Success and Failure on Weight Watchers

by Sally
(New York, NY)

Last year, I signed up for Weight Watchers. I had about 30 lbs to lose and really just needed the structure that the Weight Watchers diet offered.

At the time, I had just graduated college so I didn't have a lot of money, but I really wanted a healthy way to lose weight and I had heard great things about Weight Watchers so I was willing to give it a try and spend the money.

I swallowed my embarrassment and attended the weekly meetings/weigh-ins and eventually even worked up the courage to talk in some of them (I know it sounds silly, but even though I was losing weight, I rarely spoke about it at the beginning because I was pretty embarrassed.)

Anyway, my body seemed to be really responding to the flex-point system that they do at weight watchers. Believe it or not, I struggled some days to eat enough to fulfill my point allotment!

Because I followed a pretty rigorous exercise regimen to begin with the weight came off pretty quickly once I started eating properly and I lost 25 lbs.

Now the bad news. After four months, I couldn't really afford to continue going to the meetings or buying the "Weight Watchers Snacks." I was hopeful that I could continue on my own with my Point book and the tips that I had learned in the previous four months.

Unfortunately, I could not. I gained back 8 lbs, never met my weight loss goal (even though I was soooo close) and have had trouble losing weight since I "dropped out" of Weight Watchers meetings.

Turns out I need the structure and weekly advice (and also the pressure and social competitive drive that does go along with "group weight loss") to help me keep the weight off so I am hoping rejoin Weight Watchers and complete my goal.

Sally

Note from Dr. Dan

Sally,

You mentioned that you, "never met my weight loss goal (even though I was soooo close)."

That is a very common experience. Some programs and some doctors recommend taking off just a little weight. They say it is more realistic than setting bigger goals, and that even a small amount of weight loss will benefit the health.

While that may be true, there is a truer truth. And that is that most people that don't hit their goal weight are unable to keep the weight off.

And the people that are successful at keeping weight off permanently have usually set a goal weight and reached it.

Dr. Dan