(Note: I questioned the wisdom of posting this — in light of the recent blogging debates, I’m keenly aware that my words may inadvertently be a trigger to readers, or that my opinions, unprofessional as they are, may read as coming from an expert.
PLEASE take what you read below as my experience, and only my experience. And please be aware that I have incredible respect for both the Weight Watchers program and the incredible leaders and receptionists that help people get control of their health. I don’t regret a single moment that I was on WW (or worked there) and I’m 100% certain that without the program, I would not have taken the first steps toward discovering MY healthy lifestyle.)
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Have you seen the headlines about big changes coming to Weight Watchers in the U.K. and U.S.?
- Weight Watchers Revamping Points System (via WebMD)
- Weight Watchers Lets You Be Naughty (via UK’s Mail Online)
- Weight Watchers in U-Turn About Alcohol
- Weight Watchers Unveils New Plan November 29
As soon as I heard the words “fruit is free,” I turned to Twitter.
It WAS a killer…and, ultimately a deal breaker.
You see, I’m in a dysfunctional relationship and I’m ready to shed the covers.
A few years ago, I was the skinniest I’d ever been, thanks to Weight Watchers.
Skinny Days
Over the course of a very reasonable 18 months starting in November 2007, I dropped 40 pounds and five pants sizes (16 to 4/6) following Weight Watchers‘ Points program. To stay on plan, I carried my WW books (and later, my slider and Points calculator) everywhere I went — to the grocery store (how many points are in a cup of cereal? a cup of strawberries? coffee?), to restaurants (vinaigrette or the caesar? croutons or sunflower seeds?) and even to work (gotta double check the morning calculations!)
It started off well. I was losing 1-3 pounds a week, following the plan to the letter and going to my weekly meetings.
But at some point, I derailed. If getting down to 5 points a meal was good, 4 was better. 3 meant that I had extra points for dessert. And if I wanted wine with dinner? Better sub those crackers (3 points) for carrots (free! sort of) and get the total down even more. If the plan called for me to eat 24 points a day, I figured eating 20 would help me cut weight faster.
I knew every “free” food there was — from diet sodas to non-starchy vegetables; sugar-free gum to black coffee. I bought fat-free foods whenever possible, even when they tasted like cardboard and left my tummy grumbling. I tracked down the foods with extra fiber and doubled up the servings. I turned down EVERY celebratory food (cake, champagne) and often opted out of fun events because I knew I’d have a tough time being around the food.
At the time, I didn’t know that I was on the edge of disordered eating. I mean, I was on Weight Watchers. WEIGHT WATCHERS! One of the most successful weight loss programs ever created!
And truly, it wasn’t until I got to maintenance status and became a Lifetime member that it registered that something was out of sorts. (Full disclosure — I also briefly worked for Weight Watchers as a receptionist, a job I really enjoyed.)
A typical day for me looked like this:
- Coffee with fat free creamer and splenda
- Romaine lettuce with carrot shavings, celery, mushrooms, peppers and vinegar (no oil)
- 100-calorie snack pack
- Lean chicken breast, steamed veggies
- Small glass of wine OR fat-free jello
I’m not a dietician or nutrition expert, but I know that that lineup does not a healthy girl make.
The real tipping point came when I decided to start running. I was getting winded after only a quarter-mile, and at my lowest adult weight, I knew I should be flying. I started reading fitness blogs (trading in my WW and weight loss blogs) and learned about fueling for sports.
Even then, I made substitutions to fit “my” plan. Sure, eating wheat toast with peanut butter and banana worked for the others, but that was almost a third of my daily Points total! Dry toast was fine for me. Sure, steel cut oats with coconut and chia seeds was good for the others, but I could get the same performance by eating half an apple.
I’ve never told anyone this. I’m ashamed. I’m horrified.
But when I competed in all my triathlons and both of my half marathons, I ate fewer than 200 calories before and during the races. I thought that it was a great way to shed a few pounds, quickly. Nothing like a 2,500-calorie deficit to kickstart things, right? (You have no idea how hard that was to type. I can’t believe I let myself get that deep.)
**I can’t stress this enough. This was unhealthy, disordered and potentially dangerous. Not to mention that it totally undermined my efforts to become a better athlete.**
Eventually, a loving intervention from friends and family combined with an aha! moment in my own psyche ended the denial — I needed to stop journaling, stop counting every morsel of food and walk away from Weight Watchers. I needed to get back to health.
Guess what happened?
- I stopped eating fat-free ANYTHING.
- I started eating lots and lots of organic fruits and vegetables (bananas! I hadn’t had a banana in years!)
