Why I hate Weight Watchers

Remember a few paragraphs ago when I explained why calorie control was so important to weight loss? Well, Weight Watchers understands the importance of calorie control. They understand it so much in fact that they invented the Weight Watchers Point System. You see, on the Weight Watchers diet plan, you don't worry about calories. You don't count calories. You don't track calories. You don't even think about calories. Instead, there are points. You count points, you track points, you think about points.
Did you see what they did here?
The Weight Watchers diet plan threw out the word calories and replaced it with the word points for the purpose of... uhhh... hmmm... ummm... making money? That is honestly the only purpose I've come up with. Monitoring calories is free. Monitoring points costs money. Silly, isn't it? And don't even try to tell me that counting Weight Watchers points is any easier or simpler than counting plain old calories. Tell me, which sounds better...
You're eating a food. You turn it over. You read the back label. You've got your calories.
OR
You're eating a food. You turn it over. You read the back label You remember that foods don't list "points" in their nutritional information. You go to your computer. You turn it on. You go online. You log in to your Weight Watchers diet plan membership page. You go to the points section. You locate your food. You've got your points.
And for the foods that don't have a label (like when you eat out) you could simply buy a cheap pocket size calorie counter book or just as easily come online and look up how many calories they have (for free) just like you would look up Weight Watchers points. In this case counting points and counting calories require the same amount of effort. The only difference is that counting points puts you at a disadvantage for the majority of foods that do list calories right on them.
So once again, that's:
calories = free and convenient points system = costs money and is inconvenient
The other big catch of the Weight Watchers diet plan is that you are allowed to eat anything you want... in moderation of course. If you've been to this site before, you probably already know my feelings on food cravings and eating in moderation. That is just my personal opinion. But enough about me, let's get back to them. I've seen their advertisements. "Lose weight without giving up the foods you love!" This is their biggest selling point. Lots of times they also include pictures of chocolate cake in the ad. Yes, really. It's a smart idea. People want to lose weight... people love chocolate cake... and now here is this Weight Watchers diet plan telling them they can literally have their cake and eat it too. It must bring in a ton of sales. Good for them.
And in case you're wondering... they aren't lying about this. As long as you stay within your daily calorie range... oh, I'm sorry... your daily POINTS range... you can indeed have a piece of cake and still lose weight. While the quality of food you eat is very important, the whole "staying within your calories/points range" thing is what is most important to the Weight Watchers diet plan. Actually, it's what's most important to ANY effective weight loss program.
The Weight Watchers program isn't special. Like I explained before, your body needs a certain number of calories each day in order to maintain your current weight. If you eat less than this number of calories, you lose weight. If some of those calories happen to come from chocolate cake every now and then (although I'm against that), you'd still lose weight as long as you stay within your calorie range. Nothing specific to the Weight Watchers diet plan makes this possible. They want it to appear like it does, but then again, they also want your money. The ability to eat not-so-great foods "in moderation" and still lose weight is specific to a calorie controlled diet, not Weight Watchers. The only difference is, it costs money to do it on Weight Watchers. You can do it for free anywhere else.
Let's not forget the other big selling point of the Weight Watchers diet plain... the support meetings. You go to these weekly real life meetings with other Weight Watchers people trying to lose weight just like you. I'm not really sure what goes on at these support meetings exactly, but I'm guessing it's a lot of, "Come on, don't give up! You CAN lose weight. We're all behind you 100%. We know you can stick to your diet and workout... we believe in you!" While I would probably pee my pants from laughter at one of these meetings, I am completely aware of and respect the fact that some people need this type of support. For these people, I'm glad such support exists.
And for the people who don't feel like meeting with complete strangers in real life and sitting around chatting about points and weighing each other, the members of the Weight Watchers diet plan also have access to an online support group. This is fine and nice and good and all, but there are literally 100's (probably 1000's) of other online weight loss support groups, forums and chat rooms... and they are all free. Most even have their own specific Weight Watchers section. Once again... the only real difference here is that these other 1000's of groups are free... and the Weight Watcher's group costs money.
This whole "one way is free, one way costs money" thing is becoming a bit of trend here, isn't it?
Another less realized selling point of the Weight Watchers diet plan is that they sort of do some work for you. I've never actually joined this weight loss program, but as far as I can tell THEY are the ones who figure out how many points you're allowed each day. I'm assuming you give them your height, weight, age, activity level, measurements, favorite animal and other very important information, and they then do some diet math and come up with how many points you can eat each day. With calories, you would of course have to figure this information out yourself. Do you know what that means? It means you are basically paying Weight Watchers to do basic math for you.
This is what sells the program to the people with the "I can't sit around adding and subtracting calories all day" type of attitude. Trust me, if you can do 3rd grade addition and subtraction (or at least have a 3rd grader in the family who can) you can easily figure out the whole calories thing. So really, if a person didn't get on the Weight Watchers diet plan for any of the previously mentioned selling points, one can only assume they dropped out of school in the 2nd grade and really do need someone to do the math for them.
Ya know... on second thought... those support meetings are starting to sound a lot more entertaining.
"Hey, how much do you weigh this week?" "I'm not sure, I dropped out of school in the 2nd grade and can't read a scale." "I know what you mean. I had to get my 8 year old neighbor to tell me how much weight I've lost so far."
In conclusion...
So, to sum up, here is what you are essentially paying for as a member of the Weight Watchers diet plan:
- The completely unnecessary Points System. - The ability to eat a food like chocolate cake in moderation, which you could of course do on ANY calorie controlled diet... for free. - A weight loss support group that you could find somewhere else for free. - Basic 3rd grade math.
I know I've joked around a little in this Weight Watchers review, but this list is really real. Honestly, this does seem to be what you're paying them for.
If you didn't join this weight loss program, you would be forced to:
- Count calories for free - Find support somewhere else, for example: Join one of the 100's of free support groups and forums. Find a friend or two (or three) and lose weight together... for free. - Use a calculator. - Save all your money.
So, what is the final conclusion here? Is this weight loss program right for you? I guess only you can really answer that. All I can do is give you my personal opinion. And, in my personal opinion, the Weight Watchers diet plan is a waste of money. To me, you are basically paying for a compilation of features that can either be described as "completely unnecessary" or "available for free somewhere else."
And to me... that just isn't right for anyone.

