# Weight Watchers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 10, 2000, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-watchers/13658 "2000-02-10T20:50:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-watchers/13658/1 "2000-02-10T20:50:00Z")
I have a few questions about Weight Watchers- I want to start following their “point” system to help make me more aware of my food choices and maintain my present weight or drop a few pounds. I have a friend I used to work with who went on Weight Watchers and lost a lot of weight, found it easy to follow, and is making out well maintaining. I’d rather not call her for info, so I’m wondering if anyone here has any experience with this point system. According to a website I found, I should be eating between 18 and 25 points a day. Cool! I even found a groovy points calculator on-line. Here’s my big question: What’s the $8.95 a week for? Meetings and weigh ins and such? Please save your lectures about weight loss programs- I want to do this for my own reasons. I find that being on a “plan” rather then just eating whatever I want helps me to make better food choices. So please don’t lecture me about dieting, etc. Start another thread if you feel the need. Any info is appreciated 🙂 Zette * * * Love is like popsicles…you get too much you get too high. Not enough and you’re gonna die… [Click here for some GOOD news for a change](http://www.binghamtonpress.com/binghamtonnews/local/Sanews5.html)[Zettecity](http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/zettecity/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-watchers/13658/2 "2000-02-10T21:00:00Z")
Yeah, the weekly fee is for getting weighed and for the moral support that comes from the group meetings. For me personally it’s worth it to have someone else besides me keeping track of how I’m doing. Left to my own devices I tend to rationalize excessively. ## WW will of course tell you that there are other benefits of membership. I haven’t found them. But the discussions at the meetings tend to be sensible and helpful and it’s nice to commiserate with other gravitationally challenged types about the joys of not eating as much as you want whenever you want. well well said the royal desiccation my political opponents back home always maintained that i would wind up in hell and it seems they had the right dope Don Marquis _archy interviews a pharaoh_ ---
**Author:** ![Rousseau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Rousseau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rousseau)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-watchers/13658/3 "2000-02-10T21:05:00Z")
I have a question. I’m not being sarcastic or anything here, but: How is counting “points” any different from counting calories? * * * “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.” -Winston Churchill ---
**Author:** ![SeaDiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SeaDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDiver)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-watchers/13658/4 "2000-02-10T21:08:00Z")
My mother and MIL have both successfully gone through WW programs. Whem my mom was going to the meetings, you only had to pay the fee until you reached your “goal” and could continue attending the meetings for free. I don’t know if it still works that way, but it’s worth looking into. Best of luck! ---
**Author:** ![Wicked\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2acd7d/32.png) [@Wicked\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wicked_Blue)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-watchers/13658/5 "2000-02-10T21:14:00Z")
Finally, a thread that I am an expert on! Zette, the WW points system is wonderful and easy to understand and follow. I have been a member for about a year now, and I love it. I lost 34 pounds in 4 months for my wedding. Weight Watchers offers many different ways to participate in their program, such as WW At Work, WW Home Program, and of course the meetings that are held in centers. I have never tried anything other than the meetings, and I love them. The weekly fee goes towards maintaining the centers, and paying the staff. I have always found the meetings to be informative and fun, and I highly recommend that you go. The group leaders, as well as the other members can almost always answer any question you have, and give you the moral support you might need to get through a rough patch. Please feel free to email me with any questions you might have. Good luck! Rose ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-watchers/13658/6 "2000-02-10T21:14:00Z")