- I started eating healthy fats like nut butters, coconut oil and avocado.
- I started running faster, longer, better.
- I started lifting heavier weights.
- I put on 12 pounds.
And I got back to living life — eating real foods and fueling my body. Hanging out with friends — food and all. I’m a much healthier, fit and happy person today.
Listen, Weight Watchers gave me control. It taught me the value of reading labels, of portion size and of finding community in this healthy living journey. I do not regret anything — because Weight Watchers did not teach me any of those bad behaviors. It was my own mistake, and when I did the things above, I was BREAKING the rules. I had plenty of people and guidance to turn to, and I thought I could do it on my own. I was wrong.
Up until now, when people have asked me about my Weight Watchers experience, I’ve hemmed and hawed. But it’s time I came clean.
So do I think the Weight Watchers changes are good? Maybe. Any move toward rewarding real foods sounds good to me. I’m tempted to go back to meetings for a few weeks to see how the changes are executed.
If you have any questions about the program and my journey, I’d love to talk — leave me a comment or email me (kwidrick at gmail dot com).
Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.
About Katy
Definately some food for thought. I enjoyed this post, and will be back again.
Excellent post. I am a WW member and have, to date, lost 45 lbs. And I can see how people can become disordered eaters on the points system. In the beginning I ate lots of fat-free, sugar-free “diet” foods. Then I started running. Now I stick to whole foods and lots of peanut butter. I can’t remember the last time a bought a WW branded food that is filled with things I can’t pronounce. And I am so stoked that bananas will be free.
I get it! I did WW many years ago when I did not have much to lose. It took me a long time but I reached lifetime and stopped going, which was a big mistake and another story entirely. But, I was the queen of low-point foods. Like you, my concern was in finding those foods and not necessarily in eating a healthy balanced diet. When I saw the new program mentioned on some blogs, I felt that it seemed to be taking this into account. BUT that free fruit thing – Yikes!!! I can eat a lot of fruit! I think WW is overall a great program but not for me right now. Maybe again someday.
Katy a very brave post. Thanks so much for sharing. I was a Weight Watchers person too and successful shed 42 pounds with them doing it online only. (I’m just not a meeting kinda gal).
But I did some similar behaviors, eating cardboard because the points were low and looking for anything in the grocery store with a “fat free” or “lite” label on it because the points were probably lower. I could calculate points pretty accurately in my head after a while. Even though I’ve been off WWers for 4 years now, I still catch myself doing it.
As part of my full disclosure I did have an eating disorder, full-blown with hospitalization and the works. That was quite some time ago (decades actually) but I’m still mindful of when I get a little close to the edge.
I too pulled back and dropped all the fake food. I now cook with real olive oil and real butter if I want to. I use real sugar (absolutely nothing fake) and I started looking at portion control in terms of what volume of food was on my plate as opposed to what the point tally was. THAT was a big mind shift for me.
WWers is the most successful weight loss program in the world, but it does have a “bubble” effect when you’re in it the only other people who get what you’re doing are other people on WWers. No one else wants to discuss points.
Good for you for realizing you were slipping and pulling yourself back. Thanks for sharing this post, I think it’s the kind of post that will help a lot of people.
((hugs))
L–
Well, I think since you did weigh me one time at my WW meeting, I can agree with you.
The problem was always the “free” or “zero”. It sells, but I think it gets abused so much. When I would go to meetings, it would pain me to hear about people who struggled even though they ate “zero” point snacks.
The truth is, I left WW as well. I changed the way I ate as well. I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, but to each his own. I think more people will sign up, but is it real? Will it help. The meeting I went to at the LM location were great, but they were not so great in other areas.
You need to find yourself. WW changes, but the good thing is so do we.
BTW< you look great!
Your experiences with WW is very similar to mine. I’m forever grateful for the things I did learn and I fully believe it was a necessary part of my journey to get where I am now (i.e. 70+ pounds lost!), but I got quite obsessive with it. Thanks for sharing your story!
I can relate to this SO much! I didn’t do weight watchers but had a diet/workout plan I followed from a popular company in the fitness field. It caused a LOT of disordered thoughts for me. It made me unhealthier. That is, like you said, not the blame for the company but mostly myself for making the rules and guidelines a mental game. It is scary to think how many can slip down that slope though. I much prefer not counting and tracking everything and focusing on eating real food and moving. The things I learned through that experience are a HUGE motivator in the fact that I plan to get back in shape after I have this baby in a couple months with NO scale, NO strict calorie counting (simply being mindful of portions and listening to hunger), NO “free foods”, etc.
