New Weight Watchers!

[gnat23]

Ooo! This new Weight Watchers program has been creating a, well, *good* buzz around the 'net. Fruit is now free (woot!) and the points formula now takes into consideration protein. Looks like a nice blend of the old Flex and Core programs.

Anyone seen yet how the exercise points have changed? I'm well beyond the "walk half hour three times a week" recommendation, as I'm starting to think Triathlon next year. Past WW programs have left me starving after 10-12 hrs a week of cycling, so I'm really curious to get an opinion before I sign up again.

-- gnat!

[maillotpois]

I got the new program stuff Sunday and really like it so far. It's a lot more like what the program was when I made lifetime 20 years ago - all veggies were zero then (except potatoes/yams, which aren't really veggies anyway). The newer idea of having to count carrots was absurd. No one gets fat from too many carrots. Or fruit for that matter.

In general, I think it's going to lead people to healthier choices over all, and there's a disincentive for the processed low fat, low nutrient, high sugar food that was so easy to use on the older plan. This has affected a lot of WW's own products which are now higher points, and I am hopeful that it encourages them to provide healthier options.

Alcohol is more, but that is also intellectually and nutritionally honest. Just because it is low fat doesn't mean it is a nutritious choice. That said, I will continue to drink alcohol. :o

As for as exercise, I have not noticed a huge difference. You can use your activity points first, before your weekly, which I like. I think the points are slightly higher for exercise, as all points have generally gone up. When I am working the program, I really try to use the APs the day I earn them - which is critical for a century and beyond. You don't need to refuel the next day, but during and immediately after the exercise. So I try to stick to that. There's no real limit to the # of APs you can earn/use, which there have been in prior plans. (Well, maybe there are, but I haven't had a 6 hour ride yet - my 10 - 12 points or so I have earned on the various days since Sunday have all been credited).

[snapdragen]

It caught my eye, I'll probably join the At Work program when it starts up again in January. I love the idea of a zero point apple!

[azfiddle]

I really haven't had much time to look at it, although I'm using the e-tools. The number of points you get has gone up, and the values for most foods have gone up. I rode my bike 25 minutes yesterday, (burned 250 calories) and it gave me 3 APs. I like it that we can swap out the AP's first now, but haven't figured out how to do it yet on the online program.

I lost 38 pounds on the old program, and I don't think it will change my eating habits too much, but I had memorized most of the points for foods I eat regularly and now I have to look everything up again. So it takes a little longer to track.

BTW- there is a daily message board thread on the WW website that is all cyclists- under the Fitness Challenge- called Biking Babes and Guys- nice people who are all trying to lose or maintain and who love bikes, if you want to stop by and say "hi".

[Susan Otcenas]

I eat tons of fruits and veggies. So, what I've found in the first few days is that I have to eat more to eat all my daily points. (Your daily points are supposed to be a minimum, not a maximum.) But I think I'm OK with that, because on the old plan, I often felt deprived, and them would sometimes make bad choices at night. Now, I can eat a little more throughout the day and feel more satisfied at the end of the day. We'll see how it goes after a few weeks.

The thing I'm disliking most at the moment is that I have TONS of custom foods in my favorites list, so now I have to go back and re-enter all the nutrition information. That's proving to be a bit of a pain the butt, but once it's done, it's done.

[katluvr]

So I recently gave up meat, still trying to get a healthy meal plan & lose weight. I did WW a few years ago but have not been able to really do it since. Those that are doing the new program think it will work for someone not eating meat, no fish? I do eggs & dairy.
K

[jobob]

... all veggies were zero then (except potatoes/yams, which aren't really veggies anyway).


Bah! Yams & sweet potatoes are the vegetable kingdom's answer to bacon. :cool:

[jolie]

Keep slim by do the exercise is a healthy and good way:)

[Susan Otcenas]

After 2 weeks, not sure how I feel about the program.

Old program, I had 18 points (the minimum allowable to anyone) while my sister, who outweighs me by 20 pounds, got 23. New program? We are both at the 29 minimum.

