Weight Watchers is a business that makes it money on failure

[Leafar the Lost]

Weight Watchers is a business that makes it money on failure. They call themselves a non-profit which is a lie. If everyone who went on WW actually lost weight, and kept it off, then it would close down within a year or less. I can think of no other business that operates that way. They know that 95% of dieters fail, and they make their money from that failure. Their point system is a joke, and it has little to do with reality. As you lose weight, the points are lowered, but the reason they give you is another lie. They lower the points in order to make it more difficult for you to stay on the plan, because you will become so hungry. Then you will quit. Some time will pass, and you will try it again...and again... and again.

They should release their success rate. How many people who join WW actually become Lifetime Members? How many of the so called Lifetime Members actually keep their weight off? The few that do are the lucky 5%, and they probably kept their weight off by following another plan...like SB.

[ladybugnessa]

can you give me the cite for weight watchers being non-profit.

they have a foundation but that is separate from their business which clearly is to make money

I mean they are traded on the stock market (WTW)

[DebbyC]

How many of the so called Lifetime Members actually keep their weight off? The few that do are the lucky 5%, and they probably kept their weight off by following another plan...like SB.

The failure rate of SBD is probably as high - if you read the posts from those of us who start over every few weeks or months. The failure rate of any 'diet' is high - I've heard as high as 90 to 95% for the population of the world [this I think was from Paul McKenna, the new selfproclaimed diet higher authority] . Come out of the darkness oh lost one and into the light. It's not good to always look for negative - everythign has a downside. Besides, if WW proclaimed to be non-profit, they wouldn't have hissy fits and shut down every site that posts the "points" for food items.

[Leafar the Lost]

Southbeach should be not be treated the same way as other diets. It is a way of eating that leads to weight loss and better health. You don't need to pay Dr. Agatston $11.00 every week in order to use Southbeach. All that you need to do is buy the $7.00 paperback, or get someone to lend it to you. You can get all of the information on Southbeach that you want for free on the Internet.

I think that WW should be forced to tell all new members that 95% of them will fail. I see it as a warning sticker, like the ones on cigarettes. Weight Watchers is a failure that continues to make money. The message should be put out there loud and clear; it doesn't work.

[DebbyC]

plenty of people pay Dr. Agatson for use of his boards....you can do WW without joining just like you can SBD....all of them hope you will pay - and I bet you dollars to donuts that SBD could easily start a similiar program and plenty of people would line up to pay....and 95% of them would fail as well, because they are paying for a dream.

[ladybugnessa]

Southbeach should be not be treated the same way as other diets. It is a way of eating that leads to weight loss and better health. You don't need to pay Dr. Agatston $11.00 every week in order to use Southbeach. All that you need to do is buy the $7.00 paperback, or get someone to lend it to you. You can get all of the information on Southbeach that you want for free on the Internet.

I think that WW should be forced to tell all new members that 95% of them will fail. I see it as a warning sticker, like the ones on cigarettes. Weight Watchers is a failure that continues to make money. The message should be put out there loud and clear; it doesn't work.

a diet is a diet is a diet

95% of those that "do south beach" will fail.

95% of all diets fail.

Weight Watchers works with or without paying them at the same rate.
their info is available at the library or if you look around enough on the net you can find it.

ALL diets that make you pay are failures in the long run.... not just WW

Southbeach is GREAT but it's not the be all to end all you feel the need to make it.

[Leafar the Lost]

Why would weight watchers allow the public library to have their point system for free? That makes no sense. A book about weight watchers is not the same as having their current "pointless" point system. It's useless anyway so who cares....

Southbeach is the end all and be all of weight loss. It really does work, because I tried almost everything to lose weight (I haven't had any surgery). Nothing worked, except SB. Nothing got rid of the food cravings except for SB. So, Ladybug and Debby C, you are wrong. It isn't just a difference of opinion. You guys or gals are 100% wrong.

[ladybugnessa]

Why would weight watchers allow the public library to have their point system for free? That makes no sense. A book about weight watchers is not the same as having their current "pointless" point system. It's useless anyway so who cares....

Southbeach is the end all and be all of weight loss. It really does work, because I tried almost everything to lose weight (I haven't had any surgery). Nothing worked, except SB. Nothing got rid of the food cravings except for SB. So, Ladybug and Debby C, you are wrong. It isn't just a difference of opinion. You guys or gals are 100% wrong.

ah so it worked for you. it doesn't work for everyone.

My mother lost over 100 pounds on weight watchers and kept it off. that worked for her. and she stopped going to meetings and kept it off.

life is not one size fits all.

[DebbyC]

So, Ladybug and Debby C, you are wrong. It isn't just a difference of opinion. You guys or gals are 100% wrong.

except for this - you're being an arse about it intentionally, trying to pick a fight - about that I am 100% correct.
I dismiss you.....

