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.

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.

[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.

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.