No wonder I feel like I"m getting soooooo much more food. Between the increased minimum, and the free fruit, I just don't think I will lose on this new plan if I eat all the points. I've decided to start quick-adding most fruits as 1 pt, bananas and very large pieces of fruit as 2, and keeping to 29 that way, even on light exercise days. The only days I'll go over 29 is on heavier exercise days.

(As an example, the other day I had 1:45 of intense exercise, which earned me 17 points, plus the daily 29 = 46 points. By the new cals, I ate 25 or 26, again because fruit is free and I had 4 pieces that day. And that "25 points" was plenty of food)

Anyone else feeling like the points are too high?

[maillotpois]

I think the proof will be in the pudding so to speak - whether you lose or maintain (depending on what you want) on the new regime. I don't think you can really judge that after only a couple of weeks, so I am giving it some time to see.

I know when I did WW 20 years ago, you didn't count carrots and fruit was less restricted than it was on the momentum plan. So the new plan feels a lot more like the old - old plan. :rolleyes:

This time of year is also an awfully tough time to judge a new program. Holiday parties and all.

One thing I am doing is using my APs if at all only on the day I use them. So I will zero them out that day and not carry over. I think that's more realistic in terms of what your body actually needs for exercise and recovery. It doesn't need it the next day. Really.

And you don't have to use all your points, I think. I would see how it goes. And remember, the points themselves are "smaller" so 29 is calorically equivalent to 18.

[Susan Otcenas]

One thing I am doing is using my APs if at all only on the day I use them. So I will zero them out that day and not carry over. I think that's more realistic in terms of what your body actually needs for exercise and recovery. It doesn't need it the next day. Really.

And you don't have to use all your points, I think. I would see how it goes. And remember, the points themselves are "smaller" so 29 is calorically equivalent to 18.


I only use my APs on the day I earn them as well. Calories are fuel for an active body. Need to fuel to have an adequate workout.


But, no 18 is not 29. That was partly my point. My sister's 23 or 24 also became 29. (So, old 18 is probably more like new 25-26, but since the min is 29, I got bumped to 29.) So, I think they raised the minimum # of allotted calories. That new minimum, plus the free fruit, is alot of food for me.

[gnat23]

I dare say that since restarting under the new plan, I'm having a hard time eating all my minimum points for the day, since I *heart* fruit and munch on that inbetween meals now instead of the lil' 2pt snack bars or whatever. I agree that the number of calories in total seems to have gone up, but it's steering me towards better choices overall.

My weigh in is tomorrow, which will include one hearty holiday meal and a cyclocross race with associated beer, but all within allotted points. Very curious to see what happens, but am definitely going to give this about two months before I come to any solid conclusions.

-- gnat!

[azfiddle]

I'm also eligible for the 29 points a day. You get more AP's for the same amount of exercise too. On the old system, I got 18 points, and I never ate all my AP's and weeklies when I was losing.

I'm still having a hard time adjusting. Maybe if I was sticking to it faithfully I'd be a little more sure about how it's working. Between the holiday treats and less exercise, I gained a pound this month. I'm getting more exercise and I'm ready to get back to the plan. I'm hovering around maintenance.

BTW- my DH tried an experiment- since fruit is "free", he typed in increasing numbers of oranges. 1, 3, 10, 100... and it always said "0" points. But orange juice is 2 points a glass, and 1 dried peach is 1 point. So it's not entirely rational.

[katluvr]

Hmmm, interesting that all of you that cannot eat your 29 points! Yes I am trying to use the "free fruit" option!
So I am not really happy with new program. With old points (yep, I only could eat 18) I could at least figure things out on the fly. The new way points are calculated makes it hard to figure out on the fly. Plus I do a lot of recipes and have to type into recipe builder. I not super happy with website. Always a struggle to find a match for what I ate! I am trying to use the mobile site more on my phone and I added more favorites. Hope this helps.

I must admit this is just week #2. Last week I didn't really try to keep in my points and just tried to get used to logging the food. This week I am trying to stick within my 29 points. I am also getting used to my meatless diet and trying many new vegetarian recipes. So balancing the amount of carbs to get my protein! So I am trying to adjust.

