anyone on WW??

For you Excel junkies, I do WW through Excel. I cannot take credit for it, a friend designed it but it is really cool. I am hoping to send it over to my Palm Pilot and get moving along since I cancelled my WW online account.

I did get a compliment from someone at work today who asked if I was training for a marathon since I am getting leaner. I still feel like I have a way to go but someone saying something made me feel better. Today I am also forcing more water in my routine. Our work provides a fridge of sodas which makes me neglect water but I started running again and I need to be hydrated!

I want to take a moment to thank you ladies for your encouragement last week. I was having a low moment, and your words were just what I needed to keep me motivated.

My WW week ended last night. True to my plan, I skipped my Weds & Fri workout last week, giving my body a rest until Saturday. I also ate 100% of my weekly points AND 100% of my APs. I even ate 2.5 more points beyond that, just 'cuz I felt like it. :D

The results? I'm over my head cold. Yay! My weigh-in this morning was successful (-2.5 lbs from last Weds.) and I had an awesome run workout this morning. Basically, I'm feeling re-energized.

So, thanks again to all of you for helping me work through it!

Susan

Anyone have some good ideas for snacks? I have fallen into a rut where I'm eating three big meals again, I need to switch it back up to smaller meals. Problem is, I have never been a "snacker". the only thing I can think of is fruit or granola bars or something, and I've already grown very tired of those.

Anyone have any good snacks? Something that I can pack in the morning and eat through the day, and I also do not have access to a refrigerator or a microwave/oven (though I can put an ice pack in my lunch bag)

http://www.genisoy.com/products/snacks/soy-crisps/

I'm partial to the Ranch flavor. 17 crisps in a servings (they're kind of like little mini rice cakes, but soy instead). 2 points.

They satisfy my put-hand-to-mouth-repeatedly snacking urge. :-)

Also 1/4 cup (unpopped) air-popped popcorn plain makes a really big bowl of popcorn. Again, 2 points. Packed in baggies, it would make multiple snacks throughout the workday.

Susan

Hey, how is everyone doing? I rejoined last night after a 4 month layoff. I need some success stories!

I've been a bit quiet but I rejoined at the end of last year. (Lifetime member for 20 years now, but had about 35 lbs to lose after a couple of really off years). Anyway I am down almost 10 pounds. Following the program loosely, mostly there for the once a week weigh in and accountability.

I am also doing a pretty intense cycling training program and really focusing on fuelling solidly for the days I ride and following the program strictly on the days I do not. Trying to stuck to whole foods, whole grains. Lower carb on the days I don't ride. Remembering that when you do a tough ride, the refuelling occurs within the half hour afterward, and is not an excuse for an entire pizza later that night. :rolleyes:

I get re-assessed next week at my training center (body fat, lactate thresholds). That data, I hope, will be very encouraging.

I just started again this week after stopping in Sept. My Dr changed my meds around and I've gained 15 lbs since then.

I am doing in on my own and not going through a WW center. My company used to offer the WW at work program where they would cover 1/2 of the cost, but that was cut after the economy tanked. What's helping me get through it and stay accountable is blogging about my highs and lows. Like yesterday, it was a bad day for me. Then I blogged about it and ended on a positive note. Today I feel good about myself and the choices I'm making.

I'm down 21 pounds since I signed up for WW online on Nov 5th. I follow it religiously, tracking every single thing that passes my lips. I'm also using the activity tracker to record all my activity points. It's working really really well for me. I love the accountability.

14 more pounds to my goal weight!

Susan

Susan, that is awesome! Just goes to show that with consistency and discipline, you can achieve your goals. Great job!

I know! Susan is so inspirational. By following her progress, I decided last week to get back on track w/ WW. I have changed my diet around completely and upped my protein intake. After reading the Jan/Feb weight loss thread I realized I might have glucose sensitivity (diabetes and hypoglycemia runs in my family). I am going to see what happens and go from there!

Thanks again for your inspiration Susan!

