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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think weightwatchers meetings are toe-curlingly bad?

55 replies

Momsnatter · 29/09/2013 23:04

Went to my first ww meeting on Friday. I was given a piece of string "to keep things in balance" and then the leader rang a bell for people who had reached their target.
I came away feeling patronised and decidedly de-motivated!
Plus the leader was nasal and giggly. Not her fault I know but I can't face going back.
Are they all this bad? Was really like something out of Little Britain.

OP posts:
FlapJackFlossie · 29/09/2013 23:11

Try Slimming World - never hungry, leaders are motivated, and you will lose weight.

Original poster
Momsnatter · 29/09/2013 23:13

Aren't they just the same though?

OP posts:
SmellyFartado · 29/09/2013 23:14

Find another meeting in your area as your current WW leader sounds like a loon. Good leaders are what keep you going back and staying motivated.

Kayakinggirl86 · 29/09/2013 23:15

No they are not all like that, do go to other meetings till you find a leader that is right for you.

Haggischucker · 29/09/2013 23:16

Most leaders are really good but there are some mad ones! Mine was ace and I lost 5.5 stones. I couldn't get on with slimming world, I really liked weightwatchers :)

Pimpf · 29/09/2013 23:18

My leader is terrible too. I don't stay for the meetings. My motivation is I'm not paying that money to be told I've put weight on, so I make sure I (mostly) good!

Original poster
Momsnatter · 29/09/2013 23:21

I'll try a different one then. Didn't know if I was just being a snob about it all as the others there didn't seem to bat an eyelid.

It honestly felt like I'd walked onto the set of a bad sitcom.

OP posts:
Original poster
Momsnatter · 29/09/2013 23:23

Know what you mean pimpf. I switched from the online version as I was paying good money to stuff my face!

OP posts:
Maggietess · 29/09/2013 23:24

Op you are totally right. I did we a number of years ago and dear god it was patronising... The food lecture "you should all eat broccoli and lettuce, here's some ideas for broccoli, don't eat chips instead" it was horrific.

Recently joined sw... It was no better. Room full of people, we did clap clap eveonenhas lost weight and then 2 or 3 patronising older ladies just took over telling everyone what they were doing wrong and how you should do it.

One of them then every other sentence went on about an air fryer bring the only way to lose weight.... Cheeky bint only admitted 45 long and tedious minutes later she's on commission for them!!!

They are horrific horrific places ime. I'm sure it works for some but god not me... I'm still fat slightly more rotund than I should be mind you so perhaps ignore meGrin

Maggietess · 29/09/2013 23:25

Ww not we

Diaduitpuisin · 29/09/2013 23:28

My first WW leader was a dour b who looked like she was chewing wasps at every meeting. She (at least for me) created a negative atmosphere.

I had to change meetings due to changing jobs and I was apprehensive about the meeting but the difference in leader was astounding. My new leader is bubbly with just the right amount of sarcasm.

Definitely try a different leader Momsnatter You might be surprised. Have to admit, I'd run for the hills if I had to go to a meeting like the one you described.

Good luck.

MrsWembley · 29/09/2013 23:31

Yy, do shop around, it's all about finding a good fit, as it were.Grin

My SW meetings are a giggle and I speak as someone who first did SW years ago online, because (as I tell everyone when I see people wondering if I'm a rude and judgy bitch), 'I'm not a joiner...'

If this one didn't do it for you try another night in another area. We get someone covering for our leader sometimes and you can see all of us regulars wincing if something outside of our comfort zones happens!

TheHappyEverAfterFairy · 29/09/2013 23:33

I think it's the luck of the draw really, as much down to the personality of the group leader as the banner they're there under. I have been a member of slimming world several times (lost plenty but put it back on as it taught me nothing about portion control and not eating for the sake of it) so I've sat through a fair few SW sessions and on the whole they were dismal. Just a whizz around everyone in the room saying how much they'd lost, asking what they'd done and lots of clapping. Awful.

By comparison I joined ww for the first time on Thursday and thought the leader and session were really good. No guff. No pretending to understand dietetics. Just simple sensible discussion about staying motivated, portion control and planning.

Viviennemary · 29/09/2013 23:34

Some weightwatchers leaders are dreadful. But the SW ones are worse. I went down to my local meeting a while back and looked in the room and thought no way can I spend half an hour with that lot and went home.

KeemaNaanAndCurryOn · 29/09/2013 23:35

I did ww where I used to live and it was brilliant.
Tried it here and the woman who runs it is rude to her helpers and comes out with stuff like "would you rather be a Christmas pudding or a Christmas cracker". fuck ooooooooooooooooooof.

Original poster
Momsnatter · 29/09/2013 23:36

Thing is I know it's really tough to lose weight. I've tried and failed loads of times. So I know encouragement is important but at the same time I don't want it to be a big deal.
Very conflicted about the whole thing!

OP posts:
Original poster
Momsnatter · 29/09/2013 23:38

Yy keema those EXACT words were used! No one replied. Criiinge.

OP posts:
Bumpotato · 29/09/2013 23:39

Slimming world is worse I think. The bit where you all take in something diet-y and "slimmer of the week" wins it makes me cringe.

Darkesteyes · 29/09/2013 23:41

I go to Slimming World Lost 10 stone the first time My story is on the linked thread.

Keema that WW leader is obviously a female mysogynist and i would have told her that to her face.

Original poster
Momsnatter · 29/09/2013 23:43

Must be a weightwatchers phrase though Darkest unless keema was at my meeting!

OP posts:
Original poster
Momsnatter · 29/09/2013 23:43

Did you keep it off Darkest?

OP posts:
FlapJackFlossie · 29/09/2013 23:43

Bumpotato - I won it the 4th week I was there. Lots of lovely goodies and eaties.......... and it is motivating Smile

But each to his own an' all that !

EBearhug · 29/09/2013 23:44

This thread is making me think, that's exactly why I've never done either of them. But I do have a friend who lost 7 stone with SW, so it suits some people.

timidviper · 29/09/2013 23:44

I think they are all equally awful. I felt embarrassed to cringing point every time I went and kept hearing the Little Britain phrase "Eat Dust" every time they discussed how to make something awful vaguely appetising.

I once went to a meeting led by a painfully thin woman who told us how her family were appalled at her in a swimsuit but she continued to diet as she thought she looked fabulous in designer clothes. Not a good advert.

They would not be in business if their diets worked either!