Also last time I really lost weight with WW I did not use activity points except hard/long biking or run days.
We shall see, I need to give it a chance.

Good luck all!

K

[maillotpois]

Hmmm, interesting that all of you that cannot eat your 29 points!

I never said that. ;)

[katluvr]

I never said that. ;)

I stand corrected!;)
But some said that...I think I am just always hungry. And even more so when I wound out regularly!

Day #2 of REALLY eating only 29 points. We shall see!

K

[maillotpois]

I don't know if it is the new program or new motivation because of the new program or what but I have lost 8 pounds since the end of November when they rolled out the new plan. You do need to give it a chance and let yourself re-learn the new plan.

Good luck! :)

[katluvr]

So today I ran 9 miles, gives me 13 activity points. I did not record the G2 or shot blocks I did partly because I don't really plan on using my activity points. So far this week I have not used any of those 49 points weekly points...what does one do with those? Are they for a splurge meal/day? I must admit I may use some of either of those extra points on a bit larger glass of wine!:D
K

[ASammy1]

I'm going to a WW at work intoduction meeting tomorrow. They are rolling out the new program for us and I'm curious to see what has changed based on all the posts in this discussion.

[gnat23]

So today I ran 9 miles, gives me 13 activity points. I did not record the G2 or shot blocks I did partly because I don't really plan on using my activity points. So far this week I have not used any of those 49 points weekly points...what does one do with those? Are they for a splurge meal/day? I must admit I may use some of either of those extra points on a bit larger glass of wine!:D
K

katluvr, those weekly points are for either spreading onto each day or saving them for a special bigger meal, your choice. I usually end the week with about half of them still in the bank.

If you're running 9 miles, I would absolutely track those activity points and the stuff you eat during the run. Then I would eat the heck out of the rest of those activity points. If you're just doing a half-hour of yoga or something, fine, don't eat the 1-2 points. BUT if you're exercising a LOT, then you really do need the fuel to keep moving.

Another way of putting it: skip a few weekly points or a few activity points, but don't skip 'em ALL.

-- gnat! (is my opinion, be it not-so-humble)

[Tri Girl]

I became a Lifetime member 5 years ago (and then subsequently thought I knew everything, quit going to meetings and gained back all 30 lbs I lost). :rolleyes:

I rejoined the second week of December. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the new plan. I actually like that it leads you to more of a low-carb way of eating. Carbs are my nemesis, so I like that it leads me to choose lower-carb things.

I also LOVE that fruit is free. Before when I had the choice of a 2 pt apple or a 2 pt package of cookies, I'd go for the cookies. Now I find I eat the apple first, then realize I don't need/want the cookies after all.
I have no problem eating my 29 pts daily. I felt like I scrounged before with 18 pts, but now I feel like I have so much more. I don't even keep track of earned activity points. If I eat a gu or any kind of nutrition during exercise, I figure the activity points I earned even out with the nutrition I ate.

I do try to eat most of my 49 extra points (figuring my activity makes up for that). In the last 3 weeks I've lost 4.8. Not great, but not too bad considering it was the holidays. I'm looking forward to less temptations and more focus in the new year.

I hope to be at goal by May. I will NEVER stop attending meetings this time. I have learned my lesson. I may only go to meetings every other week once I'm at goal, but when I stop going, I stop being accountable. I wish I'd learned that lesson the first time so I wouldn't have to lose 30 all over again. This time when the scale goes up, I will STOP it then and there.

I'm curious how I'm going to track once I start Ironman training in March. Last time I did one I was hungry ALL THE TIME during the training. It will be interesting.

Good job to everyone! We can do this together!!!

[maillotpois]

Trigirl - ditto everything you said except replace the details with I lost 60 lbs and made lifetime 21 years ago. And kept it off til I had that silly kid. The new plan is so much better. Real food.

Let's do this.

[GLC1968]

The new plan won me over. I just joined WW for 3 months. We'll see how it goes. I've tried using them before and was not successful (it wasn't enough food for me in the past), but this new plan seems promising.

