I am currently on atkins and I truly believe that THIS is something I can do for the rest of my life…I am also a weight watchers “lifetime member”. I lost 40 pounds my first go around on weight watchers, gained back 20 and then from there went back and lost 40 again (for a total of 60 lost from my highest). And – for some people, I truly do believe that weight watchers IS a fabulous program.

However – before I get into the nutritional aspects of why I am doing Atkins instead of Weight watchers – I know that a reason why I stopped counting points and following the program was a big psychological problem for me (and, as it turns out, an insulin problem as well…)

After I became a lifetime member, I started to realize how absolutely “obsessed” I had become with counting points. I would hand-create journals (and when I say “create” I mean I’d literally create pages that I should have designed with a computer) to keep track of everything I did. Be it the points I was eating and the exercise I was doing.

And, like your blog said, it didn’t matter WHAT I ate, as long as it was within points. I would measure out ice cream to exactly 1/2 cup. I would always cut back on nutritional foods for dinner as long as I could have my sugary desserts.

I DID like the idea of the accountability of going to the meetings and having to “answer” to the scale every week with someone (the weigh-in clerk) seeing my progress…but then you had those weeks when you didn’t lose anything and I hated feeling like a failure when I didn’t lose anything and/or gained.

Once I hit lifetime, I DID maintain that for a year – but I was OBSESSING over every single food point and activity point that I ate / used. For me, this was very mentally draining and after a while I stopped. And I gained it back.

I would constantly go back to meetings trying to get that first 10 pounds that I’d gained back off – but it just wouldn’t come off fast enough.

Then I gained back another 10. And then I gained back 17 on top of that for a total of 37 pounds gained back of the 60 I’d lost.

3 years after I hit my goal, I decided to try and “obsess” over the points system again but for 4 months of doing this AND exercising religiously, I couldn’t lose literally one OUNCE of weight.

I went to my doctor and realized I’d actually devoloped Insulin Resistance (pretty much pre-diabetes) and SHE is the one who told me to do the Atkins diet and to CUT CARBS, as well as putting me on Metformin.

Well, I didn’t listen to her at first and for a few months I tried the WW core program (which worked, for a bit, but then i was still eating too many carbs – which in my specific instance, I didn’t realize I really NEEDED to cut them out.) and I ended up gaining back the weight because I didn’t realize what it really meant to BE insulin resistant and WHY i needed to cut carbs.

After 3 other appointments when she kept saying, “cut carbs, cut carbs, cut carbs” I finally listened to her and I started the Atkins program at the beginning of January 2009. While the weight loss IS slow – it IS coming off. But more than anything, I’m actually learning WHY my body is different than everyones and that for ME a low-fat high-carb diet (such as is weight watchers) is NOT the right diet for ME (or anyone who is Insulin Resistant / Diabetic for that matter)

I’ve also had to really re-train my brain that FAT is NOT the enemy. And that every person really is very unique and that while some programs such as weight watchers DOES work for some, as far as their nutrition goes, it doesn’t work for others who have insulin issues. Fat is only the enemy when it is paired up with high-carbs.

And, unlike weight watchers – where again, as long as it was “within my points” the thing I actually love about atkins is that it is VERY whole-foods oriented. TONS of green vegetables along with the right kinds of meats. And it’s NOT an all-you-can eat smorgasboard of meats, eggs, cheese. It has “rules” just like every other program out there – but for me, it makes sense because it teaches you more the science as to WHY you are cutting out the bad carbs.
It’s also very eye-opening to learn that some people who follow a low-carb diet are actually MUCH healthier than people who follow low-fat diets.

I will tell anyone who asks that it IS a good program, especially to learn portion control – but I also tell them that MENTALLY not to get obsessed with the “game” of counting points and subtracting AP’s and end up feeling like a failure if you’re also a perfectionist when the mathematical equation doesn’t quite work out right.

The thing though, about ANY eating plan is that it really comes down to learning about how your own body works and what works for you.

WW worked for me once, but then i realized I needed a different nutritional approach to make sure I was doing what my body needed instead of a mathematical equation.

I agree that WW is a very effective plan, when followed correctly (as many plans).

Have a great day!

That has personally been my experience with this process, I have lost 43 pounds and then gained it all back when I left WW years ago to only come back and have to lose 100! But the key was I DID IT! Weekly meetings, accountability and education on proper nutrition! I strive to learn as much as I can to share with my members, hence why I am a Huge fan of Tom Venuto. I am convinced one day he will advise for the WW organization.

WW itself has a pretty impressive science center and department, however we do tend to keep our target audience in mind, which is middle age woman looking to lose a few pounds. They sometimes have no concern over learning macronutrients and they have no desire to re-shape their bodies through weight training or resistance training. That said, we continue to strive to teach these concepts.

So, you may say the WW program has flaws, but with 45 years of service to the WORLD – Yes, we are international, we must be something right!!!!

As is indicated in this documentary, we strive to inspire!!! WW leaders like myself who have been there and experienced dramatic weight losses through proper nutrition and exercise are the ones who inspire.

I also think that it is because people are still thinking “diet” and not thinking “healthy body”.

I have seen the phrase “does it matter how you lose, as long as you lose?” several places in the last month. When I see that – I always think – If you just want to lose it – it doesn’t matter. But for maintenance – it MATTERS.

I have several blog friends that are learning about a balanced food plan NOW – after many years of weight loss. It is truly like someone turned a lightbulb on in their heads. And part of learning to lower fat and carbs into their balanced place is reducing processed food. The light does dawn-ith when this takes place.

We live in a society that is tilted toward high carbs and fat. Someone learning to balance – feels that they are eating low carbs/fat – because keeping carbs/fat in portions and eating evenly from the other food groups FEELS like low carbs/fat.

I think the VERY necessary parts of learning to be successful in maintenance FOR ME were
learning to eat portions,
learning to eat at meal time,
learning to eat balanced from each food group,
learning to eat low glycemic,
and eating whole foods as close to their natural state as possible.

the point that you bring up about increasing point intake for fiber and exercise is one that drives me crazy.

I see people doing what I would call – moving their body aimlessly through space – and then increasing their consumption based on that ‘exercise’.

Again I think this is a real disconnect – it is lottery thinking.

I see VERY few people doing exercise that warrents an increase in food.

I NEVER increased my intake based on exercise during my two years of losing or my current two years of maintenace. I expect my exercise to be a regular part of my life.

I think that one has to do a fair amount of intensional exercise in order to ‘make up’ for our standard couch potato life style. The amount of exercise required beyond that – to warrent an increase in food – is substantial (in my opinion).