this program. Sunday is my high point day and is also my chance to have my “bad foods” throughout the week I eat healthily and exercise vigorously. I do believe this is a long term/life long program that works and has worked for many many people!! This program has been out for 45 years… they must be doing something right.
May 4th, 2008 22:07
I wanted to add in that I’ve lost 42.5 pounds in 18 weeks on WW.
Totally worth it!! I actually get to have my cake and eat it too!
June 21st, 2008 10:39
I am a 40 year-old male who has been on WW Flex plan for 13 weeks, and I have already lost 20 lbs. In regards to healthy eating, WW encourages it (at least our leader does), and through the change in my eating habits (less fat, more fiber), I have succeeded in not only losing the weight, but my cholesterol has dropped as well.
I noticed that some talk about WW honing in on substitution….and they are correct. However, the substitution is healthier than the original. For instance: I love pizza, and instead of picking up the phone and ordering one, I make whole grain pita/low fat cheese/turkey pepperoni & mushroom pizzas. They have even shown me how much fat content is in some sauces, and I have found spaghetti sauces to put on my pizzas that have little to no fat and high fiber.
I love WW, and will continue to strive to become a life member.
June 22nd, 2008 05:49
tfoxsail: Good for you. If you learn about nutrition and it is an improvement upon what you did know to live a healthier lifestyle, more power to you. Best wishes and much success to you!
July 29th, 2008 04:16
Hello,
I am an ethical Vegan who is on the program… and it has been working, though the support for vegans are discouraged or nil…I had one meeting coordinator try to get me to ditch my beliefs and drink fat-ladden milk…so I went online and had better success, even going to the Veggie forums. I have been gradually removing flour and sugar (cannot stand the taste now) and opting for whole Veggies, fruit and whole grains, legumes and seeds. It has been AMAZING…My Mock Meats, Almond Milk, Soy Yogurts are on an average 1-3 points….when I go to a resturaunt I am always on the “low-point” end because I nix the cheese, sour cream, breads(Covered with butter), and meat.
That is just mt 2 cents
July 30th, 2008 10:10
Thanks for your input Jana. Wow, quite the meeting coordinator you experienced.
August 5th, 2008 01:22
I’m a lifetime member and could not lose weight without Weight Watchers. They teach portion control, greatly encourage exercise, require significant amounts of vegetables/fruits…as well as other good nutritional guidelines. They also ask members to drink 8 glasses of water a day and take a multi vitamin daily. They give TONS of support, encouragement and ask for accountability. In the end, you get a lot for a reasonable amount of money.
September 10th, 2008 13:11
I started weight watchers several years ago, and would highly recommend it to anyone trying to lose weight and achieve a healthier lifestyle.
I have read several posts that claim weight watchers does not teach you how to eat healthy, and I disagree. When you first join weight watchers, they explain the two plans you have to choose from (”flex” where each food is given a point value based on calorie, fiber, and fat content, and you have a given amount of points to use in a day; or “core” where you can eat what you need to feel satisfied as long as it is from a list of the core foods which include lean meat, no fat dairy, whole grains, fruits, and veggies.) Each plan allows you 35 points to use throughout the week for extra items that are not on your plan.
In addition to the plans, ww gives you “good health guidelines” to follow every day. You need to take a multivitamin, drink at least 6 glasses of water per day, eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, have at least one (or two–can’t remember) healthy fat servings, have at least two servings of dairy, limit intake of alcohol, fat and sugar, and eat whole grains whenever possible.
I agree that weight watchers does not seek to give you strict rules about how or what to eat, and it does allow for “unhealthy” foods by giving you extra “points” to spend on splurges during the week. However, I think for many people, weight loss is very overwhelming. They have a long road ahead of them, and have obviously had unhealthy habits that have led them to be overweight. Having a “diet” program tell them what to eat all of a sudden is not realistic or effective.
I have read about numerous studies that suggest restriction only leads to binges. Instead, weight watchers teaches you take small steps on your journey to a healthier body and eating habits. The good health guidelines teach you what your aim should be in terms of the types of food you should be eating, and weight watchers indirectly encourages you to eat healthy foods by making them lower or even free in terms of their points values.
While I agree that we should all eat lean meat, veggies, and whole grains, etc., that is just not realistic 100% of the time. Designing a program that encourages you to eat healthy foods, and yet still allows for the occasionial wedding cake or valentine’s candy without the guilt or feeling you have “blown your diet” is ideal.
I read a post on your other blog from someone who claimed weight watchers failed because a friend gained all her weight back. Ideally, weight watchers should not be thought of as a temporary plan or even a “diet.” It is designed to be a way of life. With that in mind, it is necessary to incorporate the occassional high fat/calorie/sugar food. To say that you will not eat it for the rest of your life is simply unrealistic.
