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Weight Watchers Weight Loss Program Review

Weight Watchers is an extremely popular diet program that focuses on low fat nutrition, and group counseling. Its "FlexPoints" system is simply a new name for its "Winning Points Plan" which you may have heard of. Any food you might want to eat, from fruit to nuts to ice cream has a points value based on its nutritional and calorie content. As long as you stay within your allotment of points you may eat as you like. Each week you have 35 reserve points (flexpoints) to use for unplanned activities or cravings.

This new program is basically the same as the old, but uses the points in a slightly different manner. You are assisted by a points "calculator" and recipes provided by Weight Watchers. The group support works a little like alcoholics anonymous, the program relies heavily on attending meetings, discussion and counseling sessions, mostly in person, at local Weight Watchers centers.

The Weight Watchers program is scientifically sound in that it relies on a prescription of calorie reduction to lose weight. Basically, if you consume fewer calories, you'll lose weight. This is a basic truth of any weight loss program.

Marketing is slick and effective. They advertise aggressively, trying to convince overweight people that they can lose weight without sacrificing the foods they love. In reality, though you can eat your favourite, fattening foods, the portion sizes are so small it is just a frustrating teaser.

My biggest complaint about this program is that it is centered on diet and does not focus much on exercise. There is no fitness program offered or integrated into their plan. While many have lost weight on the weight watchers program, including my grandmother and another good friend of ours, in each case the weight came back on once they stopped attending the sessions. Long-term group therapy is not the answer unless you are committed to going forever.

Healthy, sustainable, long term weight control won't come from counting points. You need a comprehensive, nutrition and lifestyle plan that includes physical activity.

The program falls short, in my opinion because it doesn't put a priority on exercise, which is essential. After all, I'm a fitness trainer and nutritional consultant and I know the difference it makes.

I can't argue with the success of the weight watchers program over the many years it has existed. This is not a fad diet in the way many others are. Not only has the program existed for many years longer than others, the membership has gained strength and the statistics show that more pounds of fat are lost using the weight watchers system than almost any other.

You can get all the information and resources to follow the plan online at WeightWatchers. The program costs a little more than others but the expense is still reasonable, especially if it works for you.

Weight Watchers is just one review, see our complete list of Weight Loss Program Reviews here...

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