Weight Watchers

[AmyMcP]

This may be a thread long since talked about, but I am new to the CL BB...
I am wondering if any CL fans and followers are on Weight Watchers?:confused:

[slknight]

AmyMcP,

Welcome to the BB. I noticed that you're in Falls Church. I'm a native of Arlington, although I no longer live in the area.

To answer your question, yes, I know there are many people on the BB who do WW. There have been a number of posts in the past that you might find in a search. Someone (greysangel?) has lost about 100 pounds on it. I have recently lost 18 pounds on WW, although I have taken the past few weeks off.

Cooking Light recipes are very easy to incorporate into WW because they give all the nutritional info which makes it easy to calculate the points.

-Susan

[AmyMcP]

I like that CL puts the Nutritional Info @ the bottom of each recipe b/c you can convert it to the WW Points System.

I just got back into WW. Lost some weight a few years ago and put it back on as a result of being on some medication. :(

But, I am ready to go again, now that I am off! :D

[workinprogress]

Hi AmyMcP,

I have been on WW since late February, and I've lost 37+ pounds so far. I am also new to the CLBB, but I am already learning many things that I can incorporate into my new healthy lifestyle. Because I am focusing on lifestyle changes and NOT on dieting, this group has actually been more helpful than the WW board.

The funny thing is that I discovered this BB when someone on the WW board commented how nicely the CL BB was set up. I checked it out and got hooked, and then I went out and bought a copy of Cooking Light. I'll be ordering a subscription this week! :)

Welcome to this board -- I hope you find it to be as helpful and encouraging as I have.

Robin

[AmyMcP]

Hi Robin -
Thanks for the note. I love my CL subscription. And I seem to the like the CL BB better than the WW BB.

maybe we can both encourage each other. I want to lose 15 pounds. I am in the very beginning and I think I am doing ok. My inspiration are my suits that I fixed to fit after I lost the weight. Now they don't fit, but I am determined not to buy more - just fit into the old!:D

[workinprogress]

Sure, Amy, I'd love to be your support buddy. We "losers" need all the support we can get! :p Anyone else out there want to join in?

Seriously, I think you'll find the WW Winning Points system to be very flexible and easy to follow. I have been amazed that, in the months I've been on program, I have never yet felt deprived in any way. Better yet, I am really learning to enjoy "real" food rather than all the fast food and processed junk that were the staples of my diet for so many years.

Congratulations on taking charge of your health! If I'd been as smart as you are, I wouldn't still have 75-80 pounds to lose. :( Oh well, we'll both learn along the journey, right?

So, what are some of your favorite CL recipes? Any great suggestions that have fit well into your WW plan? Because I spent most of my adult life relying on fast food and packaged meals, I'm really just beginning to learn how to cook foods that are good and healthy, so I'm always open to new tips and suggestions!

Well, you've got me motivated now, so I think I'll go browse some CL recipes for dinner ideas. ;) Hope you're having a great week!

Robin

[AmyMcP]

I think my week is going ok. This is my first week back on WW and I am not supposed to weigh myself until next Monday. BUT, I am wearing one of my skirts that I had taken in after I lost the weight. Granted, I have super sucker stockings on, but the skirt does zip and looks fine! Yippee!

I am a sucker for sweets, so I really pay attention to CL desserts. They had an article last summer on Pound Cakes, and this past summer on gelato/sorbet.

I really like the section on recipe makeovers b/c you can see how they changed a "bad" recipe and sometimes you can apply those changes to some of your own "bad" recipes.

The pasta dishes are pretty good as well. Pasta can be tricky b/c you always want more than you should have...but if you flavor it well and load it up w/ Shrimp or chicken and some veggies, you are satisfied by the end of the meal. And we know what veggies mean to WW - 0 points!:D

[CindyWeightWatcher]

Weight Watchers is great. Cooking Light
does fit right in. There are many WW fans,
including IQueen.

[vstowe]

I am also trying WW and was excited to see more of you out there too. I am having slow but steady success, but I need to lose another 20 lbs. It would be great to have support on this BB also!

[jd]

I made lifetime in WW in May this year - 40 lbs! Seems silly to say, but it works when you follow the program! Keep with it - it is so worth while. I have gained immense confidence and am so proud of my new strength - no more huffing and puffing going up the stairs. I still weigh in every week to keep me motivated and on track.

