Weight Watchers Feedback Thread NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the Mumsnetters who are testing out the Weight Watchers programme.

Weight Watchers say: “With 50 years of success behind us we understand how to make losing weight simple, delicious and fun; but we also understand how challenging it can be when you’re facing it alone. Join us to lose weight, feel fantastic and achieve great things. You can follow our healthy eating plan completely online with support from our unique community, or benefit from attending our lively meetings, for personal coaching and weight loss guidance.”

Testers: we'll be asking you to add feedback once a week - we'd like your first impressions now and every week after that, we'll be posting some new questions for you to answer.

So, in terms of your first impressions...

~ Will you be going to meetings, following the plan online or a bit of both?
~ Why did you sign up to test out the Weight Watchers plan?
~ What sorts of foods do you think you'll be eating following the plan? Will it be a big change for you?

Everyone who adds their feedback will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will receive a £100 Asda voucher, good luck!

Please note: your anonymous comments may be used by Weight Watchers on their website and other marketing materials.

Thanks,
MNHQ

Not sure why my phone changed other to otherwise

Congratulations to all today's losers!

Thanks for all your feedback so far :)

Here are this week's feedback questions:

• How did you spend your weekly allowance of 49 ProPoints values last week?
• Have you started any exercise or new activity?
• What do enjoy about your meetings?
• What Weight Watchers tools have you found most useful online?
• Have you been using the Weight Watchers App? If so, do you like it?
• Have you discovered any new foods / tried any new recipes?

How did you spend your weekly allowance of 49 ProPoints values last week?

I didn't have the weekly as it stands. On Simple Start we were given 2 'treats' per day, which apparently did add p to the 49 weekly points, but were spaced out. I didn't use many of my treats - a little extra oil in cooking, and one glass of prosecco when out for a meal.

Have you started any exercise or new activity?

No. I already run, so have just kept that up.

What do enjoy about your meetings?

The talk is inspiring. And can tell that the leader has taken some time to put together notes which are relevant to the time of year etc. Also I enjoy that the only members who are pointed out, are those receiving awards -such as Silver Sevens. No one else is particularly named or asked direct questions.

What Weight Watchers tools have you found most useful online?

i like the recipes. Have found one or two ideas, that I have adapted to fit in with what I have in the fridge.

Have you been using the Weight Watchers App? If so, do you like it?

Yes. I had the Simple Start App for last week, and didn't really use it much. But today I downloaded the full App and it lookslike it will be useful to keep a tally of my Weekly 49 Propoints as I use them.

Have you discovered any new foods / tried any new recipes?

Yes. I made a Biryani yesterday. It wasn't like a traditional biryani, in that it was dry but the spices used gave it quite an authentic flavour. Everyone ate it anyway :)

Oops - I changed my username, but forgot to change it back.

That's me ^

• How did you spend your weekly allowance of 49 ProPoints values last week? - Doing Simple Start I didn't get 49PP, just 2 treats, I did eat those.

• Have you started any exercise or new activity? - No, but I already walk at least 3 miles a day on school runs, then walking to the other activity means I am walking nearer 5 miles a lot of the time.

• What do enjoy about your meetings?

Being a SW veteran I really like that each persons weight lost or a gain are not announced during the meeting, and the shop has a comprehensive range of products. People walked me though where I had to go next (6 areas - registration, weighing, signing in, shop, seats for meeting - and kitchen for hot drinks)

• What Weight Watchers tools have you found most useful online?

Still having problems connecting WW site using my laptop, so haven't been onto the website much as have to borrow DH's laptop, and he doesn't like sharing.

• Have you been using the Weight Watchers App? If so, do you like it?I downloaded the weight watchers app this morning as it is my first day on Filling and Healthy, so haven't got much experience yet, but have been enjoying scanning everything in the house using the barcode scanner, not everything I scanned is in the data base, the box of Thorntons chocolate in the dinning room for example, but I probably shouldn't be eating it anyway!

