Weight Watchers is a popular weight loss program that advocates safe and steady weight loss while eating foods found in the grocery store and it allows you to eat out and have an occasional treat. Weight Watchers is not designed to help you lose weight quickly; it is set up to be followed for life; so that weight is not only lost, but kept off for good.
Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers works on a points system. All foods are assigned a points value depending on their fiber, calorie, fat, protein and carbohydrate content. Foods low in fat and calories but high in fiber tend to have the lowest points. Each member is assigned an allowed number of daily points to eat based on gender, age, current weight and level of physical activity. In addition, point values are also assigned to various types of exercise. The goal is to stay within the allowed number of daily points by watching food intake and exercising to use up points. As weight is lost, the allowed number of daily points is reduced until the goal weight is reached. Then, a few more points are added back in to maintain the goal weight.
Healthy Weight Loss
The timeline on which you lose weight on Weight Watchers depends on how well you follow the program. If you stop tracking and/or measuring out your food, skip exercise or stop weighing in and attending meetings, your weight loss may slow or even come to a halt. However, if you follow the plan exactly you can lose up to one to two pounds per week which is considered a safe and healthy amount, says Weight Watchers. If you are obese and have a lot of weight to lose, you may initially drop more weight for the first couple of weeks. However, the goal for all members is to aim for a slow and steady approach of 1 to 2 lbs each week.
Long Term Weight Loss
Those who are successful at not only reaching their goal weight but keeping the weight off, eat a well balanced diet, get plenty of exercise and follow a program that advocates a loss of 1 to 2 lbs per week, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Going on crash or fad diets and trying to lose weight too quickly, will just lead to feeling hungry and deprived and once you abandon the plan, any lost weight usually comes right back on. While trying to shed those extra pounds it is important to develop and eating plan that will last for life and that includes a wide variety of foods. You need to learn how to eat at restaurants, at social gatherings and allow for an occasional treat without going overboard.
Weight Loss Plateaus
Due to an initial decrease in calorie intake and an increase in exercise, you may find that initially the pounds come off more easily. However, as your body adjusts to the program and you get closer to your goal weight, you may reach a point where you can no longer lose 1 to 2 lbs. each week; or weight loss may come to a complete halt. Even when following a well designed program such as Weight Watchers, you can hit a weight loss plateau and they are an expected part of the weight loss process. When a weight loss plateau occurs, MayoClinic.com recommends making sure that you are still recording all of the food you eat; not sneaking extra snacks and getting plenty of exercise. Plateaus occur because as you lose weight your metabolism naturally slows. A smaller body does not have the same energy needs as an overweight body. However regular aerobic exercise along with a strength training program can help to naturally boost your metabolism and get you back on track. Even with exercise, as you near your weight loss goals, weight loss can slow to less than 1 lb. per week.
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