Who hasn’t heard of Weight Watchers?
Started by Brooklyn housewife Jean Nidetch in 1963 (is it really that old???), Weight Watchers is a group-meeting and on-line weight loss/weight management program that promotes healthy eating, frequent exercise and group support.
Typically you meet with other members once a week for a weigh-in (awkward?) and group discussion.
Individuals are allotted a certain number of “points” that they can use during the day, with points assigned to food and drink based on cabohydrate, fat, protein and fiber content.
In most cases, people that are younger and more active (or breast-feeding) are allowed more points, while older, less active people are allowed fewer points.
You may have heard that recently fruits and vegetables now are “zero-point” foods, meaning they can be eaten without accruing points, essentially making them “free foods” that can be enjoyed at any time and in any amount.
When you boil it all down, it comes down to calorie counting. It works because when you follow the “Points Plus” program, you are essentially eating a low-calorie diet. It will continue to work as long as you follow the program (just like any diet), but if you ever “go off” the program, expect those lost pounds to start settling around your mid-section, butt and thighs.
I like the fact that Weight Watchers emphasizes exercise and support, as these are very important in any weight loss/weight management program.
Weight Watchers makes money by charging a monthly membership fee, as well as selling food under the Weight Watchers label. Just like Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig.
A big selling point the company spokespeople use is that you can eat any food you want, as long as you don’t go over the recommended point total.
But what happens when you max out your points by the end of lunch? I guess since fruits and vegetables are worth zero points, you could fill up on sliced apples, radishes and grapes. But how would you handle a craving for ice cream or a candy bar? Sheer will-power? We know that doesn’t work.
To me it seems being a lifetime member of Weight Watchers would be like being on parole. You’re free to do what you want, but you have to keep following dietary/exercise recommendations and meet with your parole officer (and other parolees) on a regular basis.
Do you have experience with Weight Watchers? I’d love to hear about it, please send me a comment!
Robert J. Stone
I thought that back in the day Weight Watchers was a more low-carb approach. My Mother in Law showed me some stuff back from back in the 60s that IIRC showed that.
Hey Jason, how are things? Yes, I think you are right about WW being low-carb “back in the day.” “Back in the day” everyone knew that eating a lot of bread, potatoes and pasta put weight on. Take care!
Yeah, despite Oz’s constant harping on the fact that he doesn’t sell anything because he doesn’t want to damage his credibility, his endorsements are just as bad or worse. He’s so obviously for sale (see his support of HCG diet and any diet that results in high weight loss in a short amount of time, even though a heart doctor should be terrified what a 500 calorie diet or 10 pounds of weight loss in a week is doing to your body). On the other hand, if I can win a million dollars losing weight I need to lose and doing it by eating healthy, then, yay!
Good points Shayla! Yes, Dr. Oz says: “I don’t sell anything on my show…”, yet if you look at the commercials, they are for Walgreens (which sells many of the supplements Dr. Oz recommends), Weight Watchers and other products that are explicitly given a “thumbs up” from Mehmet. There is nothing wrong at all with capitalism, but Dr. Oz isn’t being completely honest when he says “I don’t sell anything.” He does sell things, it’s just through a third-party advertiser that provides “promotional consideration.” Good luck winning the million dollars! If you make to the voting stage, you’ll get my vote.
Glad you are monitoring Dr. Oz and setting things straight. He gives out a lot of bad advice.
Nice to have you for a reader Ellie, welcome to PrimalFood!