Weight Watchers Can You Help Me?

[kayeandjim00]

I'm considering switching over to Weight Watchers in January. Right now I'm counting calories (have been since Aug 03) and have lost 50 lbs. I have been having a problem staying on plan as I should and to that end I'm yo-yoing back and forth and am now up about 7 lbs from my low earlier this year. I know for me the holidays isn't the time to start a new plan so my goal is to maintain through the holidays and then in January start with something new. Hoping that part of my problem may just be a little bit of burnout and I need a fresh start. Well I was able to buy the Weight Watchers Startup Packet to review and I'm waiting for it to arrive but I'm looking for tips from people who are doing or have done Weight Watchers. What did you like about it? What didn't you like about it? Is there some sort of calculator I need to buy to figure out the points of my recipes that I know are low cal/low fat but don't know the points for? If you go to a restaurant that isn't in the book how do you figure out points - do you just guesstimate? Has anyone ever tried switching from another plan to Weight Watchers and had success? Any great snacks that I should stock up on? Lots of questions :) I really want to be successful and get these last 40 lbs gone and move on to maintaining! Any help is so very much appreciated!

[Tera]

Hi Kay...

I just joined Weight Watchers the end of August and I love it. I've lost 23 pounds so far and I have 44 more to go to get to my "first" goal. Over a year ago, I started working out and counting my calories and lost 15 pounds in 3 months and thought I was doing really good. Once the summer came, I didn't get to the gym as often and wasn't eating as well and ended up gaining most, if not all, the weight back. WW had taught me to make better choices and most important, portion control. You can purchase guide books for restaurants and also one that helps with figuring points at home. They also have a guide that helps you figure points from the nutritional label.

I personally would recommend WW. I like going to my weekly meetings (especially when I lose weight)... they have great ideas and great support. I think you can go to a meeting without paying just to see how you like it.

Give it a try and good luck..... :flower:

[disneygoof]

I did WW at Work several years ago, and kept the materials. I just lost 30 pounds using the program at home on my own.

It takes a couple weeks of dedication to get to know the foods and points of your favorite foods. You may be shocked to find your favorite "snack" is worth 1/3 of your day's points, but you'll be happy to learn with some adjustments you can still enjoy all your favorite foods.

When it comes to restaurants, I make healthy choices. Like, now that I'm maintaining I might have a quesadilla on a weekend, but when I was losing, I wouldn't because I had no idea how much fiber in the tortilla, how much cheese, etc. I would choose something that I could estimate the points, like grilled chicken or fish with salad and dressing on the side. BUT, you can, when you learn the program, have a steak with mashed potatoes, gravy on the side, and load up on as many veggies as you want, and still stay on program.

I suspect the points calculator will come with the program you buy.

Good luck, and don't be afraid to ask for help!

[minniecarousel]

When you join WW, you can purchase the "Dining Out" guide and the "Complete Points" guide and the calculator. (they package them all together, or you can purchase them as you need them.) I find these 3 items the things that help me stay within my allotted points. The days that I really follow, I lose - every time! It looks like I need the accountability of weighing in and the meetings. I used to do low-carb and had a hard time eating starches again. It's also wonderful eating fruit! Good luck in whatever you decide.

[disneygoof]

There are a few websites that dedicate themselves to calculating points of meals at (especially chain) restaurants and posting them so that you can advance plan if you are headed to, for example, PF Changs. My favorite is:

Dotti's Weight Loss Zone (http://www.dottisweightlosszone.com)

[kayeandjim00]

Thanks so much Everyone!! I really appreciate your help and input. I received my order today and got a day trakker for keeping up with my points, the dining out companion, and complete food companion. Didn't get a points calculator so it appears I need that. Does the points calculator work so that you put in calories, etc and it tells you points? If not - when you have a recipe you know the info for do you just try to figure it out with your book for the complete food? Ex - I make a salsa chicken casserole from Cooking Light - no idea about the points but it is low fat and low calorie - do you just take the ingredients and go from there for figuring points? Thanks again!!

