I Rejoined Weight Watchers

I rejoined Weight Watchers.

Oh yeah, I've done it before. I have a long history with Weight Watchers. 

Back in September 2010, I walked into a Weight Watchers meeting and began my first journey.

Back then it was the original point program, mostly referred to as "classic points" these days. When Weight Watchers used the phrase "eat all your favorite foods and still lose weight"; this was the plan they were referring to. There were no phone apps, most people didn't have smartphones anyway, but there was a point calculator and pen & paper. Classic points calculated using calories, fat and fiber. You had daily points and everyone got 35 weeklies. It was a pretty simple plan actually..forget your calculator? That's okay, 50 calories equaled 1 point. The math was easy.

I lost 20 lbs. in my first 3 months on classic.

Then they changed the program to Points Plus. 

Points Plus took those bad nasty carbs and made all the snacky things go up in points.  You still had your daily points and everyone got 49 weekly points. Using a calculation of fat, carbs, fiber and protein and making fruit "zero pts" led to hits and misses.    This plan also introduced the mobile app.  The math was still easy with 39 calories equaling 1 point (to make it easier most did 40 calories for 1 point).  The "misses" with this plan took the zero point food too literal.  They over ate it.  They used it in place of vegetable servings.  They then complained that the program didn't work.

Though not everything works for everyone, most were failing because they over ate in fruit.

None-the-less, like it's predecessor...Points Plus was a popular plan.

This plan was a hit for me...losing another 20 lbs and becoming a Lifetime Member by August 2011.

At Lifetime, I realized that the weight I was at was not sustainable for me in the long term.  Not wanting to pay for being over my goal, I walked away from Weight Watchers.

Then you know what happened.......  I maintained at a weight approximately 5 lbs more than the goal for a while.  Then the weight started coming back on.  It doesn't happen all at once, it sneaks up on you and you try to convince yourself you have it under control and it's okay.  You know, the pants are a little tighter - but hey they still fit and I can take off a pound or two to make it right.  Then you're up a size - buy hey, I still look great and what's a size?  Just a number!

You get the picture, you try to convince yourself that it isn't happening.  Then one day you look in the mirror and realize you are back to square one.

I don't know how many times over and over I rejoined Weight Watchers.....I'd lose, I'd regain and nothing more really happened.  That newbie feeling wasn't there and that gave me so much success last time.

Back in September 2016 I walked back to a Weight Watchers meeting.  I had to.  The first thing I noticed was all the signs about the "biggest change in 50 years coming to Weight Watchers".  You know what I thought?  Hurray!  Something new, something different and hopefully no more points!

Was I ever wrong.....  nope, not really a big change at all just another point program.  And thus, Smart Points was born!  Attacking that nasty sugar....and making all those sweet treats balloon in points.  Using calories, saturated fat, sugar and protein as the calculation.......  Smart points was a huge fail for me.  I tried really, but I was losing and relosing the same 10 lbs over and over.  I couldn't stick to it.  I craved sweet things, which isn't the norm for me (salty yes, sweet no) and since that sweet stuff cost so much in points?  I just didn't track it.  Yes, I know it was my fault, but I couldn't get on board with this plan.  I wasn't stupid though....I knew what Weight Watchers was doing...with each plan it was pushing you to be a little bit healthier.  I understood.

Then Freestyle came along.  Now there was a list of 200 plus foods that you didn't have to count points for.  Remember when I mentioned the "misses" with the zero point fruit when Points Plus came out?  Well you can imagine what's happening here.

Freestyle is a good plan.  I imagine over time more will be added to that no count food list to everyone is just eating the way they should.  I failed at Freestyle then, because I just wasn't in the Weight Watchers mood.

Weight Watchers got crazy and changed their name from Weight Watchers to WW (pronounced double you - double you)...made their receptionists "guides" the leaders "coaches" and the meetings "studios".  Sorry Weight Watchers, I'll never use these stupid terms!  But after a few months I knew I needed a break from Weight Watchers.

But I was back a few more times!  I did the Green-Blue-Purple plans, the Personal Plan (where you chose your own zero foods) and now they're back to a version similar to Freestyle(Blue) but with a different point calculation.

Most in person meetings have gone away and the ones I could get to do not have times convenient to for those of us that work.  I kind of think WW thought that due to covid we all became stay at home workers.....nay..... I never worked from home, even during covid!

I dropped out of WW (it is pronounced Weight Watchers again) not that long ago.  Giving up the Lifetimer not at Goal deal they offered a while ago.  I wasn't really using it anyway and I couldn't get to a meeting.

BUT - now I'm back!  No meetings this time, I'll do digital for a while.  I'm hoping my head is in the right place for this!  I know I'm crazy for doing this around the holidays....but I'm gonna try!!