I tried doing it alone, but something about weighing in makes me stick to it better. I absolutely can't count ANY activity points. When I did that I gained, but I also need something after a ride. Many here have suggested chocolate milk, any one else have any WW friendly suggestions?

By the way, congrats Susan! That's terrific and inspirational as I have about 35 pounds to lose!

Thanks ladies! I'm glad that sharing my story has helped. :) But believe me, it's definitely been a struggle sometimes. It's a daily test of willpower to keep it going and not succumb to a craving or temptation. *Most* days I'm very successful at that, but every now and then..... Yesterday we celebrated two birthdays @ Jeff's folks' place - Jeff's and his sister's. Jeff baked a chocolate orange cake for Tricia, and Tricia baked a banana cream pie for Jeff. Plus his mom put out a Mexican burrito buffet for lunch.

Well, I'd like to tell you I resisted it all, but......Of course I had to try both the chocolate cake and the pie, both of which were amazing. And the mexican food was awesome. I dutifully counted up all my points at the end of the day (I never skip that step, even when I've had a "bad" day) and just about fell off my chair. :eek:

One thing I've taken away from all of this over the last 3 months is that it's OK to have a day like this now and then. I've learned not to sabotage myself *after* the fact by saying - "well, now I've screwed up my whole week, so I may as well also have x too." Instead, today I'm right back on the plan and eating my daily 19 points. I went for my run this morning, as scheduled. Basically, I've found that if I don't let myself have a day like yesterday every now and then (say, once every 4-6 weeks) then I end up feeling too deprived. What really matters is how I work the plan every day, not the very occasional day when I let loose and eat a piece of cake.

I'd like to thank all of YOU for keeping me on track, too. Part of what works for ME is being accountable to other people, so being able to check in here and on the Jan/Feb weight loss thread really helps me alot.

Susan

19 points is all you get? Wow, doesn't seem like much. Maybe I need to recalculate, I'm at 24.

Congrats on making it a way of life and not a diet. That's probably what will make it a success in the end. The fact that we can't go back to our old ways, but have to learn to incorporate those "days" when there is just great food around.

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Originally Posted by uforgot

19 points is all you get? Wow, doesn't seem like much. Maybe I need to recalculate, I'm at 24.

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Yup, 19. I started out at 21 points when I was 165. Somewhere in the high 140s I dropped to 19. NOw I'm at 144. If I'm not mistaken, the lowest is 18 points. I'd imagine I'll hit that when I'm in the 130s.

In all truthfulness, though, I rarely eat that few points. I exercise 4-6 days per week, and I always eat my activity points (on the day I earn them). It's very important to eat to fuel activity, so I never skip those. Besides, the APs earned only work out to about 1/2 the calories burned in any given activity. So you can eat all your APs and still lose weight.

In fact, you SHOULD eat your APs. If you don't eat enough, your body goes into starvation mode. Basically, your metabolism slows down because your body thinks it's in a famine (because it is). Give it enough calories and it will freely burn them. Starve it and it will try to conserve them by slowing the metabolism.

Besides eating my APs, I usually eat some (but rarely all) of my weekly 35. 10-15 is pretty typical for me.

I believe that "diets" don't work. Eating healthily and in moderation, along with a regular exercise regimen, is the only way to sustain a healthy body weight. It's one of the reasons I never eat "prepared" diet foods like Lean Cuisine or the packaged WW products. One needs to learn how to cook healthy, low fat, low calorie meals to be successful long term. JMHO, of course.

Susan

I joined WW about eight years ago and lost a buttload of weight, figuratively and literally.
If I keep reading this thread i may have to go back, but I'd only be eating about 19 or 20 points :eek:
I still have all the little books and calculator.

As soon as i finish these butter cookies i made.
Hey- what else was I going to do with butter?
Why do I have butter anyway? I can't remember why I bought it:confused:

Mmmmmmm, butter cookies......

Ok, so I had some issues with the hunger scale today... I just think I wasn't paying attention.

