| The decision to lose weight is not one that many | | | | excessive exercising.All members receive a |
| people make lightly - excuse the pun. Often, it has | | | | points-value guide to the basic foods in Week One of |
| been flitting around in the mind for years. It may | | | | the program.The Meetings:On joining |
| even have been reached, acted on and abandoned | | | | WeightWatchers, the member's height and current |
| as another fad diet bit the dust. Then, a rogue | | | | weight are recorded in the 'passport' document, |
| photograph appears depicting you doing your best | | | | which holds each member's personal details for the |
| whale impression, or you are unexpectedly required | | | | duration of the program. The member retains the |
| to move quickly (perhaps during a fire drill at work, | | | | passport and only has to produce it when being |
| where everyone sees you panting), and almost | | | | weighed. A general goal weight is then set in |
| expire from the effort. Shamed into action you | | | | consultation with the group leader, based on healthy |
| decide once again that another attempt to shed | | | | weight to height ratios. A more specific goal can be |
| weight will be worthwhile.The good news is that you | | | | set later when the member's weight lies within this |
| needn't do it on your own. A huge range of | | | | ratio.The member receives the Week One support |
| weight-loss programs exist today - from independent, | | | | materials which included a weekly brochure containing |
| locally run clubs to the multi-national organizations- all | | | | a tracker (for recording food intake, exercise and |
| offering weight-loss plans to suit individual needs and | | | | points) a possible weekly menu, some words on the |
| budgets.Arguably, one of the most successful of the | | | | topic of the week and a Quickstart DVD ( a support |
| large organizations is WeightWatchers. Founded in a | | | | DVD to be used during the first six weeks of the |
| New York apartment over 40 years ago by Jane | | | | program).The member then attends the weekly |
| Nedetch, the small support group for friends has | | | | meeting during which the leader delivers a talk on the |
| grown into the vastly successful international | | | | week's topic and members are invited to share their |
| company that it is today. By combining a program of | | | | experiences, questions and advice.Why is |
| healthy eating and exercise with group support, | | | | WeightWatchers so popular?Many devotees of the |
| WeightWatchers developed a 'partnership' approach | | | | organization will answer this in just one word: |
| to dieting which has since been emulated by many | | | | Flexibility.The weight-loss plan which runs for 24 |
| other weight-loss organizations world wide.How does | | | | weeks can be tailored to meet a wide range of |
| WeightWatchers operate?Membership:After locating a | | | | needs. The points system allows for total flexibility of |
| local meeting venue via the internet or the local | | | | menu. No food is forbidden or compulsory and the |
| press, members can join the organization for a fee | | | | menus if used are written with busy lifestyles in |
| of around $25-$30. This membership fee is often | | | | mind.Meetings are also flexible; with members being |
| waived during special promotion months, which are | | | | able to attend meetings at other venues should they |
| generally advertised in the media.A weekly fee of | | | | find themselves unable to get to their usual meeting. |
| around $10-$15 is paid at each meeting, although | | | | Members are also free to choose the level of their |
| monthly and three-monthly packages can be bought | | | | involvement at these meetings. While some need the |
| in advance at a discounted rate. Membership lapses if | | | | group support each week, many people opt to just |
| a member fails to attend meetings for four weeks. | | | | 'weigh-in' then leave. Either is acceptable.In addition, |
| Members must pay for a missed meeting but if they | | | | WeightWatchers offers a wide range of support |
| have missed more than two, they need only pay for | | | | materials: a points value guide to specific brands of |
| the first week missed and for the current week. | | | | foods, a Supermarket guide, the Eating-Out guide, a |
| Each member is allowed to miss two meetings in the | | | | monthly WeightWatchers' magazine, |
| course of the year without having to pay.When a | | | | WeightWatchers' own food products, cookbooks and |
| member has reached an agreed 'goal' weight and | | | | scales.Like any weight-loss program, the |
| maintained it (within two lbs or one kilo) for six | | | | WeightWatchers system does have some |
| weeks, he or she becomes a Life member and may | | | | drawbacks. As it is run at a local level by leaders who |
| attend future meetings free of charge, provided the | | | | have previously lost weight on the program, and |
| goal weight is maintained and at least one meeting is | | | | current members who volunteer, the effectiveness |
| attended each month.Online membership is now | | | | of the support group is dependent on individual |
| available for those who cannot attend meetings or | | | | personalities. If a new member has trouble fitting in |
| who live in a rural area. A monthly online membership | | | | with the existing group, he or she may choose not |
| costs around $44.The Points System:The dietary part | | | | to return.Some people may also argue that the |
| of the WeightWatchers program works on a 'points' | | | | points' system approach to weight control is a short |
| system. Every food is allocated a point value | | | | term method and just one of many weight-loss |
| according to its fat and sugar content. For example, | | | | options, although none of these other options are |
| an apple may be valued at one point, while a sausage | | | | promoted to members.Finally, for many people the |
| may be valued at five. Most vegetables and salad | | | | weekly fee is too expensive, especially if the |
| ingredients are 'free' and can be eaten without | | | | member does not like to attend the meetings. It |
| penalty. Members are given a daily point allocation of | | | | does seem extravagant to spend $15 each week |
| around 18-22 points, depending on their current | | | | just to step on a pair of scales.Regardless of these |
| weight. No food is forbidden, as long as the point | | | | criticisms, people are still flocking to join |
| value is factored into the daily point consumption. | | | | WeightWatchers and many similar weight-loss |
| Points may be saved for later in a week to allow | | | | organizations across the globe. In today's world, |
| members to eat out.Various exercises are also given | | | | weight-loss needs to be less about vanity and more |
| a point value. Bonus points gained by being active, | | | | about health and well being, with all the benefits of |
| allow the member to save for later in the week, or | | | | looking good 'thrown in'.Weight Watchers offers a |
| may be spent on an extra treat to the value of the | | | | practical, accessible and structured way forward to a |
| bonus on that day.There are ceilings on the number | | | | fit, healthy lifestyle.Morris gathers information about |
| of points which can be saved or earned in any one | | | | sporting events |
| week to prevent binge eating, starving and | | | | sporting news weekly. |