Weight Watchers

Review of the Weight Watchers Program

As someone who has struggled with weight all my life, I tried a multitude of diets including self-imposed crash diets, but none of them worked. I was either very hungry in between meals or I didn’t lose any weight.

I’m the type of person who becomes frustrated easily, so if I went a couple of weeks and didn’t lose at least four pounds, I would give up and return to my previous poor eating habits.

I had a co-worker who was using the system with success, and I decided I’d try it. I had tried everything else, so I figured I didn’t have anything to lose. The exchange system was in effect then with each food accounting for a certain number of exchanges—today’s system is points—and some food groups with limitations as with beef and pork. In the first month, I lost about twelve pounds without starving myself. I was amazed!

The Weight Watchers program is endorsed by doctors even for women who are pregnant and especially for those with hypertension. The key to success with Weight Watchers is that it’s not just a diet but an entire new way of eating.

The program teaches you how to have your favourite foods but in smaller proportions, and everything you eat, including fast food and desserts are assigned a point value. Within that point value, you can eat the foods you enjoy.

Going to a restaurant is much easier with Weight Watchers than any other weight loss program because of the way points are assigned. Instead of being concerned about calories, low fat, low carbohydrates, or low sugar, you need only concern yourself with the point value of the foods you eat.

Even at home, it’s easier to stay on track because if you are still hungry, there are vegetables that are “freebies” such as green beans, broccoli, spinach, carrots, and lettuce just to name a few.

Of all the diets and weight loss programs I tried, Weight Watchers was the only one that worked for me. With the six week maintenance program that gradually weans you back to consuming more calories based upon your level of activity, and a lifetime maintenance program that helps you maintain your weight. 

Whether you choose the Flex Plan or the Core Plan, it will work for you. It worked for me at a time when the program was more difficult, requiring elimination of some foods. With the Flex Plan you can eat what you want, while the Core Plan has specific foods you can eat.

From a health standard, Weight Watchers includes all the food groups with a balance diet of three meals per day and snacks so that you are never hungry. The point value assigned to foods you eat makes it easy to follow even for those who frequently eat out.

No matter how much weight you need to lose, this program promotes weight loss with healthy eating and goals for the future. You can choose online or going to meetings where you will be with a support team. If it worked for me, it can work for anyone.

Review by Patricia Swale