WW Question

[kayeandjim00]

Is it true that you can lose "too much" at WW and be in essence "banned?" I thought I read that somewhere but wasn't 100% sure. I am planning to do a lot of exercise and while I will be using activity points I'm not sure if the "boot camp" I have planned will cause me to lose much faster than WW shows. So if it's true - how much do you have to lose for them to think it's too much? Is it over a period of time? Can you never come back? Thanks! :)

[blue_eyes5212]

I have never heard of that!!

[kayeandjim00]

Good - I was hoping it was one of those urban legend things :) I could have sworn I read something once where someone was told that they had to stop losing so quickly or something. Thanks

[tiggerlover]

It is my understanding, and I can't remember where I heard or read this, that they expect larger losses in the first three weeks of the program. However, if you are still losing big after the 1st three weeks they will schedule a meeting with you and the leader to discuss it as after the first three weeks they do not want to see losses greater than two pounds per week.

[MrsJackSparrow]

If you are losing weight too rapidly (greater than 2-3 pounds/week) you can have serious gall bladder problems and WW tries to discourage members from rapid weight loss. Especially since it has serious health risks. And, once you are lifetime, if you go below the WW weight range for your height, you are not permitted to weigh in unless you have gained back into your weight range. The low end of WW's weight ranges is indeed LOW.

[chamonix]

There are some folks that WW will not "allow" to join the program: children under the age of 10 and those folks who are not overweight--unless they lost weight with WW and are "at goal" and lifetime members, of course.

The "rule" is: "Weight Watchers prohibits membership for children under the age of 10, those individuals with an active medical diagnosis of bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa, those whose weight is less than five pounds above the minimum weight of the WW weight ranges, and during pregnancy."

As mentioned upthread, the weight range goes REALLY low--so to be at the low end (minimum weight for your height) would be pretty thin (and certainly not overweight enough to justify membership). For example, a 40 year old 5'4" woman would have to weigh at least 122 to join.

As for them "discouraging" fast losses, while the official literature educates you on what a healthy weight loss will be, and warns you about possible negative side effects of losing too much weight too fast--whether or not a leader would actually take you aside and schedule a meeting with you to make you stop or whatever would depend on the individual leader. Some would do that, some woudn't. I am sure most if not all would if they thought you were really making yourself sick.