Anybody a Weight Watchers leader?

[ms.yt]

I went to a meeting today, and there was a new leader in training. She talked about how she met her goal and the struggles she encountered along the way. Someone asked her how much weight she lost and her reply was, "almost 14 pounds." I was shocked. It's great that she lost 14 pounds, but I figured that before you could be a leader, you had to have lost more weight than that. She even said that before she joined she was within the healthy range for her height, but just at the top of the range. Now she's at the lower end of the range. Basically, she was never really overweight. Is this normal for leaders to have not ever even been overweight?

 

[redlight]

I don't know much about WW, but I know something about weight loss struggles. People who are only a little overweight also struggle to lose weight or to keep it off.

 

[ms.yt]

I don't know much about WW, but I know something about weight loss struggles. People who are only a little overweight also struggle to lose weight or to keep it off.

Read my post, she was never overweight, she was just "toward the top" of the healthy weight range.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

It's not necessarily common, but it can happen. To join Weight Watchers you must have at least 5 lbs to lose. To be a leader or staff member you must be a lifetime member. I have never heard them put a limit on it nor would I want them to.

Most leaders have lost more, my current leader has lost over 100 lbs. But I applaud her for taking the steps to lose the weight before it became a major problem. I wish I had. Maybe she can't fully identify with those who have a significant amount to lose, but let me tell you, it can be very difficult being a member with less to lose, particularly if you dress to hide it.

Many of us have had all kinds of snarky comments made. When I was on the boards, I was actually accused of being anorexic because of my doctor approved goal weight- until I put in my height! What is healthy for more people is obese for me because of how short I am and people couldn't get that through her heads. Sometimes it's nice to have somebody who understands that struggle. Just because she hasn't lost of hundreds of pounds does not mean she will not be a great leader. She may have some wonderful insights and may really be able to inspire her members.

 

[redlight]

Even if she's just at the top of the healthy weight range, she could still struggle.

Edited to add that I have a friend who is continually trying to lose weight even though she's not overweight by BMI, but she has a small frame.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Read my post, she was never overweight, she was just "toward the top" of the healthy weight range.

That doesn't mean she doesn't struggle. I joined WW before I was actually considered overweight, back when I had about 10 lbs to lose. I wish I had buckled down and lost the weight then instead of needing to lose 50 lbs today. Franklly, I find it inspiring that she was able to do what I wasn't. You might be surprised the number of members who are not truly overweight but at the tops of their ranges and are trying to get it under contorl now. It does not mean they don't struggle just as much as somebody with a lot of weight to lose.

 

[ms.yt]

I didn't even realize that you could actually join if you were in the healthy weight range for your height. Both times I've joined, I was well over the range so I didn't read the fine print about who could join. I guess I just assumed you actually had to be "overweight" according to your height. I just figured that WW required leaders to have lost more weight than that and was surprised. When I went years ago, both the leaders I encountered had lost over 100 lbs. This woman was a perfectly nice person, but I think I will be more motivated by a different leader, so I'll probably switch meetings. As someone who's struggled with obesity my whole life, I think I need to go to a meeting led by someone who's motivation to join was more than "my husband would like me to be skinny like a beanpole" as this leader said. It's great that she lost weight, though.

 

[redlight]

I didn't even realize that you could actually join if you were in the healthy weight range for your height. Both times I've joined, I was well over the range so I didn't read the fine print about who could join. I guess I just assumed you actually had to be "overweight" according to your height. I just figured that WW required leaders to have lost more weight than that and was surprised. When I went years ago, both the leaders I encountered had lost over 100 lbs. This woman was a perfectly nice person, but I think I will be more motivated by a different leader, so I'll probably switch meetings. As someone who's struggled with obesity my whole life, I think I need to go to a meeting led by someone who's motivation to join was more than "my husband would like me to be skinny like a beanpole" as this leader said. It's great that she lost weight, though.