So here's what happened... After lunch when I clearly wasn't hungry, I waltzed into the breakroom only to find leftover meeting food. Chicken salad, potato salad, cous cous salad, etc from the local deli. YUM! So naturally, I fixed myself a plate... Ate it... And then the guilt set in. Please keep in mind that I was still well within my point range, so technically I could eat it. I just didn't pay attention to my hunger signals...

How do you handle these types of situations?

My sister's WW leader tells them that when there are things out for the having at work, to just keep telling themselves - not my food. My sisters says this usually works for her. :) Not sure if that would work for me, I make a point to stay away when I hear that there are donuts or something at a certain place within the office. But my sister says she just keeps repeating - not my donuts, not my donuts, and that works.

That doesn't answer the whole eating when not really hungry thing. If I had an answer to that, I wouldn't be trying to lose weight. Sorry!

But now I'm hungry for potato salad. :)

Well.
This raises the old question "what do you call cheese that is not yours?"

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Originally Posted by Zen

Well.
This raises the old question "what do you call cheese that is not yours?"

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NACHO CHEESE!!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Possegal

But now I'm hungry for potato salad. :)

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NACHO TATER SALAD!

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Originally Posted by ASammy1

Ok, so I had some issues with the hunger scale today... I just think I wasn't paying attention.

So here's what happened... After lunch when I clearly wasn't hungry, I waltzed into the breakroom only to find leftover meeting food. Chicken salad, potato salad, cous cous salad, etc from the local deli. YUM! So naturally, I fixed myself a plate... Ate it... And then the guilt set in. Please keep in mind that I was still well within my point range, so technically I could eat it. I just didn't pay attention to my hunger signals...

How do you handle these types of situations?

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Sammy- that is the whole point of weight watchers. You were well within your point range, so once in a while you can indulge! It's an eating plan for life, not a diet. If you enjoyed the food, then just go on. Stop the guilt. If you start denying yourself a little pleasure every once in a while, that's when it becomes a diet and not a way of life. Now if you had scarfed down 10 pounds of potato salad and said "what the heck, I blew it, I may as well eat the rest of the day", then you would be in trouble. Sometimes ya just gotta enjoy. Note I said "sometimes". :D

My leader said something interesting at our last meeting. She recommended that if you are ever at a gathering with lots of good food, take a spoonful (about tablespoon) of each thing you want and count 1 point for each. Some are 0, some are 1 and some are probably 2 but it should average. That way you are enjoying, but not denying, and learning to control. Anyone ever heard this before?

uforgot - I've found that to be a great way to get to taste everything, but still count my points and stay on plan. I did that very successfully at Thanksgiving and Christmas. The things I just HAD to taste, I gave myself a small dollop and called it a point.

Andrea - I agree with uforgot about the way of life comment, but I also understand what your point is - that it is difficult to be successful with a healthy way of life long term if we don't learn to both recognize our triggers AND listen to our bodies. ie. Asking myself - "why am I eating this? Am I really truly hungry?" If so, then I should eat something (even if it's not the potato salad, or whatever prompted the question in the first place). But when I'm not really hungry, I have to ask myself "well, Susie, what is it that's making you want to put food in your mouth right now??" Am I bored? Am I socially uncomfortable (This is often a big one for me. Nervous eating to have something to do with my hands, when at a party or in a group of people I don't know so well).

One of the gals here in my office also talks about "mindful eating". Being totally present when you're eating your food. Not reading a book, or cruising the internet. But rather, being engaged in your meals so that your's enjoying the food you DO eat, and are more able to recognize when you're satisfied.

I don't know if any of this helps, but believe me, you are NOT alone. I struggle with all this on a daily basis. Last night I was at a restaurant with a friend. I dutifully made a healthy meal choice, and got a to-go box delivered with my meal so that I could immediately put half of it in the box. That part was great. But the bowl of peanuts on the table in front of me were calling to me. My saving grace was that they were in the shell, so it slowed me down - I had to work at consuming those calories... :D

Yours in temptation,

Susan

I'm a WW returnee! Glad to be back, but the first week was a real eye opener. I found that
a) I'm not willing to give up wine
b) 1/2 a box of Girlscout cookies is bad. Very bad
c) Leftover pizza isn't the most point-effective recovery meal

With all that in mind, I'm heading out for week two!:D

I have been reading this thread for a while, everyday I can't wait to see the new postings. It is great to have this extra support.

