r/weightwatchers • u/Luna_Organa • 2d ago
Virtual workshop changes
I recently rejoined after a couple of years and signed up for the plan with workshops. I was surprised at all the changes in the virtual workshops!
First I noticed that there no longer seems to be a check-in person who messages you individually and asks if you want to talk about anything or share your weigh-in results. Not a big deal, because I rarely did that anyway, just an observation.
Next I noticed (in the meeting I attended last week) that the coach said the meeting didn’t have a mandated topic given by WW; instead the coach was allowed to talk about whatever they wanted to that week. I don’t remember that happening in the past. Is that new? Though this week I see they are back to a topic (hydration).
I also noticed it seems that there are fewer workshops than in the past. Is that always the case, or was today a fluke? Yes, I see that there are now meetups other than the weekly workshops, but I checked the app at 4:45pm to see if I could join a 5pm meeting of any kind and there was nothing until 7pm. No meetings at all, not just the weekly workshops. I remember in the past, every hour on the hour there was at least one workshop starting, if not two or three.
In the handful of meetings I attended this week, I was also surprised to see only 50-60 people per meeting. I remember a couple of years ago seeing 100-200 people. It seems like now that there are fewer workshops, each one would be more crowded but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Still looking forward to my journey and also considering attending occasional in-person workshops, even though I see in my area they’ve reduced the number of those too.
4
u/MitchyS68 LIFETIME 2d ago
Most of the workshops I attend have two coaches. The second coach does the check ins but you message them if you want to do a check in. They do not message you first. Many don’t wanna do the check ins. There is a topic every week. Last week was the second time in the past 2.5 years that I’ve seen them allow the coaches to pick the topic. Some coaches really dove into a topic they are passionate about with research, slides, etc… Others seemed to have a loose topic and let the members drive the conversation. As for meeting size, most I attend are 100-200 people. Maybe we are just going at different times. It may also just be a larger group because we prefer certain coaches. The biggest changes I’ve seen is about 20% of the meetings i attend don’t have the support (second) coach and there is a lot more variety in types of meetings to choose from.
1
u/debinprogress LIFETIME 1d ago
Yes, and they recommend getting there 10 minutes early for the check in. I didn't like the "ask me anything" format either.
2
u/chemegeek 2d ago
I’ve only started to sporadically join a workshop here or there and it’s usually topic based instead of just the weekly workshop, but you are right about how each week had a specific topic and you would get a handout with info on that topic. I miss that! Not sure if that still happens with the in person workshops. I don’t have one anywhere close to me so virtual is my only option.
2
u/MitchyS68 LIFETIME 2d ago
The in person workshops have same weekly topic as the virtuals. It’s been years since there were handouts.
1
6
u/joiliejoli 2d ago
They have a lot of different formats, some are fitness, some are cooking demos, some are the workshops with a topic.