January WW thread?

[helios7]

Any other WW lurkers out there?

I'm back on plan after a (long) hiatus to rid myself of my remaining 12 pregnancy weight pounds plus a few extra I gave to myself pre-pregnancy. I started last week, and recorded a loss of 2.6 this week so I'm pretty pleased with that. Although I am supposed to be only losing 1 lb a week as I'm BF. But I'm sure I won't always have such stellar weeks - I'm always good the first week on plan. It gets harder after that....

So far the momentum plan doesn't seem all that different from points, so I've fallen right back into the groove. I like that they're trying to incorporate the filling foods focus that CORE had. But overall, it doesn't seem to be that different (to me). I need to work on finding some good go to recipes, but with a 6 week old my cooking time is limited so that will be my goal in the weeks (months) ahead.


Anyone else?

[scout1222]

Howdy! You're right. Momentum isn't much different if you've been following Flex in the past. And if you were already focusing on eating Core foods before, there REALLY isn't much of a change. But a lot of people were spending their points on stuff like 100 calorie packs, ice cream sandwiches and stuff that isn't really all that filling and/or nutritious. The change is probably the biggest for those people.

I'm "at goal" but not at my personal goal. I've got about 3 pounds to get to where I would be acceptable, and if I could get 3 more pounds on top of that to leave me, I'd be ideal! :p

[LakeMartinGal]

I'm a lifetime member, but have really fallen off track. <sigh> I'm wondering how the recipes are, now? I've had some really bad ones. And the internet doesn't count previous lifetime membership (or didn't) and I don't want to join and go to meetings again.:(

[scout1222]

I have just about every Weight Watcher cookbook that has come out in the past 5 years or so. If you are a serious foodie (something that is likely given where we're posting) you'll probably find yourself adding spices and things to a standard WW recipe. Mostly I find them pretty good, but every once in awhile there's a real loser that harkens back to the "olden days" of dieting - bland, ugh. But generally they're just fine. I do confess that I often have to lighten up CL recipes more than they already are so that they fit within my Points framework.

[Romandub]

So happy to find this thread! I just joined WW this week. I was a WW-er about 7 years ago and was successful in losing about 10 lbs. The weight has crept back and then some over the past 2 years, so now I have a goal of losing 15-20. My first meeting was on Tuesday. So far so good, but I am having a devil of a time trying to figure out how to calculate points when I am eating out (which I do regularly for work) especially if I am not having a specific item, i.e. a chicken breast. For example, I had a bowl of chicken avocado soup for lunch the other day. Don't know the amount and don't know the exact ingredients. So far that's the biggest challenge. Any advice?

[JackieO]

My first meeting was on Tuesday. So far so good, but I am having a devil of a time trying to figure out how to calculate points when I am eating out (which I do regularly for work) especially if I am not having a specific item, i.e. a chicken breast. For example, I had a bowl of chicken avocado soup for lunch the other day. Don't know the amount and don't know the exact ingredients. So far that's the biggest challenge. Any advice?

That advice comes in your Week 5 booklet in Momentum. It's not terribly easy -- but it is common sense. Plan ahead, do some research on the restaurant/menu, and use your 35 weekly pts accordingly. My own sense is that if you often have to eat out or outside of your own food preparation, you just have to plan for it and make adjustments to what you DO have in your control.

As anal as it sounds, I prepare a weekly menu plan in a Word table, and plot out special schedule notes -- like if I have a business breakfast or luncheon -- and try to alot my points accordingly. I have several of those "standing" meetings over food each month, and I ask for a special meal -- steamed veggies instead of fries; fruit plate instead of the egg/toast breakfast meal, etc. Planning and preparation. It's a pain, but it's a plan. And that's what this is all about.

I, too, am in that narrow little window of only having to lose >10 pounds, and at 18 pts a day, it's hard to meet all the healthy guidelines.

But I was energized by today's meeting, which focused on tracking -- a major issue with me since I'm not doing e-tools (corporate work program doesn't include it) and the paper trackers REALLY don't work for me. PITA. No way to calculate points -- it's all guestimates because I like to eat FOOD, not steamed this or that. :pI'm still not going to be a happy tracker, but I had a 1.6 lb loss for this week, so I think I can continue the healthy habits from last week, which included major exercise 5 out of 7 days. I played tennis yesterday for the first time in YEARS and once I shook the rust off, really enjoyed it.