Rouss, The Points calculator I found took into account calories, fat, and dietary fiber. It’s a combination of factors. Since I’m not “fat” or really overweight (I think I look fine) I don’t think I’m into going to meetings. As I said, I’m more interested in maintaining my weight and possibly dropping maybe 10lbs or so. I tend to eat better when I have to “account” somehow for my eating, so this sounds ideal for me 🙂 Zette * * * Love is like popsicles…you get too much you get too high. Not enough and you’re gonna die… [Click here for some GOOD news for a change](http://www.binghamtonpress.com/binghamtonnews/local/Sanews5.html)[Zettecity](http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/zettecity/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-watchers/13658/7 "2000-02-10T21:53:00Z")
Zetter- Where did you find the points calculator? I am interested as well, and I am not a meetings kind of gal. * * * I am a redhead, you see, and I do not tempt. I insist. -Cristi ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-watchers/13658/8 "2000-02-10T22:09:00Z")
[http://www.chatcircuit.com/weight-watchers/](http://www.chatcircuit.com/weight-watchers/) there is a link on there to the calculator…Maybe we’ll end up with our own darned group right here! Zette * * * Love is like popsicles…you get too much you get too high. Not enough and you’re gonna die… [Click here for some GOOD news for a change](http://www.binghamtonpress.com/binghamtonnews/local/Sanews5.html)[Zettecity](http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/zettecity/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-watchers/13658/9 "2000-02-10T22:16:00Z")
Ah, points. Let’s see. oral sex= 5 points french kissing= 3 points/minute licking body=2 points/minute So, see, you only get so much per day. sigh. * * * “I have gathered a posie of other men’s flowers, and nothing but the thread that binds them is mine own.” ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-watchers/13658/10 "2000-02-11T04:40:00Z")
Zette, you’re right that you might not need to join WW if you already have the calculator, which is key. But, for some support, you might want to try [Cyberdiet.com](http://Cyberdiet.com) [sorry, I’m link illiterate]. They have all sorts of support groups, recipies, etc. Plus, you’ll find people that belong to WW or are just following the WW points system like you. I think I’ll dig out my old WW books (and calculator) and give it another go. You’ve inspired me! * * * “Don’t look at me–I’m irrelevant.” ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-watchers/13658/11 "2000-02-11T13:28:00Z")
Go Dew! Go Dew! Go Dew! So far, I’ve had 3 points worth today…but I haven’t had breakfast yet 🙂 Oh, I found another great link- it’s for fast food nutrition, which you can then just calculate: [http://www.olen.com/food/](http://www.olen.com/food/) Here’s a little tip for you- if you’re counting points/calories, don’t eat at Taco Bell. Yipes! That’s exactly what I mean- I never would have realized how much fat and calories their tacos had without looking it up. Yow! Zette * * * Love is like popsicles…you get too much you get too high. Not enough and you’re gonna die… [Click here for some GOOD news for a change](http://www.binghamtonpress.com/binghamtonnews/local/Sanews5.html)[Zettecity](http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/zettecity/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2000, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-watchers/13658/12 "2000-02-12T06:59:00Z")
Yay! Straight Dope gets slim… I am gearing up. Mostly I am getting rid of the temptations in the house and preparing the “good stuff” - I will check back with you all. * * * I am a redhead, you see, and I do not tempt. I insist. -Cristi ---
**Author:** ![jane\_says](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jane\_says](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jane_says)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-watchers/13658/13 "2000-02-11T20:06:00Z")
Zette, if you’re looking for a plan, WW is about as healthy as any you could choose. My mom was a WW counselor for years after she lost 60 pounds in a little over a year with them. Se hasn’t maintained her “goal” weight (which was too low, IMO) but she maintains a healthy weight. I know my sister and I grew up a lot healthier for having a mom who was so concerned with nutrition. She goes back occasionally just to get new books and the like. Another good thing about them is that $8.95 a week is a hell out a lot cheaper than Jenny Craig or Physician’s Weight Loss and you can eat regular food, and no drugs. * * * Careful with that axe, Eugene. ---
**Author:** ![Catrandom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@Catrandom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catrandom)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2000, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-watchers/13658/14 "2000-02-11T20:33:00Z")
I became disenchanted with Weight Watchers when they presented my group with a “counselor” whose weight loss triumph consisted of losing _six_ pounds. That was just insulting. Catrandom