weight watchers diet plan review -

The most popular weight loss program on the planet is the Weight Watchers diet plan. It's be around since the 1960's and it operates all over the world. I'm sure you've heard of its infamous "points system" and "support meetings." It's huge and well known and most importantly... it works. Let's get that out of the way up front. If followed correctly, the Weight Watchers diet plan really does work. For this reason, most people love it. In a small way, I am one of these people. However, in an even bigger way... I absolutely HATE it. In this article I will give an honest review of this weight loss program including why I love it, why I hate it, and whether or not it would be right for you.
Why I love Weight Watchers
On one hand, I actually do like the Weight Watchers diet plan. Really! I almost... kind of... sort of... really do. Mainly because of the way it compares to the many other popular weight loss programs and diet plans around. Bare in mind, I pretty much hate all of them. However, the reason I sort of like this one is because, unlike the 100's of others, Weight Watchers is actually based on the most simple and basic way the human body loses weight. It's not really based on a fad or a gimmick (like "low carb" for example), but is instead based on calorie control, which is what any weight loss diet SHOULD be based on.
The reason why calorie control should be at the heart of every weight loss program is this; your body requires a certain number of calories each day in order to maintain your current weight. For the sake of an example, we'll pretend this number is 3000 calories. So now, if you started eating 2500 calories a day, you would lose weight. Simple, right? The Weight Watchers diet plan is, for the most part, based on this very simple fact. This is why I like it. However, the fact that the other 100's of diet programs in existence are NOT based on this fact is the reason why I hate every single one of them.
So... what are you thinking now? If the Weight Watchers diet plan IS based on this whole calorie control thing... why exactly do I hate it? Ohhhhhhh boy. You better sit back and get comfortable.
Why I hate Weight Watchers
On the other hand, I hate the Weight Watchers diet plan. Hate it with a passion. Why, you ask? Quite simply, because it took the simple and basic way weight loss happens and turned it into a way to make money. They changed the word "calories" to the more gimmicky word "points" for the sole purpose of appealing to you so they can get your money. "Calories? I don't know anything about calories. I'm just too lazy and stupid to worry about calories. But points? Wow... points seem so simple... here's my credit card!!!!!!!" Hey, money is important. You need it to live. I have no problem with people making money. However, I do have a problem with people making money off something that should be free (and actually is free), and that is why I have a problem with the Weight Watchers diet plan.