I just keyed in today's food and I'm at 28 pts, so I doubt I'll have trouble eating everything!

I've signed up mostly for some new tools and new motivation. My current regime was getting a little old and uninspiring. :o

[roadie gal]

I tried using the old point system and felt hungry all of the time. I didn't join WW at the time. Someone gave me a copy of the point calculator. I just couldn't stay on it for more than 3 days.

Do you guys think that I'd do better with the new system? I love fruits and veges, but I also love bread. This time I'd sign up for 3 months online.

[maillotpois]

I find it much more satisfying than the old plan. I also had trouble sticking with the old plan and given my history w/ WW I really wanted to try, and to be positive about it. The 20 years ago plan was a life changer for me. The points plan, not so much.

Give it a try.

[Triskeliongirl]

I too earned my weight watchers lifetime status more than 20 years ago. But I could not keep the weight off with weight watchers over the long haul. I think a big difference between the old programs and newer ones are the carb content, which is particularly problematic for me since I am a mild type I diabetic. While some of you commented that the new program is an attempt to be lower carb, if fruit is unlimited, that is not low carb in my book.

Because of my carb sensitivity, I have a rule that I don't eat anything that lets my blood sugar go higher than 120. If I follow this rule, and of course control calories and exercise, I was able to permanently lose my excess weight, and maintain it. When I have gained a little, its because I have let carbs, even 'healthy' ones like fruit slip into my diet. So, for me the new WW plan wouldn't work. But even for a normal person, there are good metabolic reasons to keep the ratio of protein to carbs high in your diet. The idea is that you want to be in a state where glucagon>insulin rather than the other way around to burn fat. When insulin>glucagon, as when you eat a high carb diet, you are actually in a hormonal state that favors fat storage.

While the WW tracking tools are nice, I have been using the Livestrong tracking tools. You can enter food, exercise (and there are MANY categories for cycling as you can imagine), even blood sugar. What I think is key, is that every person needs to figure out how their body reacts to different foods and exercise, and develop a strategy that works for them. Tracking can be really helpful in doing that. One also has to be careful to not be fooled by water fluctuations. My weight always goes up temporarially if I suddenly increase my exercise due to DOMs, but then it always comes back down if I just stick with my plan no matter what. GLC, I read your posts on the weight loss thread, and I bet this could be what happened to you. So, don't throw out a plan that works (I know you lost a lot last year) due to a temporary fluctuation.

[GLC1968]

Yeah, I should mention that I'm not throwing out my old plan, not by a long shot. I'm just using the WW tools to track and motivate. The part I like about this new plan is that my normal, healthy W.O.E. fits it. Previously, my choice to add in lean protien to a meal would send my points over the limit. I felt that the old points system favored low fat foods over quality foods. If I wanted to meet my points target, I'd have to cut back on protien and fill up on veggies. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, particularly if one tends to skimp on veggies...but I could not meet my protien targets and my points targets the old way. Now I can. So now I don't feel 'guilty' for choosing 2 oz of lean chicken to eat with my apple because 1. the apple is free and 2. the chicken points are still well within my range.

I am not a low carb person. Not by a long shot. I am also not a high carb person, either. People who don't track their intake *think* I'm low carb because of the foods I choose, but in the overall picture, my carbs are typically equal to or slightly higher than my protein (on a daily basis). I am also not a carb-sensitive person in terms of weight loss. My problem isn't that carbs (even bad ones) cause me to not lose weight. My problem is that carbs (particularly bad ones) cause me to overeat. THAT causes me to gain weight. I feel better when I eat a higher protein, moderate carb diet. That's why it works for me. When I feel better (emotionally and physically), I train more. I train more, I lose weight. It's really quite simple and often I lose sight of it.

Right now, I'm in a bad place. I'm hoping the upbeat, positive nature and simplicity of WW helps me out of this bad place. :) I certainly don't expect that counting points is going to magically melt fat the way that counting calories/macronutrients didn't. It's all the same, in my book.

