Question:
What do you think about joining weight watchers after surgery?
It appears the girls at work are going to start having weight watcher meetings here at work and I think I might want to join. I like the structure and keeping tabs on what I am eating. If I try to do it myself I don't because there is no accountability. I don't know, what do you all think? Plus I like the discussions, you get some great meal ideas and feed back ! — neneburge (posted on November 5, 2003)
November 5, 2003
I'd say go for it. Anything that helps! The last I knew though, WW doesn't
support a high protein program, so you may have to modify their point
system to what you are doing.
— JoSyrNY
November 5, 2003
I would say if your co-workers are having meetings at work that you can sit
in on for free go for it. But I would save your money and not actually join
WW. Your diet is going to be very different from yours. The protein for you
has to come first and I don't think WW point system is really going to work
for WLS patients. My doc works with the dieticians at the family practice
and we work with them on our diets. Insurance doesn't cover it but it's
good to have the support. Is the a WLS support group in your area? I would
go to that before I joined WW. Just my two cents. BEST of luck to you!
— gina L.
November 5, 2003
I am going to cheat - ha-ha! I am 3 1/2 months post op and have lost 75.5
pounds. When I get down to where I am 30 or so pounds away from my goal I
am going to join weight watchers, because once I reach my goal with them,
you become a lifetime member. I would save your money right now - I am
sure you have spent thousands with weight watchers before - I sure did!
Good luck!
— Neita B.
November 5, 2003
a number of members of our support group have joined Weight Watchers
post-op for the support and accountability. I think it is a great idea.
Just a word of warning tho ... some of the meeting groups tend to be very
anti-weight loss surgery. I belong to WW now as a pre-op (down 46 lbs so
far with surgery next week). I haven't told a soul there about my surgery.
One member brought the subject of surgery up one day and I was amazed at
the negatives about surgery being tossed around. I am not going after this
week because of my surgery, but plan to rejoin in the Spring when my weight
loss is more slow. I am just not going to mention my surgery. My husband
is a life time member, so we would go together. Weight Watchers does allow
you to follow a high protein diet ... no one asks to see your food journals
etc unless you want to share them. Weigh ins are done confidentially (no
one else sees your weight). I really like the motivation of the meetings
and the accountability helps keep me on track also. Wishing you the best.
Mary
— [Deactivated Member]
November 5, 2003
Just my humble opinion but I had drastic surgery to help me lose this
weight, I would not want to NOW join WW...Now I will do what my surgeon and
dietician tell me to do...Haven't we all spend enough money ? I know I sure
have..
— Kathy S.
November 5, 2003
I have heard other WW members say that they often have too much food to eat
on the program and these are non-WLS folks. It would be interesting to
hear from post WLS who have joined and succeeded with WW. I would imagine
that they would only join after the first 18 months post-op when our window
of opportunity is closing yet still want to lose more weight. If structure
is what you need, WW does serve that purpose.
— Cindy R.
November 5, 2003
It didn't work for me. At my weight, the amount of points I was allowed was
too low for me to maintain an appropriate protein regimen. I tried it but
by the end of the day I would be almost out of points and still need to eat
dinner - the things I could have would be too carb-heavy and not
protein-dense enough. So I would end the day hungry. Not good. I take in a
large amount of protein (some in supplements) and that did not fit with WW.
My family and I now use a South Beach Diet way of eating (though the word
diet is a misnomer, since it's a lifetime style of eating.) Lean protein,
veggies and (a few) complex carbs. Works great for everyone; I am
maintaining and they are all losing. Yay! hugs,
Ann RNY 9/10/99 260/124
— [Deactivated Member]
November 5, 2003
Since this is a work program, have you discussed it with your co-workers
who plan to join? If they're cool about you being a post-op and joining,
then it sounds like a good idea (assuming you adjust their program to your
WLS needs). If they don't know about your surgery, they're more likely to
figure it out if you join this group, though, just by how much faster
you're losing than they will. If they do know, you wanna make sure nobody
resents you being in their group (or at least, go into it knowing how they
feel). Just a thought!