Thanks so much for opening up about your experience. I bet more people relate to it than you can even begin to know.
I agree. Great post! I am a Weight Watchers member, only 11 weeks. But I can see how people can become the way you did. I find myself doing it every once in while but I can hear my stomach asking for more.
I think it’s very brave of you to put it out there. So in WW style, BRAVO
I am a Lifetime WW member who is back trying to lose about 20 lbs. I am SO excited about the new program because in my time off I was trying to eat healthier, not just less. I also love my new leader because she is also into whole foods and never pushes the 100 cal. packs or WW food.
Katy…THANK you for this post. I left Weight Watcher’s for similar reasons. I was looking for HEALTHY eating..not just the scale moving. Plus eating ALL NON fat contributed to a severe Vitamin D deficiency. I went for support and got into a conflict of what I wanted for myself and the challenge of the scale..
Currently, as many know that read me, I am doing the Slimdown Project with Woman’s Day and Joy Bauer. Joy’s plan follows four steps for both nutrition and exercise that provide for a well rounded plan.
I am often surprised that more people do not follow this plan… It is more HEALTHY and learning to cook PLUS quick and easy and convenient in a lot of cases.. It is low fat not non fat and I feel better than ever… I have often thought this plan was like WW but stress more of the more natural less processed cooking and seasoning way of living!
I’ve never done WW because I’m too cheap and too socially awkward, BUT, I have had some very similar “Well, if eating 1500 calories a day is good, then eating 1000 calories a day is even better,” moments in my weight history. You’re right, WW doesn’t make people disordered, but any program that focuses on food and cutting back can spiral out of control if someone is already inclined to do that.
I’m sure it was hard to write this, but I really appreciate it. I think the journey to healthy eating isn’t always as direct as people like to promote.
Thank you so much for this. I lost most of the weight that way with WW. I was thin but not healthy. No doing it the way that is best for my body…the weight is coming off more slowly. But I run faster and farther and feel great. I can’t wait to see the changes.
I see so many of the women (and men) at my meeting highlighting all the low point foods instead of the healthy foods. When I mention real foods people are so intrigued and ask me questions. It can be done with real food but that isn’t always the way it’s taught.
Firstly, thank you for sharing this and being open with your struggles. I’m sure many people can relate, whether they have done WW or not.
I have never done WW but I’m in the UK and my office was full of debate about the changes last week (I have several co-workers on WW). The general consensus was that it’s a good move, and while they were all annoyed that they can’t do the ‘save up the points and binge on weekends’ thing as easily anymore, they can see the sense in it. Everyone seems to think the fruit = 0 points thing is a bit silly. The negatives were mainly to do with the cost – they have had to shell out for all new calculators etc because there doesn’t seem to be a transition period (I could be wrong).
Oh Katy – I’ve been there. I wasn’t doing WW, but I started restricting myself in unhealthy ways. Croutons on my salad. Gone. Salad dressing? How about salsa, less fat. Just 15 more minutes on the treadmill – if I burn 1,000 calories a day, I can lose weight faster, right?
I think a lot of girls have gone through this at one point in their life and it’s just something that people aren’t quite comfortable talking about yet. I think doing what you’re doing – being honest, admitting it wasn’t healthy, and showing how much better you feel now – is going to help so many girls.
Back when Caitlin’s book came out, she had bloggers share their own tipping point stories – I blogged about mine here – http://www.thestrengthoffaith.com/2010/08/change-way-you-see-not-way-you-look.html. I hope it can help someone trying to find balance in their own life
Thanks so much for sharing your story, Katy! Although I was never on WW, I suffered from disordered eating A LOT in college. I gave up desserts for Lent one year and started tracking everything I ate. I measured out everything, and counted every morsel that went into my mouth, including gum + mints. And then I would binge. It wasn’t until about a year ago when I started reading healthy living blogs that really changed my perspective on food. I do still count my calories for the most part, but I’m not nearly as diligent and definitely eat what I want, when I want, and how much I want. Healthy living blogs changed my life (screw Marie Claire)! Thank you again for sharing your story! I know it had to be difficult!
Thank you for this post. I am that girl…trying to find the healthy balance and doing triathlons. These questions and thoughts have infiltrated my mind on a daily basis. Thank you thank you thank you!!!
Wow this post is so right on! I also did WW for a while at the end of college through beginning working days but stopped. I actually didn’t lose much on WW but it taught me how foods related to points and gave me an idea of how much I was supposed to eat and I also liked the recipes.
However, I knew the free points, and would choose a packaged food because it was 100 calories instead of a banana like you said because bananas are high in points!