It bothers me that she said "my husband would like me to be skinny like a beanpole"!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Not every leader is for everybody. I had one in Orlando who I believe had lost significant amounts of weight but she had a very strong personality. She was nice enough, but she was very outspoken about certain thigns and even overly critical of the program. It worked for some, but I found her to be not motivating at all. To be honest, I have never even considered the weight of my leaders as a pro or con. I only know the weight loss of my current leader because it is on her nametag. I'm more likely to look at personality.

However, if that is super important to you, you may need to find a different leader. But I would encourage you to at least give her a try. She might surprise you!

 

[ms.yt]

It bothered me too. I'm trying to lose weight for myself so I won't die before my kids graduate high school. I know everybody's reason to lose weight is supposed to be valid, but that reason bothers me!

 

[ms.yt]

Not every leader is for everybody. I had one in Orlando who I believe had lost significant amounts of weight but she had a very strong personality. She was nice enough, but she was very outspoken about certain thigns and even overly critical of the program. It worked for some, but I found her to be not motivating at all. To be honest, I have never even considered the weight of my leaders as a pro or con. I only know the weight loss of my current leader because it is on her nametag. I'm more likely to look at personality.

However, if that is super important to you, you may need to find a different leader. But I would encourage you to at least give her a try. She might surprise you!

I'm going to jump around meetings a bit since I'm just starting out and I'm free in the summer. I want to find a meeting that's right for me. I did this 7 years ago and lost 45 pounds in about 5 months. I stopped going to meetings and gained it all back even quicker than I lost it. I don't want that to happen this time. I'm off to a good start, and I want it to stay that way.

 

[terri01p]

I personally would rather have an instructor that has been there and done that. Someone that has lost 100 pounds would be more of an inspiration to me than someone that lost 14 pounds...100 pounds would take years of struggle where as 14 pound would take what 2 months???? Unless she kept gaining the same 14 pounds over and over, now that's something I could relate to...ha

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Heck, when I was at my heaviest I could have lost 14 pounds in water weight alone!!! While I applaud her for losing the weight I would not be able to tolerate her as a leader. She has no "been there, done that" ability to relate. And if I had heard her make the comment about her husband I probably would have said something out loud in the middle of the meeting. Sorry but you lose weight for your health not for your spouse. That's just said to me.

 

[Amy]

Former WW member here (also a Lifetime member, but that was soooo many years ago that I know I'll never see that number on the scale again): I'm one of those who join and quit, join and quit. From my experience, the closer you are to your goal/ideal weight, the harder it is to lose. So maybe losing only 14 pounds was quite a struggle for her.

My most recent WW experience: I was only about 5 pounds from my goal when I had some health problems and had to take some meds for a little over 5 years, and one of the side effects was weight gain. So once my dr stopped the meds, I joined WW again - I had 45 lbs to lose. I lost 30 within about 10 months, but the last 15 pounds just wouldn't budge. I'd lose 2, gain 3, lose 1, lose .5, gain 2, lose 3, etc., etc. This went on for a year and I finally quit. I was paying $40 a month and getting nowhere. I know a lot of the problem was that I'd lost my motivation and too much stuff was going on at home.

Anyway, try going to diff. meetings. In my area, we had diff leaders on diff days, and there was one leader who I couldn't stand - she was just too much in your face. If the fact that your leader only lost 14 pounds bothers you, then try another meeting with a another leader.

 

[luvsJack]

I thought that there was some kind of rule with WW that you had to be at least 10 lbs overweight to even join. (Sort of a way to limit the "I'm at my correct weight but want to lose a couple of lbs"). I may be wrong or thinking of some other restriction they have. I just know that I have seen people trying to join and being told that they cannot-especially during time of the first of the year specials they always run.

But, I do agree that a leader that lost even 50 lbs would probably be more empathtic to the struggle of people who are truely overweight. (Being at the high end of the scale is NOT overweight). I am sure it was a struggle to lose the 14 lbs. Losing anything can be hard. But it can take months or even years for someone to 50, 70, or 100 lbs. Just staying on plan for that long is a struggle that someone who only had to do it a few weeks just could not really understand.

