Is Your Goal to Lose Weight?

This week I participated in two Weight Watchers Open Houses. One was at a business and one was at a WW Center. These meetings are an opportunity for people to ask questions and meet the staff. If the person has never been to WW, I tell them what we are all about: healthy eating, portion control, being active and staying motivated. That's it? Isn't there some crazy secret? What's the catch? Then I ask her or him - is your goal to lose weight, in a healthy way and keep it off? If the answer is no, then, well, have a nice day. If the answer is yes, then why wouldn't you give us a try? Some are desperate to lose weight, but still are not sure they want to join. I actually had LTMs come in and say the program is great, but they will come back when they are ready or when they lose the weight. Huh? Leave, probably gain weight and then eventually come back or end up in the hospital. This makes no sense to me.

Now, before you think I am being a WW snob, I do know WW is not for everyone. One person came into the Open House and said she did not like meetings. So I told her about eTools. I know counting points is not for everyone. Some people would rather just count calories or carbs or fat grams. It doesn't matter what plan you are on, you still have to eat less than you burn. I know people who have done the Zone, given up sugar, fat, meat (that would be tough for me!)and have lost weight. Some people are very strict eaters. They eat super healthy, super "clean" and they lose weight and are very healthy.

But this is what I know for sure: for the average person living in the real world, the best way to lose weight is a moderate approach of slow and steady weight loss. Foods must include fruits and veggies, protein and more natural foods than processed. That is important for health and satisfaction reasons. The weight loss process must include fun foods, in moderation, because deprivation doesn't work. People must also uncover the nutrition information about the foods they eat, including the calories, in order to lose weight. They may think they are eating healthy, but ALL calories count, even the healthy ones.

Can this all be accomplished without Weight Watchers? Of course. But no program is going to change the science of weight loss. There is no "wicked easy" way to lose weight AND keep it off that doesn't include the rules of calories in vs calories out. The WW program works. Ask all the LTMs. Do we always follow the rules? No! But one rule you MUST follow: Never give up. One off meal, day, weekend, vacation or even year does not mean you are destined to be overweight. You can succeed!

When you come to the meetings, you benefit from the 46 years of research from Weight Watchers, the information from the current meeting topic, the expertise from the members and, in my meetings, a few laughs. You can't get that from reading a book. And all your food preferences, health restrictions and social calendars can be incorporated into correctly following the program. Real life!

The real life members inspire me everyday. They give me the privilege of sharing their weight loss journey and inspiring me everyday. Two of my very successful members came to WW before but decided this time they were in it for the long haul. One lost close to 50 pounds and the other 40 pounds. Wow! They both were very pleased with their success and anticipated hitting their ultimate goal, one pound at a time. They know slow and steady weight loss is doable and sustainable. No matter what, February 20th was going to come any way, so might as well be 40-50 pounds lighter!

One member said that her friends were impressed with her weight loss, but can't believe she was drinking the WW "Kool-aid". I don't remember seeing that on the shelves in the center, but whatever she is drinking, it's working! I'll bet whatever her friends were drinking was not.

My hope is that everyone finds their way to healthy weight. However, with 66% of the population overweight, I think many are lost. Show them the way to our Weight Watches meeting.*

*Next Saturday is the last week of our Open Houses, so tell your friends to go to www.weightwatchers.com to find a center near them to learn more about WW. Free gift just for stopping by! Or, if you know of a business that would like to bring the meeting on site, send me an email at lindadf@comcast.net