Forever Fighting Fat: The Never Ending Weight Loss Journey

Review of Weight Watchers Momentum Plan Books: Week 3

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I decided it would be a good idea to provide a very brief overview of each of the new books in the 2009 Weight Watchers Momentum Plan. In case you're unaware, when you join Weight Watchers, you get a new pamphlet/book each week for the first ten weeks that you're a member. Each of these books is designed to help you with some aspect of losing weight. Week two was designed to help with increasing activity. Week three is set up to help you stay ahead of hunger, which is the title of the booklet.

Book 3: Listening to Your Body's Signals
Stay Ahead of Hunger

 

It's been mentioned by several people that the Momentum plan is not a big change from the Flex and Core Plans used for the last few years. As a matter of fact, it's been called the "Flore" plan by some as it incorporates the best of both programs (IMHO).  However, if there has been a shift, it's more in the direction of getting members to eat healthy as opposed to "lose weight." After all, one can be at her correct weight and still be unhealthy. But, if you're healthy, you will naturally be at your correct weight (whatever that is).  One of the reasons I'm such a proponent of Weight Watchers is because they've never been an organization that's out to con people with quick fixes or false promises; it's always been about the health and changing habits. That said, this program takes it the furthest.

Table of Contents

This pamphlet/book/booklet (I don't know what to call it) has several section in the TOC:

• Introduction
• Understand the power of your body's signals
• Recognize hunger, satisfaction, and fullness
• Respond in a healthy way
• Your next steps

Introduction

In this brief section, WW sets the stage for the booklet, pointing out how important it is to understand your body's signals about hunger and food.

These couple of paragraphs set the stage for the remainder of the book. There's also a very brief blurb promoting how Week 5 and Week 6 will be of value too. I think that's clever as it helps people realize there's more on the way.

Understand the power of your body's signals

This section (which includes a recipe for roasted fennel and carrots for zero points!) starts getting the reader to be aware of the "just right" feeling and provides a tip on the "Smartest Strategy" to accomplish it. They're trying to get readers to understand there is a wide gradient between empty and full. Extremes won't cut it.

Recognize hunger, satisfaction, and fullness 

Now we're getting into the "meat" of the proposal with some specific steps understand where on the  "hunger scale" you fall. In a nutshell (what's with all the food metaphors?) there are three basic stages:

Hungry
Satisfied
Full

Review of Weight Watchers Momentum Plan Books: Week 2

Since I've been following Weight Watchers 2009 Momentum Plan for a month now -- and since I'm actually taking the time to (re)read all the books that come with it, I figured it couldn't hurt to "review" each week's materials.  Because I am a firm believer that the program only works if you go to the meetings (after all, if you could lose the weight at home, you would have already lost it, wouldn't you?), and because I don't want to give away any secrets to non-members, I'll just go over it on a light sense. Although the intent isn't necessarily to drive you to a Weight Watchers meeting if you're not already going, I truly do believe in the program and think it will do virtually anybody who tries it a world of good. (If you'd like to read all my postings related to the Momentum in one click, follow this link. If you'd like to read about Weight Watchers new materials, follow this link.)

Book 2:
Activity Basics -- START MOVING MORE

 

One of the changes that took place when Weight Watchers switched to the Momentum Plan is that they modified the Good Health Guidelines to now include "at least 30 minutes of activity a day on most days of the week." Weight Watchers has almost always (at least as far back as the eighties) included a push on activity, right down to the four-way approach they have at the beginning of their materials and on their flip charts we use to teach the members;  but this is the first time they've included it in their Good Health Guidelines. 

What does that mean?

Weight Watchers New 2009 Plan (Momentum) Went Live Sunday!

Alrighty then, I just finished watching the official DVD for the new Weight Watchers Momentum plan, which went live today. It's a video for leaders of how to do the "Getting Started Session" (which is how we explain the program to new members). I had seen it before at Innovations, but I wanted to make sure it all made sense. So, diligently, with my 2009 Weight Watchers leaders materials and my "read along" book, I watcher the trainer and leader on video show a roomful of new Weight Watchers members how to get started.My first meeting is Monday at noon so I needed to be ready. (She has some idiosyncrasies in her speaking that drive me crazy but aside from that, it was a good thing to watch.)

 

The biggest difference between the old and new Weight Watchers Plans?