[lauraelmore1033]

I am just loving WW! I had sworn never to diet again, having lost and found the same 50+ pounds over and over and over again since the age of 13, but this thread (and the Jennifer Hudson commercials) caught my eye. I've actually lost 4 pounds since just after Christmas, but have only been on WW since last thursday. I'd started out with the very virtuous, mostly salad and veggies diet, but was starting to realize that it just wasn't something I could sustain. Now I have some guidelines about adding some more "regular" foods to the salads and veggies and am getting a clue about how training impacts the amount of food I need to/get to eat. Activity points are so motivating during the off season! I put on 15 pounds very quickly after the last century ride of the season and I was no longer training like a maniac, and piled on even more over the holidays. Hopefully, there will be no more of that. This feels like something I can sustain, even if I don't lose much weight--and is certainly healthier than the way I was eating before!

[okraftw]

I lost 40 lbs on WW last year. Then due to extended work travel/vacations/holidays, I quit for the last two months of the year and gained 15 lbs back. I just started the points plus this week, and I love it. Last autumn, I was struggling to get by on 19 pts a day and I found myself dipping into my weeklies on a daily basis instead of my normal method of saving them until the end of the week and having a treat meal out with friends. Almost everything I ate every day had to be "filling" or I wouldn't make it until the next meal time. That was a lot of pressure on every single thing I put in my mouth every time I did it.

Now I get 7 extra points to play with (my points of my typical day only went up by 3 from the oatmeal and random grain with dinner, everything else was already veggies, lean meats, fruits, milk, etc.) and I don't feel like I have to make a decision between an orange (which I would want) or a piece of cheese (which would keep me going until the next meal.) I can have have the orange, see if that works, and if not, have cheese in another hour because I have the extra points, and fruit is free.

Granted, it's only been 3 days, and the scale movement is most likely due to the cessation of junk food (and the un-retaining of water that goes with it) but mentally, it's a lot easier for me to follow.

[GLC1968]

but mentally, it's a lot easier for me to follow.

I'm finding this to be true for me, too. It's helping me even out my 'bad food' vs 'good food' issues. Of course, I'm only on week one so it's a bit too early to pass final judgement. ;)


I have a question about recipes though - can someone explain to me why if I put my little 'baked peach' dessert/treat in as 3 separate items (unsweetened canned peach half, brown sugar, walnuts) it adds up to 2 points but if I make it a recipe it turns it into 4 points for the same quantity??

[maillotpois]

A recipe doesn't look at the points within individual food items, it looks at their nutritional information. So it adds the carbs, etc. of zero point foods. If you are making a recipe with zero point foods and some non-zero point foods, you can save it as a "meal" instead, and that will zero out your zero point foods.

[GLC1968]

Thanks, MP. That explains it. That's kind of sucky though. So I guess the recipe builder can't tell a veggie from a grain? I threw my tomato/cuke salad recipe in there and one serving is 3 points but when I key it in individually it's only 1 pt.

So which one is 'right'? Will I be cheating myself if I key these things in as meals and not recipes?

And does this mean that the counts for the recipes in the database are probably misleading as well?

[maillotpois]

It's certainly not an exact science. I look at it on a case by case basis. If it is a salad, or something that is predominantly veggies, I count it as a meal - or I only count the stuff that isn't zero (dressing, beans, etc.) so I am not plugging in a bunch of veggies. If it is a soup or something where the veggies are a more incidental part of the recipe, I do it as a recipe. I may underestimate the amount of veggies in it to make it more "fair".

The WW recipes are all counted as recipes, so the values are high. If they create the recipe, I kind of figure you should go with their values.

I don't think there's a right or wrong way. I just think you have to see what works. I've steadily lost every week for 8 weeks, so I feel like what I am doing is "working". If I plateau for a while, I will re-evaluate.

[GLC1968]

I don't think there's a right or wrong way. I just think you have to see what works. I've steadily lost every week for 8 weeks, so I feel like what I am doing is "working". If I plateau for a while, I will re-evaluate.

Good point. We'll just see how things progress and make changes as necessary.

