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I’m at the point in my life where I’ve tried pretty much every weight loss plan out there, from the “one fruit a day” craze (nothing like eating prunes all day) to NEVER touching any of my beloved fruits (thanks, keto), but one program has been around for as long as I can remember, and that’s WeightWatchers. I think of it as the OG when it comes to weight loss options. In fact, it was created over 60 years ago, and WeightWatchers has withstood the test of time while thousands of fad diets have come and gone.
I remember my mom did WeightWatchers and celebrated her success with a cruise after reaching her weight loss goal. WeightWatchers has staying power because it has worked for so many women and men. Even if you personally haven’t tried it, odds are you know SOMEONE who has, or a lot of someones, to be honest. And maybe it’s time you give it a try.
So, what makes WeightWatchers the program that never fades with the fads? Keep reading to find out!
Getting Started
When you first look into WeightWatchers for yourself, you’ll answer some quick questions in the WW app. That information is then used to immediately put together a nutrition plan for you and designate the Points® you get to ‘spend’ each day. I’ll explain the Points in a minute, but first, let me detail what comes in each plan.
There are two levels of membership, with both offering all of the following:
- Science-based nutrition plan
- 12,000 recipes for healthier meal inspiration
- Weight and activity trackers
- 200+ no-track ZeroPoint® foods
- Barcode scanner and restaurant search
- Supportive members-only digital community
The Core plan is $23 a month and comes with the support you can find online. But if you prefer face-to-face interaction (which I considered a big part of my success because I got to know and then offer weekly support to a group of people with similar weight loss goals), you can join the Premium plan for $45 a month and get coach-led workshops, in-person and virtual support from other members, and weekly behavior change techniques. You pick what works best for you.
Right now, if you sign up for a 6-month membership, you can save 50% off the monthly plan price!
What’s The Point(s)?
Now, back to the Points I mentioned earlier. I think they’re a key part of WW’s success. The Points system takes a food’s specific nutritional info and turns it into a single number that will help guide you to eat more nutritious foods and help you figure out portion sizes that are right for you. To me, it’s the flexibility that makes this program work, not just for the short term but for the long haul.
I first tried WeightWatchers many, many years ago, and can still tell you how many Points a certain food might cost toward my daily tally. The Points system is unique to this weight loss plan. With pretty much every other weight loss plan in the universe, you’re counting calories, but WW instead converts your mind into thinking about Points that food adds up to. With that, you can eat whatever combination of Points you want in a day, as long as you don’t go over the total you’ve set for yourself. Nothing is off limits, so you can reach your goals without giving up the foods you love.
It’s all backed by science and nutrition. So, again, no one is saying you can’t eat your favorite foods. You can order at any restaurant, and you don’t have to tell a soul you’re following the program unless you choose to. No more feeling like an outsider while you’re sitting at the table with friends or business acquaintances. You can’t do that with certain other weight loss options, where you have to eat only one fruit a day or buy and eat their pre-packaged food for most of your meals. Again, they put the choice in your hands. To me, that’s another part of why it works. You don’t have to feel deprived. Giving you control is empowering.
Moderation is Key
The idea of moderation is a key aspect of the WW win. So often, when someone is trying to lose weight, they’re faced with the “all or nothing” mentality. If I’m told I can’t have any dessert, I will not be able to stop thinking about having dessert. It’s how I’m wired. But with WeightWatchers, I can still have dessert. Another part of why it works is the community. This is a weight loss program that brings you together with other people who understand your challenges and support you in meeting your goals. Having that support group, whether it’s in the app or in weekly meetings, can make all the difference.
And the thousands of recipes available also help. There are now over 12,000 recipes available to members to find things they can make that are healthy AND taste good. It truly is all about building healthy habits for life and making the most of every moment. With WeightWatchers, you can lose weight without losing the foods you love.