Ok, so I went yesterday to a meeting and joined WW! I found a leader who is willing to work with me, the cycling, the hunger, etc. I actually went to several meetings because I wanted the right leader. It was worth the effort.

This morning when I tried on my clothes for work I was almost ready to cry. My clothes all fit, but I feel like I look dumpy, it is amazing what 10lbs here or there can do.

I'm looking forward to looking less dumpy in a few weeks.

HI ladies,

I'm resurrecting this thread. :)

I'm (finally) on the cusp of reaching my WW goal. My last official weigh in was last Wednesday @ 132#. Next weigh this Weds. My goal is 130#. The last few weeks have been really tough - after losing steadily from November through March, I've bounced around a little in April. Still on a downward trend throughout the month, but it's been a little bumpy.

The closer I've gotten to goal, the hungrier I've been! Part of that is the result of my triathlon training. I've earned 52 activity points week-to-date with one more day to go. And these past few weeks, I've eaten ALL my APs and ALL my 35 "extras". I've just been ravenous. And I believe that if I'm hungry, I should eat. I DO make very wise food choices 99% of the time, so I'm getting good food volume and not wasting points on unsubstantial foods.

My base point count is only 18 points, which doesn't even sustain me on a rest day. I haven't had a single day where I've eaten that few points! I used to have days back when my points were higher (I started at 21) and my activity was lower that I could easily stay within my budget, but that never happens anymore.

I'm wondering how many of you have had this experience - ie. how much more difficult it's gotten to lose as you've gotten closer to your goal. And, how much hungrier you've been despite eating all your points.

One final thing I should mention - *I* set my goal at 130. 130 is right smack dab in the middle of the height weight charts (which say that for my height I should be 117-143). Now that I'm here, I think I want to revise my goal down another 5#. I've gotten very lean from the waist up, but from the waist down there's definitely still work to be done!

Susan

Susan, I'm at a 20 point allowance right now, so I feel ya. I'm sure you know all the tricks but lately here are some of my favorite low-point foods:

Kashi GOLean (2/3 to 1c) w 1/2c light soymilk and 1.2 to 1c strawberries

snacks are 1/2oz nuts or 1/2 cliff bar, and 1 serving of fruit

Lunch and dinner are salad and something or other.

I ALWAYS have 1/2 to 1 glass of wine after dinner. It keeps me sane.

That being said, weekends kill me. I drink too much beer, and while I don't overeat too bad, the soduim in things like pizza (I get a personal vegy, no cheese) shoots my weight up.

I try to save all my APs for the weekend, but often dip in to 1-2 per day. This is bad with my excersize still being limited and the bike STILL in the shop, so there's no long ride right now and I can only stand so much time in the gym.

Anyway, hope something here is of value to ya!

Hello,

I am new to WW! I joined online last night and have enjoyed it already. I have a few questions....

1) Do i put in my overall weight goal at the beginning, or do I move down as I loose weight? (I have no clue what my natural body weight should be, I just have a feeling I'm not where I am supposed to be. In highschool, I was a lightweight rower (bieng under 130#) and the came to and had to be 150 to be competitive and after two surgeries, I ended up where I am now at 162. I have a feeling it's in the 140s, I just dont know where though)

2) How do I set my desired weight? I've been told so often not to focus on numbers, I just kow that I am not happy where I am now.

3) Anything online that you guys find super helpful with the readings. I am trying to get through them all, but there's a lot reading and it's kind of overwhelimg.

I'm new to these boards but I've been doing WW for a long time. I'm only 6 pounds away from my goal, but I think I'll probably want to lose another 5 or 10 after that. I'm sort of doing my own diet plan right now but I still attend meetings.