The fact that I live in the cold belt (-15 degrees here today, air temp), probably means I'm burning extra calories to ward off extinction! :eek: But today's scale number and my meeting helped me get off to a good start for this week. I'm currently experimenting with a roasted cauliflower soup recipe. :) I plan to take an experimental batch into the office tomorrow to have my foodie friends critique it. :D

Happy Tracking!!

[krhm]

Hi everyone,

I've been toying with the idea of going back to WW for a while. I lost a good deal of weight with the Points system, but it crept back after a hip injury and a job relocation. I've been working through some of the steps in the Beck diet (slowly, because I'm really trying to master them). I went to the WW site to see what Momentum was all about, but didn't get a clear idea without signing up. So, can someone explain it to me in Points terms? Do you still look at fat, fiber, and calories?

Romandub, eating out was always a big challenge for me. Studying the menu ahead of time was good, but also don't be afraid to ask the restaurant to do things a little differently, like sauce on the side or only half the sauce served. My old leader used to eat out regularly, and she always ordered first, then left the table so she wouldn't be tempted.

Kari

[scout1222]

If you've done Points before, it's not much of a change.

[suebear37]

It's more of a change for the people who did Core. You're still counting points, same formula for determining daily points. They're pushing "filling foods" which are a lot of the zero/ 1 point foods so that you're getting full & not overeating your points.

The Core folks in my group are having a tough time with having to write everything down.

[krhm]

Thanks Suebear37 and scout1222. I don't eat too many pre-prepared foods, so I had a harder time with some aspects of the Points system. This plan sounds pretty good, especially if they have some good recipes to go with it.

Kari

[JenniferJJ]

Hi

I was doing rather good and actually had a 2 pound loss. Then I don't know what happened. I'm with Jackie: <10 pounds to lose (6 as of this morning) and only 18 points. I had a nice meal at a fancy restaurant (networking event where I help for free meal - so was NOT going to miss anything), social event tonight with good food and then tomorrow a tasting at a restaurant for a fundraising dinner. I really don't do well at guessing what my points were. Anyway, starting on Friday I will have control for a few days of what I eat and will have time to go to the gym.

I read all the posts, but don't have time for personals. I am thinking of you all.

Thanks for the info about Momentum.

[CookinginMO/KS]

Hi everyone! I just hit my one year anniversary with WW and a loss of 34 pounds. Like many of you, I'm down to 19 points and although I'm at WW goal, I'd prefer to be about 8 pounds less. I do have e-tools so if I can help anyone out, give me a shout. Romandub, I highly recommend the Dining Companion guide (or whatever its called). I eat out quite a bit and sometimes its alarming to find out after the fact that what seemed like a perfectly healthy meal, was really not the most points friendly. The guide has helped in that aspect. Well, I hope we can keep this WW thread alive and well so we can support one another & share some good recipes.

[JackieO]

Hey, folks.

I am at the end of my 12-week WW@Work program and while I'm happy to be down 5 lbs., I was really hoping for a loss of at least 10. :mad: But I know the reasons why I finished January at the same weight I started in January -- I DIDN'T FOLLOW THE PLAN!!! Slacker when it came to tracking; worse slacker when it came to my wine habit. Too cold/snowy/windy to drag my butt to the Y to work out. Didn't want to strain anything before playing tennis last week. You name it, I had every excuse to NOT exercise, other than a few lame 30-minute rides on our exercise bike while watching TV.

Ok. Self-flagellation is over.

Went to my meeting and WI today, and the topic was short-term goal setting. What can we expect to accomplish in February? What do we need to do to meet that goal? I was heartened by the woman who sat in front of me (who came in using a walker) who talked about using winter as an excuse. (It was met with much agreement.) Our leader gave us a worksheet to write down a specific goal and time to think through how to meet it. So I'll share mine with you:

Goal: Get down to Lifetime goal weight (only 3.8 lbs from today) by the end of February.

How to accomplish:

Journal EVERYTHING I eat and drink!
Make it to the Y 3x a week -- cardio & strength/flexibility workouts
Walk dog or ride bike on days not at the Y
Increase the intake of fruits/veggies so as to cut down on the cheese & crackers and other less-desirable snacks.


I'm not re-upping with the At Work program because I'm in a remote location and there's no advantage to it. I'm going to sign up for a monthly pass and use e-tools (which logically doesn't seem to be easier to track than the paper tracker, but for some reason, I HATE those paper trackers!). And by the end of the month, I'll be at goal weight and can just sign up for e-tools.

I have a class reunion in July. I have motivation. (But I'd really like winter to be OVER.)

Anyone else have struggles?? Let's keep this going into February!!!