 

[cepmom]

I thought that there was some kind of rule with WW that you had to be at least 10 lbs overweight to even join. (Sort of a way to limit the "I'm at my correct weight but want to lose a couple of lbs"). I may be wrong or thinking of some other restriction they have. I just know that I have seen people trying to join and being told that they cannot-especially during time of the first of the year specials they always run.

But, I do agree that a leader that lost even 50 lbs would probably be more empathtic to the struggle of people who are truely overweight. (Being at the high end of the scale is NOT overweight). I am sure it was a struggle to lose the 14 lbs. Losing anything can be hard. But it can take months or even years for someone to 50, 70, or 100 lbs. Just staying on plan for that long is a struggle that someone who only had to do it a few weeks just could not really understand.

I work for WW...not a leader, but a receptionist. There are guidelines for joining WW. It depends on your height and weight etc. For example, I am 5'9". My healthy weight range is 135 lbs - 169 lbs. The minimum joining weight for that range is 140 lbs; only 5 lbs above the lowest weight in the healthy weight range. I weighed 167 when I joined...within my "healthy range" but definitely not where I wanted to be.

I agree that it sounds more dramatic or inspirational I guess to hear a leader say they lost 100 lbs, 50lbs etc. rather than 14 lbs, but it's not just the numbers you that matter you know? It's gaining control of yourself, changing bad habits into good habits, making a lifestyle change. Certain things can be a challenge whether you are 14 lbs overweight or 100 lbs overweight.

It's also a big challange to maintain any weight loss, regardless of how big or small it was. She may have only lost 14 lbs, but how long has she been able to maintain that loss? How many times have we seen (or done it ourselves) people lose weight, only to go off their "diet" and put all the weight back on?

I lost 30 lbs on WW, and have put about 10 back on since the fall. I am struggling with those 10 lbs as much as I struggled with the first 30.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Okay, I used to be a leader and I totally concur with Cepmom.

Every leader has to have her spiel so here's mine:

I was 20 lbs overweight and even though I wasn't happy, I figured, 'well, I'm middle-aged. I'm no spring chicken. I'm fine with being a little overweight.' I didn't like it, but I figured it was what it was.

Then I found out that in my birth father's family every single member who was over about 40 and overweight had type II diabetes. EVERY SINGLE FAMILY MEMBER.

So I buckled down and started exercising. I tried to eat healthy. About 12 pounds fell off and I was pleased as punch, but I still had another 8 to go before I had a BMI under 25. I worked at it but the scale did. not. move.

A friend who was a non-maintaining lifetimer mentioned she wanted to get back to her goal weight. So we joined Weight Watchers together. I'd done it before and lost weight, but always dropped out before I hit goal. We encouraged each other and worked with each other and v. v. slowly the scale began to move. Those last few pounds don't budge, they inch off.

Eventually, I made lifetime and my friend got back to her goal weight.

I have maintained at or below my goal weight for 3 years now.

Now if you were ever in my meetings you know who I am.

Weight Watchers is really about how you're going to eat for the REST OF YOUR LIFE. It's about re-learning eating and exercise habits. The lessons you learn when you start are the lessons you keep forever.

I had a great leader once who used to say "the difference between losing and maintaining is a glass of milk and a banana every day" and that is sooooo true. It's not so much about how much you lose or how quickly you lose as it is about learning to be healthy and learning how to stay healthy!

 

[bumbershoot]

...who's motivation to join was more than "my husband would like me to be skinny like a beanpole" as this leader said. It's great that she lost weight, though.

That comment should have been in the first post. That comment is offensive and wrong, while her "only" losing 14 lbs is not.

I thought that there was some kind of rule with WW that you had to be at least 10 lbs overweight to even join.

5 lbs above the lowest for your age and height.