[SusieO]

I have been following the WW program for the last two years (Lifetime member since 1999), and I cannot say enough good things about it. I keep my journal religiously and plan to keep it up for as long as I can hold a fork to feed myself and hold a pen to write down what I ate! :)

I also spent a short period of time working as a receptionist and leader for WW. That was a lot of fun, and it's a great way to stick with the program.

[healthierme]

Hi -

I am new to this board and about 1 month into WW. It seems like this will be a great resource for me!

[laden]

I've been a Lifetime member of WW for years and cook almost exclusively out of Cooking Light. It's so easy to count the points with the nutrition information in the magazine!

[MKSquared]

I'm also a WW, and I pitch CL like crazy at my meetings. I don't mean to, but when they ask me, "What has helped you?" -- I can't help but answer that the new recipes I keep trying have really motivated me. The recipes have come almost exclusively out of CL. :-) Yayay!

--CL keeps me on my toes. Trying new recipes typically means trying new foods for me -- I would have never bought bok choy before!

--The 20-minute dinners are incredible. Not only are they good, but they are pretty easy, and I tend to have most of the ingredients in my "pantry." Having the option of these meals makes eating a healthy dinner a greater possibility!

--The fitness and healthy-living articles in each issue give some great ideas, too!

It's so natural that they'd go hand-in-hand.

[AmyO26]

Hi Amy (and other ww fans),
Weight Watchers is such a sensible approach to weight loss! I enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who is trying to lose extra pounds. I lost weight (35lbs) and became a lifetime member right as they were introducing the POINTS system, so I am not too familiar with the newest program, though I loved both the "Selection" and "Fat and Fiber" plans. I am able to maintain my loss through basic lifestyle changes (portion control, better choices, exercise, WATER, and, of course light cooking techniques...CL is the best!) My family laughs at me because I still measure out some stuff (peanut butter, cereal, cheese) Anal for sure, but it helps me to stay in control. Best of luck with the program!!!
another Amy :)

[KDHeuer]

I started Weight Watchers back in January of 2000, and by September I'd lost 58 pounds. I got pregnant in August, so I had to stop going for a while, but by the time my baby was a month old, I was going back to WW. Since then, I've lost about 10 lbs (not nearly what I should've lost...I was messing around, but at least I didn't gain!). I've got about 8 more pounds to go before I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight (but I've still got a ways to go after that). I love Cooking Light...I wait impatiently for each issue every month and I have about 4 of their cookbooks.

Amy, I see you're in Greensburg...just down the road from me! If you're interested in doing a supper club, we're talking about it over on that board. Go check out the thread!

Kathleen
kathleenheuer@yahoo.com

[AmyMcP]

After my first week on WW, I lost three! Yippee! Then one my second week, I gained two! I counted my points and even exercised 4x that week. I lifted some weights - could that have done it? I may not have had my serving or portion sizes correct, but I had some points to bank. Maybe my scale is broken!!!

BTW - I am doing WW On-Line, since it is difficult to get to meetings and weigh-ins.:confused:

[maizeyoats]

Amy.
I don't belong to WW but this is my guess.The first week of any diet it is easy to lose because you are just losing water. After that it gets tougher. but now you are building muscle and losing fat.
Anyone can add to this or correct me my feelings won't be hurt.

[AmyMcP]

Maizeyoats -
I think you are right, but it is frustrating. You do all the right things by working out, eating salad and yogurt and fruit and veggies and there are no numerical results. I vote that we take all scales and throw them away!!!! My clothes feel better, but I look @ the scale and see 154 pounds and I want to scream! Meanwhile my roommate lives it up drinking beer and eating bar food and doesn't look any different. But, she is sort of an influence, b/c it will catch up to her and I will still be FIT NOT FAT!:p

[LynnSC]

Hi, I am also a Lifetime member of weight watchers in training to be a receptionist for them. One thing you have to be careful about is depending on the scales only for measuring your success. Be sure to take your measurements, you will be surprised how much they will change. There may be weeks when you don't loose but the inches will be disappearing. Also, many things determine your weight. Be sure to wear the same thing each time you weigh . Sometimes what you ate the day before affects your weight. Did you have salty food? Did you drink all of your water? That is very important....and sometimes there is NO explanation, it just happens! :) Keep your chin up and don't give up! It took me a long time to loose my weight but I am glad, I think my habits changed that way! Good luck, you can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. I know the meetings are hard for you to get to but if I hadn't had those, I don't know if I would have stuck with it. I have to be accountable to someomne to keep me on track.:D