Spinoff: how long to wait to go back to weightwatchers?

[maisiedotes]

Inspired by mamahippo's post: how long is a good amount of time to wait before going back to weightwatchers meetings? I am pushing 200 lbs (about 70 lbs above my goal weight). I was (somehow) at my original starting weight pre-pregnancy. I hold the land speed record for joining weight watchers, I will have you know! People have told me to wait 2 months but I don't know that I will want to wait so long. Any thoughts?

[*Lindsey*]

Before beginning a weight-loss program, it is important to get physician approval. It is generally recommended that breastfeeding women wait for 6-8 weeks before attempting active weight loss, as the body needs time to recover from childbirth and establish a good milk supply.

From here

[maisiedotes]

Dang. Well, I am hoping I am one of the lucky girls whose weight falls off while breastfeeding... Thanks for the info. I frequent the WW website and didn't even know that nursing section existed.

[Heather Marie]

I worked for Weight Watchers until very recently and I think their official policy is 6 weeks after you have had a baby to attend meetings/weigh in. If you want to go back to meetings/weigh in prior to 6 weeks you are 'supposed' to have a doctors note giving you the green light, but I know not all Receptionist/Leaders follow that policy may not ask you for any note.

I know the program works and plan to start the program again after I have the baby. I think I am going to hold off until the first of the year. I want to get nursing established and get through the holiday crunch.

Remember, they give extra points for nursing mothers. I think it is an additional 10 points per day.

And just a heads up that the program will be changing again this year. Usually towards the end of the year they make tweaks or changes. I don't know how much it is changing, but do know there will be some changes.

[*Lindsey*]

Originally Posted by maisiedotes

Dang. Well, I am hoping I am one of the lucky girls whose weight falls off while breastfeeding... Thanks for the info. I frequent the WW website and didn't even know that nursing section existed.

You're welcome.

[LittleBrownDog]

I'm planning on going back after the new year- Il'l be at or nearly two months post-partum, and I know I wouldn't do well through the holidays. Plus they tend to have membership sales and things with the new year, so I might as well save a few bucks, too!

[TulikaEma]

I'm going back as soon as I can--I might not try to loose weight at the very begining (I want to make sure that nursing is well established) but I really need others to kick me in the rear end to eat well. I've been eating well durring the pregnancy, but mostly because I have no appetite and junky food makes me feel so sick--but I suspect this will change once the baby is here, and I don't want to slip back into bad habits. And, once I start trying to loose, I'll have a lot to loose...

[Curlita]

I'm going back ASAP... a couple weeks after if they will let me. I had just made lifetime before I got pregnant, and I know that I have three months after the baby is born to get back to goal weight if I don't want to start paying again. And I pretty much need the motivation of the meetings to get my eating habits back to where they should be. I might not jump in with both feet and start counting points immediately, but I need to get to meetings to maintain my motivation.

I've gained 70 lbs with this pregnancy. Last time around, the first 35 pounds came off pretty quickly. That leaves me with another 25 or so pounds to take off to get to my goal weight.

[boogiemonster]

I'd say don't put too much pressure on yourself. I was STARVING when I BF'd my DD. I lost weight without much effort when she weaned (at one year). I think it's really important to listen to your body while you're nutritionally supporting another little person. If you're hungry, EAT.

[yogachick79]

Wow, it's cool to see how many other WW mamas there are here ! I'm planning on going back 6-8 wks pp but will also see how I am feeling and doing and may hold off until the new year. But I will def be going back. I love WW and it's the only thing that's ever helped me keep my weight in a good range long term.

[Curlita]

Originally Posted by yogachick79

I love WW and it's the only thing that's ever helped me keep my weight in a good range long term.

Hear hear. On WW I FINALLY learned how to tell when I was hungry or full. I had long ago overridden my hunger sensors so many times that they were defunct. Unfortunately, they are out of commission again. I just can't seem to be moderate without a support group!

[GinaRae]

I've never used WW. But with all these WW mamas in my DDC, I may give it a try after the New Year.

I lost 100 pounds with TOPS before, though I didn't really follow their program, the group meetings and weigh-ins kept me going towards a goal. They used a scale like the doctor with the sliding pieces at the top and they would count every 1/4 of a pound. It was awesome to see even just 1/4 of a pound come off in a week.

I lost my 100th pound the week I found out I was (ooops!) preggo with my last son. I WAS SO UPSET!!!!

I gained a ton in pregnancy and after and now I am at al all-time high (good thing I am tall!) and would like to get back to where I was when I got pregnant with Jack. That was a good weight for me.

[maisiedotes]

I was 133 when I met DH and now I am pushing 200. It is certainly not all baby weight. I can't believe I was EVER 133. I would love to get back to even 150... someday... I loved WW because of the group support and knowing I had to get on the scale each week and for shame if I didn't lose weight! The fact that someone else would see my weight and that the meeting would be full of people who lost weight that week was so motivating for me. On the weeks that I didn't lose, I felt bad hearing people announcing that they lost 3 lbs or whatever.

[GinaRae]

I typically gain 3-5 pounds of water weight close to my period, and the TOPS meetings were filled with older women past menopause, I would skip those weigh in weeks so i didn't feel bad about myself

[Grace24]

Maybe our DDC will all turn up on the WW thread in the health and fitness forum in January!

I've never done WW but found out about the nursing mothers program... I'm more likely to do that than go back to Jenny Craig... I have a family to feed now, so those little boxes of individual servings aren't really very convenient anymore. Still, J.C got me looking hot right before I met DH!

I think I'm going to wait and see how much comes off easily from BFing, and then if I need additional help getting back into my clothes I'll try WW. I plan to give it a few months at least, but who knows maybe I'll get impatient and suddenly join WW one day. I get like that, suddenly impatient with my weight and then I know it's time to take action.

[scheelimama]

Weight Watchers??? What's that??? And why oh why would I want to torture myself so. :

ETA: I really don't believe in dieting. But I will begin running (or at least that's the current plan) in January. I'll wait 2 months before I start exercising.

[xelakann]

I love WW... I did the "core" program... I just couldn't lose weight counting with points (I was also training for a marathon at the time so it was hard adjusting to all the exercise points I'd rack up).

How are you guys going to do it with babies? Can you bring the babies to the weigh ins? I won't have child care for the meeting that are near me.

It was so convenient before, I worked at Intel and we'd have the meetings right there. Now I will be a SAHM.

[Heather Marie]

Babies and children are welcomed at our local meetings.

[TulikaEma]

I did core too and loved it--after the first couple of weeks I stopped craving sweets and fried foods and started craving veggies and lean things--it was so powerful for me! And I agree, I totally learned to tell when I was not actually hungry--a sensation I had never actually felt before WW. Its why I am excited to go back...the structure really helps me eat well, work out etc. I started out wanting to loose weight, but got so much more out of it. (Ok, done with my I love ww rant...)

The meeting that I went to had several woman who took their children. I think most meetings are open to children and babies. I'm planning on just taking the kiddo along with me--if s/he is too restless for the meetings, then I will plan on going when DH can stay home with the babe...

[GearGirl]

I've never done weight watchers, but I am going to try it after this baby. I've gained 40 pounds (yikes), and I do have excess fluid so hopefully a good bit will come off, but I gained weight while bfing my dd. I was absolutely starving, and I think I put on at least 10 pounds bfing. I'm sure it helps disciplined people lose weight, but people like me who eat when they are hungry or think they are can definitely gain weight or find it hard to lose weight. I can NOT do that again! Since this is my last baby, I want to really be in shape! I will start around the New Year as well, and will excercise around the 6 week mark.