Decline Bench Press

Just like the incline, the decline bench press is exactly like the flat bench press, except it is performed on a decline bench. Everything else remains the same. It too can be performed using dumbbells rather than a barbell.
Flat Bench Dumbbell Flyes
1. Lie flat on a bench, feet firmly on floor. 2. Make sure that your butt, back, shoulders, and head are firmly positioned on the bench. 3. Press the dumbbells straight up above you. Your elbows should be slightly bent and your palms should be facing each other. In this position the dumbbells should be touching each other (or pretty close). 4. Keeping a slight bend in your elbows, slowly lower the dumbbells away from each other in an arc. Lower them until a comfortable stretch is felt in the chest area. 5. Raise them along the same arc back to the starting position. (Another way to understand this exercise is to imagine you are hugging a tree.)
- This chest exercise can also be performed on an incline bench and a decline bench.
The all around best and most popular of all the chest exercises is the bench press. Are you having trouble increasing? Is your bench press stuck? If so, go here: tips for increasing your bench press
One other thing that some people don't realize (I know because I get 100's of e-mails like this) is that chest exercises like the flat bench press, incline bench press, decline bench press and dumbbell flyes, or any other chest exercise for that matter, will only help build muscle and increase strength in your chest. Chest exercises DO NOT target any of the fat that is specifically located on your chest. If there is any fat, muscle will be built underneath this fat. You must then work on getting rid of that fat in order to see more "tone and definition" or look more "ripped and cut up" or whatever other fancy words you can think of. The ONLY way to lose fat from ANY part of the body is through either a proper diet, cardio or a combination of both.

Chest exercises for your chest workout

Here you will find a listing of chest exercises to use in your chest workout. Each of the chest exercises listed should be performed with proper form to not only avoid injury, but to also allow the muscle to go through a full range of motion and get the most out of the exercise. To learn how to incorporate these chest exercises into your chest workout and set up a full workout routine and split, go here: workout routines and programs
Flat Bench Press
1. Lie flat on a bench, feet firmly on the floor. Make sure that your butt, back, shoulders, and head are firmly positioned on the bench. 2. Roll your shoulders back and down so the shoulder blades are firmly pressed against the bench and the chest is sticking up. 3. With a slightly wider than shoulder width grip and your palms facing forward, lift the bar off the rack and hold it above you with your arms straight up and extended. 4. Lower the bar down to your chest until it either touches your chest or comes within an inch or so away. Do NOT bounce the bar off your chest. 5. Press the bar straight up until arms are extended.
- This exercise can also be performed using dumbbells. Both methods are effective. - While the bench press is primarily a chest exercise, it also recruits the use of the triceps and shoulders secondarily.
Incline Bench Press
The incline bench press is performed exactly like the flat bench press, except on an incline bench. Everything else remains the same. This chest exercise can also be performed using dumbbells instead of a barbell. Again, both methods are effective.

Tips for increasing your bench press

Question: I have reached a plateau on the bench press. I've been stuck lifting the same weight on the bench press for weeks now. I'm benching the same weight for the same reps now that I was benching about 2 months ago. What can I do to start increasing my bench press again?
Answer: Ah yes, the infamous "increasing your bench press" question. I've heard this so many times because it is extremely common. That is why there is always some stupid "add 50 pounds to your bench press" article in every fitness magazine... anything to make money huh... But getting back to your question, this is very common and happens to EVERYONE. But the good news is, there are a few ways to get past it and start increasing again. Here's how:
*Note, make sure you understand that even if you are able to increase by one rep it means that you ARE able to increase and are not stuck in a plateau. Don't expect to be able to increase your bench by 10 pounds each week, that is impossible.
a) Your problem might be your workout routine and that you are overtraining. Overtraining will cause you to not increase in strength. Someone once e-mailed me asking this same question about increasing your bench press and I asked him to give me his complete workout routine. After looking it over I saw that he was doing each muscle twice a week. I told him that he might be overtraining and recommended that he try doing each muscle once a week. He said he'd try it and mailed me back a couple of weeks after letting me know his bench press was increasing again. Also, doing each muscle too often isn't the only way to overtrain, doing TOO many sets or TOO many exercises can be just as bad.
b) Your problem might be your diet and your weight. If you are on some type of a weight gaining diet, then the chances are that as you increase in your own body weight, you will just as easily be able to increase on your bench press weight. So, if your stuck, you might want to try to add another 100-250 daily calories to your diet, because this will probably give you the added strength you needed to blast out of your bench press plateau and start increasing again.
c) You might need to shock your body. You body might have become used to doing the same exercises, for the same weight, for the same sets, for the same days of the week that it will continue to do the same thing each week. So, change something! If you normally do your chest workout on Monday, try doing it on a different day of the week. Try doing a drop set with your bench presses. Try doing dumbell presses for a week or 2 instead of the regular barbell bench press, then try to bench again. Change something around and shock your body into increasing, it just might work.
d) Your problem could be your triceps. The triceps play a big part in your benching, so make sure they are being worked out correctly.
e) Are you doing any exercises before you bench press? Even if you do something like chest and triceps on the same workout, you should always start off with the bench press as your first exercise because it is a compound movement, and those should always come first in your workouts. Also make sure you are properly stretched and warmed up before you begin.

