Weight Watchers Review

I know what it's like to be the "big" girl. You know, the one with the pretty face and nothing else. If you can relate, it's okay! Weight Watchers is here to help.

What Is It?

Weight Watchers (WW) is a "diet" program that encourages lifestyle changes and attitude changse. No, diets don't work. No, this isn't a quick fix. However, it works. If you stick with this program, it's going to work.

How It Works

Everything you eat has a point value to it. You are given a point value, adjusted for your weight and height. You also have a pot of extra points you can use in a week. So, you may have 30 points to use each day, but if you slip up - it's okay! You can use the "pot" of 30 more points for the week to cover any differences.

The program works in 3 ways:

1) Meetings only
2) Online only
3) Meetings + Online

Everything is dependant on what YOU need to change your life.

The Pros

The best thing about this program is that it's real. You're going to have off days. You may even have terrible days. It's okay! That's the real world.

It also teaches you to use a subtraction system instead of an addition system. A lot of people just add calories and call it good. WW treats you like a bank customer - you have X amount of points to spend. After that, you'er going to go into an overdraft. If you use more than your allotted points, you're only going to be hurting yourself.

There's also accountability here, especially if you go to meetings. ALL leaders are previous members who have lost the weight and maintained it. They know what you're going through. They know that going from your old habits to healthier ones isn't going to be easy. They aren't going to hold your hand and baby you, but they don't make your feel guilty about your choices.

The Cons 

Most of the cons here are related to YOU, not the program. If YOU want to change your life and are willing to stick with it, then do it! If you want to eat out of a box or aren't really ready to change your life, wait until you ARE ready. This program costs money and although it's not a LOT of money, don't waste it.

Also, read the contract before you sign up. You may get two weeks for free, but find out WHEN they will charge and WHEN you can cancel. Don't found out when it's too late and blame WW on this. Read the control.

My biggest pet peeve is the spokeswoman. Did anyone actually see Jenny McCarthy overweight? Yeah, I didn't think so. We've seen Kirstie Ally be fat - Jenny Craig customers could relate to her. Instead of someone relatable, they chose a former Playboy model. Great thinking there! 

Sometimes for me I need to see nutrition facts to put things into perspective. It's nice to look at the label and be able to see what it means. You will learn this, of course, but at first it can be pretty difficult to get used to the change from counting calories to counting points.

Overall

This really is a great program if you're willing to stick with it. It teaches you to make choices - okay, so you want that piece of cake. That's fine. Just don't have the heavy dinner. YOU make the choices - they are just there to show you what your choices mean to you.

Worth Noting

Someone included "can't use if you're pregnant" as a negative. Dieting isn't something you should even consider doing while pregnant. If you do, you should be under strict supervision from your doctor. You CAN use this program while nursing.