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The Weight Watchers weight loss program is a popular weight loss program which many people choose. The pros to following the program far outweigh the cons.

The Pros:

1) It is a safe way to lose weight while getting all the necessary nutrients. You learn to follow either the Flex or the Core Plan; there are instructions for vegetarians and nursing mothers following the plan too so no one is left out. It is good for teens through the elderly. If you listen to the meeting leader and read the booklets that are handed out to you, you should choose at least five servings of vegetables and fruits, a couple of servings of protein, some whole grains, milk products, fats and plenty of water for a very well-rounded, healthy program.

2) You should experience continued weight loss which is monitored by the Weight Watchers staff and your doctor. If you are following the program and don't lose weight, you can approach the meeting leader, and she will go over your journal and figure out what you are doing wrong with the program.

3) It is liveable; you can enjoy eating while you learn to measure portions on the Flex Plan and count points or you can eat until you are in the "comfort zone" while following the Core Plan. There is a set daily amount of pounts for you based on your current weight, and you can use 35 extra points weekly either at one special occasion or broken into smaller increments during the week.

4) You get a strong support system with this program: It has caring meeting leaders, and you can make friends at meetings or online.

5) It can be followed without attending meetings with the purchase of the program's books, Pointsfinder, Activityfinder, and food scale, measuring cups and spoons.

6) Many doctors recommend this program as being a healthy and safe way to lose and then maintain weight if you follow it correctly and stick with it as mine did.

7) The health benefits far outweigh any inconveniences in adjusting your lifestyle to the program. After following the program awhile, many people experience improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar and other health issues.

8) You can prepare dishes ahead, divide them into individual portions, and freeze them. You can also divide snacks into individual portions and bag or wrap them to be used when you're in a hurry.

The Cons:

1) The costs of meeting fees can be prohibitive, and some people stop going to supportive meetings because of this. Some people cannot even afford to buy the food scale or suggested pedometer used for figuring walking distance on the fitness part of the plan.

2) Some people tend to go on and off the program because of difficulty sticking with the measuring as part of their lifestyle on the Flex Plan, but some of these people switch to the Core Plan and do alright.

3) Proper planning food shopping of all the food items prevents some people from continuing with the program.

4) People often complain that they reach a plateau in weight loss and become frustrated and leave the program.

5) A fitness program is required with it in order to continue to lose weight, reach goal weight, and maintain weight later on. Some people cannot do the fitness program of recommended walking or other exercise and are unable to reach goal weight because of that.

6) A lot of food preparation is suggested, and some people don't want to be bothered with it. They fall back into their old eating habits.

It's up to you whether you will choose the Weight Watcher's weight loss program or not, but experience has shown that it works well for the majority of people who join it and persist in following it. I've read testimonies of people who've lost the weight and gained it back, and they usually end up going back to it because they say it works.

Learn more about this author, Annetherese McCorkell.
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