September 29th, 2008 22:49
I am a current Weight Watchers member. I was hesitant to join until I heard about the Core plan. I absolutely love the plan. It is based on eating nutrition dense foods, essentially healthy foods that fill you up for less calories. There is never a need to be hungry because you eat to satisfaction. The plan also encourages exercise. Less calories eaten and more calories burned equals weight loss. I lost 23 pounds in a little less than three months. More importantly, I have maintained the loss for almost a year now and am confident I can maintain it long-term. I spent approximately $160 at Weight Watchers in monthly fees and now am able to attend my weekly meetings for free as a lifetime member. Compared to many of the other commercial plans, this is a true bargain.
Weight Watchers does encourage healthy eating through the healthy guidelines and the discussions at the meetings. However, I feel the Core plan is much healthier than the Flex plan. Too many members skip the healthy guidelines and eat 1200 calories of junk rather than wisely using points for healthy foods. The Core plan avoids this pitfall.
I would highly recommend the Core plan to anyone. If you find it restrictive, I would suggest making minor alterations to fit your life (i.e. I use low-fat cheese instead of non-fat cheese) as long as your overall calorie consumption is limited.
November 3rd, 2008 19:53
Hello,
My name is Ian
And Im am overweight. Id like to try the WW again. I originally tried it a few years ago but didnt seem to loose anything beyond 5 pnds. I am in desperate need of some guidence and support. I do not wish to attend the weekly meetings. And i have all my materials from previous program. I tend to go more towards the flex program. If any one can understand my pain and final frustration with how i feel and look about myself, please help
Please send some advice, assistance, etc …Ive been trying to loose 20 pounds for over 10 years lol
and im lost!!
help please come
(anyone, pls contact at) = allzboutit!aol.com
November 12th, 2008 12:01
I am currently following the WW Core program and have been on it for almost 10 weeks and have lost 13 pounds. My goal is to lose 27 pounds total. I go to the meetings about twice a month for support and to weigh-in which seems to keep me a little more accountable then weighing myself. Two years ago I had followed the Flex plan and was hungry all the time (I was only allowed 18 points which translates to approx. 950 calories) and didn’t really have much long term success. I also hated all the obsessive point counting. I am really happy with the Core plan and am surprised that more people aren’t on it. I thought I would have a terrible time giving up bread, sugar and full fat cheese, but I am eating so much more healthfully that those cravings are minimal. There are a couple of things that I cheat on, such as low fat yogurt and cottage cheese rather than non-fat, but otherwise I find the program very easy to follow and particularly if you eat out. The rate that I’m losing weight may seem too slow for some people but I am closer to 50 and thrilled so far.
February 3rd, 2009 13:50
Ian,
I’m not sure if I can help or not but here goes. First, I have lost over 75 lbs on WW in just under a year and am now on week 3 of the maintenance program. With my experience in the program, my first question to you would be to ask if you went to the meetings on your first try through the program? Especially to someone having problems getting over a specific plateau, the meetings can be an irreplacable asset. The reason for this is having your leader look at and analyze your points tracker with specific foods you’re eating. At least try to go to them long enough to get that help and get you over that hurdle.
It could be a number of things from what foods you’re eating, how you’re spreading out your bonus points, needing to recalculate your points, needing to add in or step up your exercise program, not eating all of your points, etc. The first two I’d suggest looking at is that you’re eating all of your points including bonus points, and that your bonus points aren’t being spread evenly over every day or all piled into a single day of the week. Those are the most common causes of plateaus I’ve heard over the months.
The other reason I suggest meetings for you is from your post it sounds like you’re having a really tough time getting over the 5lb marker and getting down on yourself about it. It sounds as though you could really benefit from the encouragement of others in the same room going through the same struggles to keep you going. I can say from experience, you’re starting at the toughest part of the journey, it takes most people longer to lose the last 10-20 lbs than any other range. If you keep going with it though and don’t give up, you will get there and it will be the best feeling.
Personally I don’t think there’s any plan out there that’s perfect for every single person. We all live very different lives and have our own pitfalls to deal with in this struggle. The people I’ve seen this work for were completely honest with themselves in where they had problems and constantly evaluating it and making it work for them. Some may find they end up ok without sweets etc and the core works for them, others find better substitutes, while others are better off eating the real deal but only once in a while. Personally, if I had tried to eliminate the favorite junk foods, I’d have failed miserably a long time ago, so I found a balance between substitutes and once in a while splurging for that treat with my bonus points. I also didn’t do it all at once, I started with figuring out how many points I was currently eating with my current foods. This lead me to which of these I’d be able to incorporate, and many small changes for others that allowed me to bring what I already enjoyed into a healthier light, getting used to measuring foods, then found a few more recipes from a WW cookbook, then I got my points down to target. Every week or so I’d evaluate my food and spend a little time looking for more alternatives to add etc. It’s a lot like quitting smoking, there are a rare few people that can quit cold turkey with no issues, but the majority of us need some way to taper off the addiction so we don’t go running back to it twice as hard and end up worse off than we were before.
I wish you the best in your journey, though I won’t say luck because luck has nothing to do with it, it’s all about what you really want and keeping working towards that.