I agree that it sounds more dramatic or inspirational I guess to hear a leader say they lost 100 lbs, 50lbs etc. rather than 14 lbs, but it's not just the numbers you that matter you know? It's gaining control of yourself, changing bad habits into good habits, making a lifestyle change. Certain things can be a challenge whether you are 14 lbs overweight or 100 lbs overweight.

It's also a big challange to maintain any weight loss, regardless of how big or small it was. She may have only lost 14 lbs, but how long has she been able to maintain that loss? How many times have we seen (or done it ourselves) people lose weight, only to go off their "diet" and put all the weight back on?

I lost 30 lbs on WW, and have put about 10 back on since the fall. I am struggling with those 10 lbs as much as I struggled with the first 30.

I totally agree. I've lost something like 60 lbs in the past (and gained it all, plus more, back once I quit) with WW, but the idea of being in WW *forever* has kept me, two times now, from staying with it, sticking to it, and getting the REST of the weight off.

I was probably 20 lbs over, no, I think I was less than that, the high healthy weight for my age and height, and I quit BOTH TIMES. That last bit of weight is the hardest...

When I was in college, I had less than 20 to be nice and trim (it's always HARD for me b/c I am naturally very muscular, and always weigh more than I "look", it's something I've dealt with from childhood in the 70s when people only talked weight, not size or shape), and that 20 became 25, became 30 etc etc etc and here I am, a two times over WW dropout, far heavier than I was before.

And it was those last 20ish pounds that did it.

I'm not that close now, but when I was 10 lbs heavier than I wanted to be it actually felt WORSE than I feel now, at gosh knows HOW heavy I am...being so close was more painful for me, mentally.


So I wouldn't mind a good leader who had "only" lost 14 lbs, but I WOULD mind a leader who made that husband/beanpole statement!!! (and I'd contact the corporate offices about that comment as well!)

 

[minkydog]

I have a fabulous motivating leader. She lost 237 lbs over a period of 2 years. She has a picture of herself in the WW center and I mean, she was a very big girl. She has kept at her goal weight for 11 years.

I am in the morbidly obese category, BMI 38. This leader is a real inspiration to me--if she can stick it out 2 yrs and not lose sight of her goal, then I can stick it out for 1 yr to acheive my goal. In our group we have people who have a little bit to lose and people who have a huge amount to lose. I love the way we encourage each other and learn how to forgive ourselves when we falter--everybody does. One lady who started with me was at least 450 lbs. She needed two canes to get around. Now, 2 months later she can walk from the car to the meeting with NO canes at all! She's still very large, but man! that's some progress!

 

[ms.yt]

I have a fabulous motivating leader. She lost 237 lbs over a period of 2 years. She has a picture of herself in the WW center and I mean, she was a very big girl. She has kept at her goal weight for 11 years.

I am in the morbidly obese category, BMI 38. This leader is a real inspiration to me--if she can stick it out 2 yrs and not lose sight of her goal, then I can stick it out for 1 yr to acheive my goal. In our group we have people who have a little bit to lose and people who have a huge amount to lose. I love the way we encourage each other and learn how to forgive ourselves when we falter--everybody does. One lady who started with me was at least 450 lbs. She needed two canes to get around. Now, 2 months later she can walk from the car to the meeting with NO canes at all! She's still very large, but man! that's some progress!

Wow! Now that's a leader I could be inspired by. I guess the thing about the leader I had yesterday that rubbed me so wrong was how she definitely gave the impression that she had lost a lot of weight over a long period of time, but then when someone asked her (in a tone of voice that made me think they thought the same thing I did), she responded with almost 14 pounds. I could tell the woman who asked the question was surprised, too. I mean, she talked about how her first week she lost over 4 pounds and then it came off slower, so how long could it have taken? Maybe 2 months? That's great that she lost it, but it's nowhere near the same as the woman who had to stick with the program for 2 years to lose her weight or the woman who weighed in yesterday who in 68 weeks lost 103 pounds. That is a huge commitment to a new lifestyle! Plus the comments about her husband didn't help any, either. Besides the "beanpole" statement, she said several other things about her husband that made me cringe a little.