STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

killa · Dooney & Bourke

Attn Weight Watchers girls!

travelgirl · Kate Spade

Try this website: www.dwlz.com

It has a WEALTH of Weight Watchers info. Check out the restaurant page-it gives you the "points" values at hundreds of different restaurants. Weight Watchers does work but for me I need to go to the meetings and get weighed in, otherwise I don't have the willpower to do it without cheating. The website above has really helped me though!

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

Yes when you follow the rules WW does work. I haven't followed them lately so I haven't lost anything but I'm trying to be strict again. Dot did the online version for a while and we supported each other on here through pm and I know she did really well. I think Tati was doing it but not sure which version she was using. Laken's doing it now and she's doing very well. She's going to the meetings in person.

I never did the meetings or online. My mom went to the meetings for a while and learned the basics and I've just followed them and what is on the dotties site posted by travelgirl. I lost 25 pounds 2 years ago (but managed to put on 10 since last aug ) so I'm going to start again doing points and try to lose the 10 I gained. I do the winning points system which was the one right before flex because I will go wild on flex points. winning points gave you a 4 or 5 point range to stay within each day and you were allowed to "bank" points you didn't use one day to apply towards another.

I've never tried core. I get the feeling it would frustrate me so I've never tried it. I think someone (Ilovechoo maybe) has tried it.

lilyann · Dooney & Bourke

You know, as in most things in life, there are programs that work for some people- and not for others. It is really best to look into several different programs and see which one works for you. But, with the statistic that 75% of dieters will gain back their lost weight in 3 years- its really not a question of which one works- because they all can. But, a question of which one will be one you can fall back on for a lifetime. For me, it has been weight watchers. It is complete diet support. The meetings were essential for me, but probably not for most. I needed accountability when I first started- discipline was lacking in my life in many ways- so I had to go.Weight watchers is about real food: no pills, drink powders, or the eliminatation of whole food groups. I can find restaraunts that have weight watcher menus, items in the grocery store to prepare the foods, or buy them already prepared. It is convenient and practical. It is a system I can truely live with. I think, for those of us who have had to lose weight because we were obese( I lost 75+lbs four years ago) there are certain life altering events that finally give you the mind set needed to do it- finally and for good. I have tried diets to make myself happy, to make someone else happy , for a reunion, for a man... on and on... but, what finally set my mind straight, and determined was embarrassment. The feeling of humiliation that comes from being obese. That men did not look you in the eye, that children would giiggle, older people would stare. Shame is a powerful motivator. And for me, a necessary one. Maybe you have 10bs to lose-20,40-does not matter- find the one that works for you and the motivation behind it- you will succeed.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

hey there!

yes, it works- but like anything else you have to follow the plan! The first year I did it, I lost 30 pounds and got to goal. I maintained for about 6 months, then life got really stressfull (wedding planning, DH changing shifts at work, etc) and gained about 15. But I'm slowing losing it again and since Jan and almost back where I want to be. I could be there already, but I doing the plan kind of half-assed so I can only blame myself.

meetings vs. online- I've done both. Personally, I like meetings better. Knowing that someone besides me is going to know if I'm up/down helped to keep me accountable. Plus, I enjoy going to the meetings and being able to talk to people that are doing the same things. Online works too, but it take a little more dedication.

flex vs. core- they both work. I lost the first time on flex. core scares me when it first came out! but recently I've been switching back and forth between the two. I like core a little more now (it forces you to eat healthier rather than just low cal, you don't have to count points -and when you don't weigh much you don't get a lot so this is nice!- but its a little harder to do if you don't have a lot of time to cook for yourself/eat fast food a lot/ eat at other people's houses.) Try them both and see which one works for you, or switch it up week to week based on your schedule (when I know I'll be eating on the run a lot I'll do flex)

I also highly reccomend investing in a food scale. It seems counterintuitive- but you actually end up eating more if you weigh your food! A lot of peopel lowball what they think is a serving because they feel like if they're on a "diet" they should be eating a lot. But sometimes aserving can be bigger than you think and you only end up cheating yourself and getting hungry again later.

If you have any more questions, feel free to post or pm me. This is one of my favorite subjects and I actually applied recently to be a ww meeting leader!

blubirde · Chanel

I'm doing it. I've done it before and lost about 20 pounds. We won't talk about how much of that I've gained back!

I was just reading an article on CNN the other day about a comparison of all the diets out there. The only one that got a good recommendation was WW. It's also the only one my doctors will recommend.

I do the flex points because I don't eat that much meat, so I think I'd have a harder time on the core plan (more like a high protein type thing).

For me, I need the meetings to help me be more responsible. Also it's kind of nice to go somewhere where every single other person there is doing the same things you are. If I go to meetings regularly, I lose more than if I don't. So I try to go as often as possible.

Go for it - it can't hurt, right?

ILoveChoo · Hermes

blubirde wrote:

It's also the only one my doctors will recommend.

I do the flex points because I don't eat that much meat, so I think I'd have a harder time on the core plan (more like a high protein type thing).

ditto to the doctor's thing. DH does WW as well and his doctors are very happy about it and say that its a very healthy plan.

I don't eat a lot of meat either (chicken a few times a week (maby 2 or 3), and beef like 2ce a month. When I'm doing core I eat lots whole grains, fruits, and veggies.

laken1 · Hermes

Well, me too. I have lost about 15 lbs or so & have about 40 more to go - I have to give it a thumbs up. I like it compared to other "diets" for one reason: I know how to have foods I like without cheating. I've tried a ton of things, including South Beach, but it's like if you slip you are done for. On WW I can plan to eat pizza or chocolate or mexican - I know how to work it into my week. It's the only way I don't feel deprived. I also think it has made me recognize where I was putting in useless calories/ fat. For example, I can make a sandwich & add points for a real slice of cheese or mayo, but most days it's just not worth it for me. I know the option is there & if I feel like I HAVE to have a piece of cake, or a piece of pizza or whatever it may be, I can have it & not feel guilty about it. That's my 2 cents, fwiw!

ETA: I feel like going to the meetings are beneficial because there is just something about someone else seeing your progress. Good or bad, it makes me accountable & shames me into losing weight which quite frankly, sometimes I just need the push!

-- Edited by laken1 at 12:46, 2006-04-06

blubirde · Chanel

ILoveChoo wrote:

I don't eat a lot of meat either (chicken a few times a week (maby 2 or 3), and beef like 2ce a month. When I'm doing core I eat lots whole grains, fruits, and veggies.

Hmmm... maybe I'll have to look at it again this weekend...

needsfashionadvice · Kate Spade

I do weight watchers as well. I did online a couple of years ago and lost 40 lbs and maintained it pretty well. I decided a month ago that I'd like to get the last 20 lbs off so I though meetings would be what I needed to motivate myself and it's worked so far. I like the meetings a lot but doing it online definitely works too.