My husband and I joined Weight Watchers Online on January 4th. My in-laws had joined the month before and were already showing results, so we jumped in (despite the cost not being covered by my Flexible Spending Account, lol). 
Weight Watchers Offers Balance
I immediately liked the idea more than I normally like diets because I knew Weight Watchers is about balance. I wouldn’t appreciate having to give up my favorite foods completely and now I don’t have to, yay! My yeast roll and other bread cravings may cost me a fourth of my points every week, but at least I can eat as many fruits and veggies as my heart desires without having to worry too much about the calorie count.
Weight Watchers Didn’t Cost Too Much
The price for Weight Watchers wasn’t too bad either. It is $17.95 a month paid 3 months in advance and then it goes to month-to-month thereafter. Granted, $107.70 (three months for two of us) is a good sum of cash up front AND it will end up costing us $430.80 if we use it for a full year. BUT, if it helps me to actually lose the 26 pounds I made a resolution to lose by the end of the year, then I think it is well worth it.
Weight Watchers Benefits
I have very little willpower when it comes to food, so accountability is worth a bunch to me. Weight Watchers Online has a point tracking system that assigns each person a certain number of daily/weekly points. It requires me to enter everything I eat every day and tracks the points I have already used and the ones I have left. It is literally a budget for food points. With some prioritization, I can still eat all of my favorite foods without continuing to gain weight. For some reason, that appeals to me.
Having my husband on board helps too. All of my weight loss attempts in the past fell through for me after a few months since I’d still eat huge portions at home. Now that my husband has to budget his food points just like me, we’re eating healthier choices and not stuffing ourselves silly every night.
Weight Watchers Results So Far
I started January 4th at 176 pounds. I am now down to 172. Not bad for a little more than a week!
I am shooting for 163 pounds by July 4th and 150 pounds by December 31st. You can keep up with my progress through the updates I post every Saturday. Feel free to join the Crystal Light Challenge if you need a little support to exercise more too.
Have you ever participated in Weight Watchers? Any other plans?
Congrats on joining Weight Watchers! I think health is very important and is one of those things that I don’t mind spending money on.
When I see “larger-than-average” people jogging on the side of the road, I want to yell out of my car window, “Good job!”, but I think some people might think that’s a slam rather than a compliment, so I just keep it to myself…
I wrote a few peices about saving money with good health. Your contribution per year to Weight Watchers may cost you $400+, but you never know, it could be saving you thousands in medical bills for the next 20+ years.
Great job! I think you can reach your goals!
Wow, you are doing great so far. Keep up with it though because so many people couldn’t keep the weight off. Think of it as a lifestyle change instead of a diet.
I agree with Life&MyFinance above about spending $400. You’ll save tons of money on medical cost in the long run.
Woooo!
I’ve got a couple weeks to lose about 5 pounds… or I’m gonna be wearing the same two pairs of pants on teaching days.
I think the expense is totally worth it. Think about it. If someone came up to you and said “Give me 500 bucks and I will take 26 pounds off your body”, you would totally pay it. Obviously it will take work, but you will also be working toward a new way of life. Many people I know that joined weight watchers were able to keep the weight off because watching what they ate just became a way of life, and it wasn’t hard to follow the program.
You can do it!
Congratulations on the weight loss. I am also a Weight Watchers member, though I need the support the meeting offers, so I am paying more than you. Thus far 26.2 pounds down (and a lot more to go!
)
My wife’s cousin lost at least (my guess) 100 pounds with Weight Watchers. It’s a good program.
I think you all are right of course. $400 a year is a small price to pay if my husband and I can get and stay healthy. That’s why we joined. And with time, we will not need the program to maintain ourselves – we’ll just know what we can and can’t eat all the time. That’s the plan at least.
Thanks for all of the support and I hope you all hit your goals this year too!
@Melissa, WHOO-HOO for 26.2 pounds!!! Congrats!!!
@LifeAndMyFinances, good call at not shouting words of encouragement to the joggers – it would seem demeaning since they don’t know you. Feel free to shout words of encouragement to me though!
@Nicole, quick way to lose 5 pounds – drink 8 glasses of water or more a day and lay off of white foods (sugar, rice, potatoes, etc). You’ll be down 5 pounds within 2 weeks.
I won’t do it though since I LOVE WHITE FOODS!
Congratulations. You joined the best program there is out there. Good luck.
Thanks krantcents!
Congrats for joining Weight Watchers and your new staff writer positions! I’m going to try to lose weight on my own, as hard as it may be. I think I’ll feel a lot better about it. BUT, I do love Weight Watchers’ Smart Ones meals. They’re extremely delicious. Target usually has them for cheaper than grocery stores.
@20 and Engaged, I like the Smart Ones but remember that if they are costing my 7 points because of the carbs, they probably have a lot of calories too. Probably why they are so good, lol.
Good luck!
Wow. You’re doing awesome. The last time I truly tried to lose weight, it took my 8 months to lose 7 pounds.
It looks like you’re doing great. It also makes sense that you like the idea of tracking your points, like a budget
. Does weight watchers also stress the importance of exercise? Now that your hubby is on board, maybe going for walks after dinner together would also be helpful. Keep up the great work, Crystal!
@First Gen, that’s good too if you kept it off. I lost 15 pounds the January before last but got sick of counting calories and got it all back. Then last year I simply cut back on my portion sizes and lost 10 pounds. I hope Weight Watchers helps push me.
@Little House, yes. I can earn food points through exercise and they suggest everyone exercise at least 30 minutes a day. I really do need to convince hubby to start walking with me…
Wow, that’s actually pretty cheap compared to other programs in the market. I’ve been thinking of joining Weight Watchers. Right now, I’m doing Medifast Program and it has been a bit underwhelming.. haven’t lost as much as I wanted.
Yes! Weight Watchers is the best program out there. I actually attend meetings, because this is the ultimate in accountability. (They weigh you in!) I lost 24 lbs and have been a lifetime member. However, over the last 2 years I’ve let 12 of those pounds creep back on…so I’m back on the WW’s plan. Their new pointsplus system is even better than before. The “free” fruits and veggies makes it easier to fill up. You have very realistic goals, and I look forward to following your success!
!
I don’t believe in diets. I barely survived WW 3 days of myself.
I wish you all the best! I’ve heard really good things about this new program. Seems like it is already working for you.
@Dr Natura, I think everyone should try it for like 3 months if they’re looking to lose weight safely…it’s the most balanced diet I’ve ever participated in…
@Sharon, I’d need the meetings if my husband wasn’t doing this with me, lol. We wake up Sunday morning and immediately do our weigh in and record it in their system.
Congrats on the huge success and I hope you see it again!!!
@Aloysa, so far, so good. It really helps that I can have as many fruit and veggies as I want.
Congratulations, hope you’re successful on your quest. If it helps, think of the $400 as an investment, rather than an expense. Besides, you’ll save more than that on less food consumed as your caloric intake decreases.
Having a food journal is the most convenient way to record your food intake. The easiest way to lose weight is to do it naturally. I agree with the article that eating the right food like veggies as well as fruits are the most beneficial food for weight loss and staying healthy. Taking weight loss supplements can also be helpful for your goals of losing weight. And of course you should also have a regular exercise to maintain and strengthen your muscles.
Isn’t WW online wonderful? I recently started doing it too and have been QUITE please with the program and results. It’s so true, I don’t feel deprived at all and I feel like I’m learning healthier eating habits. Good luck with your weight loss!
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