Cardio: The best time of the day to

his is another time where what I am writing is inspired by questions people have emailed to me. So, be sure to keep those questions coming so I have more material to write about. =]
Now, on to the question. When is the best time of day to do cardio, and why? Well, I bet most people do cardio "whenever they get a chance." Sometimes during the middle of the day, sometimes before bed, sometimes directly after your weightlifting workout, sometimes directly before the weightlifting workout and sometimes first thing in the morning. The truth is, all of those times will get results. It doesn't matter what time of day you do your cardio workout, you will be burning calories every time. BUT, the real question is, which of those times is the most effective? And the answer is (drum roll please).... first thing in the morning!

Doing cardio first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, before you eat anything, is by far, the most effective. Whether you run, jog, walk, swim, jump rope, take an aerobics class, ride a bike, etc., doing it first thing in the morning is the best time to do it for maximum fat loss. Why? Its simple. When you do your cardio workout, you are burning calories. Lets say you wake up, eat breakfast, eat lunch later in the day, and then a few hours after lunch, you do your cardio. All you will be doing during that cardio is burning the calories and carbs of the food you just ate. When you do cardio first thing in the morning, you haven't eaten anything for the last 8 or so hours because you were sleeping. So, when your body sees that there are no carbs to burn, it goes directly to stored bodyfat. And stored bodyfat is the fat that is on your body, which is the fat that you want to lose!
Understand how it works? When you do your cardio sometime during the day other then first thing in the morning, you spend most of that time burning off carbs that you already ate that day. When you do it first thing in the morning, there are no carbs to burn, so all your body can burn is body fat!
Some people have e-mailed me asking what type of cardio I do and I tell them I jog on my treadmill first thing in the morning. Even though I do all of my weightlifting at a gym, I do my cardio in my house on my own treadmill so I can do it first thing in the morning without having to take a shower, get dressed and do whatever else I'd do if I went to the gym to do cardio.

Important weight loss tips for losing weight effectively! (extremely important!)

THE BAD FAT MUST GO! Stay away from "bad" fat! Get rid of all the chips and candy. No more fast food, nothing fried. No more cookies, no more cake, no more of these saturated fats. There is no question about it and there is no way around it, get rid of these types of foods. Don't get me wrong, you should NOT be eating 0 grams of fat every day, but the only places you should be getting your daily fat intake from are lean meats (not the fried fast food kind), chicken (again, not fried!), etc. as well as the foods that contain the "healthy" types of fat, which can be found in just about every type of fish (tuna fish, salmon, fish oil supplements, etc.), nuts, olive oil and flaxseed oil.
- LOWER THE BAD CARBS! Most people think that it is fat that makes people fat and that just by eating less fat, they are on their way to weight loss! WRONG! Certain carbs can be just as bad as fat when it comes to losing weight. Limit foods high in bad carbs. These carbs will eventually turn into fat. Foods like sugar, white bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, etc. are high in simple (bad) carbs. Sure, your body needs carbs, which is why foods like these are ok to eat, but don't go overboard. Stick to high protein/good carb/low fat foods like tuna fish (and other seafood), chicken breast, turkey, whole grains, fruits and vegetables etc. (For more information, go here: Diet Plans And Diets)
- WATER! Drink water! Get rid of the soda, get rid of the beer, and get rid of the sports drinks. Drink around a half gallon a day, more if you can. Spread it out throughout the day, just like your 5 meals. Yes that's a lot of water, but it's that water that will give you energy and speed your weight loss.
- STRENGTH TRAINING! YES! Weightlifting isn't just great for muscles, it's great for losing weight. Muscles burn calories.
- Weigh yourself at the end of every week. If you ever have more then 2 weeks go by without losing 1 pound, it's time to change something. Eat 250 less calories then you've been eating. And keep everything else the same. Each time you see weight loss stop for more then 2 weeks, decrease calorie intake by 250 until you get down to where you want to be. Remember, NEVER starve yourself!
- Sleep! YES! Sleep! The easiest, yet most over looked step. Get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. Trust me, you're gonna need it! =]
- Food cravings! Can't stop giving in to your food cravings? Read this: food cravings
- Still don't understand weight loss yet? Read this: How to lose weight: My day in a weight loss chat room
There you have it. You now know everything you need to know about losing weight. You didn't have to buy any weight loss pills or books on losing weight, instead, you should use the money you just saved and go buy some good food or a gym membership.
Now, I never once said this would be easy. If it was easy, you would have done it already. Losing weight isn't something you can just do "on the side." You also can NOT lose weight fast. You are going to have to dedicate your mind and body and your time to doing it! So, you now have the information you need, all you have to do now is use it.
***NEW*** After years of people requesting it, I have finally sat down and put together a complete guide to weight loss. All of the specifics... all of the details... everything you will EVER need to know. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, you can learn all about it right here: The Intense Workout's Weight Loss Program.
- Want to measure your body fat? Use body fat calipers which you can buy right here: Body Fat Calipers