How Weight Watchers Has Stood the Test of Time
For more than forty years the Weight Watchers brand has helped people in their struggle to get healthy and achieve fat loss. A housewife from Queens, NY named Jean Nidetch began inviting her friends to her home each week at the beginning of the 1960's to share strategies for losing weight and keeping it off. Those early meetings have grown until there are now an estimated one million users on every continent around the world who are following the Weight Watchers plan.
The company has grown and altered through the decades, adjusting its recommendations to changes in the habits and lifestyles of its customers. Recently WW began offering an online version of the plan that does not require the user to attend meetings, but provides support and encouragement via the Internet.
As happens with any organization this large, there are people who say that Weight Watchers is not effective and is just using the current obesity epidemic as a way to cash in. But there are also many loyal fans of the program that have used it for years and credit it as the source of their own better health, improved energy levels, and the ability to make their fat loss permanent. Here is a quick outline of the Weight Watchers system and an examination of the reasons behind its longevity.
The Basic Premise
True to its motto, "Stop dieting. Start Living." Weight Watchers preaches that any attempt to get leaner and healthier should not be looked at as "going on a diet." Instead it is a total lifestyle change. Whether you choose to attend local meetings, or join the online version of the program, you will receive nutritional information and support to help you reach your fat loss goals, and then to maintain that healthy weight for life.
People who have been through the program themselves and have stayed at their goal weight for at least six months lead WW meetings. They receive special training from headquarters and information about timely topics to help members stay on track. The company cites a study that says folks who attend meetings lose three times as many pounds as those who attempt to diet on their own.
Members who choose to join the online version of Weight Watchers receive their support from a number of interactive tools. They can track their progress, find a list of suggested snacks, get recipes and menus, and join an active forum to chat with other users and ask questions. Many members say that this version of the program works well for them because they can access it at any time throughout the day and it fits easily into a busy schedule.
The eating plan is the same regardless of which version of the program is used. It is based on limiting portion size and eating foods that provide the most nourishment for the fewest calories. All foods, drinks, and snacks are assigned a point value. Members are given a total point limit for the day based on their age, size, and gender and are encouraged not to go over that number. Exercise is figured into the point system, as well. No foods on the plan are forbidden, and conversely, no foods are required. The choice of what to eat is left up to each user.
The Upside
The Weight Watchers plan is a sensible approach to fat loss that makes allowances for the individual needs of each person. It allows plenty of choices from all the basic food groups and gives recommendations that most experts in the field would agree are healthy. The program provides plenty of information for its members about nutrition and motivation and uses other people, either online or at meetings, to make the dieter accountable.
The point system that WW uses is well thought-out. It is really just a simplified way to count calories, but it may help folks understand how to make good food choices and stay within their point limit. One very handy feature of the program is that foods found on the menus of many popular chain restaurants are listed along with their point value for Weight Watchers members. People who eat out a lot will find this part of the plan useful for their daily lives. Users also receive lots of recipes and meal plans that they can use for eating at home.
The Downside
Even though the WW point system is an attempt to make fat loss simple, it takes quite a lot of study and practice to use it successfully. People who do not have the time or inclination to track everything that they eat, and assign their meals an honest point value will likely become frustrated with the plan.
Weight Watchers is also fairly expensive, especially if you have a lot of weight to lose. There is an introductory offer that lets you pay $65 for the first three months. If you'd rather pay one month at a time, the first month costs $46.90. Each additional month of membership is $16.95. There are also all kinds of add-ons to the plan, which can get pricey. The company has an entire line of frozen dinners, recipe books, snack items, magazines and other products that users are encouraged to purchase.
The Bottom Line
The longevity of the Weight Watchers plan indicates that it is an effective and safe way to take off pounds. Like all diet plans however, it is not guaranteed to work for everyone. If you see yourself as benefiting from the encouragement of a group or an online forum, you may want to give it a try. Likewise, if you are a computer nut or addicted to your Blackberry, the easy access of Weight Watchers online might be appealing to you.
I have found another plan that is less expensive and just as effective for me called Fat Loss 4 Idiots. It is also Internet based, and allows me to choose my favorite foods. I get a personalized meal plan generated just for me, which lasts for eleven days. At the end of that time, I am allowed to have three free days to eat whatever I like. I find it simple to follow, full of variety, and best of all it's effective. If you are interested in finding a fat loss system that is easy to use and can help to put your metabolism into fat-burning mode, check out Fat Loss 4 Idiots here.
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