Weight Watchers Launch Walk-In ‘Lifestyle Centre' Superstore

The Huffington Post UK  |  By Posted: 24/04/2012 12:07 Updated: 24/04/2012 12:29

Weight Watchers Life Centre

Dieters will no longer have to wait for their weekly weigh-in at their local church or community centre - as Weight Watchers have hit the high street with its first British one-stop shop.

Dubbed the ‘Lifestyle Centre’, the new slimming superstore has launched in Reading, offering people one-to-one consultation sessions as well as the chance to stock up on Weight Watchers own brand food treats.

Weight Watchers plan on expanding the concept depending how successful it becomes with dieters in Reading.

The people behind the superstore believe that it will prove popular with weight-conscious commuters who don’t have time to attend traditional group support meetings.

The idea is that they ‘pop in’ for an express weigh-in and do a weekly shop of low-calorie foods that tie in with the weight Watchers ‘ProPoints’ scheme.

“We are constantly broadening our weight-loss support services and tools to meet the changing needs of consumers,” says Chris Stirk, director of products.

“With many of us working longer hours and demanding a more personalised, flexible service, we continue to adapt and enhance our products and services to meet the needs of the community.”

Weight Watchers currently runs over 6,5000 weekly group meeting around the UK.

Recently, a scientific study led by the International Congress on Obesity (ICO) discovered that people following the Weight Watchers are twice as likely to lose weight than those following a standard weight-loss programme.

And it looks like the new slimming store has come at the best time.

In the UK, 25% of Brits are obese, making British women the most overweight in Europe. However, despite the evidence, only 6% of people believe their weight problem is severe enough to be described as obese, according to a survey by Slimming World.

Another recent study revealed that the majority of people are in denial about their weight
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  • How To Stay Motivated On Your Diet

    Expert tips from <a href="http://www.slimmingworld.com/" target="_hplink">Slimming World</a> obesity expert, <strong>Dr. James Stubbs</strong> and Dr. Dr Khandee Ahnaimugan from <a href="http://www.drweightloss.com/" target="_hplink">The Weight Loss Doctor</a>.

  • Get Support

    "Slimmers who join with like-minded people with similar goals and problems - whether online, in social media networks or in a local community group - are more likely to stay motivated to succeed. They benefit from sharing experiences and taking inspiration and motivation from fellow slimmers to help them lose weight. Getting support is crucial to having the tools to cope with small weight gains and stay on track without giving up," says Dr James Stubbs, obesity researcher for <a href="http://www.slimmingworld.com/" target="_hplink">Slimming World</a>.

  • Don't Get Too Hung Up On Weight

    "Don't get too hung up on your weight measurements. A common cause of giving up on losing weight, is when people look at the scales and get disappointed with their progress. This all ties in with having deadlines and wanting to lose weight urgently. The scales don't always show the results of your efforts straight away. Weight also goes up and down due to other factors like hormones, hydration and your last meal. Don't read too much into one weight measurement. You should be looking at the overall trend. If you are sure that you are doing the right things (eating less and being more active) then the results will definitely come. Be patient," says Dr. Dr Khandee Ahnaimugan, from <a href="http://www.theweightlossdoctor.co.uk/" target="_hplink">The Weight Loss Doctor</a>.

  • Don't Expect Perfection

    "For some reason, when people try and lose weight, they have this belief that they need to stick to their new regime perfectly. This is part of the diet mentality and it is very harmful. It means that people who have a "bad day" often feel like they have failed. And in the worst scenario it makes them want to give up. But this expectation of perfection is totally unrealistic. You should expect to have "bad days". Don't beat yourself up over them. A normal life includes days when you eat a bit more and days when you eat a bit less. The main thing to remember is that after days when you have a bit more, you need to get back on track as soon as possible," says Dr Khandee Ahnaimugan, from <a href="http://www.theweightlossdoctor.co.uk/" target="_hplink">The Weight Loss Doctor</a>.

  • Do It Yourself

    "Do it for yourself: Being told to lose weight by someone else scores low as a motivator. Although being told by your GP that your health is at risk can be the shock that sets you on the weight loss road. "Setting your own target weight and losing weight for the reasons that suit you, when they suit you makes all the difference to success. Getting praise from fellow slimmers or colleagues for weight loss achievements is a great boost to help stay on track because it gives a sense of achievement, so spurring you on," says Dr James Stubbs, obesity researcher at <a href="http://www.slimmingworld.com/" target="_hplink">Slimming World</a>.

  • Make It Easy For Yourself

    "Make things as easy as possible. It might not sound like a revelation, but the more unpleasant you make your weight loss programme, the less likely you will stick to it. This seems like common sense but so many people still believe in the "no pain - no gain" approach. This might work for a few people, but for most of us, we are much more likely to succeed if we make things as pain-free as possible. How do you do that? Make small changes each week that you know you can maintain. Instead of setting the bar too high and failing, if you make small changes each week, you get a track record of success behind you," says Dr. Dr Khandee Ahnaimugan from <a href="http://www.theweightlossdoctor.co.uk/" target="_hplink">The Weight Loss Doctor</a>.

FOLLOW UK LIFESTYLE

Dieters will no longer have to wait for their weekly weigh-in at their local church or community centre - as Weight Watchers have hit the high street with its first British one-stop shop. Dubbed t...
Dieters will no longer have to wait for their weekly weigh-in at their local church or community centre - as Weight Watchers have hit the high street with its first British one-stop shop. Dubbed t...
 