Overall, I think WW is great for people who need a number system, support (i loved the message boards), and a beginner’s method of counting and portioning foods, but for people who are well-read, exercisers more than walking or gym machines, there are more foods out there and the points don’t really help.
I also got confused with eating all flex points or not, and never noticed a different in weight in when I ate them or not.
But all points you made (no pun intended haha) are so so true!
I’ve done WW too. I still use the points to decide if I am going to buy something and bring it home. However in my day to day life I don’t count points anymore. Like you, I had a moment of clarity in which health become more important than just weight loss and I began to see that just because something was low in points didn’t make it a good thing to eat. So I ditched the points and focused on eating whole foods, fresh foods with better nutrition. And the lbs are coming off faster and better than they ever have before. WW got me started. But I outgrew them. The new plan may address some of those concerns, but honestly I’m good. I’ve got this now.
Thanks for posting this! Though I tried Weight Watchers back in the day, I ultimately lost weight by sticking to fruits, veggies, brown rice and lean protein. I never counted calories or points, but I definitely had a similar mindset–if I can *just* eat that stuff and lose weight, why would I ever eat anything else? Thankfully, I’ve changed that way of thinking and eat everything now!
Thank you for being so honest and sharing your story. I’ve never done Weight Watchers but been curious because people have such strong reactions for and against. Personally, I can’t believe in a program that prefers points over nutrition — when a bag of fat-free, taste-free crackers is deemed better than a slice of organic, whole-wheat, freshly-baked bread, something is wrong.
Thank you so much for posting this. I have a very similar story, except I was actually a WW leader! When I was at my skinniest I acutally trained and completed a half marathon and never fueled before or during until race day when they offered GU at the half way point. I tried it and couldn’t believe how much more energy I had!
After I got married I moved and stopped being a leader. I also put on some weight and decided to got back to meetings. It was just about a year ago that I quit….for good. I was getting frustrated because I almost felt like an outcast because I liked to exercise so much. I asked the leader once if I should be eating different due to my activity level and she didn’t have an answer for me. Not to mention when I talked about Green Smoothies during the meetings people (including the leader) would freak out! When I heard about the changes I hoped that WW was making a move to encourage more wholesome eating rather than focusing on low-point foods. It almost made me curious enough to go back to a meeting and check it out…almost but not quite!
This is a great post! Thank you for your honesty. I know several people who have had success with Weight Watchers, but I have also never been able to be on a program that involved counting without trying to beat the system. That reasoning “If getting down to 5 points was good, 4 was better” is a slippery slope I recognize well.
However, looking back I recognize that there were other areas of my life I was trying really hard not to think about, so I found that control in my food. I think some people do great with points and don’t go overboard, while other people (depending on what is going on in their lives in the moment) can’t handle the temptation that doing-even-better-than-the-goal presents. I am not sure what WW could do to prevent this, except maybe better education on the perils of under-eating.
Great post! I have done WW before and the core elements of the program are based in sound nutrition principles. However, many, including the leaders, can discourage that healthy balance message and make the program all about gimmicks and tricks to eat the lowest possible points despite the lack of nutritional value.
I am working now on intuitive eating and am surprised by how often my body actually knows what it needs without the artificial imposition of points, calories or exchanges.
Here I am… coming out from behind my iPhone reader to leave a comment.
Yes, your post hit me that much
I completely and utterly agree. It’s funny how much breakfasts NOW compared to Weight Watchers (I was on WW in 2008) are so many more “points.” For example, a Greek Yogurt with all the fixings (fruit, nuts, chia seeds, my kitchen sink) is definitely half my “points.” Before, I “survived” on a piece of toast and a fruit of some kind. Ugh – bad memories.
Last September, I gave up “fake” sugars and haven’t looked back. I eat full sugar everything and love it. I feel amazing!
Great post and it’s so refreshing to see someone who I have tons in common with! I’m excited to meet you at Fitbloggin!
I’m a former member myself. I was very active in the Core days when many whole foods were “free” and I counted points for stuff like raw peanut butter, olives, and cheese. I hated the meetings because they revolved around 100calorie packs and processed WW brand crap.
My grandmother joined (and began working) WW in 1977 when she was diagnosed with diabetes. She lost 80lbs and reached lifetime. She retired from WW about 8 years ago. She is still a lifetime member and has maintained her weight this whole time-give or take 5lbs.
BUT, here is what she told me. Back then, the program was mostly salads and tuna. She ate a TON of raw veggies and soups. There was no room for junk food, no matter what the calories. She was eating whole foods when whole foods weren’t “cool”. And to this day, she still eats like that. It was after that conversation that I left WW behind and looked into whole foods and eating clean. I’m so glad I did.
