Well, in fairness to WW, the did NOT move the goal. You set your own goal for weight loss, they urge you to take your measurements, and then you learn how to track your food through a points system. The reason it works so well for so many years is that you eat whatever you want to, in moderation. And they educate you in good food choices, so you learn that if you eat a food like fat free cottage cheese, or a small amount of protein, or a banana, you will feel satisfied longer, have slower steady energy to burn, and not crave other stuff so much because you got empty fast. They do not rule out any foods, or make you choose certain things. They let you know that if you weigh x lbs, you can eat say, 29 points a day total and will lose up to 2 pounds a week if you don’t go over your points. They also allow an extra 49 points a week so you can plan a special meal that will count but not be more than allowed. Many of us do not lose much or at all when we dip into our extra points that week.
The don’t tell you to “exercise” they just say Movement. Do not tell you to join a gym. They tell you that movement you like will work the best. Urge you to find an activity you like, (walking, swimming, dancing, hula hoops) schedule it into your week and increase your time doing it as you improve. A gym is great of course, but not necessary. I actually have a dvd by Lesley Sansone – “Walk at Home” – that I highly recommend. Great to do inside, 15 min. or more, 1 mile or more, designed for those who want to move but don’t want to follow some skinny minny in aerobics class and not get the steps right. She makes several dvds. Very good to start out, MM.
The meetings are like a support group and that works for me. I have trouble with tracking, and when I don’t, I don’t lose as much. Now we are learning different points values, so we need to re-enter the regular good foods I had switched to and recalculate. Ugh. Once it’s rote again, no problem. Tracking works. But you have to keep at it. What’s nice is there is a strong emphasis on “do over’ thinking. I mean, you can blow it one day or one week, but you don’t quit. You just start fresh the next day and get back on plan. It trains you to think positive and accept setbacks. Last night I was discouraged and snacked on lots of wheat thin crackers. This morning I made myself track them, it wasn’t as high as I’d thought, and today I’m starting out better again. I may do a nature walk later.
LPT: I actually went back in January because I lost all energy and was panting climbing stairs at work. It was see a Dr. now, or lose weight. I chose WW. I lost the weight and stopped panting. But boy, I still tire easily. More lbs. to lose.