WW Core/Flex

[mom2garret]

Well, I finally got off my butt and joined WW today. After going thru all the material, I have no clue if I want to do core or flex. I am coming to the bb to get any pros and/or cons. I have done the point system in the past. Any advice is needed and welcomed! Thanks
Jodi

[blazedog]

It so depends on eating tastes and life style -- and of course some weeks it's wiser to go with one rather than the other.

Let me preface this by saying that I reached lifetime on a prior program -- one of the Exchange type programs.

I found that what I ate to lose weight replicated Core foods -- lots of lean protein, veggies, fruits -- probably less complex carbs but that's neither here nor there.

I can't abide being hungry so having small portions of high point foods doesn't work for me -- I am perfectly content with fish and chicken, lots of veggies, fruit -- so I lean towards Core.

On the other hand, to do Core successfully you pretty much have to make a commitment to cooking for scratch so Flex is easier in that sense. I actually found eating out on restaurants way easier on Core -- I have grilled fish, broiled filet mignon, vegetables or a salad, baked potato and I am pretty much happy.

[luvItalian]

Good for you Mom. I joined WW in May and lost 20 pounds by July. I am now at my goal and have been maintaining fine. This was my first experience with WW and now I am a believer. I picked the points program because I know portion contol is my issue. If I went flex I do not think unlimited anything will work for me. I have a couple of suggestion, well actually a lot but these were key for me:

1) Find a freind to go with. My friend lost more then I did and the day to day support from some going through this was priceless.

2) Don't quit. You will have bad weeks, just remember a really good week is coming.

3) For me at least, it is a life style change. Do not rush your results, feel proud even if it is only a half of pound one week.

4)Exercise. If you are at home with small ones, get a jump rope for all of you. I made my 7 year old walk to school in the morning so I burned extra calories. If you have the time to really exercise then do it. In April I started walking/running for 30 minutes. Today I ran 7.5 miles at a good pace. Remember, baby steps, do this for the long haul.

5) Get the WW chocolate....it helps with the days you want to be bad!!!

Good luck!!!

[Gracie]

I need the structure of Flex. I cannot be trusted to know when I'm in the "comfort zone" of being full/satisfied versus stuffed. Maybe my internal whatever signal that lets me know I'm full has been messed up over the years.

WW has this chart on the wall for Core users that goes from 1 - 5, 1 being very hungry and 5 being stuffed. They tell you to stay between 2 - 4 at all times. I know that's just not for me.

With the points system, you can have anything you want, literally, if you count it accurately and stay in your daily points. Having something as concrete as "I've already eaten 18 points, so now I'm done for the day" is much easier for me to handle than "I feel full but not stuffed". It opens the door for too much gaming the system.

So it depends on what kind of person you are and what you need to stay on track. Obviously Core works for some people or they wouldn't offer it as a program. But I'd be interested to see their data of sustained and consistent weight losses for people on core vs flex. They must have it because they ask you every time you weigh in which you are on and record it in the computer.

Good luck whichever you choose!

Loren

[MNGirlTX]

Congratulations for taking the first step and joining ww! I'm slowly working my way to my goal. I've done both flex and core...I've been doing core exclusively for about 2 months, now.

I would suggest that you try a week of each and see if one works better for you than the other. The reason I like core is because I started running and I feel like core "forces" me to eat better. Plus, I can eat more.

As blazedog said, you have to make more of a committment to Core because processed foods are not on program. I'm single, so I usually pick 3 recipes for the week and switch them up for lunch and dinner. I made a meatloaf last Monday and had it for 4 meals...2 as meatloaf and 2 as a core version of beef stroganoff.

We have a little weekly Weight Watchers thread in the Healthy Living section if you want to come over and join us.

Good luck!

Lori

[greysangel]

I agree with what everyone has said above. I think people with either emotional food issues or foodie disease have a harder time with the core program. I have done both, like both but usually fall back on points. Core is great when I am "in the groove" ..meaning when weight loss is on the front burner, I'm super focused, planning my meals, exercising etc. But when "real life" gets in the way (late nights at work, stress, spontaneous social outings etc) I fall back on points. For me it's portion control and I have to really be focused to be able to identify being satisfied and hunger.

