Meeting questions....

[rachel196]

Okay I wanna start meetings but I have 4 questions....


What happens at your first meeting?
What kinds of tools etc do you receive from WW or do you have to pay for them?
DO you have to go EVERY week? Can I go every other week?
Can you keep your weight private from others?
thanks!

[dmarkey]

Hi Rachel,

Ok.... let's see if I can remember it all. If not, I trust someone else will pipe in and fill in the blanks.

First, let me qualify everything I'm saying by letting you know how it is at my meeting. From what I read on the boards it varies in other locations - so this is just a guideline for you.

At least at my WW meeting, there are different ways of paying. Individual sites can vary. There may or may not be a registration fee.

1). One choice is a 10-week pack of meeting coupons for $99. (Not sure of the exact price, it recently went up, so the amount could be somewhat off). If using that discounted 10 pack, you pay each week, whether you go or not.
2). Another plan allows you to pay by the week and only on the weeks you go, but it's more expensive.

I chose to use the 10 week pack, because I figured if I knew I had to pay for it, I would go more regularly. There may be other options available.

The first week you go and sign up, weigh in, attend the meeting and plan to stay after. It takes about 10 minutes or so and they go over the plan for newcomers or people returning to WW. I would recommend staying for that. You can ask questions at that time.

You get the Getting Started booklet, which has a LOT of information in it, also a points finder and I'm not sure if there's anything else or not. This is included in the price.

If you wish to purchase the Food Companion (a listing of most foods, including the Points or whether it's Core), and there's also a book called "Dining Out", which tells you what the point values are for several restaurants. I bought both. You can do that later, if you want. There's enough info in the Getting Started book to get you going.

Naturally, there are other things for purchase when and if you are interested.

They do not announce to the group what you weigh. They do give recognition for people who have lost weight in 5 pounds increments. It's very motivating.

Each week, the meeting has a topic for the entire group (so you might feel like they are speaking Greek when you go to your first few meetings). That's why it's important to stay for the information meeting after your first meeting.

Once you have paid for the week (and the week begins on Sunday) you may attend as many other meetings as you would like.

I hope that answered your questions. If you have any more.... ask away.

Good luck :-)
Diane

[reelriot]

After the week 1 booklet and the pts slider and welcome book that your receive in week 1- you will receive weeks 2 through 12 either a panphlet, booklet , recipe card or bookmark and in week 3 you receive an activty pts slider as well. IN addition every once in a while they hand out other things- recently we got a wow magazine and also a recipe pamphelt for carrots.

It is best to go every week- that way you are accountable and can tell how you are doing. the most cost efficient plans are for you to attend weekly and you pay whether you attend or not. Make it a rule to always go- it;s when you donlt want to that you usually need it most. It's cheaper if you buy coupons or 6 month or annual cards available in some locations. Good luck.

[amylovesray]

Rachel:

Nobody ever has to know your weight except the person on the other side of the counter (who is looking at the scale) and you. I find the meetings to be a VERY important part of WW. Some people just weigh-in and leave. I don't know how I would get through each week without the meetings. Even if I don't want to be there, I am glad that I stayed by the end of the meeting. The meetings are only about 30-45 minutes long and I have decided to give myself that much time just for me each week. :) Best of luck to you.

-Amy J.

[ashlee]

Personally, I feel if you don't go to meetings, PARTICIPATE and take the time to enjoy them and get information, then why join? Why not just do WW. AT HOME or On Line?

The meetings are everything to me as I've met some great people and we are WW. friends.

Going every week is the key also. Because they weigh you every week. If you miss a week because you "don't want to go", why bother joining? There is new information every week and if you don't go you miss it. Also, we have a great leader and she is always bringing recipes, ideas, etc. and sharing them.

We have a large group of people at the Wed. noon hour meeting, but there are still people who don't stay. Of course, some people are weighing on their noon hour and can't stay, but there "are" people who could stay and won't be bothered. I think they are cheating themselves.

At our meeting, we have draws for prizes sometimes, i.e. prizes of Fruities and those red bags.

Our group have recipe books with recipes members have tried. Our leader sets them out every week and you can take a page home and copy it or copy it at the meeting.

People miss weeks because they think they have gained. No one - least not at our meetings - ever says anything mean if you gain. By not going, that person is just stressing themselves out - they worry for another week (probably overeat worrying too).

No matter how great your meeting is, WEIGHT LOSS IS ALL UP TO 'YOU'. ONLY YOU CONTROL WHAT YOU PUT IN YOUR MOUTH AND HOW MUCH EXERCISE YOU GET.

There is no need to buy a lot of "extras".

Your weight is a secret between you and the person weighing you in.

Take time for yourself and enjoy the experience!;)

Ashlee :walking: (1 hr. this morning, walked to bus station for work, walked home 3/4 hr., took a walk for just under an hour after dinner)

[lismith]

The getting started meeting at my place is about 30 min long and the go over the flex and core plans.

I know at my meeting place if there is not free registration going on if you miss a meeting you have to pay for that miss meeting.

The price at my place for the 10 week coupons is $108

Laura

[nancyny]

You can go to weightwatchers.com and follow links for "find a meeting." They will usually list the times of meetings in your area along with any packages they have or specials that are going on.

The points sliders, welcome book, and weekly materials come with the program. Also as you go you can win various awards (10%, 16 weeks, magnets for each 25 pounds, bookmarks, goal, lifetime, etc.).

The Complete Food Companion, Dining Out Companion, cookbooks, food, and other stuff will cost extra.

You need to pay for every week whether you attend or not. So you might as well go. The more you don't want to, the more you probably need to...

Yes your weight is private. You can even ask the weigher to write it down and not tell YOU! (Some people don't want to know.)

Welcome to Weight Watchers!

[dgjp8991]

Hi there I hope you decide to attend the meetings. Tomorrow is my WW anniversary. Two yrs have passed. Im finally at goal for over one yr. I never missed one meeting. They along with journaling are major keys at least for me good luck. I have photos posted too in the bcb showoff if you want to look. GinaH