Weigh****chers for Support??

Hi everyone,  I was just wondering if anyone on the grad board has joined Weigh****chers as a support system for maintenance?   I decided to join last week with some friends from work.  I could use to loose a few pounds but more than that I'd like to find a support system to keep with healthy eating and balance.  I've tried going to WLS Support Groups but they are full of newbies and I just can't relate to where they are in the journey any longer.   I went to the WW message boards looking for other WLS folks and there is tone of disapproval for WLS, but it looks like it is mostly based on false information and preceptions.   Anyway... I was just wondering if anyone else here has tried WW and how it went for you.

I have heard several post ops talking about using WW to lose their last few pounds or to help them with accountiblilty to maintain their loss.  And it did well for them.  Then I have heard of others who tried to do WW and they got treated really badly and made to feel unwelcome.  So, I guess it depends on where you are and what group of WW you join.  Can't hurt to try, though, huh?  Give it a whirl and see what happens.  Let us know how it goes for you. Good luck Melissa

Hi Tracy,  WW is a great program that is healthy and do-able.  I re-joined 5 months after my WLS.  Things were moving very slowly and I really needed a plan/program that I could live with for the rest of my life.       There is a wonderful  ' live'   element of support and encouragement as well as feed back ( by the scales ) if we are + lbs. or - lbs.  I'll admit when I lose it feels terrific to recieve the cheers and applause of the group as well as giving it to them in turn.  I learn so many tricks and tools from our leader who is a self confessed    'bulk'  eater.  She carries a briefcase stuffed with lo point and high fiber food wrappers so we can actually see the packaging so we can recognize the items in the store...cuz the memory does fail if I just hear about the item.     I think it is true that there is not a very warm friendly welcome mat out on the WW msg. boards concerning WLS post-ops.  It is,  from a human standpoint understandable  - that they cannot fathom taking drastic measures if they can successfully just  "do"  the program. ( I do not condone the narrow thinking and do wi**** were more inclusive )     However I have learned in non WLS friendly environments to just keep my business to myself.  (  Or risk having somebody stomp on my feelings with combat boots  :(       I go because it helps keep me honest and accountable.   By the way,   my WLS support group leader attends WW as well as 2 other ladies at our group.  ( 2 are 3 yrs out and the other is 1 yr out and me 2 yrs out )  Many post - ops find after a while it is easy for those lbs to creep back on.     On the subject of acceptance in non WLS groups,  I wi**** were a world where we could have the freedom to be open and honest and not sensitive to criticizm and prejudice.  I could say  "I just do not care what others think."   But it hurts when I hear the critics, especially about a surgery that was my last resort and did save my life.  It hurts to be misunderstood and judged as one who took  "the easy way out"   as some call it.        My simple solution is to limit the exposure to the negativity as often as I can.   There are safe people we can share our hearts with and our journeys and as they earn our trust...we then can bestow it.   Best wishes with WW,  are you doing the Flex plan or Core? Mary

I'm following the Core plan.  I was afraid of counting points and didn't want to feel like I HAD to get all my points in during the day.   I was in fact a little worried that I might gain if I went with the Flex Plan.    That is probably just my brain freaking out a little.  I'm lucky to have a couple of friends from work attending WW with me.  They are supportive and great people.  It is actually fun to be at WW and feel a sense of hope that I never had when I attended pre-WLS.  I know this sounds odd... but I sort of feel normal now when I walk in the door.  I want to loose about 16 pounds over the next couple of months, that is my regain from my lowest weight and a little more.   I can do it!!!  

Hi Tracy A. its Tracy B I have heard some people around here that have gone to WW to help with maintenance, to lose the last 20lbs or to lose a regain and they have had success. There's a post a few down where someone was treated really badly when they went to sign up, so I guess it depends on the WW in your area how well you will be received (being a wls patient).  If there's anything we can help with, please just say the word! Good Luck and keep us posted on how things are going for you.

Tracy B,  I have been away from this board for a while so I think I need to get back in the swing of it.  Keeping in touch with fellow WLS Grads is a good support system, and I know so many here can relate to my experiences like no other people I know.   

Hi Tracy, I finally broke down on Friday and rejoined Weigh****chers. I went for a very long time way before my surgery and lost 10% of my weight and my husband went with me. I hadn't stepped back through those doors in about 3 years. The same lady was there, who was the group leader and a very very nice lady. When the meeting was over, she came to me and said I thought that was you but I wasn't sure. She remembered my name and also my husbands name after 3 years. She said I looked great but didn't ask me how I did it and I didn't volunteer any information either. I just told her that I've made the decision that I can't do this alone anymore and that I need the support and accountability. She said to me, why do you think I'm still here? I can't do it alone either.  I know my parents and my husband are a little upset with me because I rejoined. They said oh is it because you've gained alot of weight? I said I've gained some but I don't want it to be more...I'm wanting to lose maybe 10lbs but nothing more than that. I need to learn how to think with a thinner persons brain instead of my fat one. I haven't learned how to do that yet and it's getting me into some trouble. I don't have support groups here that I can attend. I just need some support with my eating habits, accountability (being accountable to me isn't working) and also being part of a group in a learning and supportive atmosphere. I really enjoyed my first meeting and it gave me a fresh perspective on how to deal with my food issues. I hope it works out for you!!

I hope it works out for you too.   We should stay in touch via this board and check in once and a while to monitor our progress.   

I  think that would be awesome! I went this morning and for week number 1, I lost 3 lbs. I could have done better but I'm working on it..slowly but surely!! Let me know how you are doing :)

  WAY TO GO!!!  Contgrats on a great first week!!  I'm down 2 lbs on my first week.  I'm excited about it.  It really feels great and I'm eating so much better than I was.  I think I just needed the structure to get me back on track.  Even  my husband lost some weight this week.  I hope this week is just as great!