Weight Watchers Diet
Millions of people use the Weight Watchers® diet every year in an attempt to lose weight. It’s one of the most popular weight loss programs and one of the most respected. There are definitely advantages and disadvantages to the Weight Watchers diet system. Read on and see if it’s for you.
The Weight Watchers diet is based on the idea that “healthful weight loss occurs when we consume less food than we burn.” Many of us know this, but find it difficult to apply it to our own lives. Counting calories and weighing food to make sure we accomplish this mission just isn’t all that easy. It’s time-consuming and if there’s one thing most of us are short on, that would be time.
Not only that, but putting all that thought into what we’re eating kind of sucks the fun out of food. We begin to obsess on every bit we put in our mouths; how many calories was that? Oh, I forgot about the mayo! Etc.
The PointsPlus® 2012 Program
The Weight Watchers PointsPlus® program is the most substantial change to the program in over a decade. The system makes it easier for you to accomplish your weight loss goals without the hassle of counting all those calories. Instead of focusing on calories, the PointsPlus program looks at the whole picture. You’ll look at fat, fibre, protein and carbs when determining PointsPlus values.
Weight Watchers fused recent nutritional science thinking with the proven Weight Watchers approach to give dieters a system for making healthy, choices with the outcome of giving members an edge that can help them reach their respective weight loss goals. Everyone learns about the PointsPlus® program after joining a Meeting or signing up for Weight Watchers Online. Advantages include:
- Learning simple ways to make healthier choices
- A weight-loss plan based on the latest nutritional science
- Say goodbye to required foods, just a simple, easy-to-follow plan
- Members have flexibility for indulgences
- Stay fuller longer by focusing on Weight Watchers Power Foods fruits and vegetables
Individuals receive a daily PointsPlus allowance after signing up for Weight Watchers Online or attending a meeting. They are given good health guidelines to help them make wise choices, but ultimately the decision is up to them.
Obviously, one can see that this could lead to making healthful choices. For instance, nobody wants to blow all their PointsPlus values on a huge breakfast and then not have much left over for the rest of the day. Things like fruits and vegetables aren’t going to add very quickly and are better choices for snacks. Makes sense, right?
But, you’re still counting. You still have to think about everything you put in your mouth and record it in a food diary. You may not have to weigh anything, but you do have to learn proper portion size (which isn’t all bad and key in weight loss), but it still forces you to obsess over food.
Using a food diary in and of itself is rather tedious and unless you’re a detail-oriented person, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to keep up for long. There are already so many things in our lives that we have to monitor and fuss over. We have to remember to keep track of our children’s homework assignments. We have to remember to pay our bills on time. We have to make sure we’re on target for work assignments. Why make yourself slave to something else?
Part of the Weight Watchers diet program and one of the strong points is the Weight Watchers diet meetings. It’s important to note that no one is obligated to attend meetings to follow the program. Weekly weigh in’s and discussion with fellow dieters and counselors can offer the support you may need to boost your confidence and help you stick with your weight loss goals. Well, that is if it’s been a good week and you’ve lost weight at this weigh in. If you’ve gained weight, these regular weigh in’s may prove to be more than you can handle in terms of obsessing over the event.
Many nutritionists will tell you that looking at the scale too often can be more discouraging than anything. Our body weights fluctuate and when we’re talking about just one or two pounds, your true weight may not be reflected right at that moment. If you weight during your menstrual cycle, the scale might be reflecting water weight rather than true body weight.
In addition, these meetings are just one more thing to add to an already busy schedule. Part of the reason you may be heavy in the first place could be the fact that you don’t seem to have the time to exercise or eat properly. I can’t help but think that the time may be better spent in the gym or preparing a healthful lunch instead of grabbing something easy (and usually fattening) because you didn’t have time to eat.
Some people even describe the meetings as a little boring and repetitive, perhaps even a little corny in their bubbly manner. Some of us just don’t work well with the group strategy.
The good news is that people can follow the plan online too without feeling obligated to attend meetings. Weight Watchers is said to work because it is not considered a diet. Weight Watchers endeavors to teach members how to eat right and live healthy, offering a choice between two convenient options to learn how to lose weight and keep it off:
- Weight Watchers Meetings
- Weight Watchers Online
Those who decide to attend meetings get the guidance they need to succeed and stay on track. Also, with Weight Watchers Monthly Pass, get unlimited weekly meetings in participating areas and access to all the interactive tools.
Weight Watchers Online is a customized online weight loss plan that you follow step-by step completely online. It depends on the individual as to what option is the best choice.
The Weight Watchers diet program has both positive and negative aspects. Some people will achieve lasting weight loss and others may find that the program just isn’t for them. You’ll have to weigh the odds and decide for yourself whether or not Weight Watchers is for you!
WeightLossThing.com is an advertising partner of Weight Watchers®