I “eat clean” 90% of the time. But the scale hasn’t budged in weeks. I know, I know, it’s not about the number on the scale. But I want to continue losing weight, doggone it. So I did something I once said I’d never do.
I rejoined Weight Watchers.
I’d been thinking about rejoining for a while. Last week my friend Lynn handed me a news clip about a woman who has lost 200 pounds since joining WW in September 2009. While I’ve been losing weight since January, 2009, I began my intentional fitness journey in September 2009. The news clip caused me to imagine how far along in my weight loss journey I could be by now. Wednesday morning I heard two people in the gym locker room speaking positively about the new WW plan. That same day, I received a voice mail from one of my organization’s donors. She wanted me to return her call and said, “But I’ll be away from my phone this morning. I’ll be at my Weight Watcher’s meeting.” For some reason, I’ve always paid attention when an idea is planted on three occasions.” So last Wednesday during lunch hour I trotted to the WW center and rejoined.
I’ve lost weight in the past by following Weight Watchers. In fact, much of the 82 pound loss I’m currently enjoying has been due to that plan. But one gripe I’ve had about the program is the way leaders teach us how to “work the system.” Sit in a meeting and you’ll learn how to eat all kinds of crap while staying within your daily point values. I’m a proponent of clean eating, so that part of the WW philosophy didn’t jibe with me. When I was last a Weight Watchers member I called my version of the program “clean WW.”
I must say I am VERY IMPRESSED with the new plan. Yep, those who want to work the system still can, but the program focuses on CLEAN EATING. I’ve been on the plan for one week now. I can honestly say my food plan hasn’t changed that much. Again, I was eating clean before. So what’s the dif? Why will I be successful when I’ve been on a weight loss plateau for a while now?
With this plan I receive guidance on portion control. Fruits and non-starchy veggies can be eaten with free abandon. But other foods must be accounted for within daily limits. And I need the stucture. Just in this first week, I’ve noticed I’m eating more fresh fruits and veggies than I have in the recent past. I already feel better. And when I do on occasion eat foods that are processed, I’m much more mindful about it.
I don’t consider Weight Watchers the “be all, end all.” I still work on the “stuff above the shoulders” that used to send me to the junk food for comfort. This is simply a food plan that’s giving me a little more structure than I’ve had during the past few months. Today I’ll learn the weight loss result of my first week on the food plan. I’ll keep you posted.
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My daughter is 30 with 2 children. I'm searching for ways to help her. She is so emotionally abusive to her 8 year old daughter, breaks my heart. I've run out of advice to offer the granddaughter, that's why I'm on here searching for answers. The
Shirley - what a breath of fresh air. It sounds like you are quite the extraordinary person. I'm going to take your advice and ask myself what would I like to do on this long holiday weekend! Who knows...I just might have some fun. The loneliness is 
YES!!! I totally agree with all you’ve said. I too, joined WW again but followed my own clean eating plan without much success. This new plan is wonderful. They have finally taken carbs into the equation and realize that for some (maybe even most) a calorie is NOT a calorie. It never made any sense to me that you could choose a 100 calorie pack of cookies OR an apple and they would be the same amount of points. Of course I ‘worked’ the system and never lost anything. I have about 15 lb. to lose that have crept on the last 15 years or so and I’m finally starting to feel progress. This reminds me of the OLD WW that I first went on to lose the baby weight years ago. The ‘baby’ is now 27 years old!!! I just might finally experience success again with this new plan.
I went to weight watchers to loose the baby fat also and that was 19 years ago. I am going back to my first meeting tonight because of their new program. I am excited to get good results. Good luck to us all!
I am surprised that you found WW leaders who encouraged you to “work the system”. My leaders have always stressed healthy eating above all else. Besides, with only 22 points available to me, I found that getting in my recommended two servings of oil and and two of milk and at least three fruits per day left me few points to squander on cookies or chips. I will admit to a mini bag of popcorn every night though! I love WW because it makes you accountable for what you eat and am looking forward to learning more about the new program. I lost 46 lbs on WW and have been a lifetime member for 10 years. Good luck to you all and wishing you all a healthy, happy New Year.
