Weight Watchers
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Save 25% on Weight Watchers Online - Expires 05/31/07
Weight Watchers is a popular diet program with a great track record for weight loss success. Over the years, Weight Watchers has helped countless dieters develop better eating habits and reach their weight loss goals. Although they have been around for more than 40 years, Weight Watchers continually refines and updates their weight loss program.
Weight Watchers is known for their support group format. However, you can receive similar benefits without leaving home through Weight Watchers Online.
Go to WeightWatchers.com®
How Does This Program Work?
The Weight Watchers program excels by helping you fit a balanced weight loss program around your lifestyle. The online Community message boards provide support and encouragement from other like-minded members. If you prefer, you can attend Weight Watcher meetings in your area. E-Tools is an online program that supports those members who choose to attend Weight Watcher support groups.
Highlights
The WW program emphasizes a low fat, higher fiber diet.
The new TurnAround program gives you 2 different eating plans from which to choose: the Flex Plan or the Core Plan. Either can be customized to fit your lifestyle.
Program Features:
- Points and Weight Tracker
- Large Recipe Database
- Meal Suggestions
- Restaurant Guide
- Exercise Programs with Video Descriptions
- Fitness Articles
- Community Message Boards
Flex Plan
The flex plan has no restrictions on the kinds of food you eat. Rather, the program focuses on helping you make better diet choices and control portion sizes. On the flex plan, you use the famous Weight Watchers point system to keep track of the food you eat. Fruits, vegetables, and high fiber foods are emphasized. High fat foods are discouraged.
The Core Plan
The Core Plan provides a list of wholesome foods from all food groups. There are no points (or calories) to count. The emphasis is on whole grains, lean meats, fruits, and vegetables. You learn to avoid empty calories but you can have an occasional treat on this plan.
What about restaurant eating?
WW provides members with a Restaurant Guide. Points per serving for many popular restaurant menus are provided.
What about exercise?
A whole library of fitness articles as well as one of exercise videos are available to you when you join. You can record your activities on your Points Tracker. The more you exercise, the more you can eat.
How much does it cost?
Weight Watchers online plan is $16.95/month. In addition, you are charged a $29.95 start up fee. If you sign up for a 3-month commitment, you received a discount. The 3 month savings plan is $65, which equals $5/week. After the first 3 month period, your subscription automatically continues at the monthly fee.
Go to WeightWatchers.com®
Dr. Parsons Weighs In
I have frequently recommended the Weight Watchers Program to my patients.
What I like about Weight Watchers is that it is adaptable to everyone, every taste, every eating style. The program stresses behavioral changes. You learn to control portions and to make healthy diet choices even though you have a busy life.
Best Features of the Weight Watchers Program
- Makes food choices easy and customized to your lifestyle
- Adaptable to any eating style, such as vegetarian
- Flex Plan uses easy point system
- Core Plan encourages whole foods without counting calories
- Teaches you new behaviors to manage your weight for a lifetime
- Online points tracker is easy to use, and has a massive database
- Great recipes and menu ideas to keep you interested
- Supportive Community
- Restaurant Guide with flex points of popular eating establishments
- Daily motivational messages including success stories delivered by email
- Weight Tracker to keep you accountable
- Exercise videos and articles, letting you choose your own level of participation
The points system becomes second nature with practice, and can stay with you for years, helping you to maintain your weight loss.
The Points tracker is very easy to use with a fast response time. And Weight Watchers has some of the best recipes around. I have joined the program in the past just to gain access to their great recipe database! They excel at adapting old favorites and turning them into dishes that can fit within your weight loss program.
My biggest complaint is that they allow you to eat any foods “in moderation”. Although many dietitians and members may say that this is their best feature, I have found that many of my patients needed more guidance. Unfortunately many dieters continue to choose cookies, white flour, and other comfort foods that don’t provide the best nutrition.
Eating too many refined carbohydrates and not enough protein does not allow you to lower your insulin levels, boost your metabolism, or control your hunger effectively. You may have more trouble losing weight if you continue to choose foods based on your taste preferences alone.
However, Weight Watchers can be the perfect program for you IF you faithfully apply the principles you learn from our Secrets and our Basics tutorial section. These can easily be integrated with the Weight Watchers program to help you lose weight much more easily.
Go to WeightWatchers.com®