I am also curious about the meetings and new “rules”.
I had a very similar experience with WW and have been wanting to post something about it, but haven’t really had the guts to actually do it yet. The program helped me lose 90 lbs, but when I started training for my first marathon, I realized that I couldn’t successfully train and run a marathon while only eating 18 points a day. It wasn’t going to happen.
Thank you so much for writing this post! Feel free to email me if you want to talk more about it with someone!
If I had to eat like your example of EATS , there is no way I would have stuck with WW. I love the program and am looking forward to the upcoming changes. For me it works. I need to measure, count, track, & weigh in order for me to stay on plan. I was a binge eater and this program has changed my relationship with food. I also have lost all of my weigh with little to no exercise due to health issues. I wish I could be a runner but some days I can not carry a purse. lol I think any plan is what YOU make of it. For me I made this a lifestyle and one that I do not find restricting. I <3 it!
thanks for your honesty. I’ve done WW several times, but maybe I’m just odd in that I never cheated like that. At the meeting I went to I was always told you needed to eat all your points, maybe even one or two over, and not save for weekend binges. I’m doing it online only now, but even so I stay with that advice. I’ve also learned not to be anal about points that are good for me. So if I don’t measure exactly 1 tbsp of pb, that’s okay, it’s pb, not lard.
As of right now I’ve lost 15 lbs, with a ways yet to go. I’m also exercising. For me, I know how I should eat, WW just helps me keep my portions in mind and gives me the goals for how much I should eat in a day. And I’ve learned to listen to the signals on when I’m satisfied.
Still, brave of you to share your experience.
Katy,
I too used WW for weight loss in my early working years after college. It does work if you follow their restrictive plan, however, for running and other activities that require more output, I found that it didn’t work. I am glad you posted so honestly about your experience. I hope it helps others. I’m now a firm believer in balance, and finding a happy weight. Being healthy, fit and eating whole foods to me is much better than fat-free (and nutrient free) anything.
Your story sounds a lot like my first experience with the program–I became obsessed with the points system and finding all the fat-free, lowest-calorie, highest-fiber foods I could in order to eat as little (or as much according to the WW mindset) as possible.
When I started running, I gave up on the program. There was no way my body, which was adjusting to long distance runs, could manage on WW. But once I wasn’t starving beyond control after every run, I went back with a healthier outlook. I ate every point I could–daily, weekly, and activity. I decided I would not be scared to cook with oil, nuts, butter, etc. And, I (finally) realized that a goal near the low end of my weight range was not realistic for me.
I believe in the program, but I see how it (or any other structured “diet” program) could lead to disordered eating. I’m excited about the changes–free fruit, the focus on whole foods, and protein factoring into the equation.
Thanks for sharing your story!
Your story sounds a lot like my first experience with the program–I became obsessed with the points system and finding all the fat-free, lowest-calorie, highest-fiber foods I could in order to eat as little (or as much according to the WW mindset) as possible.
When I started running, I gave up on the program. There was no way my body, which was adjusting to long distance runs, could manage on WW. But once my body adjusted, and I wasn’t starving beyond control after every run, I went back with a healthier outlook. I ate every point I could–daily, weekly, and activity. I knew that while I wanted to cook healthy, I also wanted to eat “real food,” and not be scared to cook with oil, nuts, butter, etc. And, I (finally) realized that a goal near the low end of my weight range was not realistic for me. I made WW work for me, and now I’m a lifetime member.
I believe in the program, but I see how it (or any other structured “diet” program) could lead to disordered eating. I’m excited about the changes–free fruit, the focus on whole foods, and protein factoring into the equation.
Thanks for sharing your story! We all have to find our own way with this stuff, and it’s always good to hear multiple perspectives.
Thanks for sharing your story Katy! It sounds like this wasn’t easy for you to write, but the important thing is that you learned from your experience and have since discovered a healthy lifestyle. I don’t know much about WW, but I know a couple of people who’ve done it and they also seemed to get a little obsessive about it (even after they lost the weight). I’m glad you’re happy now and found what works for you!
Thanks for writing this. I thought I was the only to have developed disordered eating using the WW program. I lost 280 pounds while on WW, and I started to do the same things you described. Eating way below my actual points allotment for the day, exercising and not eating extra. I knew I had a problem when I refused to buy oatmeal that wasn’t Quaker because it was 1 additional point. Literally a difference of 10 calories. I quit soon thereafter and I’m still trying to come to a normal balance with food. I will probably have to go to a therapist at some point. I don’t blame WW for what happened, but on the other hand I feel the meetings are structured to encourage well, disordered eating to an extent. Again, thanks for writing this.