[Leafar the Lost]

So, Ladybug and Debby C, you are wrong. It isn't just a difference of opinion. You guys or gals are 100% wrong.

except for this - you're being an arse about it intentionally, trying to pick a fight - about that I am 100% correct.
I dismiss you.....

I repudiate you...

[bonnie is back]

if it is worth anything i will put my 2 cents in. i have paid weight watchers enough over the 18 yrs. that i could buy the place. i don't blame them,but i will tell you when you go in there and know that you had a good week but you are up and you have to pay the12.00
where i live, out of all the people i met there in the 18 yrs. have not kept it off,maybe 5%
if that many. i remember i went for 5 weeks and did not lose, that was 60.00 they got off
me ,so maybe that is how they get their money , but no diet is going to work unless we make it work. if i lose on the sb it is because i am working it ,it has to mind set no matter what we do or nothing is going to work. i do think ww gives you to many choices and if they are there you will eat them, sb don't do that.and you do stop craving bad carbs, but the core plan at ww is almost like the sb. just a little different,,,,,,fruits whole grains and veggies,it is so close to sb. this is the momentom plan they have now, they tell you to eat the good stuff and if we eat the bad stuff that is up to us.i like both plans and i do them togeather ,i count points and do the south beach just to keep myself in check,,but that is just me,i think every thing has a draw back,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[missheatherrenee]

a diet is a diet is a diet

95% of those that "do south beach" will fail.

I don't really care either way about weight watchers, but I will say that a lot of people come to this forum for inspiration. When you tell people over and over that they will probably fail because 95% of people do, you are setting people up to fail. It is called a self fulfilling prophecy. Okay, so people fail, but should we not be trying to change that? It is like saying that women are oppressed and accepting that as just the way things are. We need to change our thinking.

[RedRox]

First of all this is a very old thread and virtually none of the people participating in the dialog are active here anymore. And FWIW, I think there is a difference between "doing" SB and "living" SB. If you plan to go "on a diet", the implication is that it is a short term program and at some point you will then go "off the diet". This is where most "fail" IMO. Really the only thing I believe that works is to "change your diet". Permanently. Otherwise whatever you lose while you are "dieting" you will gain back after you stop "dieting". When you start to make your health and well being and your healthy eating according to SB principles a top priority and a complete lifestyle change is when people see long term results. The problem as I see it here, is that 95% of the people (BTW, I think that number is perhaps a bit high.) are not really ready or willing to make that fundamental change in their lives and they are only "dieting" and dieting simply does not work regardless of the plan or method involved.

And when I started I was very aware of the statistics and the fact the deck was stacked against me by a very large margin. I used that for motivation to prove "them" wrong and do whatever was necessary to beat those odds. So even that can be used for inspiration successfully if you choose to use it in that way. Believe in yourself. Everyone who has ever been successful here was just an ordinary person doing extraordinary things!

[missheatherrenee]

thanks Redrox! You know I did not even look at the dates... I absolutely agree with you. I do, indeed, plan on proving "them" wrong!

[elleelise]

No one will probably read this since it's from 2004- I was an active member a long time ago on this forum and am now part of WW.
What I know is this: the current WW system is very much akin to SouthBeach, aside from "Phases." It takes the Fiber, Protein, Fat and Carbs within a food to figure out the Points. In this way it is profoundly different that "calories in- calories out." A 90 calorie apple is given 0 points, a 90 calories cookie is given 3 points. It stresses healthy guidelines which include good oils and fats, lean protein, lots of veggies and fruit. It's helped me become extremely aware of portions. I NEVER realized that 3oz was the actual portion for chicken. While following South Beach I would eat about 10oz of chicken.

Weight loss, and lifetime of healthy eating comes down to good, nutritious food and not too much of it!

Weight Watchers is only a "diet" for those who think they will someday be able to stop going. I'm committed to spending the $40 a month for the rest of my life if I have to. It's a small price to pay for:

1) Accountability. My leader at WW KNOWS me and is on Facebook. Each week she sees my weight, and I'm able to discuss it with a live person, not a forum.
2) E-tools, which allows me to easily journal and type in my food anywhere.
3) Meetings where I get to make friends, continually update my knowledge and feel a sense of community.

Don't knock it until you try it. Also, it really IS a lifestyle change. There's no crazy upheaval of all the foods you love, BUT instead WW teaches you to swap things. For instance, today I had a whole grain English Muffin, with organic light cream cheese, lox, capers and tomatoes; then lots of greens (watermelon, carrots, apple) for snacks; then a caprese salad for lunch; then an open-faced 4 oz chicken sandwich with veggies. I had an organic light brownie made with yogurt for dessert. I stuck within my points, feel REALLY satisfied and worked out. WW also allots 40 extra points per week to use however you want, and you can swap the activity you earn for more food if you have a really fast metabolism and are very active.

I couldn't sustain SouthBeach- too many changes too quickly. But, if it works for you, fabulous! Find something you can do your whole LIFE and you'll be fine.