Question:
Has anybody followed weight watchers AFTER WLS?

I love the WW program and feel that after my WLS I would be able to STICK WITH IT. I have always had a secret desire to be a WW Leader and wonder if they let people who have perhaps lost the first 50 lbs. or so after WLS then the remaining weight on program. Any thoughts on this?    — [Anonymous] (posted on January 10, 2002)

January 10, 2002
This was my plan after surgery. I figured also that would help me keep on track with just weighing once a week. I also thought after I get to goal I would be a lifetime so anytime I went in to weigh it would be free. But then I remembered my leader. She would catch on super quick that I wasn't on the program with the amount of weight I lose and the rate at which it is going, and she would toss me out of there super fast. I figure I might join again after the loss slows down a bit and looks more natural. But be careful with the WW program as it requires balanced meals, and we need unbalanced meals of just protein and fruit/ veggies. It wouldn't be healthy to introduce the amount of carbs they want you to follow until you're very close to your goal weight. The key here is that you follow your surgeon's program and nothing else. No problem going and weighing, just go with your doctor!
   — [Anonymous]

January 10, 2002
Well first of all, WW plan has you eating many more carbs than you should as a post-op, you should follow your doctors plan. And in my opinion, weighing in and becoming a life-time member is dishonest. You have an unfair edge to the game compared to the others, they probably would get discouraged watching your weight drop at a much higher rate. I would just totally give up on the diet thing, we failed at that many times in our lives before WLS. What a relief to be free from diets. You will lose all of your weight from WLS, not weight watchers. If you want to be an advocate to WW, refer your friends. If you want to be a leader, why not lead a support group meeting in your area for WLS?
   — Cheri M.

January 10, 2002
After I lost 80 pounds I hit a plateau. I felt like I was losing ground and rejoined WW. I was 10 pounds from the top of their goal range and 20 pounds from my personal goal. I told the group leader I had the surgery and she had no problem with my presence.It took 4 months for me to lose the 20 pounds. I followed my doctors advice but counted points. There is no reason that you have to eat the exact mixture of carbs, protein, fat. You need to watch the points. I like having a group to support my efforts. I live 100 miles from a major medical center and there are no support groups for WLS in my area.My surgeon is 300 miles away. I am sure some group members who don't understand what we have gone through probably resent WLS/WW but I see it as their problem. I need to diet and need support.I pay my dues to be there. eed support and my weight loss struggle is no easier than theirs, just different. BTW, I as offered a chance to be a WW leader and opted not to do it.
   — [Anonymous]

January 10, 2002
If you want to lose weight with w.w. go for it, but I don't feel you should be a leader. You didn't lose weight and keep it off before surgery on the program, so how can you tell others they will?
   — [Anonymous]

January 10, 2002
I don't think it would be wrong to be a lifetime member! A person could join weight watchers with only 20 pounds to lose and become a lifetime member. It is just as hard for a WLS member to stay at goal as a person who did not have the surgery. I bet most of us have paid more than enough weekly dues to WW over the course of our preop dieting.
   — Julie S.

January 10, 2002
I joned weight watchers after my surgery. Of course you have to eat as your doctor and nutritional counslor have instructed you.But the day will come when you will have to eat normally and I wanted to learn proper eating habits because I will always be on maintance . Even though it is easier to maintain my weight post op I still fall back into bad habits WW keeps me on the straight and narrow. I love the people in my group and my instructor is super. I go to an at work group. I told my instructor that I had the surgery and she was very understanding and supportive.I need the support and the structure that it gives me.
   — Rose A.

January 11, 2002
Have you ever heard of TOPS (Take pounds off sensibly)? Now that my weight loss has slowed to between 1 and 5 pounds a week, I go there. Everyone follows whatever diet they want to. It's just sort of a support for encouraging each other to exercise and drink water, and congratulate one another on our losses each week. The person who loses the most in a week also gets a little prize. I've won two times. I don't feel like I'm being dishonest here because the diet is whatever diet the individual wants to be on. I am on the WLS diet! Back when I was losing a pound a day, I would have felt like a big cheat, especially since we get prizes for losing the most each week. I would have won every week! But now I don't, so I think it's ok. Maybe you could look into that?
   — Jennifer H.