"I think I might quit paying to lose weight!"
This is an interesting new thread in our community on the value of paying for in-person weight loss services such as Weight Watchers, vs. going it alone. Some people love Weight Watchers, while others find that PEERtrainer is as good or better. One respondent on the thread said "after being on PT for about 6 months I realized the support here was waaay
better than what i was paying for." My view on that is that we all need all the help we can get, and the more tools that are available the better. I see many people have success counting their Points on PEERtrainer, regardless of whether they are going to meetings or not.
Here is part of the discussion on the thread:
"I am thinking of quiting a diet club I
have to pay to go too and just make sure I login peertrainer everyday. I have
been in and out of a program for the past 5 years. I can't afford it . I could
use my $50 bucks on paying bills or clothes or getting my nails or hair done.
I really think peer trainer is going to work for me. I am so mixed up. Everytime
I quit I gain another 10 lbs. Although I was never in peer trainer. I just don't
have the $12 bucks every week. What do guys think? "
"Go for it... Make sure your teams and groups know you
are counting on them to keep you accoutable, I've personally had more success
here than with other plans and I've paid plenty for them. But having said that,
each person must know their own needs and how they can best succeed. Best of
luck to you. "
"hello, i used to pay to lose weight, too. (WW) after
being on PT for about 6 months i realized the support here was waaay better than
what i was paying for -and- the weekly weigh-ins were humiliating and
self-destructive. so, if your instincts are telling you to stop paying, you know
what to do"
"maybe stop the gym and save the monthly fees (or half)
and see how peertrainer works for you. if you are not retaining the success you
had, you could join up again. "
Weight Watchers is self-destructive?
"i'd be
curious to hear a bit more about why you think this is the case. There are pros
and cons to any approach-- but I usually only hear pro-WW cheerleading.
"
"I think the support you receive here is much better as
you can log on anytime! I never really stuck with anything...until I found
peertrainer. Now I am finally sticking to something and losing weight -- I've
only lost a small amount, but I know if I continue, I will continue to lose
weight. Why not take the $50 and join a gym instead! Or use it to make yourself
look better as you are losing the weight - new clothes, massage, getting your
hair and nails done!"
"It is not that I don't think WW meetings are great! But
I don't have the money and peer trainer seems just as good! It is new to me but
time will tell. I also love tier bars and shakes. I am not sure if they will let
me go in just to purchase them. Oh well. It will all work out! "
"I stopped "paying" to lose weight a long time ago. If
paying was a motivator, I'd be in size 26 jeans! I realized the only way is to
make a commitment and stick with it and PT seems to work for me. I also have my
gym "work" for me. I ask the receptionists at the desk to give me grief if I
haven't shown up in a few days."
"I've joined WW several times. Here's my insight.
Although it is a well-designed program, it is just that. A program, and one that
is out to make money. Therefore, they can't possibly have the kind of dialogue
you can have here, where you are free to explore and get advice about different
approaches to weight loss! Also, I found that I never had a leader that had
anything to offer me, I felt like I could jump up and lead the class myself. And
most of the women in the group were much older than I was, and they didn't seem
to want to change their lives at all!"
WW being self -destructive
"While the weekly
weigh-ins didn't bother me because they were pretty private - I didn't find much
support and during the time I was at WW, I actually gained 20 lbs! Not exactly
the result I was looking for. I think it was their point system and the "it's
okay to have some - just remember to log the points" Or all the recipes where
they were making cakes with diet soda - I'm sorry - but it's still cake and for
me - that's still more calories of the poor stuff than the good stuff. It just
did not work. "
"I am a member of Weight Watchers and
it works great for me. Very supportive, although I do well by myself controlling
my portions and losing weight. What I like is the weekly weigh in. It keeps me
thinking about everything I put in my mouth!!! It gives me a "track to run on"
and really focuses on nurtition and balanced meals. And I really think the main
goal of weight watchers is to learn portion control! Bottom line if you follow
the plan you will lose weight."