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Originally Posted by Susan Otcenas

The closer I've gotten to goal, the hungrier I've been! Part of that is the result of my triathlon training. I've earned 52 activity points week-to-date with one more day to go. And these past few weeks, I've eaten ALL my APs and ALL my 35 "extras". I've just been ravenous. And I believe that if I'm hungry, I should eat. I DO make very wise food choices 99% of the time, so I'm getting good food volume and not wasting points on unsubstantial foods.

My base point count is only 18 points, which doesn't even sustain me on a rest day. I haven't had a single day where I've eaten that few points! I used to have days back when my points were higher (I started at 21) and my activity was lower that I could easily stay within my budget, but that never happens anymore.

Susan

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You don't have to count points. They also have the simply filling mode. It's like the core plan was, only they decided not to make it a separate plan. You just change it on Plan Manager. You can eat any of the filling foods until you are satisfied. You still have 35 weekly points, but those are the only ones you count. Anything not a filling food gets subtracted from the 35. So far it seems like the ticket for me. Somedays I'm starving, and others I'm not. It also makes me eat healthier.

With the momentum plan this is mentioned in the week 6 booklet. They have it at week 6 because by then you are used to portion control.

Susan,
18 points is exactly where I always am. At 4'10" and in the 120's. (And yes, I still need/could lose soem weight).
About 5 years ago when I did WW first time I lost from about 140 down to where I am. I started cycling then too. But I never reached goal. (no, 120 is not thin!). I have tried over and over to get back on WW--and sustain running/biking. But can't. True...I LOVE to eat and eat out and drink adn partly it is discipline. But 18 points is almost impossible for me to do and that is why I can't seem to stay there. When I did WW the first time...I really "added" activity points EXCEPT weekends with long biking days.
I have yet to find the answer. But I know that 18 points does not work for me...I can't seem to stay there and feel satisfied nor have teh energy to do what I need to do. I usually found about 23 points worked...I felt "ok" at about this level. So maybe that is waht I need to try. Not low like it says, but at a reasonable level.
K

It's day 3... and I'm hungry.... does it just take some getting used to?

I think it takes some work to find the combination of things that works for you. You can add lots of veggies to your meals to bulk them up and there's nothing wrong with using the extra points.

Polly -

I've found that there are several way to make sure you aren't hungry.

1) East lots of "high volume low point foods. In practice, this often means alot of fruit & veggies. 1 cup of broccoli - 0 points! 1 cups of brussels sporouts - 0 points! 1 cup of red peppers - 0 points! At dinner time, my plate is 2/3 full of foods like this. 1 1/2 cups of strawberries - 1 point! A small sweet potato - 1.5 points!

2) Choose high-fiber foods. The higher the fiber, the lower the points. A cup of whole wheat pasta has more points than white, so fewer points. Bread is the same way. 2 slices of Oroweat Light Whole Wheat are only 1 point. Lots of fiber. I also eat whole grain hot cereals for breakfast - you get a big bowl for 2-3 points.

3) Over time, you will figure out which high volume, low point foods you like best. You'll also learn that if you "waste" points on high fat, low volume foods, that you'll quickly find yourself at the end of the day hungry, and out of points.

4) Eat ALL your daily points. ALL of them. Your base points are really your minimum. If you still find yourself hungry at day end, eat some of the 35 extras.

5) I ALWAYS eat all my activity points on the day I earn them. Food is NOT evil. It's fuel. We can not exercise without properly fueling our bodies. The way the AP formulas work, is that you get about 1/2 the calories you actually burn in AP points. That is, if you burn 600 calories in a workout, you'll end up with about 6 APs, which is roughly 300 calories. SO eat all your APs, propoerly fuel your workouts, and you WILL still lose weight.

Hang in there.

Susan

Susan-

You have truely been so wonderful. I am figureing this all out... and I guess it takes practice and some trial and error. I get 23 daily points. I have 8 weekly points left (weigh ins are monday) what happens if I go over my points? does that mean that it's just a bad week?

This first week has been so eye opening of everything.... I think that WW is going to be a good thing for me... patience is just needed i guess...