“It never made any sense to me that you could choose a 100 calorie pack of cookies OR an apple and they would be the same amount of points.”
Exactly!
Good for you, I have followed your last year with some envy…Not being in the frame of mind to do the running myself….; But I am hoping with this new year, will come a new me, body and mind! =]
Here’s to a great 2011 for you, Gramma!
Yeh why eat sugary, trans-fat, white processed flour cookies that are high GI http://www.glycemicindex.com/ instead of an apple????
It sounds like WW needs to take heed of the GI http://www.glycemicindex.com/of foods. Why eat crappy sugary, trans-fat, processed flour cookies instead of an apple????
Here’s to a new year and new us! I, too, went back to WW watchers, but haven’t been serious yet. Have been on vacation for the holdiays and am looking forward to getting back into routine and not having these ‘holdiays’ anymore! Good luck to all
Sounds like you are on track for the New Year. I too have rejoined WW (again!!!!) I do like the new plan and love my new leader. She makes the meetings so much fun. I did good before last week, but an now back on it again. Hopefully for life this time.
For me it’s “one day at a time” but yes, this feels like a plan I can do for life. Good luck!
I understand just what you mean about “clean WW.” I joined several years ago and lost 40 pounds. But then I found out I was hypoglycemic. I needed more protein. But WW meetings were all about how much junk food you could eat and still get away with it. So I quit. And gained back the 40 pounds plus 40 more! I re-joined last April and have lost 47 pounds so far. I just love the new plan because you can’t get away with all that junk food anymore. The first week on Points Plus I lost 3.8 pounds! And I’m not always hungry anymore. Stay with it, and I’ll be right there with you!
We’ll do this together, Eenercpa!
I am excited to try the new WW program. I lost over fifty pounds several years ago and was a lifetime member….. However, I have gained that back plus alot more. I do WW online and have considered going back to live meetings for the additional support, however onine will be my tool again for right now. I played with the new program a week or so ago, but got caught up in taking care of my sick mother. I can start fresh now and really focus on staying on target. Thanks for your article. It came at just the right time for me!! Wishing you all success!!!
Thank you, 57Shelby. The good news is…every day is a new opportunity to make a fresh start and improve upon the prior day. Good luck to you. Let me know how I can support you.
Good for you and congratulations! PointsPlus really DOES encourage good, clean, virtuous choices, doesn’t it? One word of caution, use the zero PointsPlus Values on your fruits and veggies, not with “free abandon,” but rather as a tool to stave off hunger and bulk up your meals. Can’t wait to hear how your week went!
I wish Weight Watchers and CURVES would get together! Curves has the best exercise & support system, and Weight Watchers has an easy to live with plan. Together they would be the total solution. What I like most about Weight Watchers is that they make you be responsible for your choices. Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem just sell you packaged food, but that doesn’t feed the rest of your family.
Just want to highly recommend Holly Rigsby’s Fit Yummy Mummy program, which is an excellent exercise program you can do at home in 15 minutes a day (of INTENSE workout!) and a clean-eating plan that is a wonderful, flexible structure for eating in a healthy way. She has a wonderfully supportive community of women following her program at Club Fit Yummy Mummy (clubfym.com). I’m not even a mother, but found her plan very helpful in getting rid of post-menopause weight gain.
Hi! I have gone to curves for years! But my body doesn’t look it….but, again I am not really working the program like I should…Six years ago I worked for them. I was a fitness tech and then a manager. Loved working for them…Love the owners….Became a certified fitness trainer….But had to quit for family reasons…I still go, but in the last 3 years have gained about 20 pounds due to bad choices and no portion control. Curves weight management plan is good, but only worked for me the first time…since then, It bored me…..Since July I have been taking my Mother to Curves 3 times a week , and that has kept me more consistent….They are now adding Zumba days and I wish I could go , but Mom’s not interested and I am too busy for the extra days….Today, I am starting , one day at a time, to get off sugar…that is my first step….I am hoping that I can stay with it, one day at a time because I am now having some health issue, that clean eating would really help….I agree with you about the Curves and WW together thing…though Curves plan is very close to it….=]
Hi. My highest weight was 268 years ago. I went to WW on and off for years, but only yo-yoed, paid money, and got fatter. I am size 3 now, and have paid nothing. Overeaters Anonymous is free and on the phone. The number is 712-432-3900, PIN, 4285115. It uses the really healthy and inspiring steps that have been successful for Alcoholics Anonymous. I have my life back because eating isn’t just about the food. I have had my weight off for a year and a half and am truly a different person. All that I do is go to phone meetings. Everyone welcome!
