by Fiona Simpson

Weight Watchers focuses on a healthy balanced diet

What can you eat?

The beauty of Weight Watchers is you can eat anything you like as long as its in moderation. You can have a Chinese take away just as long as you make up for it during the rest of the day. The Points system is fairly lenient because although high fat food is penalized with high points there are a number of foods such a vegetables that are points free. You can meet your points targets through a balanced diet with many of your favorite treats through in. How many diets can you say that about?

What happens at the meetings?

There are two aspects of a Weight Watchers meeting: the weigh in and the seminar. People can be apprehensive about getting weighed in front of a group of people but only the group leader can actually see your weight. It's up to you whether you want to tell anyone about it. The seminar is about a different topic each week and although some of them can be a little boring (it depends on how good your leader is) most of them are very useful.

What are the benefits of Weight Watchers?

- does not exclude any of the major food groups
- focusing on a healthy balanced diet leading to gradual but continued weight loss
- one of the few diets that incorporates exercise
- encourages the consumption of fruit and vegetables
- rewards are given when certain targets are met
- the weekly weigh-ins can be a strong motivational tool

- you have to pay to join and then for every weekly meeting until you reach your goal
- not suitable for those who desire rapid weight loss
- the points system is open to abuse
- one of the few diets that incorporates exercise
- the weekly weigh-ins can be uncomfortable for some people
- may not be suitable for those who don't want to feel part of a group

Should I try it?

Weight Watchers is one of the best diet plans around today because it encourages gradual weight loss through a healthy, balanced diet. The weekly meetings are also vital for people will motivational problem. If you haven't tried it before, we can whole heartedly recommend it.