Hi Katy,
Like so many people who lose weight (and your readers above), we often tend to lose lose lose. Get a bit too low or too obsessed or whatever, and then stabilize at a slightly higher weight. I did that as well- not on WW but on my own eating/exercise scheme that I felt was appropriate based on all of the books and magazines out there on weight loss/clean eating etc.
I have a hard time thinking of fruit=0. I could easily eat 4 pieces of fruit a day if calories were no object- that can add up quick!
Thanks for being so candid and opening up the gates for discussion!!
Im so very grateful you posted this Katy.
not only is it beyond frickin helpful and conversation sparking for our Tribe had you censored yourself that would be, IMO, just not ….right.
(not the word for which Im groping)
the power and strength of our blogword is all centered upon sharing without hesitation whats at our core.
xo
I had a VERY similar experience with calorie counting about five years ago. I had the same mindset. If THIS is good, I’ll do you one better and be even more restrictive. It took me a long time to get over this mindset. I think Weight Watchers is a great way to teach people who know nothing about nutrition and what an appropriate amount of food is, but I agree with you that it’s not for everybody. I would have had the same reaction to WW b/c that’s just my personality. I become obsessive if there is any counting involved in eating. I’m so glad you have overcame this.
I am someone that has lost over 100lbs on WW and I can totally see how someone can get into the wrong eating habits like you did. I work for WW and I am following the new WW plan and it is so much better then the current plan. It truly pushes someone towards making BETTER food choices. 100 calorie apple & 100 snack pack nutrionally are not the same and with the new program you will most likely pick the apple. I highly suggest stopping into a meeting to check it out just to see how different it is.
Great post. I did a trial of Weight Watchers and quickly found out it wasn’t for me based upon its favoritism of fat free foods…I can see how it could become dysfunctional quickly.
I lost 35 lbs on WW but I also became obsessive. At one point, I figured out my point intake each day so that I could consume a ton of alcohol at the end of the day. I ended up skipping meals for 100 calorie snacks and then drinking my way at the end of the day to fill up the rest of my points. It had to stop. Yuck. I really learned nothing about nutrition on Weight Watchers, I learned how to cheat the system.
Great post & I have seen MANY people work the WW program just as you did. Hell, I did it myself at one point. They are definitely gearing towards whole foods & ending the reign of the 100 calorie packs. It’s going to be a great change & it’s interesting the people complaining about the change are those eating SO many processed foods. Why? They are going to cost them FAR more points that they do now.
I’m a Lifetime member & excited about the changes. Great perspective that you’ve shared & thanks for not keeping quiet about it!
Katy, this is a great post. I can really relate to your story. I first used WW when my parents joined and I had come back from studying abroad. I didn’t have much weight to shed and it was easy to do it since I was home for the summer with my family. Since then, I’ve tracked points as a way to keep my grazing habit in check and have stuck more closely to the plan before big events, etc.
Now I’m really starting to lose the motivation to carry around my book and track points because I feel like I know how to eat healthy and eat whole foods 90% of the time. I feel like it was a crutch and I’ve learned how to fuel my body, what I need to be a strong athlete, and how to recover from 2 injuries I’ve suffered in the last couple of years. If they were a result of inadequate nutrition I’ll never know but I now see some of the drawbacks to the plan in addition to the great jump start it can provide.
Thanks for sharing your story!
Great post on Weight Watchers. I’m currently using the system to get back to my ”happy weight’, I’ve never looked at using the system to cheat like that and I don’t eat fat free foods. So far, I have not obsessed over points. I follow the program online and I love the Iphone app b/c of the tracking features making sure I get enough water and servings of veggies. I mainly use the app for tracking b/c I have a problem with not eating enough calories day to day. I’m still trying to grasp the idea of the programs change later this week….though I’m still new at this program. I love the idea of all fruits & veggies being zero.
Thank you for sharing your story. I like to see different views on the WW program.
A very thought provoking post. I think there’s a fine line between food and weight watching. It’s a constant struggle to find balance of what is right or wrong about our eating habits or even confonting it. Kudos to you for sharing your experiences my friend
Your story sounds so much like my own! I did WW, got to goal/Lifetime, worked for them as a receptionist/leader for a few years and, just over a year ago, stopped.