• Have you discovered any new foods / tried any new recipes? I have been using frozen fruit in yogurt which is lovely, and have cooked one of the soups out of the Simple start booklet. It was a bit of a faff to be honest, so I will probably stick to the old fashioned, chuck all your old veg in a saucepan with stock or water, cook until soft, blend method.

How do you scan things?
I don't seem to be able to do that on my iPhone.

Our leader today said it the app doesn't work fully on the iphone, something to do with the licencing. She says it works on all other phones though.

• How did you spend your weekly allowance of 49 ProPoints values last week?

I was on Simple Start part of the week then switched to counting as it wasn't feasible for me to stay on SS, and I'm a previous WW member. I had a beer a couple of nights, a glass of orange juice one day, and some light soft cheese another day… I think that's it. I didn't use all of my weekly allowance by any stretch of the imagination this week.

• Have you started any exercise or new activity?

Nope, but being on WW seems to be bringing me to my yoga mat more often which is good for more than just the number on the scale, so I'm pleased with that.

• What do enjoy about your meetings?

I'm not attending meetings.

• What Weight Watchers tools have you found most useful online?

The Plan Manager would be an obvious one but the recipes are very useful also.

• Have you been using the Weight Watchers App? If so, do you like it?

I have and I don't really, I find it quite slow and also I find it more easy to find foods on the desktop site, for example, if I've typed something it doesn't like and have to retype, I'm just quicker on an actual keyboard.

• Have you discovered any new foods / tried any new recipes?

Pretty much everything I made last week was a WW recipe, my favourite being the chicken and cannellini bean stew. It's going to be made forever, even when I'm not trying to lose weight! I really want to try quark at some point as I'd never heard of it, so going to try and work that in at some point...

2 weeks done and a total loss of 5lb. Im really happy with that as I'm aiming for 1-2lb a week to get me to goal by the end of the trial, which will be the week before Christmas so great timing.

• I used a few extra pro-points each day, usually for a snack in the evening time. I didn't use them all as I wanted to save a few in case I had miscalcuated some points during the week.

*I haven't been doing any extra exercise really, I have a physical job that keeps me well exercised.

*I haven't got to a meeting yet, and am not sure if I will be able to make it to one. I enjoy tracking on the app and am a bit nervous about the meetings.

*I like the recipes on the website, the advice and success stories.

*I've been using the app since day one, I track everything on it. I like it for logging my food intake but find the database a bit smaller than what I had been used to previously with My Fitness Pal. There also doesnt seem to be a scan function on the I Phone app.

*I have been mostly eating the same things just in smaller quantites. I have made a few low point soups that were lovely.

Well done to everyone on their brilliant losses.

How did you spend your weekly allowance of 49 ProPoints values last week?
Like the others, I started off with Simple Start. That means helping yourself to items from the filling & healthy list, with 2 extra treats per day. The list of treats was incredibly restricted, so glad I am now on filling & healthy with 49 points per week instead. For my extra treats, I tended to not often want them. I did have Weight Watchers yogurts a few times (surprisingly tasty) & a Weight Watchers fruit crumble biscuit once.

Have you started any exercise or new activity?
I decided I wanted to see what sort of weight loss I'd get without an exercise routine. I did start wearing a pedometer though (my Wii Fit U Fit Meter) & that really encouraged me to walk much more than usual.

What do enjoy about your meetings?
I like sharing in other people's success, plus hearing their tips. It also felt good being able to add my glass beads to the group's jar.

What Weight Watchers tools have you found most useful online?
The Weight Watchers website does have some useful tips & recipes. Would be nice if more recipes were available.

Have you been using the Weight Watchers App? If so, do you like it?
I'm not keen on the app. The Simple Start one could do with more recipe suggestions. The main WW app I find really awkward to navigate. It's nice to track my weight, but tracking food is a very laborious process. The search facility doesn't pick up many of the meals I found on the website. I therefore have to go to the website & click the track button there - really defeats the purpose of the app imho.

Have you discovered any new foods / tried any new recipes?
I've made fresh popcorn for the 1st time - just sprinkle on cinnamon & it's surprisingly tasty. The problem was getting the kids to leave some for me! The turkey burgers & salsa (Weight Watchers recipe) were incredibly tasty too. We'll definitely be having those again. The Weight Watchers bread is nice too.