(I often wish I wasn't so anal about stuff like this! :rolleyes:)

[katluvr]

Thanks for the info about the recipes. As a new vegetarian I am doing a lot of new recipes.
Some are pretty high in carbs and thus higher points than I thought. Last night i did a recipe that really was all veggies except for the tempeh, so I just entered that and.some oil to get my points.
As for the points, I figure that at the end day the total points is not exact anyway. I can say 8 am rating less, it makes me think & plan. I am still adjusting, but I think what WW does for me is to cut back, measure & be accountable for what I put in my mouth. I would like to be able to eat (& drink more) and maybe I can eat more of my weekly points, but right now i want to see some weight loss. And the scale IS moving in the right direction so I am happy and can deal with my sacrifices.:)
K

[ASammy1]

So I've now officially been on WW at Work for 2 weeks, and I have to say that I really like it. I completely agree with everyone else that the new program steers you toward whole, real food as opposed to the old program. I really think that this is the program one could do for the long haul as a way of life and not just a "diet."

So far so good here! I'm down 7 lbs since Jan 1 and 5 since starting WW. I have a LOT more to lose, but I'm confident this is way to go.

[Aggie_Ama]

My problem with why I went off the new program to return to the old way (and a really elaborate spreadsheet) was I had too much memorized and waas getting frustrated. I still try to make good choices because I feel better when I eat more fruits and vegetables. But I just couldn't see paying when I was getting frustrated and not counting. :o

[lauraelmore1033]

7 pounds for me too! Not quite half of what I gained since September.:rolleyes: I find myself thinking I could easily eat this way for the rest of my life as well. That will be tested when/after/if I reach my goals. I have a suspicion I might feel differently then...

[GLC1968]

I'm still pleased with it. I'm down 3 lbs in two weeks (which is pretty good for me) and I've got my husband signed up too. He only lost 2 lbs in the first week and was disappointed, but he did 'splurge' the night before his weigh-in so it's to be expected. I think he'll have a much better week 2. :)

So far, so good!

[maillotpois]

I am so glad everyone's having such good luck with the new WW! I am down over 14 since 12/1, which has been great and really motivating.

Go us!

[katluvr]

Warning: whining ahead:o

I am very happy for all of you losing weight on WW and enjoying it. I must admit a am frustrated. I have tried hard to stay on plan, I feel I have cut my intake greatly, I have cut my wine consumption (and beer) greatly. I have enjoyed my weekends--and that may be the problem. Losing weight has never been easy for me. And when I run 10 miles and feel like I should be able to eat a bit more (especially when I am ravanish). I wish just being active was enough!

Ok, so I HAVE lost weight. I am usually up and down alot during the week but in 4 weeks I have lost 2.4 pounds. So that is about 0.5 pounds a week. Which when I think back that is usually how much weight I lose. I am a real slow loser!

So I am going to keep on the plan, try to be a bit better (but still relax a bit) on the weekend and up my during the week workouts. And continue to "tweak" things to see what really works for me.

Thanks for letting me whine a bit!
K

[zoom-zoom]

I am seriously considering signing-up for this. I had amazing success with Atkins years ago, but going that low with carbs doesn't work well with the volume of running and biking I do, nowadays. And counting carbs and calories with Fitday.com started making me more than a little obsessive about food...to the point that eating became a chore. Sounds like WW simplifies things.

So do most of you go to meetings or just do it online? We do have meetings 10 minutes away, but I'm generally good about staying accountable when I have to check-in somewhere, even if it's just online.

[GLC1968]

Katluvr - If I remember correctly, you are already pretty small and probaby close to your goal weight, right? If so, then I would think that 0.5lb a week is totally fine. I mean, you aren't starving all the time, missing workouts, being a raving b1tch...right? They way I look at it is this - I'm not really suffering. I'm actually quite comfortable with my current intake and feel like I could do this for the long haul. I'm not feeling deprived, so I have time. I'm not going to sweat the small losses as long as they are losses. I'll get there eventually. I bet you will too!

