Recently I have been hearing more and more people signing up for Weight Watchers. Weight Watchers is more than just the low-calorie TV dinners in the frozen aisle section in Target. It all started in 1963 when an overweight housewife with an obsession with cookies followed a diet regimen, lost weight, and created a support group with her friends who were also overweight. Over the years, it has grown into a big phenomenon, as well as a successful company. The program is advisory based and includes a point structured diet along with meetings to weigh in at. I think it is fair to say that it has had its peaks and valleys of success like any successful business experiences. Now, I think it has caught the eye of many young women in their early 20’s trying to revert to the way women of the 1960’s tried to lose weight.

Comparatively women are more health conscious than men. I am not trying to call one group out vs. another, but I mean statistics don’t lie. In recent years, strength has become the new thin. Toning is what is in as the new fad in the gym, it is not just for older women with flabby arms. It is nothing new that women want to lose weight, but it is the way in people are starting to go about losing the weight is what is sparking interest.

Personally, my weight has fluctuated since the 8th grade. This is to be expected, for there are a lot of stages that you experience from then to now. College of course brings its own challenges in watching out for the freshmen 15, and whatever other weight comes as you press forward in completing your four years. I have always been a fan of the gym, but found “my thing” in running miles outside. I feel that I have a good understanding of what healthy foods are, and what's not. I am willing to know how to get better at it though!

I can’t help, however, to not be intrigued by this renewed fad being Weight Watchers. I think it is smart to be able to learn more in detail how healthy different foods are. The point system helps prevent you from taking in too many calories for your body weight, age, and height. I am not a huge fan of the group meetings. It does allow you to be more accountable though, and it is a big incentive to pay for mentors, having them weigh you in every week to others trying to lose weight too.

There are pros to cons to each method, but I am still a huge fan of pushing myself at the gym, and researching new ways to get into the shape I want to be. I encourage you to try whatever method you feel will help you become healthy, and have you feeling confident about yourself!