[Tera]

Kay - I thought I got my points calculator in a packet I bought that included the Dining out and Complete points guide. You look up the calories, fiber and fat and it'll tell you what the points are. You should be able to do that for your receipe along with the complete points guide.

[disneygoof]

I an surprised, I would think the points calculator would be the primary tool they would give you with the purchase.

Are you sure you're not looking for a mechanical tool like an mathematical calculator and overlooking the point calculator? They used to be, and I assume still are, paper slide rules with calories and points on the inside slide, fiber and fat counts on the ouside windows.

Points are always determined by the relationship of calories to fat and fiber content in a food. With a lot of recipes these days, those three numbers are in the fine print. If not, you can determine the number of points by adding up the points of each ingredient (the calories, fat and fiber will be on the nutritional panel of all packaging) and then dividing by the number of servings.

I love Cooking Light, and also when first starting out invested in a couple WW cookbooks that gave me some great staple recipes. Also, there's an index at the top of the WISH page where people have posted their favorite recipes.

Good luck!

[plutosmyfav]

I joined WW at work in September 2004 and love it! I was struggling with the same 25 lbs for over a year until I joined WW. Since Sept my weight loss has been steady and I feel super motivated! I highly recommend WW :)

Sundie

[MinnieNurse]

Have any of you gone to WDW and done Weight Watchers? I am just in my 3rd week of Weight Watchers and am going to WDW for New Years. I have looked at the menus and tried to preplan my meals, but was wandering if anyone had any advice, secrets, no of anywhere I can find points for the WDW restaraunts?

[starwood]

I found a free program for my palm pilot called WW journal (I don't remember where I got it from - I'll see if I can find it). It helps keep track of all your points and there is a point calculator. You put in calories, total fat and fiber and it calculates the point value.

It appears this may not be available anymore because WW made all the listed sites remove it. I did find this site to calculate online. http://www.angelfire.com/co/mtrevino/points.html

[SunFloridaDisney]

quick rule of thumb for figuring points (particularly cooking at home where you know the info for the ingredients) is:

[calories + (fat x 4) - (fiber x 10)] divided by 50

for example, a food with 120 cals., 2 grams of fat, 2 grams of fiber =

120 + 8 - 20 = 108/50 = roughly 2 points

[MelanieC]

I use the WW CALC on my Palm too. This is the best way for me and my Palm goes with me everywhere.

I love WW's, but I also count my calories at Sparkpeople (www.sparkpeople.com). This is such a useful website. There is a recipe builder where the recipes are that is the best tool ever. When I make something, I just input all the ingredients, and I usually count how many cups or 1/2 cups are in something and use that to figure out my points for recipes. It makes it so much easier to eat!!

[UrsulasShadow]

There is one more option I haven't heard mentioned...WW's Core program. That's the one I used to lose almost 70 lbs. You don't count points nearly so much on that plan, so it's much easier. The only points you count are for your "extras", e.g., things that aren't core foods. You're allowed 35 pints a week for extras like wine, chocolate, etc., but most of the diet consists of lean meats, veggies, whole grains. I love this diet because you don't have to count everything you eat, just make sure everything you eat counts (is healthy), and only eat until satisfied, not stuffed.

I have to say I finally stalled out within 30 lbs of goal, and that's because I got laid off my job (seasonal), so my activity level has decreased, although my appetite hasn't. I tried to do the WW Flex plan, thinking a change-up would do me good, but it was too hard for me to make the switch, so I'm back on Core, and it's starting to slowly come off again. I also upped my activity at the gym, attending at least 6 days a week now for an hour or more a day. I'll be able to drop this level of exercise down again in the spring, when I'm back at work.

You can join WW online and see if the plans there work for you, by the way. All the tools you need are there, as well as a chat board (although I like the WISH boards MUCH better!).

[Skatermom23]

Have any of you gone to WDW and done Weight Watchers? I am just in my 3rd week of Weight Watchers and am going to WDW for New Years. I have looked at the menus and tried to preplan my meals, but was wandering if anyone had any advice, secrets, no of anywhere I can find points for the WDW restaraunts?

Two years ago DH and I were at WDW and both of us were doing WW. We didn't count points but we did share meals and with all the walking we both lost 2 pounds that week!