In fact, I'm VERY curious to see my results this week. I had a couple of 'splurgy' days over the weekend and I'm using a LOT of points. In fact, if things continue the way they are, I will have eaten all my exercise points (I have them set to be used daily) and almost all my weekly points. Let's see how the scale reacts! Personally, I feel pretty damn good. I have lots of energy both for my workouts and for daily life...so if there is loss, I'll be very pleased.

Kirsten - I just do the online (no meetings anywhere near me anyway). For me, I just needed an easier way to be accountable. The last time I did WW, I was obsessing about points. This time, not at all. I think having higher targer numbers really makes a HUGE difference for me (mentally).

[Tri Girl]

Warning: whining ahead:o

I am very happy for all of you losing weight on WW and enjoying it. I must admit a am frustrated. I have tried hard to stay on plan, I feel I have cut my intake greatly, I have cut my wine consumption (and beer) greatly. I have enjoyed my weekends--and that may be the problem. Losing weight has never been easy for me. And when I run 10 miles and feel like I should be able to eat a bit more (especially when I am ravanish). I wish just being active was enough!

Ok, so I HAVE lost weight. I am usually up and down alot during the week but in 4 weeks I have lost 2.4 pounds. So that is about 0.5 pounds a week. Which when I think back that is usually how much weight I lose. I am a real slow loser!

So I am going to keep on the plan, try to be a bit better (but still relax a bit) on the weekend and up my during the week workouts. And continue to "tweak" things to see what really works for me.

Thanks for letting me whine a bit!
K

I don't think you are whining... you are just frustrated. Me, too. I've lost, but not a lot. Only 6.6 pounds in 6 weeks. It's frustrating for me, too. I hear people who've lost 15 or more in that time frame and it bugs me. I know that for me it's just jealousy that they are losing faster than me. I also know that when I lost my weight before it was FAST and that it all came back on. I'm trying to remember that if I do it slow, maybe it will stay off (but that doesn't help when I weigh in and I feel like I've cut way back and I'm only down .7). :(
I feel your pain and frustration.
Last time I was gung-ho, balls to the wall, etc and I lost quickly. It wasn't something I could do long-term (it felt like- and was- dieting). This time I'm trying to make it a lifestyle by cutting back and still indulging when I run 10 miles, or bike 50, and I guess that means losing slowly. Like a tortoise... we will make it there, it will just take us much longer. :/
I'm not happy about it, but I'm more unhappy with myself for gaining it back. I wish I could go back in time... it was far easier losing weight when I was 30 than when I'm nearly 40 now.:mad:

[lauraelmore1033]

Those activity points are kinda scary! a good hard 20 mile ride earned me 33 points yesterday. I'm assuming I'm getting so many because I'm so heavy. No way was I going to eat all those on a week night. Weekend, yeah, maybe, but even then it makes me uneasy...

[GLC1968]

Those activity points are kinda scary! a good hard 20 mile ride earned me 33 points yesterday. I'm assuming I'm getting so many because I'm so heavy. No way was I going to eat all those on a week night. Weekend, yeah, maybe, but even then it makes me uneasy...

Wow, 33 points?! That's impressive (and yeah, a little scary).

I try to underestimate my activity points a little by under reporting my speeds. Last friday, I did a 4.2 mile run from work that took me 48 minutes. I got 9 points for it because I keyed it in as "running<12min/mile". I did the exact same run yesterday in 46 minutes and I was definitely working harder but yet I only got 8 points for it. I know it's because I didn't have a different speed option to choose, but it just kind of illustrates how the activity points really need to be a guideline as opposed to a strict rule.

I also in a firm believer in eating your activity points when you do the activity (and not saving them up until the weekend or something), so I have mine set to be used first each day.

[zoom-zoom]

Something everyone needs to keep in mind -- faster weight loss greatly increases the risk/rate of re-gain. Slow and steady wins the race. Also the closer one is to goal the harder it is to lose. Back when I was 185 I lost that first 20#s with almost no effort. The closer I got to goal the tougher things got. Once I got within 20#s of my goal it got REALLY hard. And that 20#s came back WAY easily. I've been battling this 20#s for about 6 years, now. Only I really slacked in recent months and it's now 30#s. :o

I would be thrilled to lose a pound/week at this point. Once I get within 10-15#s of goal even a half-pound/week seems like a success.

