WeightWatchers - A lifestyle change (Weight Watchers)

Member Name: roversjenny

Product:	Weight Watchers
Date:	04/04/09 (156 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to follow

Disadvantages: -

Dieting is one of the hardest things that anyone can do, why is it that weight is so easy to put on yet getting it off is so difficult? However, I have found that WeightWatchers make the whole process somewhat easier.

I am now in my second stint at WeightWatchers, I joined around 4 years ago with the rest of my family to finally shift my puppy fat and stuck to the system religiously and then fell by the way side once I met my partner and put the weight back on, plus a whole lot more, so at the beginning of the year I decided that it was time the weight went and joined once again.

The signing up process is easy, I cut a voucher out of my sunday paper and took it to my local meeting (which I found via the WeightWatchers website). Once there I filled in a simple form, got given a card and starter pack (all for free with the voucher) and away I went.

The current plan is the Discover plan, it helps you realise why you are over eating and tries to combat that, it is all about making healthy choices and trying not to deny yourself anything. The materials come in a funky file, in either bright green or blue, and over the first few weeks you add to the file, an incentive to keep going and get more literature to help you.

Also given out at the meetings are a weekly 'magazine' to help you along and trackers so you can write down what you are eating.

The leaders at the meetings are great, they have all lost weight via WeightWatchers and a great inspiration, showing that it can be done, most of them are more than happy to give out their phone number, email etc so that people can contact them if they have questions or are finding it tough.

WeightWatchers is done via a points system, every food has a points value, and that is calculated by taking the calories and saturated fat values from the food. The file you are given provides a chart, however, you can also buy calculators which show more precisely what points are, along with shopping guides, eating out guides etc which provide the points values of thousands upon thousands of foods.

You are allowed a certain amount of points, which is calculated using your age, height, gender , weight and level of daily activity, the more you weigh the more points you can have.

I have found the system very easy to stick to, as you don't have to deny yourself things you enjoy, so long as it all fits into your daily points allowance. You can save points (4 a day) if you know you are going to have a day when you need more, and you can also earn bonus points by doing exercise.

The cost is £5.50 a week but if you buy a monthly pass (for £17.95 a month) it works out at around £4.13 per week. With the monthly pass you can also use their online system, ESource, which has points calculators, trackers, receipe builders etc, it is fantastic. One of the best things about the website are the forums (which anyone can use), I have found these great for motivation, sharing stories with others, willing each other on.

One thing WeightWatchers isn't is a quick fix, it is all about a change in lifestyle, and they recommend that you should lose no more than 2lb a week on average, as the weight is more likely to stay off that way.

I recommend it highly, I have lost 17lb in 7 weeks and feel fantastic for it!

Summary: A breath of fresh air in my life!