Cheap Weight Loss: My Fitness Pal

So if you actually read this blog, you might know that I used to be a Weight Watchers rat.  I did (stress, did) like Weight Watchers.  I was able to drop 26 pounds on them back in 2010.  So why am I not a member or fan now?

-  The monthly fee jumped up to $43 a month.  It just seems like a lot. You think of all the members in the world and that is a whole lot of money.  I wish I founded Weight Watchers.  We're poor and I'm cheap so $43 a month is best spent on other things.

-  I don't care what the experts say - this new plan does not work with my lifestyle.  I joined back in February to drop about 10 pounds I regained and I tracked and I worked out and I was cautious with what I ate.  The problem is, for whatever reason, I was hungry on the plan.  I don't know why.  I wasn't really that hungry on the old Points program.  Something with Points Plus does not jive for me.  In 8 weeks back on WW, I was only down just under 2 pounds.  Not worth $88 in my mind.

-  Call me a snob, but I didn't jive with the people at my meeting.  Due to the kids' schedule and the husband's schedule, I was limited in which meeting I could attend.  So I did - and the people were just of a different breed than me.  I couldn't relate to their struggles.  Like one time some lady was talking about how her husband surprised her with a cruise to the carribean and it was "soooo hard" to stay on track and she wished she had known so she could have planned for it.  I feel like I win the lottery when my husband surprises me by bringing home a donut from Dunkin' Donuts whether I plan for it or not.    I also didn't really like the leader.  She went off once on how it's a myth that fruits are free points and they really aren't.  No one gets to Weight Watchers from eating too much fruit - so telling us we're doomed if we eat 6 servings of fruit a day just makes me roll my eyes.  I'm not paying to listen to this crap.

I went on My Fitness Pal and lost the last 8 pounds on my own.  It was free.  It was motivating.  It was something different.  There are a bunch of free weight loss tracking tools out there on the web and phone that pretty much give you Weight Watchers for free - Loseit.com is another one.  SparkPeople.com is another.

So if you something about October and apples makes you want to get in shape - know that you can do it for cheap by skipping Weight Watchers.  I did - and everything I say is perfect and accurate.

BOGO Month at Weight Watchers

Only 5 1/2 more weeks until Memorial Day.  Are your love handles a little too big?  Are your thighs a rumbling?  Join Weight Watchers now until 4/21 through their website and get one month free.  That's a savings of $42.95.  The monthly fee includes access to their E-Tools and unlimited monthly meetings.  Most people go once a week.  But you can get your money's worth and go every day.  They might think you're weird, but whatever works.  

Weight Watchers offers $7 through Ebates - but I'm not sure if you can combine it with the BOGO offer.  I did join once through Ebates and the BOGO offer and did get both, so it's worth a shot.  

If you haven't seen the new Charles Barkley WW ads - they are pretty darn hysterical.  I'm easily amused though.  

I've been on Weight Watchers for about 5 weeks now and I'm only down 2 pounds (10 pounds left to lose until I reach my goal weight...again).  I've added Body Pump to my schedule and do it 2-3 times a week.  I've probably been doing it for 7 or 8 weeks now.  Apparently this is "excessive" weight training to my WW leader (if you don't' know what body pump is - you pretty much just lift weights for an hour while listening to "motivating" music) and is inhibiting me from dropping weight fast.  I don't care.  My pants fit me again and I'll hold off wearing shorts until I have to.  I don't really buy the whole "muscle weighs more than fat" nonsense.  I mean - if I were a body builder, sure.  But there is still some chub that can leave my body.  Once that does, then I can claim the whole "muscle weights more than fat" stuff.  

Are You Fat?

If so, you may want to check out Weight Watchers.  They are having an open house all day today from 8am-4pm at their new location in Hingham (on Lincoln St. - next to the Stop & Shop on 3A).  They'll have prizes, refreshments and special offers.  If you are nice, they'll probably sucker you into joining if you are on the fence.

I believe Hanover and Quincy are also having an open house.  See that girl down below?  She's happy because goes to Weight Watchers.  I'm too poor to continue my Weight Watchers membership.  Isn't that sad?  Someday I may be able to smile like her once again.