Before I started, I was adamant I would not change my bread or milk (semi skimmed to skimmed), but after chatting to my group leader, I followed her tips & discovered I actually prefer skimmed. I've also really taken to porridge made with just oats, skimmed milk & cinnamon. I can't quite believe it.

• How did you spend your weekly allowance of 49 ProPoints values last week?

I only used about 2 propoints out of my weekly allowance. And I had two bars of choc that day! I found I didn't need them as I ate plenty within my daily allowance.

• Have you started any exercise or new activity?

Yes, I have some dance workout dvds. I love doing dance workouts as I am concentrating so hard trying to get the steps right, I don't notice I've turned into a sweat puddle!

• What do enjoy about your meetings?

I haven't been to any yet, but hopefully I can make one this week.

• What Weight Watchers tools have you found most useful online?Â

I haven't went onto the website this week, but I've used the app to count points in things and to record my points throughout the day.

• Have you been using the Weight Watchers App? If so, do you like it?

Yes, see above. It's good for what I use it for. Database could be better though.

• Have you discovered any new foods / tried any new recipes?

No new recipes this week, but I'll check some out for the next week.

I have stevia on my shredded wheat now which is just like sugar.

• How did you spend your weekly allowance of 49 ProPoints values last week?

I had a couple of social occasions so sine points on alcohol and I also don't bother counting milk in tea so that comes out of it. I like being able to go over a point or two and not worry.

• Have you started any exercise or new activity?

Yes I'm doing Zumba twice a week and the squat challenge.

• What do enjoy about your meetings?

Don't go, my idea of hell.

• What Weight Watchers tools have you found most useful online?

I use the app and quite like it apart from being unable to scan as on an I phone I find it quick and easy to track or plan throughout the day.

• Have you been using the Weight Watchers App? If so, do you like it?

As above sorry.

• Have you discovered any new foods / tried any new recipes?

I've bought some ingredients to make one of the cakes cos I do miss cake!!

A warning to fellow testers I received an e-mail from WW this morning saying that they had tried and failed to get the money for my monthly pass from my account (yes, I don't have any in there until payday!) and they will make one further attempt before my membership is cancelled.

If any of you have money in your account they may have taken it and depending on the type of account, could leave you with charges. This would have happened to me if I had put it on my other account.

I will report this post to Mumsnet so that they can sort it out.

That's not good. Thanks for letting us know.

Um mumsnet, weight watchers have also submitted an order for £21 ish from my PayPal account. What is this about please?

I'll report these threads so mumsnet sees.

Not good on getting charged, hopefully MN can sort this out for everyone.

I had my at-home weekly weigh in this morning and I lost 7lb. I am somewhat sceptical but that is what the scale says! I am going to check its batteries tonight just in case - I was already at a 'healthy weight' when I started WW (although my clothes don't fit) and didn't think this level of weight loss was possible in one week at that stage. But if it is legit, I am thrilled.

That's not good getting charged, I might need to pop into the bank and get an early Credit card statement to see if it has happened to me too.

Hopefully Mumsnet will let us know what is happening soon.

On a more positive note, about half the testers have posted their weeks weight loss, the week one total so far is almost 50 pounds.

Hi everyone, thanks for flagging this. We're looking in to why you're getting charged.

Blimey. Will they pay people's charges too? This isn't great really is it mn?

Teladi that's a great loss! I weigh in tomorrow so here's hoping.

Good luck for your weigh in, Eva! I am still not sure about mine, I just don't know how I can drop so much in one week, I mean where did it go??

Hi everyone, very sorry to hear that some of you have been charged for your memberships.

We've looked into this for you and Weight Watchers have said "Sorry for any inconvenience caused - as you know, no Mumsnetters should have been charged for their membership and this is a simple misunderstanding. We are rectifying the issue and anyone who has been charged will be refunded."

If anyone has any further issues, could you please PM me and I'll look into it for you :)

Oh I missed your update Teladi - that is brilliant!!

Was that following Simple Start ?