WW

[Denise]

Well, I "bit the bullet" and went back to Weight Watchers last night! AACCKK!! :eek:
I was DETERMINED to do it on my own this time....but there's something to say about being "accountable" and having to step on that scale at a meeting. Also, if you have a good leader, she/he can be extremely motivational to stay on track!
I reached my goal 4 years ago, and achieved "Lifetime Membership". Well, after awhile, I stopped going to meetings 'coz I was so sure I was home free. And I was for a couple of years. These past 2 years it has creeped back up and I'm not getting any younger, so it's much more difficult to keep the pounds off.
I've never been way overweight but enough that at my age, it can truly be a health risk to keep adding those pounds slowly. I'm now 25 pounds back up from my goal, so today is DAY 1 on my way back down that roller coaster - I HOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If anyone else here is a WW member, let's give each other some "rah rah you can do it" support! I sure could use it!!! :)

[dutchcloggie]

I am not a WW member but Go You!! It is always good to make steps in the right direction, however small they might be. Suport really makes a difference so you have my support!

[RedjackRyan]

Not a WW member either, but i'll give ya the Rah Rah Go Girl! support!

[david uk]

go for it!

I'm not a WW member either and am probably very ignorant of the issues and challenges you come across- but what I would say is do make sure the diet foods you eat are things you LIKE... the way I see it, if a diet makes you suffer you won't stick to it... make sure you have plenty of your favourite spices etc....

but then what do I know??

best of luck xxx

[dutchcloggie]

The diets that don't work are the ones where you have to change your entire lifestyle overnight. THe ones that work best are the ones where you can have the things you like, but in moderation. The diet that does not tell you you are a bad person if you eat a chocolate bar but simply explains that if you DO have a chocolate bar, you should perhaps not eat a second one and perhaps not have one every day.

A diet needs to fit into your lifestyle to succeed.

[Eva]

Not a member either here but I know the WW diet. I have done it too 17 years ago and I lost about 10 kilo's then. Still have the books, waiting for another go at it...

I never knew I could look this good when I lost so much weight! I think loosing weight is just as difficult as quiting smoking, drinking or whatever addiction we have. For me even more difficult because I can say: oke, I just don't touch cigarettes or liquor anymore. But I can't stop eating! I guess that for a lot of other people it's the same.

David, the way WW diets are made, it leaves room for people to eat (almost) everything they like. I think it's the best 'diet' there is, because it teaches people to have a good look at what and how they are eating.

Go for it, Denise! I think you have the courage of a lion!

Eva

[mixtymotions]

Well, I "bit the bullet" and went back to Weight Watchers last night!

Denise....I don't think bullets are on the approved Weight Watcher's list....:p

[Judy]

I agree with Eva - I've never dieted but I have stopped smoking and I always figured that dieting would be lots harder. I'd think it easier to stop a behavior (smoking) than to modify one (eating.)
Best luck to you Denise..I know a number of people who've had good results with WW.
Judy

[Dee]

About 12 years ago, I put on 30 lbs after quitting smoking, and took it off in less than a month by using the WW point system (unofficially ... shhh!) combined with vigorous morning fitness walking - an hour or more per day. Don't like gyms and I'm not too keen on groups either.

Now I am not recommending that method for anyone else, but lately I look down and see I should be giving it a go again after a long and mmm delicious Winter. :p

[Eva]

What is the point system Dee? I only know the version in which you can eat so many vegetablesquantities, so many dairyquantities, so many fatquantities, etc per day. Is there something as a point system at WW?

Eva

[mixtymotions]

About 12 years ago, I put on 30 lbs after quitting smoking, and took it off in less than a month

Wow, 30 lbs weight loss in a month is extrordinary - also sounds a wee bit dangerous... Imagine 120 sticks of butter stacked up - that's 30 lbs! It's MORE than annoying that males seem to lose weight faster! But why punish yourself with more deprivation and exercise, Dee, when you can lose the same 30 lbs in an afternoon liposuction session? :D

[KarenSews2]

Denise....I don't think bullets are on the approved Weight Watcher's list....:p

I think almost anything is "allowed" on WW, and Dar would know the point value for bullets!

