Is This A Sign? (WW)

[becka]

I have been lagging behind lately due to a partial lack of motivation and a terrible 6 lb. gain two weeks ago that just depressed me.

I have been doing the WW program "on my own" without going to the official meetings, etc. since 3/31/03. Saturday I got a little postcard in the mail from WW here in town inviting me to their brand new center (very good location for me since it is on my way to pick up DS) and with an offer to join for $19. I joined WW back in 1998 but I have not been to a meeting since early 1999 and I have NEVER been sent anything from them in the past. It really shocked me to get that postcard.

I am now starting to wonder if that postcard was a sign. Maybe I need a little more structure right now that a weekly meeting would give me? I have had good success up until now doing it myself and with WISH so I am a little hesitant to sign up and spend money on it if I don't have to - that money might be better put to use by joining a gym. Those of you who go to the meetings - do you really find it worthwhile? Does it help keep you on track?

 

[nativetxn]

I don't follow WW, I know the meetings are very helpful to a lot of people, though.

What if you joined for a month? I know it's pretty expensive, it was expensive in the 80's--I can't imagine how much it costs now. If you tried it for a month you would be able to tell pretty quickly if it is making a difference for you.

Or you could join Curves instead and see if <i>their</i> personal interaction with you makes a difference. You do need to work out to see really good results. I don't know how much it costs for the Curves workout--it could be more expensive than WW, on the other hand, you would be getting a workout if you used the facility.

 

[TigH]

Oh, Becka!

If it's a toss up between WW or a gym, I'd pick the gym as long as you KNOW you'll go!

You know there is an exercise thread here that is posted daily. You could post your exercise success there - that will help you with some structure around the exercise part! Do you have a PM buddy?

Kamy came up with a chart to help her stay motivated with her exercise program. You could probably use that and modify it to help you stay within your points every day. It might not be the same as journaling, but if you can plan the week out and try to say "I'll allow myself X points M, 2 more Tuesday, 3 less Wed." etc. then you just have to glance at the day to know how many points you are shooting for on that day. Then you can look back at the end of the week to see if you went over and if there were any triggers or reasons why (like you didn't have time to pack lunch, etc.)

I crave structure, I am very routine and I pretty much try to stick to my routine. I know life isn't always accomodating when it comes to that though, especially with a cutie little toddler in the mix. HOWEVER, you have made it to this point without going to the meetings. You can REALLY lean on us here if you want to be held accountable!

Just my 2 cents. You have done a great job up until now and I know you will continue to do a great job - just do what makes you happy!

 

[MelanieC]

For me, I just couldn't do it without the meetings. Last year I lost 37 pounds by going to the meetings faithfully. Then I went on a long weekend during memorial day, and I didn't recover. I went to a few more meetings in the summer, and then tried to do it on my own. I just couldn't. I have no idea what makes the difference. I obviously do not have the people at my meetings with me during the week (well maybe in the back of my head).

I really enjoy my meetings. I look forward to them each week. I get lots of valuable information, and everyone is so supportive there. I love it best when we share what works for each of us. We do that here too!

There is just something that makes me JUST DO IT, when I know I am getting weighed in. I don't think I could do it without the meetings. Plus, when I weigh myself at home, I constantly weigh myself and for some reason it can be different even after just weighing myself 5 minutes ago. By going, I have one weigh in on a reliable scale that I know is my "official" weight! A lot of times, when I am at home weighing myself, my scale doesn't seem to reflect a change, but I almost always (and always this year) end up with a loss when I weigh in with WW's.

TigH does have a good point about the gym membership. I plan on joining the gym once I have lost the weight and don't have to pay for WW's anymore. I will get to Lifetime this time!

Good luck in your decision. You are ahead of the game anyway even if you don't join WW's officially. You have everyone here at WISH rooting you on! That's a pretty powerful thing!

Melanie

 

[CathyCanada]

Becka,
The meetings help me tremendously, but we have a wonderful leader and she makes the meetings. I belong to Curves, but I don't go nearly as much as I should.

It depends on your personality, if you need that structure, then I would say it is money well spent.

Good luck whatever you decide.
Cathy

 

[BabyTigger99]

Just throwing in my two cents... I have found that I NEED the meetings. I like the support, all the new ideas, and (though it may sounds silly) I like getting the little incentive awards. I attend with my boss from work, and it gives me accountability. I have not been able to stay for meetings the last two weeks, due to vacation, and being out of town for work, and I have really STRUGGLED. It will be great to get back to my meetings this week. A gym membership is great (we belong to the YMCA, but mainly because my DH works there part time, so we get a HUGE discount on the price, and my work reimburses $10/per month if you go at least 8 times a month, so we only end up paying like $8 a month for a family membership), but then you have to have the discipline to use the gym. I know how easy it gets to put it off, and put it off, and pretty soon, you are shelling out the money, and not going. But whatever you decide, it should be what would work best for you!