Are you a Weight Watcher?
My wife and I have never really been 'diet' people. We've gone through a few of the 'lifestyle' things to try and understand what would work to a) lose the extra pounds we've both gained through years of eating too much of the wrong things while getting insufficient exercise, and b) to properly balance the multitude of different nutrients and diet components so we improve and sustain our health. Some things have worked better than others, and nothing has really stuck with us over a longer term.
We have a dear friend who is one of those irritating people who has never had a weight 'problem', and did not need to lose any - but she was interested to learn how Weight Watchers worked so she could help her husband lose extra pounds as he aged. What she shared with us was enough to get my wife to look into it. She joined Weight Watchers online, shared what she was learning with me (since I do most of the cooking for us), and now we will try to share some of the insights we've gathered here.
Most people (who aren't 'WW' folks) think of this 'program' as nothing more than 'counting calories'. Some think you have to give up all your favorite foods. Still others believe 'it is all about portion control'. Well folks, it is both none and all of those things.
If your favorite foods are those with loads of fats and empty calories, then yes, you may have to give up some things. If you insist on eating all of your favorite things, then it really is 'all about portion control'. And yes, calories do factor into things, as taking in more calories than your body (and lifestyle) can burn will result in extra pounds on your frame. No two ways about it.
BUT...
If you really dig into what Weight Watchers is all about, you will find your culinary interests expanding to new and delicious areas. You will find that you don't 'need' to eat junk when - with just a little bit of preparation and some changes to what's in your pantry and refrigerator - you can prepare amazing meals and have fun at the same time.
The first thing many people think they'll need to do without are those delicious and rich dressings and sauces that accompany so many of our favorite dishes. You know what I'm talking about. The ranch dressing you use on salads, the creamy Alfredo you bury your pastas in, the tartar sauce you have with your fish. Guess what? YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES using ingredients which will cut the calorie counts in those sauces and dressings by as much as NINETY percent - and they are every bit as savory and delicious as anything you can buy in the store. So check out our Sauces and Dressings page!
We have a dear friend who is one of those irritating people who has never had a weight 'problem', and did not need to lose any - but she was interested to learn how Weight Watchers worked so she could help her husband lose extra pounds as he aged. What she shared with us was enough to get my wife to look into it. She joined Weight Watchers online, shared what she was learning with me (since I do most of the cooking for us), and now we will try to share some of the insights we've gathered here.
Most people (who aren't 'WW' folks) think of this 'program' as nothing more than 'counting calories'. Some think you have to give up all your favorite foods. Still others believe 'it is all about portion control'. Well folks, it is both none and all of those things.
If your favorite foods are those with loads of fats and empty calories, then yes, you may have to give up some things. If you insist on eating all of your favorite things, then it really is 'all about portion control'. And yes, calories do factor into things, as taking in more calories than your body (and lifestyle) can burn will result in extra pounds on your frame. No two ways about it.
BUT...
If you really dig into what Weight Watchers is all about, you will find your culinary interests expanding to new and delicious areas. You will find that you don't 'need' to eat junk when - with just a little bit of preparation and some changes to what's in your pantry and refrigerator - you can prepare amazing meals and have fun at the same time.
The first thing many people think they'll need to do without are those delicious and rich dressings and sauces that accompany so many of our favorite dishes. You know what I'm talking about. The ranch dressing you use on salads, the creamy Alfredo you bury your pastas in, the tartar sauce you have with your fish. Guess what? YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES using ingredients which will cut the calorie counts in those sauces and dressings by as much as NINETY percent - and they are every bit as savory and delicious as anything you can buy in the store. So check out our Sauces and Dressings page!