Overweight people who violates the laws of thermodynamics?

[SCRawl]

What she said.

My wife was/is on the program, and has lost just shy of 50 pounds of baby-related (and other) weight. (She passed her "goal weight" some time ago, which means that she's now a lifetime member, and pays no more dues.) What they sell you is a cardboard sliderule to tell you how many "points" a given portion of food is worth, and a chart to tell you how many points you should be consuming in a day. (You can actually get this information from their patent online, if all you want to do is follow their advice.) You're also paying for the weekly meetings and weigh-ins, and the right to purchase some of their other branded literature.

The branded food products tend to be slightly healthier, lower-portion foods that fit in well with their program. I get a giggle out of their bread products -- they're smaller, and have fewer points per serving because of it.

[Lord Poe]

What they said.

You can also go here: http://www.dwlz.com to get all the points for free. However, the weekly weigh-ins are an important part of it, because unless you diligent in weighing yourself every week, you can fool yourself and start to slip.

The weekly weigh-ins kind of make feel more responsible, and want to stay on track all week.

[Broomstick]

There is also the group-support aspect of the weigh-in ceremony - it gives you a chance to connect with other people who have the same problem(s) and to help each other with at least emotional support.

[Aaron]

Isn't Weight Watchers just a scam to get you to buy their branded products? I know I see a lot of Weight Watchers packaged foods at the grocery store, and they're not cheap.

No, that would be Herbal Magic. WW bread and buns do have lower carbs though, at the cost of tasting like a cardboard/melba toast cross.

[CaptJodan]

My mother's a big believer in Weight Watchers, and has paid nothing for it. She just got the point chart and started counting up her points.

It did work, at least for as long as she counted. As you say, if you don't keep track you tend to slip and don't even realize what you're eating. That one cup of pasta can slowly grow to 2 cups or more if you're not actually measuring it out.

[Lord Poe]

My mother's a big believer in Weight Watchers, and has paid nothing for it. She just got the point chart and started counting up her points.

It did work, at least for as long as she counted. As you say, if you don't keep track you tend to slip and don't even realize what you're eating. That one cup of pasta can slowly grow to 2 cups or more if you're not actually measuring it out.

Yup. I'm not sure if its online anywhere, but WW has this cool picture chart to show you proper portions by using everyday items as examples. For instance a small bagel shouldn't be bigger than a CD, a piece of steak should be no bigger than a computer mouse, etc.

[Molyneux]

My mother's a big believer in Weight Watchers, and has paid nothing for it. She just got the point chart and started counting up her points.

It did work, at least for as long as she counted. As you say, if you don't keep track you tend to slip and don't even realize what you're eating. That one cup of pasta can slowly grow to 2 cups or more if you're not actually measuring it out.

Yup. I'm not sure if its online anywhere, but WW has this cool picture chart to show you proper portions by using everyday items as examples. For instance a small bagel shouldn't be bigger than a CD, a piece of steak should be no bigger than a computer mouse, etc.

That's a pretty skinny bagel, there. Unless you mean diameter?
...I've got to go measure all my bagels now.

[Shrykull]

I told him that if they accepted a lifestyle of rigorous excersize and healthy eating-habits, it should be virtually impossible for them to gain extra weight.

Not always,
see

cushings sydrome

MOMO

And people who are naturally more hungry than they should be, and have a craving for more food than they really need.