Does Weight Watchers work? It's a question I hear a lot.
Of course Weight Watchers works for the celebrities who endorse it like Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Hudson. (Getting paid millions of dollars to lose weight is an extremely powerful incentive!!)
But does Weight Watchers work for everyone? For regular folks? For diabetics? In the long run? For small weight loss? For large weight loss? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
There are even clinical studies to support that it does. And lots of Weight Watchers Success Stories on its website.
Like any weight loss plan, it's only going to work if you follow it and stick with it. I'm living proof. I lost weight on WW for the first time back in my late 20s.
Then, I reverted to old unhealthy habits and gained some of it back.
When I finally committed to living happier and healthier and only changing behaviors I could stick with forever, Weight Watchers worked and continues to work.
Why Does Weight Watchers Work?
Weight Watchers works for me because it's about moderation, not deprivation. I can have anything I want as long as I plan for it. This is a huge factor for me. As soon as I'm told I can't have something it's all I can think about!
What I like most about the Weight Watcher program is that it teaches you a healthy balanced approach to eating and living. But learning a new skill takes work! Changing your behaviors and thoughts takes time and practice and patience.
In the beginning it's important to keep a log and write down everything you eat, weigh/measure your food until you know what proper portions look like, drink your water, and follow the good health guidelines.
With time and practice, it gets easier and easier.
Does Weight Watchers Work For You?
One of the things I love most about Weight Watchers is its flexibility. As I was explaining to a friend over lunch recently, If you talked to 100 different successful Weight Watchers you would hear 100 different approaches to their success.
Some successful Weight Watchers exercise a lot, some a little.
Some successful Weight Watchers cook a lot, some hardly at all.
Some successful Weight Watchers eat a big breakfast, some grab something light on the run.
Some successful Weight Watchers eat meat, some are vegetarian.
Some successful Weight Watchers eat three times a day, some five or six.
There really are as many approaches as their are successful Weight Watchers!
What's your secret to weight loss success? I'd love to hear from you! Please leave a comment sharing your experiences with Weight Watchers (good or bad) or your weight loss story!!! I want to hear them. It inspires me and would be helpful to those who are considering joining as well as those who are struggling at the moment!! Thanks!!!
If you liked Does Weight Watchers Work you might also like:
My Weight Watchers Lifetime Member Journey
Why I love the Weight Watchers Simply Filling Technique
Weight Watchers Works Best
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Wanda mccown
I did weight watchers last year and lost 87lbs in about 11 months. I'd love to share a picture!
Martha McKinnon
I'd love it if you would Wanda! I'll email you.
Kitty
I like WW for the accountability of the meetings and how the weekly weigh in structures my week. Also, just attending a meeting helps me keep my head focused on weight loss. And, I like the flexibility of the program.
I actually got to lifetime membership a very long time ago. I don't blame WW for my regain. I went out of town on business, gained a few pounds (not really that much but a little over my 2 pounds cushion). I decided not to go back until I was back at goal weight. Well, that was not a good decision. When I go to WW meetings (for me, I do better doing that than doing it online) I do well with my weight loss. Not everything works for everyone, but WW does work for me.
Martha McKinnon
Thanks, Kitty!
I can completely relate to what you said. I too became a lifetime member when I was in my 20s, but stopped attending meetings. I guess I thought I had it all figured out and without the accountability much of the weight slowly crept back on. I now think of weekly WW meetings as 30 minutes of sanity in a completely out of control unhealthy food world. I also try to surround myself with healthy eating, living and weight loss tips in the form of books, magazines, and feeds from healthy websites and blogs. I feel like I need to insulate myself as much as I can from this crazy environment (tv commercials, huge portions, processed foods, driv-thrus, etc.) that encourages us to eat too much of the wrong foods and not enough of the right foods (fruits and vegetables) while not moving nearly enough!!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on WW 🙂
Leslie @ Life Begins @ 30?
I have never officially done WW, but I follow their practices. Counting calories and planning your meals is a system that is sustainable and sets people up for success!! Great post and I hope it encourages even more success stories!
Martha McKinnon
Thanks, Leslie!
markus
I don't track calories every day, but I count nutrition of meals prepared myself. I have no weight problems or goals, more important is healthy eating for me. I use this tool, maybe you know it: http://happyforks.com
Martha McKinnon
Hi Markus,
Thanks for your comment. I'm not familiar with HappyForks. I use either the WW app or MyFitness Pal for keeping track. I'll check out Happy Forks! I agree that eating healthy is just as important, if not more so, than counting calories.
Jill Smith
It definitely works, I love it! Accountability, community, tools and more! Lots of encouragement. At 65 I hane lost but more importantly started exercising, doing 5ks, walking, learning! It's a journey not just a destination.
Martha McKinnon
Good for you Jill!! You are so right, it's a journey, not a destination!
Dash
Unfortunately, I did not have the success everyone else has had. My daughter and I did weight watchers from the day we got out of school to the day we went back. I never missed one meeting or cheated one time! Not even when I was out of town or on vacation! And we walked 3 miles in 45 minutes everyday. I only lost seven pounds in that time. My daughter lost 27 pounds!
Martha McKinnon
Hi Dash,
Thanks for taking the time to share with us here. I think that sometimes we can be too hard on ourselves, expecting too much too quickly. Losing seven pounds is awesome. I believe that when you lose weight slowly you are more likely to keep it off. In fact I met a woman years ago who had lost about 40 pounds at WW but it only came off at a rate of about 1/4 of a pound a week. The upside was that she found the transition to Maintenance easy, something that quick losers can struggle with. Losing weight is never easy, since we are having to change our behaviors, something that always takes effort 🙂
Kim
This is the first time I have read your posts. I'm lifetime, but now trying to lose the extra that I put on when I got lazy about keeping track and with exercise. Will check this out again. The lady who said she only lost 7 pounds did well for the time frame. There are people in my meetings who always talk about not eating enough - if you don't "eat your points" you lose a lot slower. That's never been my problem! 🙂
I just heard about myfitnesspal from a friend and will let her know about happyforks.
Martha McKinnon
Welcome Kim! Thanks for taking the time to comment. You are right. 7 pounds lost is a very good weight loss for the time frame. Healthy sustainable weight loss happens slowly, as much as our minds expect it to be otherwise. I know what you mean about not eating enough. That has never been my issue either 🙂 I'm a greedy eater who loves food 🙂 Now I've just learned to be a lot pickier about how I "spend" by points!! I really like my fitness pal. I somehow find it easier to work with than the WW App. Will curious to see what you think about Happy Forks.
carla
This is my first time reading this, I actually googled some WW success stories and this post showed up!. I started weight watchers about 2-3 months ago and so far its definitely been a journey. The weight is coming off slowly but I also played a part in it with on and off healthy eating. Sometimes I have chose to go to over eat instead of sticking to my points and other times I've done things just right! And seen results at my meetings. I went to a meeting and sat in the presence of people who have lost 100 pounds, 84 and 60 etc.. And I was extremely inspired!!!! Im not really an exercise freak! But I love to stay active I'm other ways. Stay motivated everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its worth it.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Carla,
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experiences as a new WW member. We really appreciate it. You are right that it's a journey. I think the more we can embrace that, the more happy, healthy and successful we will be!