anyone on WW??

[ACG]

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.

[Susan Otcenas]

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

[Karma007]

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!

[polly4711]

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.

[alacarte]

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.

[uforgot]

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

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.

[katluvr]

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

[polly4711]

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

[alacarte]

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.

[Susan Otcenas]

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