The Tao of Weight Watchers Part Two

As I explained in the first part of this article, the Weight Watchers' Points system teaches you to budget the amount of kilo joules and fat you consume every day.

How many points do you need to consume will depend on your weight, height and gender.

There are 2 stages in the process: the "Fast Track" stage, the "Normal" stage, and the "Maintenance" stage.

If you are a woman, you can eat a maximum of 18 points per day if you weight 64 kg or under, or up to 22 points per day if you weight 140 kg or over.

If you are a man, you can have up to 18 points per day if you weight 64 kg or less, and up to 24 points if you are 140 kg or over.

The Fast Track stage typically lasts for 1 week, and you can expect significant weight loss (2 kgs plus) at the end of that week if you stick to your daily points.

This gives you a boost in confidence, and allows you to stick during the hardest transitional period (the beginning of your journey).

The Second Weight Watchers stage increases your intake by 2 points, but not over 24 in any event.

Once you understand the Points system, the Weight Watchers meeting leaders weigh you and record this data in your file, so that you can start monitoring your progress.

The education starts immediately during the first meeting, and they provide you with reading materials (that you should read) to understand what you can expect for that week, and includes a weekly menu (with the calculated points per meal).

You also learn how to follow your weekly menu, how to - gently - start exercising, and how to choose healthy and tasty alternatives to whatever it is that you eat prior to joining the system.

You'll be shocked to learn the amount of points you normally consume on any given day when you do not watch what you eat.

I've read the criticism that one has to keep tracking points for the rest of your life to keep trim. Well, it is true. But you should not look at this as a negative thing to do. The fact is that tracking the amount of points you consume during the day is easy and fun to do.

And you can also "sin" every now and then and, provided that you return to your tracking, your indulgence should not have any major effects in your weight (unless, of course, you keep indulging on an ongoing basis!).

When you reach your goal weight, you become Life Member, and you only have to attend once a month. If you are within your weight range, you don't have to pay a fee to attend.

But you don't have to reach that goal if you don't want to. If you are comfortable losing a certain amount of weight and want to leave it at that, you can, but you don't become a Life Member.

Some people are able to stick to the Weight Watcher's principles without ever going back to the meetings once they reach their desired weight. Some others, though, find it difficult to stick to it without the peer support you find in the meetings.

I do not attend any more, and I have kept my weight down within reason. But should ever I find myself departing from my current weight range, I would have no hesitation in going back to the meetings.

You could experiment with my recipes, but doing 18 points per day for a week to see if you lose weight. You could be surpriced of how much weight you could lose without starving, and by eating delicious and healthy food. However, as always, you should always seek medical advice before engaging into any weight loss regime, as your particular health circumstances may make it unsafe for you to reduce or discontinue certain types of food.

Jeff, The Skinny Chef, has a growing collection of free and delicious low fat recipes, healthy eating and weight loss articles and information in his site WWW.Jeff-The-Skinny-Chef.Com.

---

Lose Weight and Get Fit by Getting Fat

Getting enough of the good fats will help you lose... Read More

The Cost of Gastric Bypass Surgery

The cost of gastric bypass surgery and other bariatric surgical... Read More

Hoodia ? Its Basic Nature Part 3

Hoodia Gordonii a cactus plant found thousands of miles away... Read More

Conspiracy Foods, The Inside Story about the Mass Produced Foods that are Making Society Sick

Food manufacturers can easily manipulate a whole population by the... Read More

Weight Loss Problems? Are You on the Path of Delusion, Depression, and Destruction?

Are you weighted down with delusion, depression and on the... Read More

Diet Pills And Safe Weight Loss: A Quick Guide To Diet Pills

Serious diet pills are intended for people who are overweight... Read More

Getting Through the Holidays Without Gaining Weight

Now that the holiday season is here, holiday foods and... Read More

Making the Food Pyramid Work After Weight Loss Surgery

A "normal-tummy" looks at the food pyramid from the bottom... Read More

Weight Loss for Good ? The 80/20 Rule!

Have you ever thought, "I just can not seem to... Read More

Are Your Co-Workers Making You Fat? Avoiding Unexpected Treats

Taming the See Food Eat Food ResponseWhat happens when you're... Read More

It?s Not Just About Dieting

You may not like what I'm about to say, but... Read More

Shape Up! 4-Alternative Weight Loss Solutions

I am embarrassed to admit how many different commercial weight... Read More

Catching Yourself In A Binge or Compulsive Eating: Stopping Behaviors

Oh, no . . . You suddenly realize that you... Read More

Get Started Exercising Now, But Take It Easy!

So you're overweight, "fat"--to be honest--and you want to start... Read More

Exercise and Weight Loss for Life - The Magic Formula Doctors DONT Want You to Know!

In twenty years of consistant exercising, maintaining a low percentage... Read More

Diet Sodas & Losing Weight: Is Diet Coke Good Or Dangerous For Healthy Weight Loss?

Zero Calorie Diet Sodas: Good Or Bad For Weight Loss?Calorie-free... Read More

Diet Pills and Consumer Fraud

Diet pills have met with many different fates, and come... Read More

3 Simple Weight Loss Tips from the Pros

Tip 1) DRINK A GLASS OF WATER AFTER EACH SNACKThis... Read More

Whole Grains Prevent Weight Gain

Research from Harvard, recently published in the highly respected peer-reviewed... Read More

Dieting? You Must Reset Your Weight-o-stat

You need to reset your weight-o-stat. No matter how much... Read More

7 Tips for Dieting Success

There are lots of dieters, trying every sort of plan... Read More

How To Get Rid Of Your Belly Fat Or Pooch

The best way you can get rid of your pop... Read More

Burn More Fat With Insulin Control: The Secret Weight Loss Switch

If you're serious about losing weight and getting fit, you... Read More

Acupuncture Weight Loss -- Does it Work?

Acupuncture for weight loss is a modern application of this... Read More

Food Intolerance and Low Carb Diets

Food intolerance is a pharmacological reaction to the consumption of... Read More

Why Do Gastric Bypass Patients Get Sleepy After Eating?

Have you noticed since your WLS and return to regular... Read More

How I Lost 12 Pounds And Had Fun Doing It!

You see it all the time; people agonizing over their... Read More

Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss Lesson #8

Life is extraordinary filled with wonderful people to show up... Read More

Weight Loss: Weight Loss is All in Your Mind!

"The kind of thoughts that you plant in your mind,... Read More

Resistance Training First; Fat Burning Second for Weight Loss

Most men and women that I have trained over the... Read More

When Losing Weight Seems Hopeless

Sometimes it's good to just let the feelings flow. Take... Read More

5 Easy Weight Loss Tips You Can Use Right Now

Sometimes, just the thought of starting on a diet and... Read More

Why Are There Different Diet Types?

Diet is a dreadful word for most of us because... Read More