[ASammy1]

I am seriously considering signing-up for this. I had amazing success with Atkins years ago, but going that low with carbs doesn't work well with the volume of running and biking I do, nowadays. And counting carbs and calories with Fitday.com started making me more than a little obsessive about food...to the point that eating became a chore. Sounds like WW simplifies things.

So do most of you go to meetings or just do it online? We do have meetings 10 minutes away, but I'm generally good about staying accountable when I have to check-in somewhere, even if it's just online.

I am doing the WW at Work program where we get free etools. I work in a large business complex where there are several companies who join in. We have a pretty large group (over 30 ppl), so it's really convenient and motivating to do with people you see everyday.

[lauraelmore1033]

Wow, 33 points?! That's impressive (and yeah, a little scary).

I try to underestimate my activity points a little by under reporting my speeds. Last friday, I did a 4.2 mile run from work that took me 48 minutes. I got 9 points for it because I keyed it in as "running<12min/mile". I did the exact same run yesterday in 46 minutes and I was definitely working harder but yet I only got 8 points for it. I know it's because I didn't have a different speed option to choose, but it just kind of illustrates how the activity points really need to be a guideline as opposed to a strict rule.

I also in a firm believer in eating your activity points when you do the activity (and not saving them up until the weekend or something), so I have mine set to be used first each day.

Yeah, I reported the faster speed, just because that's what I did and I like seeing how many points I can earn, but then I resolved to eat no more than the #I would have earned at the slower pace. and that is only if I'm REALLY hungry. and I only eat them on the day earned. I have yet to even touch any of the weekly points.

[emily_in_nc]

I wish I could go back in time... it was far easier losing weight when I was 30 than when I'm nearly 40 now.:mad:

Just wait 10 years. I used to be able to lose weight just by thinking about losing weight (well, almost!) Now, at nearly 50, even after days when I've been extraordinarily good (long fast walk, weights, light eating/drinking), I'll get on the scale the next morning and be up 1/2 a lb. Frustrating, to say the least! :(

[Tri Girl]

Just wait 10 years.

Well shoot!
I'll just get Skeletor thin now and spend the next 20 years eating my way to a healthy weight. :p

[GLC1968]

I just wanted to mention that if anyone is NOT eating all their WW points, that maybe they should. I just finished week 3. I ate all of my daily points, all but 11 of my total 30-something activity points earned during the week and all but 9 of my extra weekly points. I lost 2.4 lbs - my biggest week yet. :)

Eat, people, eat!

(I was seriously doubting that I'd lose. I was an eating machine last week!)

[CyclaSutra]

Bumpity bump bump!
I'm trying to eat a big salad at least once a day, and so far, it fills me up and I stay on track. I do tend to get obsessive about weighing each day, so I lost three pounds or so in three days so far. I know it's a lot, but I fully intend to eat some flexy points on Friday night!

[carolync]

I'm so glad to see this thread. I've been struggling with on a plateau for over a month. I track calories, and thought I'd give WW a try to mix things up.

I input the past week, and my average was 31 points, my weight went up .6 of a pound. I'm unsure of having veggies/fruits free. Today I've used 9 point, but have eaten 723 calories. At that rate, at 27 points I'll be over 2000 calories. Yikes! I eat mainly a vegan diet, so I don't know if taking fruits and veggies out of the equation works for me.

[Maye]

Started WW last week. Lost around 8 ounces :-(!! Not great but at least I didn't gain weight. Ate all my WP's and AP's. I think now with all the cycling that I'm doing, the weight loss process is going to be slower than when I was on Jenny Craig. While on Jenny Craig I didn't exercise at all but was able to loose 2 pounds or more per week. Now, don't know how to work with all the points and balancing the calorie deficits per day specially the days that I ride my bike. It would be good if you can track at the WW website regular activities like sleeping or resting to be sure that the calorie deficits are not too high. Let's see how week number 2 goes. Great tips here!! Love TE!