Weight Watchers: Online VS. Attending the Meetings?

[Rora]

Hello W.I.S.H ers!!

A little background before I get started: Currently, I'm 5'9" and weigh 175. I've gained a lot since college and really want to get healthy again and back down to my high school weight: 145. I've spoken with my DR and we've both decided that this would be a good weight for me.

After lots of thinking I've decided to start Weight Watchers. I'm excited! HOWEVER, I've heard many mixed reviews about attending the meetings or doing it online:
1. My aunt says there's no value in going to the meetings (she just has the books and counts points on her own- this is not something I want to do..I need a bit more structure.).
2. My friend is doing Weight Watchers online and has been successful with it. She admits she does it online because she's too lazy to go to the meetings.
3. My mom has done the meetings and can't decide if they're worth it or not.

Clearly, everyone has a different opinion and I'm sure that things that work for some don't work for everyone BUT, I know that some of you here have done WW and I'm just looking for some outside advice. Any pros or cons to attending the meetings or doing it online?

I will admit I have some problems sticking to a diet plan and probably need some form of accountability.

Any advice or thoughts is appreciated!

 

[Sandi]

I saw that you posted on our WW thread, but thought I'd respond here. I find that the meetings keep me motivated and offer a lot. I have a wonderful leader and the receptionists at my meeting are fabulous. Also, my meeting group is a pretty regular group of people (mostly women, but a few men, too). The discussions are targeted and organized for the topic of the week, but my leader will always stay after class to help people with questions, plateaus, and other issues. I also find that the people in the meeting are supportive and have great ideas. I used to think "why should I be listening to someone who is so clearly overweight" until I learned that person had lost 75 pounds (or whatever). Or I'd think "why are you even here, you're tiny" until I learned that person was half the size she was when she started AND that she kept the weight off for 5 years.

While the boards on Weightwatchers.com can be helpful, I find the Disboards people to be a lot more like me. So, while I do WW online and use all of the e-tools, I need my weekly meeting and my daily Disboards hook-ups.

 

[Rora]

Thank you so much for replying! I think the meetings might be the best way to go for me too. Thanks again. I appreciate it!

 

[Mrs D]

I have done meetings in the past and am exclusively online now.

I did meetings when I lived/worked in the city. They were great; great leader, great participants. There is a lot of good info at meetings both from the leader and sharing with other participants. For some people that accountability is necessary to make it work. I then did meetings out here in the burbs. After trying different times/leaders it just wasn't as good as what I was getting before.

This time around I'm all online. I looked at my schedule and decided I'd rather be training for that hour ever week versus sitting at a meeting.
I weigh in every week, even when not prefect on tracking. I do track most of the time (thank you iPhone & WW app) and guess what - I tend to lose more when I track!
I don't use the WW community, I guess I know my way around the DIS WISH boards better.

HTH!

 

[Mom2Ty&Lins]

I'm a Lifetime member just returning to attending meetings on a regular basis. While I lost my weight (70+ lbs) to become I Lifetime member, I attended the meetings faithfully. For the first year or so after obtaining Lifetime status, I continued to attend the meetings every week and I weighed in every week even though I was only required to weigh in once a month. I started letting life get in the way and stopped attending my meetings. Well - I am back sitting the seats, trying to lose the 15 lbs I gained.

I need the meetings. I need to be accountable to a human being - Not a computer. I need the companionship of people that are facing the same struggles I am. I appreciate the tips and ideas brought up during the meetings by the leader and fellow members.

Good Luck in whatever you decide. It works!!

 

[Sandi]

I'm a Lifetime member just returning to attending meetings on a regular basis. While I lost my weight (70+ lbs) to become I Lifetime member, I attended the meetings faithfully. For the first year or so after obtaining Lifetime status, I continued to attend the meetings every week and I weighed in every week even though I was only required to weigh in once a month. I started letting life get in the way and stopped attending my meetings. Well - I am back sitting the seats, trying to lose the 15 lbs I gained.

I need the meetings. I need to be accountable to a human being - Not a computer. I need the companionship of people that are facing the same struggles I am. I appreciate the tips and ideas brought up during the meetings by the leader and fellow members.

Good Luck in whatever you decide. It works!!

Hi Tanya, I have the same story except I wasn't as smart as you and waited until I had gained back 30 pounds. I'm now less than 6 pounds from my goal and it is due, in large part, to the meetings. Knowing how difficult it is to lose the weight, I think I'll be better about sticking with the meetings after getting back to goal this time.