While I wasn’t training for anything during that time, I definitely noticed some unhealthy habits I acquired and it took me a very long time to break them. My worst habit was eating “good” the week I had to weigh in and then just going crazy, basically, for the rest of the month. It caught up to me, my mindset was in the wrong place (all or nothing), and I really had to work to get back to just being healthy and balanced instead of trying to play games with the scale and my mind.
Overall, I think WW is a great program, if followed how it is written. They do include guidelines on what you should be including each day (lean protein, fruits, veggies, healthy fats, etc) and, when done correctly, I do think it’s a balanced program that is definitely livable. The tricky part is that our minds can so easily convince us to cheat ourselves and find ways to do the minimum.
I will say, also, that when the Core/Filling Foods program came out a few years ago, I jumped on it and NEVER looked back. That was what really pushed me to eat for health and fuel and balance rather than the “lowest points”, and I’m so thankful they offer that option. It taught me so much about new food options and whole grains and opened my eyes to actually paying attention to my hunger signals rather than my points allowance.
Wow…thank you so much for this post. I had an extremely similar experience with Weight Watchers. Since 2007, I have lost 55 pounds on the program. At first, I was delighted that I was simply learning how to eat “healthier.” I did the Core program at first, but gradually switched to points. I had the same thoughts as you–I can eat a 3-point breakfast and a 2-point dinner!–and I eventually got down to a weight that was very unhealthy for me and my body. In the last year, I have worked really hard to correct the negative habits that I developed, and I am proud to say that I am in a great place. I have gained about five pounds of muscle since I started running last year, and I am working on adding in foods that I had previously considered “taboo” on WW. More than anything, I have energy–and I don’t have nearly as much food anxiety as I did. Your story made me realize that I was NOT alone in my struggles with WW! I am so grateful to you for sharing and I wish you all the best of luck!
Thanks for the honesty. I’m sure it was hard to write and be so raw, but it will help others. I, myself, quit weight watchers for similar reasons, but unlike your experience, I started eating real food and continued to lose weight without the obsession. I think WW is a great jumping off point for many who have no idea where to turn, but I did find it lacking in education on nutrition and exercise. (The program has changed a few times since I was a member, so it might have improved?)
I’ve worked with clients who are current (or former) Weight Watchers users, and I definitely see that there are a lot of aspects of the plan that are valuable (especially the support factor). I don’t feel that a lot of other parts of the plan are healthy (it seems there’s more of a focus on points than real food). I would love to see more whole foods education brought into the program, since so many people are successful using it.
I appreciate that you shared this part of your life. Thank you for your honesty!
I, like you experienced the lowest weight of my adult life while following Weight Watchers. I had tried using points, and it made me crazy – the structure was too much as was the huge amount of ‘fake’ foods that were disguised as nutrition in the flex program. I decided to follow CORE, and that’s how I lost my weight. As I got to my goal (and below) I found it very hard to understand the mindset of the people (who were told not to follow CORE at my meeting) that were on a path very divergent of my own. Even though I was at goal, the weighing in, and being the only member who followed CORE got to me and I left.
I went back when I heard that CORE had been discarded in favor of a new plan, I tried to get into it, but it really didn’t resonate with me. I loved the support and ritual of the weekly meeting. Without it, I’ve had a hard time being motivated to care about my eating and exercise. I’m trying to figure out how to find a group like Weight Watchers with a whole/healthy/organic bent. Interested less in calories than in whole, healthy foods eaten to satisfaction and healthy activity. Where is that group of freaks like me?
This is my exact same story. Exactly. I was my skinniest every with Weight Wacther and my unhealthiest. I would run 10 miles and then refuel my body with 3 egg whites and a kids clif bar and black coffee. So roughly 180 calories after a 10 mile run! Are you kidding me? So glad you got out of that trap…I can honestly say that I am a much happier person at a size 6 than I ever was when I was a size 2.
This is my exact same story. Exactly. I was my skinniest ever with Weight Wacther and my unhealthiest. I would run 10 miles and then refuel my body with 3 egg whites and a kids clif bar and black coffee. So roughly 180 calories after a 10 mile run! Are you kidding me? So glad you got out of that trap…I can honestly say that I am a much happier person at a size 6 than I ever was when I was a size 2. Thanks for sharing!
Kelly — thank YOU for stopping by and sharing your story! I still shudder when I think about how badly I treated my body.
How did I miss this post the first time around? Katy, I was the SAME way. Although, I didn’t see it. My husband did. I would try to get my meals down to really low points and even wanted to try eating an all “no point” day. Veggies, diet coke, and tofu shirataki! That’s all you need, right?
I totally avoided most social situations and my husband even told me that I was “more fun when I wasn’t on WW.”
