Because It Doesn’t Work. For Me.
Posted By Kristabella on March 19, 2012
I’ve always been a supporter of Weight Watchers. It’s an excellent plan that teaches you how to eat healthy and eat the right amount and make good decisions. I lost a lot of weight on the program back in 2003. And I kept it off for a good 3 years.
Since that time, they’ve tweaked the program. The most recent change was a good one. It made the focus on healthy choices, as opposed to processed foods. Fruits and veggies were zero points! Yay!
I did OK on this new program. I lost about 12 pounds in like four months. Not too shabby. I realized that my metabolism had slowed down and I needed to be much better about working out.
When I got back on the healthy eating/exercising more train this year, I went back to Weight Watchers. It was my stand by. It worked before, it would work again.
But it wasn’t. I mean, I was losing some weight here and there, but nothing big. This was fine because my clothes were looser and I knew I was losing inches. And I know it can take a while for the scale to just start being your BFF.
That’s when you’re being vigilant. And I don’t think I can on WW anymore. I can easily cheat and I’ll guesstimate with measuring. And I never counted fruits or vegetables. And you know what? Those things, especially fruits, have a boatload of calories.
Then I got my Fitbit. And it works with some calorie tracking apps, FREE calorie tracking apps. And it all syncs together so nicely, the calorie tracking website talks to the Fitbit website and it’s just so smooth.
So last week I decided to quit WW and its monthly fee. I feel like the calorie counting thing makes sense. Especially when my activity and calories burned for the day are automatically synched with the food tracking site. Easy peasy!
I feel like there’s less room for me to fudge with calorie counting. There are no 49 flex points each week. Nothing is free. There is no being able to literally binge one day and not worry about it. This is making me more accountable for everything I eat because I know there isn’t a pile of points sitting there, begging for me to drink a whole bottle of wine.
(Also, my bank account likes being fatter with the extra $15 a month it has now.)
And on the other hand, you can have extra food/drinks when you’re tracking calories. But you have to earn them. You have to exercise and burn calories to be able to treat yourself to a few glasses of wine or a slice of pizza. That’s how the WW of old was, you banked those points from working out. It gave you an incentive to work out and earn those extra points to be able to have fun on the weekends!
Regardless of how I’m tracking, I’m moving more and eating less. The Fitbit makes me want to be more active. I HAVE to get to my goal of 10,000 steps each day. So if that means I pace the house while I brush my teeth, or I get off a stop earlier on the train, so be it.
Eating less and moving more – what they’ve been preaching since the dawn of time. Probably because it works. Imagine that!
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I did the same thing, the WW just didn’t work for me. I finally went off it and signed on to the (free) Atkins site and followed their plan vegetarian style (yo!). Totally am losing the weight now and can wear jeans that have been off limits for 2 years. Yay!
Karynjewels´s last blog post ..It’s Just Me…
That sounds so great! I’ve seen you and others mention the Fitbit. I think I may need to Google it… 🙂
Angella´s last blog post ..All For One
I am eagerly awaiting my fitbit. I’ve never managed to lose weight any way other than calorie tracking. Because, as you say – it’s logic people.
Keep up the good work! 🙂
Jessica´s last blog post ..Unexpected Peace.
I am so proud of you!
Rhi´s last blog post ..Henry is Four Months Old!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
I always say “Calories in, calories out” which, to me, is the same thing as eating less and moving more. It’s the ONLY thing, I think, that REALLY works. It’s not a fad, it’s not a gimmick, it’s not removing complete food groups from your diet.
It’s what works for me, at least.
alimartell´s last blog post ..Stage Mom. Indeed.
Hang in there! You’ll meet your goals. 🙂
I found this semi-related youtube particularly inspiring: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo
I totally agree with you. I lost 60 pounds doing the old WW with my measly little 20 points a day and doing lots of exercise (although I was often hungry). Now I don’t even eat all my points (because I’m not hungry) and I am not losing any weight, or barely any. And I HATE that there’s almost no “brand” foods in the database. Yes,I could add every single food ever made by Trader Joe’s, myself by hand. or i could use myfitnesspal or whatever which is free, easier to use, and has TONS of stuff from Trader Joes right there already in it. Yes, it’s more depressing. I can only eat 1200 calories a day, and that’s almost nothing, but it’s so CLEAR. Eat this number or less every day or don’t lose weight. Do exercise if you want to eat more or have a treat. None of these weird games to try to fudge the numbers all the time.
Elizabeth´s last blog post ..I Made This: Zig Zag Baby Quilt
I think WW is great, but like you, eventually one outgrows it and needs to move on.
Jen on the Edge´s last blog post ..The white whale
this inspired me to fire up my neglected myfitnesspal app today, since i am VERY UNHAPPY with my (complete lack of) progress in this arena, and this is an excellent reminder that i need to BE ON TOP OF THIS and be aware of what i’m eating. calories in, calories out. i WISH i could say that if i got a fitbit it would motivate me more, but i suspect i am too lazy no matter what 🙂
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I’m a big fan of the calorie counting, too. I use the Lose It app on my phone, which is free and awesome and I love it. I’m thinking about one of those FitBits, too, because I’d love to know what I actually burn on an average day. It sounds like you’re off to an awesome start (and kicking butt with your running, too)!
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