Hi have been a part of OA also! I went to meetings with a cousin at a local church…It helped a lot. I know I lost weight, but it was years ago and I have since put it on plus more….I don’t know if phone meetings would do me any good, but I might call anyway…Thanks!=]
Thanks for this number. I have joined OA off and on over the years, but never used the phone. I will try it. Sounds interesting.
Just now saw your response. As of December 22 I’ve lost 5 pounds since rejoining WW on December 1. That’s not a huge number, but it’s the first weight I’ve lost in a few months. That brings my total pounds lost to 85. I couldn’t be happier with the new plan.
How much does it cost and how does it work? I’ve heard it talked about all my life, but never took time to get the details.
There may be different fees around the country. I paid a joining fee (don’t remember how much) and I pay $12/week. Basically, WW teaches us to calculate “point values” for any food using a formula that takes into consideration grams of protein, carbs, fat, and fiber. Each person gets a number of points per day based on their current weight (heavier folks get more points), and the number of points allowed each day decreases as one loses weight. That’s a VERY abbreviated explanation. You might hop on the Weight Watcher’s website to learn more. Report back here if you decide to join. Good luck!
Thanks for the information on price per week. Do you buy your food from weight watchers too?
Nope. I eat as much unprocessed foods as possible. I shop the perimeter of the grocery store
I pay $12/week. Amount may differ in other locations. I don’t recall the amount of the joining fee, but there are likely to be advertised New Year’s sales. Basically, WW teaches members how to calculate “point values” for every food under the sun. The number of points someone gets per day is based on current weight and that number reduces as weight is lost. That’s a very abbreviated explanation. You might hop on to WW’s website to learn more. I highly recommend the food plan.
I recently got a mailing from WW wanting me to rejoin with no fee, which made me very curious about the new points plus program. Is the only difference the fact that fruits and non starchy veggies are “free” foods? 21 years ago I lost 60 pound on the old “exchange” program and became a lifetime member. Of course I have gained it all back plus some after marriage, kids and life in general. Several years ago, I went back many times with no success. Someone once told me that it was very hard to loose weight on the program a 2nd time. I never have time to cook and make food from scratch, so I would think following this program would be very difficult for me since it involves alot of food prep. I know it works, but it is alot of trouble if your on the go alot unless they have made it easier to follow. You definately have to have your mind made up to do it, as it does have alot of leeway to cheat. Patiance and consistancy is the key to this program. Good luck with your new motivation, I know the program is good.
Hi, Richmondblondie,
In my opinion the new plan is the healthiest WW has ever presented. I don’t know why it would be hard to lose as a rejoiner. I’ve lost 9 pounds since rejoining on December 1. (Which makes me 90 pounds below my top weight.) Since I was already eating healthy, the plan simply provided me with much-needed portion guidance. But I tell everyone…Weight Watchers or any other food plan is just that…a food plan. It isn’t a magic bullet. I also do a lot of “work” on the emotional issues that I used to eat over.
I really don’t feel as though I spend much time on food prep, and if you saw my schedule, I believe you would agree I’m on the go a lot, as you are. I wake up no later than 4:30 and I hit the gym before work. Then I work all day (and often leave the office late) and on at least two nights a week I have after-work commitments for my church.
I can’t advise you on whether or not you should rejoin. Only you can decide. All I know is this plan is working for me.
Good luck as you make your decsion. And thanks for reading my blog post.