Will Weight Watchers Work?

[HersheeKisz 0]

I wondering if any one tryed weight watchers when they could eat solids. I think counting calories is going to be hard do you think weight watchers will be easier?

[Jachut 487]

Definitely.

For a while I did Lite n Easy which is a home delivered diet we have in Australia, that didnt work too well because I couldnt eat all the darn food, lol, and too much bread and difficult things that I didnt want to eat. Costs a fortune, but I did lose tons of weight in that six weeks and really did it mainly for doug to lose some weight (which he did) so taht I didnt have to cook separate meals etc.

Weight watchers is like calorie counting though, it works when you do it and the band helps you to do it better than you ever could before.

[justwaitin2b 0]

same thing will apply - you won't be able to eat the portions that WW uses to work........... what is the point in having your band, if you need to do a set "diet"????? talk with your WLS team - you should have adequate restriction, so that you are only eating 3 x 1/2 cups foods/per day........ that is the point of the band, not to help you stick to another form of weight loss.................. good luck, Karen

[Jachut 487]

WW gives you so much flexibility though - with the LitenEasy it was 3 meals per day that were too big for me.

With counting points on WW, you dont have to eat anything that doesnt work with your band, you can eat 5 times a day in smaller amounts etc.

Many people like to "diet" in the true sense of the word, many, like me, hate it. WW I can cope with because I choose what to eat, when to eat it, their old style back in the 80's of so many breads, so many dairy, so many Proteins per day, that drove me freaking nuts, I couldnt do that at ALL.

But 3 x 1/2 cup a day is not what everyone has to eat to lose weight. I eat waaaaaaay more than that. And it depends what you eat - a cup and a half of salad for example crunches down to hardly anything where a half a cup of meat really is 1/2 a cup of meat - so you're not so limited portionwise on WW depending on what you choose to eat.

[justwaitin2b 0]

obviously we have different opinions on what the lap band function is - these food recommendations are for the initial weight loss period, and are clearly documented in several publications............. e.g. "The Lap Band Solution" by Prof. O'Brien

[VegasGrace 1]

It didn't work for me as I used my points for BBQ chips and pepsi.

But since I'm nearing my goal and weightloss has almost halted, I'm thinking about doing weight watchers.

Is it possible to be too restricted? And not lose any weight?

[Jachut 487]

Sorry, I dont mean to create a debate nor make you feel I've taken particular issue with what you've said or that it's wrong (who am I to say that). Its just that I think its VERY important the new people or people considering banding get the message that there are no hard and fast rules that apply to everyone.

Its extremely intimidating when you're researching to think that you're going to be vomiting, you're going to be eating tiny 1/2 cup portions, you're not going to be able to eat any of your previously staple foods and that you have to live on Protein Shakes. Some people DO live like that, some by choice, and some by necessity, but many people dont have to. I lost all I had to lose on 1500 to 1800 calories a day, I hardly ever PB, I dont do Protein first, I eat bread, and I drink wine and enjoy a completely normal lifestyle. I just think its really really important that people know this is possible and that they have some control in the methods they use to lose weight.

When I do WW I eat 20 points of tim tams and nothing else in a day. It doesnt suit me.

I attend Prof. O'brien's practice by the way and the surgeons give the basic guidelines to newbies, 1/2 to 1 cup of food at a time, etc etc like the publications outline. But that's only general information. Each patient is dealt with on a case by case basis, and its encouraged that you work this tool to fit your lifestyle. My doc himself said to me that you'd be mad to go tight enough to eat only 1/2 cup at a time if you can eat more and still lose because obviously you'll be better nourished if you eat a wider variety and quanity of foods. Publications give generalised info only, not hard and fast rules.

[Chickie 15]

Is it possible to be too restricted? And not lose any weight?

Hell yes. Being over restricted makes it hard to eat good solid food, so people turn to stuff that goes down easy, like ice cream, chips, milk shakes ect. Not good for weight loss.

[argon 3]

and what the heck are tim tams?! Are they like Tim Bits?!

(hehe, that might make no sense to an American OR Austrailan! )

[NanaRenan 0]

OMG -- I just started a thread on the question of doing WW while banded!!!

GMTA, eh?

[parrot0927 0]

I know what Tim Bits are! They are donuts or donut holes right?

[argon 3]

yup, donut holes

[justwaitin2b 0]

Hey Jacqui - no offense taken, just a good healthy debate amongst like minded people, searching for answers... love it! The thing is I don't lose any weight on calories above 1000, and most people are the same (you are part of the small percentage of people able to do that)..... i maintain weight at calorie's between 750 - 1000, as do most overweight people, fairly sedentry, fatty livers etc......... so therefore the simple message is : very low calorie = weight loss (now you can choose to stay on Optiyuk strictly forever, and achieve weight loss, but it will all come back on, when you start eating "normal" foods again) or you can be banded, and work with your WLS team to find that sweet spot where food doesn't control your life, you have your daily berocca or other liquid Vitamin, and 3 small portions of food a day, no snacks.... until you reach what ever is your goal........... the band is the tool that fights the dominant enemy - hunger!! If you read - George Fielding's "You rule my world", or Robin McCoy's story or any of the other world wide lap-band representative's - they will say, for the majority of people... it is basic science, less calories consumed = more weight lost.

I am not saying that WW isn't a good tool, it is... but this lady has a professional team, and a fantastic tool inside her, that can do this job, without her stressing about points and food groups. If she still consumes the amount of food recommended by WW, she will only be as successful as a person attending WW.......... true????

[Jachut 487]

Hmm, not sure. Most of the people attending WW dont stick with it long term, lol. Any diet works if you can stay on it. And WW would have most people on the equivalent of 1200 a day or so - its not a huge amount of food. And of course, if you dont lose on that, you can cut it down more.

If I were to try to stick to 1000 a day, I'd need to track and count carefully, its just another way of doing that and a lapband helps you do it without starving to death.

Its down to luck how much you can eat and still lose, I guess. I can eat a lot because a) I'm tall and I run an hour five days a week. So you have to work out the math for yourself basically, its different for everyone.

[justwaitin2b 0]

exactly my point lovely - a lap band can help you, it justs needs to be perfectly adjusted to suit the individual.......... and that us "short, phat & don't move much" people need different amounts (alot less) food than those of you lucky enough to be tall, and active.......... hugs K