[Denise]

You all crack me up.....:D

Eva - the point system is a pretty easy way to keep track of your daily calories. Every food has a point value. You can have a certain amount of points each day, based on your weight.
You can pretty much eat anything as long as you track your points.
But the more fattening it is, the higher the points, of course.
They do have an alternative plan where you don't have to count points but you DO have to only eat what's on the "list".
Anyway, go to www.weightwatchers.com (http://www.weightwatchers.com) if you want to learn more.

My first day was okay....and I am SOOO happy 'coz I found I can still have my Dunkin' Donuts Hazelnut Latte Lite anytime!!!!!

Thanks for the support and if anyone wants to join me in this battle .... :)

[Dee]

Wow, 30 lbs weight loss in a month is extrordinary - also sounds a wee bit dangerous... Imagine 120 sticks of butter stacked up - that's 30 lbs!

MMMmmmm butter. :)

Eva,

Denise has clarified what the one-point system is. I found it worked really well for me.

Here is a snippet of a list of one-point foods that I kept on file. Each item and amount equals one point:

My One-Point Foods Menu

20 minutes of any brisk activity burns off one point
At 130 lbs, my daily allowable points range is 18-27

BEVERAGES
Apple juice or cider, 1/2 cup
Cranberry juice cocktail, regular, 1/2 cup
Grape juice, carbonated or noncarbonated, 1/2 cup
Grapefruit juice, any type, 1/2 cup
Orange juice, any type, 1/2 cup
Hot chocolate, 1 cup fat free
UNLIMITED BEVERAGES (0 points)
Tomato or vegetable juice
Water

BREADS
High fibre (3 grams or more per), 1 slice
Breadsticks, 2 long or 4 short
Melba toast, all varieties, 6 rounds or 4 slices
Pita, any type, 1 small or 1/2 large
Rice cakes, any type, 2 reg or 6 mini

If you want the whole list (3 pages) just send me an e-mail and I'll gladly send it to you.

[Dar]

Okay, I'm a member of two online communities, Janis and WW. How funny to see a WW topic on the Janis board. Makes me want to start a Janis topic on the WW board.

Denise, good for you for getting back on the wagon!! I lost 50 pounds, 20 doing low carb, but I felt so deprived, and as a athlete, low carb is just stupid. So I joined WW and it’s a perfect fit for me. It encourages you to make healthy choices. In fact, I’ve found that the healthier I eat the MORE I CAN eat. You know I’m a food fiend. I’ve found ways to make just about everything I love in low fat versions. I’m no saint by any means, but I am active enough that if I do have a pig day it doesn’t hurt and I just get back in the swing. I gained some weight when I hurt my back last year, the combination of not exercising and not feeling motivated to eat healthy was a double whammy. But as soon as I could get back to exercise I did, and eating healthier just followed. It took awhile for my body to clue back into being in weightloss mode, after the injury, even though I was following all the ‘rules’, but once it did the weight came off.

I find the message boards at weightwatchers.com to be very very helpful. There is even a board for returning lifetimers. My screen name there is Justdar (aren’t I the creative one?)
Email me ANYTIME you have a question or need an atta girl or whatever. I think there are a couple others her on the JIMB who are familiar with WW too. I won’t ‘out’ them, they can tell you for themselves.

Again KUDO’S!! You know you took the hardest step already.


Eva, WW has two programs now. One is the point system, called Flex. Food items have various point values depending on calories, fat grams and fiber grams. You get X number of points a day depending on how much you weigh. If you exercise you earn more points you can use that same day.
The other system is called CORE here in the states, I think it's called something else in other countries. The idea of CORE is you can eat any fruit, vegetable and whole grain cereal, including things like quinoa, couscous and cornmeal, and nonfat dairy you choose, no need to measure, but you have to pay attention and only eat until you are satisfied, not stuffed. You can have whole wheat pasta once a day. Anything else you might eat you count points for and you get 35 points a week. There's a few other things,but that's basically it. People who don't want to bother counting really like CORE. Some folks switch from month to month depending on how they feel one is working for them, or just to shake things up a bit.

