Reviewing the 'new' Weight Watchers Magazine

Every new year, most magazine publications improve the look and content of their magazine. Although the WWM has been around for quite some time, there are new features that can be found in the January/February 2007 issue.

Their new 'center' in each issue is to provide tips that you can apply to your present situation of weight loss or maintenance. There will also be new columns and writers, specifically first-hand experiences. This month's issue is packed with testimonials, and even an interview with the Duchess about her decade with Weight Watchers.

The most refreshing part of the magazine are the 'my success' sections. There are five stories of women and men that have used Weight Watchers successfully. Each story gives a brief profile, the reason they decided to join Weight Watchers, and what works for them. The best part of these stories is that none of the 'after' pictures look like an anorexic person; they are all healthy looking, but not stick figures. Many other dieting magazines fill their pages with 'extraordinary' weight loss, showing the dieter in next to nothing so you can see their ribs. Not Weight Watchers. They seem to be very realistic about what is actually motivating to their members. We don't need to see near naked skinny bodies (we'd rather not!), but we need to see 'real' people in real sizes that have improved their health and quality of living by using the Weight Watchers program. The stories cover a pretty wide range of women at different stages in their lives with different needs. You won't just find 25 year olds that are only about 20 lbs overweight, but people that really did need to lose weight for their health. It's definitely motivating to read these stories.

Among the other pages, you can find tons of tips on how to re-adjust your own flex or core plan. There are menus in the back for those that like to cook quickly, and the "my foods" section offers some examples of things you can eat with specific meals for both the flex and core plans. The "my diet" section featured a perspective change, showing readers the ill-effects of self-loathing, and how to be positive. Also in this section, a reader's food diary is analyzed, and given better choices to keep her from feeling deprived. I was impressed that they focus on fiber and nutrition, rather than just the way you look.

It's any easy read through the magazine, and you don't feel like the design is cluttered and irritating. Unlike a lot of fitness and weight loss magazines out there, you can flip through this magazine and not see a bunch of overly skinny, body parts at close up on every page. For the most part, the magazine is focused on health and making better food and exercise choices-something worthy of reading. I give them an A on their new look and ideas. It's a great companion reading to the Weight Watchers program.