I’m still trying to get fats into my diet because I’m still guilty of eating a lot of fat free stuff. But I’m getting better. That’s another reason I went to calorie counting instead of points counting because it’s easier for me to concentrate on the nutrional value of stuff (fat grams, etc) instead of points. Nice post, girl!
SO grateful to have come across your blog and this post. I too used WW to loose some extra weight, I had gained the freshman 15+ in college and I was determined to loose weight and keep it off during my senior year. Between my junior year and fall of my senior year I dropped 35 lbs going from a size 8 to a size 0…not a healthy way to be! I was so tiny and so frail in terms of muscle mass. I was afraid of fat and using up my points. I was so stressed over eating all the time and would go back to my room and log all my food online for the day, feeling ashamed that I had some pretzels or crackers to get by. It is good to know that I am not alone with having had a horrible relationship with WW. I can now say I am much healther, stronger, and back to a happier weight. Looking forward to keeping up with your blog and learning from all of your social media and health/wellness tips!
I’ve thought about going back to WW recently as I’ve put on 8-10 lbs since my low weight. I was actively on WW for about 16 months and lost 60 lbs. I don’t think I ever got to disordered eating, but I wrote earlier this year that it made me pretty obsessed about food, planning my next meals and anxious when I wasn’t in complete control. I do like that while I was on the plan, they really emphasized following the “good health guidelines.” I still try to get that in. I won’t go back while in the middle of marathon training, because restricting and running 20 miles isn’t going to cut it.
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Thank you for sharing this. Personally I had a similar experience with Weight Watchers. I now eat real foods, I workout consistently and really get to enjoy acceptance with my body.
I read this with interest because unfortunately, it was my foray into the world of organised dieting that led to my developing an eating disorder. Much in the same way you did, I cut back and made unhealthy substitutes to lose more, more quickly. Like many people with eating disorders and also like many on diets, I eventually gained all the weight back and then some. I went from being anorexic to binge eating within the space of a couple of years, both very painful eating disorders.
What I wanted to say is that it has now been maybe 6 years since I was in the thick of my eating disorder, and I am still dealing with the consequences. I reverted to compulsive eating, for fear of dieting, within limits, for fear of excessive weight gain. I am working on regaining a healthy balance with food because spending so much time messed up with it really takes its toll.
Before embarking on any diet programme, I would advise anyone to consider a) if they have had any mental health issues that they think makes them prone to disordered eating and b) what plans can they put in place for stopping dieting at some point.
Diet programmes exist first and foremost to make money. They do not support a movement back into the ‘real’ world because they wouldn’t make money off your inevitable slip if they did.
I’d think long and hard about it first, and try something else.
Thank you for your perspective…I still struggle with my desire to restrict, and I fight it every day. So it’s nice to know I’m not alone!
My diet is much healthier now, and though I weight a bit more, I’m much happier.
I had success on WW, but even the “new” plan scared me when I went back in the beginning of this year. I only lasted 2 meetings because the leader encouraged the members to drink diet soda and eat spray butter. She even told them to add Sweet n Low to greek yogurt to make it taste better. I almost walked out of the meeting right then and there. When I was on WW and lost 25 pounds, I lived and breathed the program like you did. I switched out real foods for the fake stuff just because they had less points. I’m so glad I see the light NOW, but I wish WW leaders would stop encouraging the same bad behaviors.
Andrea @ Run, Eat, Date, Sleep recently posted..Week 2 of Marathon Training
I’m glad you shared your experience with this. How I lost 100 pounds (in the beginning) was eating “diet food.” I didn’t know HOW to eat for real. I didn’t know what a portion size was, I didn’t know how to STOP EATING when the food was gone. Eating processed, portion controlled food worked really well for me. In the beginning. I lost about 75 pounds and I felt good.
But as I started running and paying more attention to fitness, health and good food I realized I wasn’t eating real food. I was eating calories. I was eating 2,000 calories or less. I wasn’t eating what my body needed. Now? My diet is very simple. I eat veggies, fruit and meat. It may be a boring diet but I’m eating real food and that’s what matters. It doesn’t come out of a box or freezer and I feel healthier than I’ve ever been.
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I did the WW program a few years ago, and as I look back, I only see it as destructive. For ME. I would restrict myself to 800 calories per day (the less points the better!). This would work for about 3 or 4 days, then I would binge, blowing all my flex points, and repeat the same cycle. My body was crying for nourishment but I took the hunger pains and growling stomach as a sign that it was “working.” While I think the WW system works for many people, it’s not for me. And from the looks of it, not for you either! Thank you for writing this. Know you are not alone!
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