Weight Watchers Lifetime Member Review
From a past visitor to chasefreedom.com:
I am a lifetime member of Weight Watchers. Initially, I lost 30 to 40 lbs. and then gained twice as much back. This re-gaining was not due to a fallacy in the program -- I had failed to make changes in my life as truly "life-time" changes. I am back on the program - I joined just before Christmas to help me through the holidays along with my wife who is also a life-time member who also gained more weight back than she lost. Perhaps my review can be of some help.
I have tried one other strategy to lose weight - join a gym and work out three times per week. I discovered that the exercise bike my wife had could do more good for me if I got on it every day than joining a gym. In addition, I truly need to eat a well-balanced diet. I have considered other programs such as eDiets.com, however, the personal contact and support of other people is most helpful to me. It is worth the investment of $11.00 per week. (Lifetime members do not pay for missed meetings, however.) If I did it before, I can do it again.
As a lifetime member who has "fallen off the wagon," let me offer you some insight as to why this is probably the best weight loss program one can follow:
(1) The program makes plenty of room for eating normal foods - portion control is the key. You can go to restaurants or to a dinner at someone's house. When I announced I was back on Weight Watchers to my coworkers, they were surprised that I could "eat anything," but in moderation.
(2) Strong emphasis on lifetime membership: Once at your goal weight, and after maintaining it for 6 weeks, you become a Weight Watchers lifetime member. To maintain the membership and not have to pay a fee, just weigh in once per month (you pay the normal meeting fee, however, if you are 2 lbs. or more over goal weight). IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS, YOU WILL GAIN YOUR WEIGHT BACK (AND THEN SOME) AS I DID. I moved across the country and had misplaced my lifetime membership book. You can always call Weight Watchers or get on-line and have them retrieve your number. They did this for me!
(3) Well-researched program: Physicians and dieticians design the program. They are always learning new things. As an example of how the program has changed (I'm a 3rd generation Weight Watcher), my grandmother used to have to weigh and measure everything she ate, and had to have a serving of liver once per week. It was the early 1970's, and Weight Watchers was then a very strict program that did not fit into everyday eating - she would prepare something for herself that was different than what others ate. Today, the program allows all foods and drinks and offers solutions and support for eating out. (There is even a dining out guide for many chain restaurants.)
(4) Different ways of joining: You can join at a traditional meeting, on-line, by e-mail, or even at work in some cases. If you join on-line, you pay much less and get all the benefits of the Winning Points program. (Compare to eDiets.)
Finally, a word about exercise: I do not like to exercise, but try to get some physical activity into my life. I feel Weight Watchers could emphasize this even more strongly, and they have gotten better about this over the years. Exercise helps to increase your metabolism. This is a very minor issue- the rest of the benefits greatly outweigh this issue.
In a word, Weight Watchers offers a great strength for success: Flexibility.
Comments from Chase Freedom: This is one of the best reviews we have received regarding a weight loss program. We too are big fans of Weight Watchers, but we are troubled by the constant references to lifetime membership and multi-generational members in the family. The best weight loss option is one that solves a problem for good, not one that treats it forever.
Balanced Review of Weight Watchers