[Denise]

Dar - cool!!!
I've done the points (Flex) system for so long that I think I am just bored with it and that's what made it so hard to try to continue it on my own... until I just quit altogether.
So I'm giving the Core program a try. I'm the kind of person that needs to know just how much I should eat, etc., so this may prove difficult ... but anything to get going again!
I think I will head on over to the WW site within a few days and check out their message board, as well. When I do, I'll let you know my screen name. I've been on the site many times but never even looked at the message board. I'm sure that will help too!
Thanks!!!! I'll e-mail maybe from time to time when it comes to WW so I don't bore the others here with it all!
If someone here is struggling, as well, with their weight, I'm sure they don't want to come on Janis' board to hear "wow I just lost 5 pounds!", etc.
(Boy that will be nice, though, when I get to say it... hopefully! lol!)
:)

[Marcia Drummergal]

Denise, you won't bore me with the WW stuff. If it bores others, they don't have to read it! ;)

Dar, coincidentally, I hurt my back a few weeks ago and have not been able to exercise. And I am definitely gaining weight. Not happy about either situation. Have to wait another 2 1/2 weeks just to get in to the orthopod.
Sigh.

Marcia

[Judy]

Denise, forgot to mention ... I now know three people who are on the "Fit For Life" program and they have found it very successful (I think the thing that gets they through is that they get one "free day" a week where they can eat any and everything they want.) So far one has lost 15 pounds; one has lost 35 pounds and another an amazing 100 pounds!
Don't know much about the program but thought you might find it of some interest.
Good Luck,
Judy

[Dar]

How's it going girlfriend??

[Des]

Gotta hand it to anyone who wants to loose weight. Hats off to ya Denise:)

[Denise]

Weigh in is tomorrow (Tues) night... on my scale, I'm down over 3 lbs so WOO-HOO! Hey, at least it's a start, right?!!
Dar - went over to the WW Message Boards (mrsrock82 - of course) and wow - there are so many! I guess you really have to pick a few favorites and stick to those. Too many to be checking all the time! So I'll probably stick to the Lifetime, over 50 (oh my..) and any of the CORE ones for now. Giving CORE a try...
Thanks for asking!!!
The hardest part for me is finding good, satisfying snacks!!!
Two days before I rejoined (and not planning on rejoining at that moment) my hubby and I went for a ride on the Harley, met some friends for dinner, then stopped at this awesome CANDY STORE in Kittery, Maine, and proceeded to buy a whole bunch of yummy candy!
Well, needless to say, I have either trashed some or stashed some away for a special treat someday!!! :(

[Eva]

You're doing well, Denise!

Eva

[Dar]

Hey Denise! Two weeks in. How's it going???

[Denise]

omg - totally forgot I even posted here about WW - god - I'm losing it!
WELL, I lost 4.2 the first week, and weighed in last night with another 1.6 loss!

SOOOOOOOOOO (drumroll please.... ) a total of 5.8 in 2 weeks!!! :D
Yippee! I feel better already! Of course at this point, a pound or 2 a week will be awesome.

Thanks so much Dar for remembering!!!!! I haven't been on the WW site at all. Too busy I guess. I'm happy though. I used to be able to do that 5.8 in ONE week but no more. That's okay though as long as the scale is going down....

[Dar]

Atta girl! Now just remember, any week that isn't a GAIN is a good week!!
The little .xx losses add up and the slower you use the better the chances that what you are losing will STAY off because it's fat and not water or muscle mass.

I expect a weekly or bi-weekly report from now on! ;)

I don't get to the WW boards very often. They are a great resource for recipes....the Recipe Review Board in particular. I've gotten some really great and tasty ideas. Like a box of chocolate cake mix and a 15 oz can of pumpkin, nothing else, makes really delicious cupcakes. Swear to God, and since pumpkin is such a good low point vegetable the points are really from just the mix.

[Agnes]

Way to go, Denise!