# Should I join Weight Watchers? Need advice from former/current WW users **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 15, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944 "2003-04-15T21:17:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Washte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Washte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washte)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/21 "2003-04-18T12:05:06Z")
Congratulations **Susan**!! Well done and keep up the great work. I’ve never been at my _ideal_ weight but know how hard the battle is to lose every ounce. Best of luck to everyone 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tramp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tramp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tramp)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/22 "2003-04-18T15:25:56Z")
Alright well I am joining online today… Wish me luck! ---
**Author:** ![Washte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Washte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washte)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/23 "2003-04-18T15:58:05Z")
Yay! Good luck 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![skittles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@skittles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skittles)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/24 "2003-04-18T16:19:50Z")
I think its great you’ve decided to join. We have a WW at work group that just started this past Monday. I joined, and am glad I did. So far (even though its been only days) I haven’t been hungry at all. It helps that I have a lot of points to work with, but its good to know I can change my eating habits and not be hungry. Here’s a good tip - pick foods high in fiber! ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/25 "2003-04-18T16:43:03Z")
I’m another WW success story. IMO, the personal meetings are the way to go. If I wasn’t accountable to a real people meeting I’m afraid I would cheat. I understand some of the meetings are full of “group love” but not mine. It’s a dynamic group of 30-40 people every week where I get tips and hints on how to make thr program work for me. The absolute key for me is journaling what I eat. When I don’t write it down, I am less accountable and therefore, eat more. Journaling makes me account for portion size which is a struggle for me. I just weighed in this morning and I’m down 49.8 pounds. Yea! ---
**Author:** ![tramp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tramp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tramp)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/26 "2003-04-18T16:45:46Z")
Ok well I’m all signed up… this looks pretty OK… hope I can stick to it! Maybe we should start a Dope WW Support Group (if there isn’t one already) ---
**Author:** ![skittles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@skittles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skittles)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/27 "2003-04-18T16:53:10Z")
I’d be up for that support group! You can never have too many friends to lean on! ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/28 "2003-04-18T16:58:26Z")
I did a weekly support thread at the beginning of last year. We made it a couple of months before interest started to wane and I got distracted. I think it’s a great idea, and would pop in from time to time to see how everyone’s doing, commisserate, etc. I’d say go ahead and start up a thread like that, **skittles**. There are plenty of people out there trying to get healthy, so even if they aren’t on WW, it could be helpful. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/29 "2003-04-18T17:05:47Z")
Or, well, maybe I should have said **tramp** , not skittles. Sorry, had candy on the brain. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![skittles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@skittles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skittles)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/30 "2003-04-18T17:10:33Z")
OK - I’m in the process of starting the thread. **tramp** do you want to do it, or should I? ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/31 "2003-04-18T18:53:39Z")
Pardon me for asking the gauche question,but what do they charge in Canada? ---
**Author:** ![sidle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@sidle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidle)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/32 "2003-04-18T19:04:17Z")
Another thumbs up here. I went last summer and lost about 2-3 lbs a week for a few months. 'Course, I got pregnant and have abandoned the program for a while, but still a good, safe, relatively painless way to lose weight, and more importantly, develop better eating habits. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/33 "2003-04-18T19:46:59Z")
I first joined WW when I was in college in the mid 70s. I remember having to eat the liver, plus fish 5 times a week, egg 4 times a week, limits on certain fruits and veggies - such a restricted menu list!! It worked, until my class schedule changed and I had to change meetings - I didn’t fit into the new group and I quit. I’ve joined and quit more times than I can count over the last 25 years. I’ve got all the booklets for the points program. I know I need to quit my terrible eating habits. In fact, with the summer coming and the likelihood that the kid will be gone for a couple of months, I got to thinking it’d be a good time to get back into it. Maybe this can be my inspiration! Who wants to motivate me? Nag me via e-mail? Poke me with the virtual pointy stick?? ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/34 "2003-04-18T20:13:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FairyChatMom \* > \*\*Maybe this can be my inspiration! Who wants to motivate me? Nag me via e-mail? Poke me with the virtual pointy stick?? \*\* How many points do I journal for the pointy stick? Will I earn activity points for poking you? I joined WW Online at the beginning of November 2001. Between November 1, 2001 and April 27, 2002 I lost 35 pounds, and have been stuck 10 pounds above goal for a year now. I stalled out a few pounds after I changed point ranges. I never made myself adjust to the lower range, and I used a few different excuses to not put any extra effort in. I’m not too hard on myself about it, though, because at least I’ve kept of the 35 pounds for a year without much effort. The eating lessons have definitely stuck. I think Iv’e actually accomplished the “lifestyle change.” However, I will be working from home this summer and want to try to get back on track and lose the last 10 pounds. So I’m in! What kind of nagging would you like? Daily? Weekly? I’m constantly acquiring new recipes, too, and I’m willing to share any and all with whoever wants them. I don’t have many vegan main-dish recipes, but I have plenty of lacto, ovo-lacto and meat recipes. ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/35 "2003-04-18T20:23:41Z")
From the Week 13 Booklet, _ **Poke Your Way to Weight Loss** _, I see that poking with a stick is worth the following: Light poke: 1 point Vocalization: 2 points Jumping out of skin: 4 points Bleeding: 10 points Go for the gusto! ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/36 "2003-04-18T20:27:43Z")
Blast, **Gazelle**! That’s the supersecret booklet that we only give _special_ members like you. Thanks for blowing our cover. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![skittles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@skittles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skittles)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/37 "2003-04-18T20:27:44Z")
Here’s the [support thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?action=newreply&postid=3300313). Hopefully it will be moved to MPSIMS soon! ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/38 "2003-04-18T20:30:09Z")
**Gazelle** , Could you look up how many points I earned for 3 hours of “Shivering in 33 degree weather at Fenway Park, in the bleachers which are metal and not protected from the wind… in the dark?” Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/39 "2003-04-18T21:14:26Z")
What kind of nagging? I dunno - an occasional note when I’m succombing to temptation. You are psychic, aren’t you?? 😃 But poking toll bleeding isn’t good - I’m a delicate flower, dammit! ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944/40 "2003-04-19T21:45:23Z")
I started following the WW plan Feb 25 and I’m down 18 pounds. I stopped going to meetings a few weeks ago, as I’m weighing in at my gym (Curves for Women) and don’t have any trouble following the plan without support from the meetings. In fact, I disliked going to meetings and hearing everyone tell me how they had no impulse control and they just couldn’t resist this or that. However, I’m a points Nazi and have never, ever eaten to the top of my range, let alone over. In fact, **Hamadryad** tells me I have more self-control than anyone, _ever_. **birdgirl** , if you have no self-discipline, this isn’t going to work for you. You _must_ follow the system or it won’t work. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-join-weight-watchers-need-advice-from-former-current-ww-users/168944.md?page=3)