A little aggravated with WW.

[AngryOldDem]

As you know, I am a Lifetime member (as of 1986) who returned to the program after putting on way too much weight. I reached my goal about three weeks ago, and am now on what I consider to be maintenance. WW, however, apparently sees it differently.

My values were bumped up six points (per the usual WW guidelines) because I very well can't stay where I was points wise and expect to maintain a steady weight. As it was explained to me last week, and from what I have read in the materials, I can "play with" that new number if I find that I am either still losing, or worse, gaining on the new values. Fair enough -- you need to strike a balance, and that is done over the course of several weeks (six, or so I thought) because it will be basically trial and error.

I went to a new meeting tonight (couldn't make my usual morning meeting today) and weighed in. I was up about a pound and a half and the receptionist made a comment that I had "just made it" as a Lifetime member (meaning I was within the two-pound limit to avoid having to pay the meeting fee). I explained that, even though I am a Lifetime member, this was only my second week on maintenance after making goal, and did she mean that if I had gone over two pounds, I would have had to pay? She said yes, because I am a Lifetime member. I don't get that six-week window to stabilize.

I have a huge problem with this (and maybe it's just me). Yes, I may be a "Lifetime" member, but I am new enough at **this** round of weight loss to need time to adjust. I think I should have that same grace period as anyone else. Let me "play with" the numbers for a few weeks until I find that balance, and then when I show that I **can** maintain at that number, then enforce the rules. Don't make me pay straight out of the gate until I **do** find that new magic number that works for me. Why should I be penalized in week two for a points value that may not be right for me?

I think anyone going through weight loss needs to have some weeks on maintenance. It's like shifting gears. Am I the only one who has a problem with this, or am I just not looking at it in the right way? I'm seeing this as starting over. If I were a pro at it, I wouldn't have needed to come back in the first place.

Any input appreciated, and thanks for letting me vent.

(EDIT: Dumb spelling error, even after reading it in Preview.)

[auntAgonist]

1. I absolutely agree with you on the stabilization period. Not to mention the different weigh in time

My weight can fluctuate 2-4 lbs depending on when I step on the scale!

This rule they have can be very discouraging.

aA
kesha

[AngryOldDem]

2. Thanks. Now I know it's not just me who has a problem with this, then.

I may be sounding petty about it, but I really can't afford to be shelling out money like this right now. (I'm basically off work until October, and God willing I have that job to come back to.) I'm glad I didn't have to pay last night.

I'm just going to make a point of weighing myself before I go so I have an idea of where I'm at. If I'm over two pounds, I'll wait for another meeting. I thought about not going last night, because to me night weigh-ins are not necessarily indicative of true weight, but I went anyway to keep on my schedule.

And I may seek clarification of this. It could well be a misunderstanding on that person's part, because to expect someone coming off an extensive weight-loss plan to strictly be on point with it by the second week is a little unrealistic, IMHO.

In the end, it's no big deal, except for the potential laying out of cash.

[auntAgonist]

3. No, to me it would be a big deal. WW isn't particularly inexpensive and we all have to

watch our dollars!

Some research/clarification would be good. That particular 'rule' does seem very unreasonable to me.

I KNOW for a fact (I'm scale obsessed) that my weight varies a lot depending on the time of day, whether or not I just showered AND whether or not I washed my longish hair.

It could make a difference depending on your footwear!!!

It's just too iffy.

Best to try to stay with your regular weigh in times and IF you think you'll be over their limit don't go. BUT, don't stay away for more than one meeting. The possibility is there for a backslide of sorts.


hang in there!


aA
kesha

[K8-EEE]

4. This is why I dropped out of WW so many times, at or very close to goal weight

Their focus on the scale drives me wild. If I did everything "on program" and gained a pound anyway (period coming or whatev!!) they would be so condesceding "have a better week next time." It got to the point that I was starving myself all day before evening weigh ins.

Inevitably I would get so frustrated I would throw the whole diet thing out and wake up in 6 months of "freestyle" eating with 20 lobs right back on. I admit it is a stupid reaction to my scale frustration but that is what happened -- 3 times!

There is no WW magic. All it is, is portion control. I got a little annoyed paying $13 a week (prob more nowadays) to face the "scale nazis" and their judgmental attitude!

[AngryOldDem]

5. I'm not worrying about it anymore.

I'm following portion control and am active just about everyday. I'm aware that I need to have portion control, but I am not going to be a slave to the scale. I was that way a long time ago, and it is no way to live. I weigh myself before I go to a meeting so I know whereabouts I'm going to fall on their scale. Right now my weight is trending a little low, so I'm eating a little more.

I'm sorry that your WW experience was so bad in terms of judgmental staff. I've not run into that. (Annoying leaders and sometimes annoying members, yes, but not scolding ones.)

WW **is** pricy. When I bought the Monthly Pass, it was about $40 a month. When you reach Lifetime, that is waived. Now they've introduced some contraption that tracks your daily activity and designs a movement program for you. That is $39.95 out of the gate, with a $5 monthly fee. I find that kind of outrageous, myself, when you can basically do the same thing for yourself for free, with a good exercise program and pencil and paper. But I know there are some people who think they need such things (see them in the meetings all the time), so of course WW is willing to oblige the demand.