 
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03:49 PM on 04/25/2012
If you are diabetic some of the WW foods are high in sugar. Yes, they are low in fat, but diabetics need to eat foods with less than 5g of sugar per 100g. Diabetics are not well catered for with many 'healthy' meals having a much higher sugar content than is good for them.
08:32 AM on 04/25/2012
I was successful losing weight with weightwatchers but like most people who use slimming clubs and do diets, I put it all back on again. The problem is not so much losing the weight, its keeping it off! Slimming clubs do help with that, but once people realise that they really have to stay on the diet for life, they quit like I did. I am now on a mission to train myself to eat like slim people do...simply eat less food and make sensible choices with the odd treat.. no more dieting. I dont want to be on a diet for the reat of my life.
07:35 AM on 04/25/2012
It is easy to comment on others, but I believe whatever works for you is the best way, some people do not have the luxury of time and it is no different than getting your ready meals from M&S as many do, but gives you the added benefit of support and advice, if you want choice you will go somewhere else............the problem with us all is that we are too judgemental and think our way is the right way, it isn't, the right way is the way that works for you.
06:27 AM on 04/25/2012
Well you aren't likely to get impartial advice there are you? They want to sell their products and aren't likely to suggest anybody elses! Small portions of quality food, fruit and veg and not too much snacking and you've made a good start!
11:16 PM on 04/24/2012
The problem is one of time and effort.
There's a large percentage of the population whose only concern is the acquisition of wealth and with that comes longer working hours and less free time. They spend their hard earned money on cars and going out for expensive meals.
The other extreme is the family whose income only extends to providing cheap meals full of poor quality nutrients but high in fat and sugars that add taste and flavour.
Either way, society is dictating our food intake and lifestyle. It only takes a little effort everyday to burn off a few calories. Exercise is the key and can be fun and you only need to spend a few minutes away from the TV, expensive restaurant or the computer to do it. We've got lazy and greedy. We're time poor and cannot be bothered to put in the effort.
Make the change, make time and have some fun. Just get out there and do it. Go cycling with the kids. Go for a walk on Sundays. Just change your lifestyle. It's easy, it just needs a little effort and a some time.
10:39 PM on 04/24/2012
All that Frankenstein food low fat yes but full of sugar instead and who's making lots of money from it....you can loose weight eating proper healthy food as apposed to factory made stuff, if you want to be healthy never eat anything man made especially anything loaded with sugar....I am loosing weight, healthily and not starving , with Slimming World and at our meetings no one belittles you or punishes you, we have fun and support each other and the way of eating is easy to understand and to follow.
photo
normdoug
If we all loved, we could all live.
10:30 PM on 04/24/2012
Not just calories put on weight. Worry can cause you to put on weight. Glandular problems, funny enough (it's not really funny) not eating can cause weight gain and many other medical and none medical problems can do the same. To be over weight is not just an eating to much or wrong thing problem. Many diet without seeing a doctor first and that is when problems begin. There is also much more sugar in weight watchers food and drink.
09:49 PM on 04/24/2012
Seems like Reading is full of fatties.
08:19 PM on 04/24/2012
Should go down well with all the KFC's , DogShit Kebab shops , Chippies etc on the High Street.
05:02 PM on 04/24/2012
The weight loss business is probably one of the best places to make money these days. The promise of losing a few pounds will always sell.

Ironic really that there shouldn't be a bean to be made in the industry. Its pure common sense, don't eat too much, eat the right things, you won't have a weight problem.

There probably are a small % of people who have some kind of disposition that makes them overweight, but to all those who say its gentic, why do we not see any genetically overweight Africans?

Addictions are hard to beat, I have my vices and I struggle to get over them, as probably most people do. Will power, self discipline and determination to do the right thing are the key, not a 'lifestyle centre'.
06:17 PM on 04/24/2012
While I agree that it is "calories in vs calories out", there are also many psycological factors to obesity.

Weight watchers helps people to deal with the "American Lifestyle" of instant gratification. It doesn't work for everyone, but it does work.

Should alcoholics be told to just use will power, self discipline, and determination? I agree that these are necessary for a positive outcome, but why not have the extra help Alcoholics Anonymous offers. The support is also very necessary.

Weight Watchers is very similar in what it offers.
08:51 PM on 04/24/2012
Good response.......thanks.
09:54 PM on 04/24/2012
The promise of losing a few pounds will always sell?
Hmmm, the only pounds you will lose are ££££ pounds on their goods.
What is the one thing money can't buy?
Poverty
10:02 PM on 04/24/2012
Well said, all they do is try to sell you weightwatchers products and fill your head full of useless soundbites. I lost two stone by going swimming, cheaper than weightwatchers and a lot more fun.
03:09 PM on 04/24/2012
Amazes me that people are willing to pay to have someone tell them that if they want to lose weight they can only eat a certain amount of calories a day, amuses me that they often hold these meeting in school gyms, ironic that the people will go to a gym to get weighed but not to lose weight...And although i know many who have lost weight they dont impart the most basic message, if you want to lose weight you need to burn more calories then you eat, if your fat your either eating too much or doing too little exercise...A human adult needs 2000 calories to live cutting calories deprives the body and does result in weight loss but is not a sensible or healthy approach and rarely lasts...You want to live a healthy life eat your food but burn it off.....
05:04 PM on 04/24/2012
people go to these meetings because having the support and encouragement of others in the same boat helps them lose weight. Perhaps they find the gym too indimidating whilst they are waiting to shed a few extra pounds/stones.

ps you're = you are - Your = your!
06:18 PM on 04/24/2012
Wow... Judge much?