I think the best of both worlds is actually to follow points and to go by their nutritional guidelines in the getting started booklet. They discuss the importance of dairy, whole grains, vegetables and protein in a daily diet and I believe their recommendations are very core as far as eating for fuel. That way you use the points to feed your body right and you have a little flexibility for special occasions, celebrations etc.

That said, I do know people who love core. I think it's really about figuring out what works for you. And you can always switch it up..do core one week and points another...see which fits better :D

JeAnne - 130 lost as of today :D

[mom2garret]

Well thank you for all the replies. I was leaning towards counting points because that is what I have done in the past. For some reason though, I just started dreading counting again. I thought the Core sounded great that you didn't have to count but something was telling me it would be a bit harder (commitment wise). So, I have decided - FLEX! Jeanne - That number is amazing! Congrats to you for all your hard work. You are an inspiration.
Jodi

[Angelina]

I have been doing Core for more than a year now, and I have lost 60 pounds. I picked Core because it makes me eat healthier foods, and let's face it, when you are eating a bowl of salad it's hard to overeat. Oh yes, let me stuff my face with more leafy green things! ;)

If I was on Flex, I would eat lots of garbage.

But that's just me. :)

Angela

[mom2garret]

Angela: That is also a great accomplishment! Now I know why you were looking for songs to ummmm "dance" to on a thread not to long ago! ;)
Jodi

[AZLorena]

I am currently on the Flex plan....but I eat a lot of core foods.....This is an option that our leader mentioned....if you like the food on the core list, but need the structure of flex, you can actually do both. Eat mostly off of the core list, but count the points for the servings. It keeps you honest, because lets face it.....most of us who go to weight watchers have portion control issues, or we wouldn't be heavy in the first place.

Lorena

[blazedog]

I am currently on the Flex plan....but I eat a lot of core foods.....This is an option that our leader mentioned....if you like the food on the core list, but need the structure of flex, you can actually do both. Eat mostly off of the core list, but count the points for the servings. It keeps you honest, because lets face it.....most of us who go to weight watchers have portion control issues, or we wouldn't be heavy in the first place.

Lorena

This is called "Flore" :D It's not an official WW plan but I think it really gives one the best of all possible worlds.

It avoids the Flex insanity in which people save their points for garbage and don't want to spend points on fruit, milk and other healthy points.

If you use Flex points for Core foods, you wind up not being hungry because the Core foods are so much more satiating -- there is a lot of Volumetrics theory that is used.

I alluded to this in my original post because I never counted points but am conscious of the "exchange" value of foods I have eaten which I use to keep myself from grazing continually. :p

[mommycook]

JeAnne - 130 lost as of today :D

Holy Smokes!!!

That is equal to my 9 and 11 year-old!!!!

I am currently doing the flex plan. Since July I have lost 15 pounds and he has lost 13.

The only con I found for the core plan was that it was harder to feed my family on that plan without a lot of complaints about the food and having seperate snacks in the house for them that I was tempted to eat.

Good luck with your weight loss efforts :)

[RobinC]

I've lost 50 lbs in the past year on the flex plan. The flex plan works for me because I like to eat whatever I want, but in moderation. I think that JeAnne made a good point about the core plan being harder for people with emotional food issues or foodie disease. I had a really hard time with the core plan. I found that I always wanted to eat something not on the plan and I didn't like that at all. It was pretty much confirmation that I'm an emotional eater.

[Gracie]

JeAnne - 130 lost as of today :D

I want everyone to know that I spent the day with JeAnne a couple weeks ago in NYC and

She Looks AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D

Loren

[Goin' Coastal]

I bit the bullet and joined Weight Watchers today. I think Iwill start with flex, but there will be a lot of core in it, because that is mostly how I eat. I'm counting on the flex to help keep portion sizes in check. I have 30 pounds to lose, so here goes!!

[mom2garret]

Awesome! We can do it together!
Jodi