Weight Watchers Meetings

From LoveToKnow Diet

Benefits of Weight Watchers Meetings

Did you know that people who attend Weight Watchers meetings lose up to three times more weight than those who attempt to diet on their own? Research has proven that group support is an essential component of any lifestyle modification plan.

weigh in at meetings

Group meetings provide members with valuable coaching, as well as an opportunity to share their progress. Meeting leaders are trained experts of the Weight Watchers program who have used the system to reach their own weight loss goals. Participants can share recipes, tips, and weight loss techniques. In addition, dieters who attend the meetings have the option of signing up for Weight Watchers eTools. This online resource provides a convenient way to chart your weight loss, advice on selecting healthy restaurant options, and access to an online community of dieters.

Since the gatherings are intended for healthy adults, people with diabetes or other chronic medical conditions are encouraged to consult their healthcare providers before beginning the plan. A special weight-loss plan is available for nursing mothers. Children ages 10-16 may join the program with a doctor’s note and parental permission.

Meeting Structure

Since Weight Watchers strives to offer a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for dieters, participants are not grouped by age, gender, or weight. However, meetings are available in three basic formats:

  1. Participants can attend traditional meetings that offer a “pay-as-you-go” payment plan and special pricing plans to encourage dieters to reach their weight loss goals. This traditional format is offered in locations throughout the world.
  2. If you’re short on time, you may choose to attend an "Express" meeting that last no more than 30 minutes and are held at various times throughout the day. However, this short version may not be available in all areas.
  3. If you have coworkers who are also trying to slim down, you may be able to attend the Weight Watchers At Work program, a series of sessions held at your workplace and designed to accommodate the average workday schedule. The program must be prepaid for a 12-week time period, and a minimum number of participants must remain in the program.

No matter which type you choose, the regime is designed to be both educational and inspirational. Each meeting includes a short discussion on diet, exercise, meal planning, and motivational techniques. A confidential weigh-in is also available to help you track your progress.

The gatherings are held on a weekly basis. While attendance is not mandatory, regular participation is strongly encouraged. Members who miss four consecutive weeks will be dropped, and will be required to pay a re-enrollment fee if, and when, they return.

Meeting Locations

Weight Watchers offers more than 20,000 meetings in locations throughout the United States. Click here to find a Weight Watchers meeting near you or call 1-800-651-6000 to learn more about starting Weight Watchers meetings in your area.

No pre-registration is required. However, participants are asked to notify the receptionist of their first attendance in order to receive registration materials and a membership booklet.


 


Comments

Hi Teresa,

It is hard to get back on track because once guilt sets in we see ourselves as failures. If you think you will gain all your weight back, you will. Instead, think of the weight you've lost. You can get back on track, and you can lose the weight you've gained. If you want, stop by The 21 Day Challengein the Diet Forums. We're a small group, and we each set goals for 21 days of each month. We're there to support each other. I know it isn't fact to face, but it has me back on track! Hope to see you there.

Donna

-- Contributed by: Donna Sundblad

I just lost 25 lbs. with WW meetings. I went on vacation, and gained back 5 lbs. Now, I have lost my motivation. I am chronically depressed, which makes it more difficult to stay on program. But, going to the meetings made it much easier. Until I missed my first meeting, and went on vacation. It was like the air going out of a balloon. I lost my will to keep going. I think the program needs a way to get and give feedback, from those that have missed a couple of meetings. If I had someone that cared enough to contact me, after I quit going, I am sure I would have gone back. I met a lot of great people at the meetings, but never got to know even their last names. The meetings are usually not even 30 min. long. That is not long enough to get to know anyone, or to get enough information from the leader or other members. I certainly realize that the leader has a life outside WW. But, maybe if the leader were someone that was still trying to lose weight, instead of someone that has already lost it all, then that leader might have more of an interest in not cutting the meeting short, to do her other personal things. Maybe the meetings should be longer, especially since they cost so much. I, for one, feel that we are not getting our money's worth out of the meetings. I need accountability, but I also need more time with the other members in the meeting session. Now, I am scared to death that I will gain ALL of my weight back. And, I probably will, seeing as how I'm on my way back now. Oh well, that is life.

-- Contributed by: Theresa Richard

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