— Suzy C.
November 5, 2003
The bariatric coordinator at the hospital where my surgeon is at said that
WW is developing a support program for postops.
— Le P.
November 5, 2003
If you just want weekly accountability and support, why not try and find a
TOPS location in your area. They are way cheaper than WW, don't try to get
you to buy their stuff, and they don't have a specific diet you follow. You
follow your own program and go and weigh once a week. They have group
support meetings. Don't know their stance on WLS, but unless you are a
"shout it from the roodtops" type, there is no reason why anyone
there should know you are a post-op. Even with surgery, we need to re-learn
our relationship with food and this organization helps with that. Here is a
link to their chapter locator: <p>
http://digitel.tops.org/chapter_locator.asp
<p> And to their website:
<p>
http://www.tops.org/desktops.asp
— Ali M
November 5, 2003
I have been reading Dr Phil's new book. I have been so afraid at some
point I would return to my bad habit that got me to where I was. I am an
emotional eater. This book has REALLY helped me with some unresolved
issues and I am not having the head hunger I was. I plan on reading it
over and over until I feel I have everything under control.
— Gail O.
November 5, 2003
If you are having RNY, the weight watchers diet isn't a good one for us.
It doesn't take into accountthe protein/crab ration - and that is very
important. You can keep a food journal and participate in support groups
for people who have had this surgery. Just my opinion.
— Patty_Butler
November 5, 2003
I'm a lifetime member of Weight Watchers- look where it got me- even bigger
than I started at! :o Now instead of 55 lbs to lose I've got over 100!
I can understand why people on WW tend to be so "anti surgery".
They use that as their motivation to try to help them lose weight by
dieting. I used to be that way. That's fine, but some people DO medically
need WLS.
I would be VERY interested if WW does come out with a post-op plan for post
WLS.
— Debbie P.
November 5, 2003
I am in TOPS now, and plan on staying after WLS. Starting in January they
will have a new category for WLS members. I like being held accountable to
someone other than myself...plus, I don't get out much. They are part of
my support network. Great bunch of folks.
— anapple4theteacher
November 5, 2003
"they're more likely to figure it out if you join this group, though,
just by how much faster you're losing than they
will"----------actually when I had my WLS, my mother in law and her
sister decided to see if they could lose weight by diet at the same pace I
did with surgery. We all three had about the same amount to lose. They
both joined WW and hit goal before I did. Its been two years and all three
of us have kept off the weight. I know I could never have achieved what i
have or what they did on WW....but as far as the speed of the loss.....I
will have to say it can be done.
— RebeccaP
November 5, 2003
This question comes up a lot and I am always interested in the
answers/controversy it garners...here's my take on the matter. Last year
when my weight loss slowed down, I joined WW (for the 50th time at least!)
in hopes of getting it all off, for good. And you know what? It didn't
help. I felt like a MAJOR failure because I would always bypass my points
range, and here I was with a stomach the size of a walnut! So I dropped
it, loosened up about food and the weight HAS come off. It's taken a long
time (since April '02) but I am now in a size 6, weighing in in the low 140
range...Sure I would love to have been one of those posties who writes:
"It's only been 6 months and I have already lost 100lbs!" but
here's my miracle. I started water aerobics in August and in TWO months
went from a size 10 to a 6! I am still in shock! As far as I am
concerned, exercise is the miracle worker, and just trusting myself to make
good (i.e., hi-protein) food choices - I refuse to ever get in the diet
mentality again! I am intrigued by what one poster said - that they may be
developing a program for post ops. Wouldn't surprise me, and maybe I will
look into it, if that happens.
— rebeccamayhew
November 5, 2003
Wow, Rebecca Perkins -- that's interesting! I'd never have thought that,
but what a WW commercial that would make. Now that I think of it, I guess
my loss wasn't really all that much faster with WLS than it was with WW, I
just assumed without thinking (yet again). I guess you can chalk it up to
the power of positive support from family, but congrats to your family for
pulling each other through by whatever method! :-)
— Suzy C.
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