ANYONE DOING WEIGHT WATCHERS? Favorite meals/snacks?

[sbtrfly74]

My weakness is soda. I just love the taste of Pepsi, but I know it's killing me on losing weight. I've got Mio Energy drops for caffeine, but still have no willpower knowing sodas are in the house (can't get rid of them, my granddad drinks them).

Im assuming your talking about regular Pepsi and not diet? Have you tried Pepsi Max? I taste a lot like regular and has twice the caffeine as diet.

I hate diet drinks but can do Pepsi Max and love Coke Zero.

 

[MIGrandma]

I did WW online for 3 months, starting last May, and lost 20 pounds. Then came fall and winter and more "comfort foods" and I have put a few of those pounds back on.

I'm back to counting points and watching what I eat, and back to exercising too. I do Leslie Sansone's Walk Away The Pounds DVD's at home, usually a 2-mile and occasionally a 3-mile 5-6 days/week. I am anxious for spring so I can get back to walking outside. I love going to our local park and walking there, and crossing over the railroad tracks at the back of the park to walk in the cemetery too.

One of my favorite snacks that I haven't seen mentioned here is homemade "Ranch dip" with assorted raw vegetables. It's 1 cup fat free plain Greek yogurt mixed with 1 envelope dry Ranch dressing mix and then thinned with fat free milk to the consistency you want. 1 point per quarter cup.

 

[HeatherC]

MIGRANDMA...Love that ranch dressing too. I put it on top of baked potatoes or sweet potatoes. I also sub plain Greek yogurt for sour cream in recipes. Saves a ton of points and is a good alternative.

 

[HeatherC]

Just thought of another snack...tsp of peanut butter meleted in microwave and served with sliced apple. If I am craving chocolate, I will add a couple mini chocolate chips on top.

 

[wiigirl]

I love the WW brownies and Red Velvet snack cakes.

Me too!

 

[LJC1861]

I am going to have to try that Ranch Dip! Sounds awesome!

I just had my mid morning snack. A light string cheese stick and a clementine....oh, and a BIG glass of water. LOL

 

[nikkistevej]

I am doing WW too, started January 4, down 11.8. I have been really trying to do lots of fruits and veggies for snacks, I eat fruit or cut up veggies all day at work. I have to lose about 75, so a long way to go. I am making smaller goals, in increments of 25, we are doing a Disney cruise in April- my first goal was to lose 25 by then. Hopefully it works. Also doing some of the WW snacks you can buy at the place.

 

[LJC1861]

I am doing WW too, started January 4, down 11.8. I have been really trying to do lots of fruits and veggies for snacks, I eat fruit or cut up veggies all day at work. I have to lose about 75, so a long way to go. I am making smaller goals, in increments of 25, we are doing a Disney cruise in April- my first goal was to lose 25 by then. Hopefully it works. Also doing some of the WW snacks you can buy at the place.

I do the same thing with the veggies. I am a nibbler. Sometimes when I am at my computer and writing it just helps to have something to chew on. I don't chew gum due to dental work, so having celery, peppers, tomatoes, beans, etc. to munch on is helping with that nibbling craving. Better than chips I guess......

 

[JillyBean1899]

Im assuming your talking about regular Pepsi and not diet? Have you tried Pepsi Max? I taste a lot like regular and has twice the caffeine as diet.

I hate diet drinks but can do Pepsi Max and love Coke Zero.

I haven't tried either of them, I'm rather gun-shy when it comes to the "low octane" sodas, as we call them. I know that diet sodas leave a horrid aftertaste in my mouth, so I just drink either regular Pepsi or Coke, or the cherry versions of the regular sodas. I can't even do the caffeine free ones, they taste funny, too. I'll check them out next time I have a soda craving. That will also make me leave the house for them, so I'll know it's a *REAL* craving ... plus I'll make sure I walk to the store instead of drive. It's only 4 blocks each way, but every bit helps, right?

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I haven't tried either of them, I'm rather gun-shy when it comes to the "low octane" sodas, as we call them. I know that diet sodas leave a horrid aftertaste in my mouth, so I just drink either regular Pepsi or Coke, or the cherry versions of the regular sodas. I can't even do the caffeine free ones, they taste funny, too. I'll check them out next time I have a soda craving. That will also make me leave the house for them, so I'll know it's a *REAL* craving ... plus I'll make sure I walk to the store instead of drive. It's only 4 blocks each way, but every bit helps, right?

I have the same soda cravings, but I've given up on using Diet Soda as a replacement. It seems like every week there is a new study coming out about how bad diet sodas are for you, and how they can make you gain more weight because your body forgets how to metabolize real sugar. I make room in my daily points for a regular soda instead. And I've gotten to where I rarely use them, because I would rather use those 4-5 points for something more filling. Usually the weekends are when I give in.

 

[LJC1861]

Just shoveled wet heavy snow for an hour! Good exercise...racking up those activity points with this bad weather! How is everyone doing this week??

Linda

 

[sbtrfly74]

I just found Laughing Cow makes cream cheese spreads! I picked up the plain and Cinnamon flavor which is 1pt per wedge.

I'll have to try the ranch dip, I use Greek yogurt and french onion soup mix to make dip and love my FF Pringles (15 chips for 2 points). It helped me beat my craving for putting chips in my soup or on top of sandwiches.

 

[MIGrandma]

I haven't tried either of them, I'm rather gun-shy when it comes to the "low octane" sodas, as we call them. I know that diet sodas leave a horrid aftertaste in my mouth, so I just drink either regular Pepsi or Coke, or the cherry versions of the regular sodas. I can't even do the caffeine free ones, they taste funny, too. I'll check them out next time I have a soda craving. That will also make me leave the house for them, so I'll know it's a *REAL* craving ... plus I'll make sure I walk to the store instead of drive. It's only 4 blocks each way, but every bit helps, right?

I switched from Diet Coke to sparkling water. I don't miss the taste of the Coke, but I love the fizziness. I'm addicted to the fizz. I buy the tiny bottles in 6-packs. Sometimes I add fresh lemon, but most of the time just drink it plain. Zero calories, no sodium either.

 

[JillyBean1899]

I switched from Diet Coke to sparkling water. I don't miss the taste of the Coke, but I love the fizziness. I'm addicted to the fizz. I buy the tiny bottles in 6-packs. Sometimes I add fresh lemon, but most of the time just drink it plain. Zero calories, no sodium either.

I've tried that, but still crave the taste of Pepsi, especially with certain foods. I tried a Pepsi Max, and the taste is close enough that it will work, but not good enough that I'd drink it crazily. And I'm not going to keep any in the house, so I'll only drink it if I want it bad enough to get off my booty and go get one.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I finally broke through my 149 plateau. Just when I was ready to take a break from counting points too!

I'm having a real dilemma with my cardio routine. I've been doing a couch to 5k program on a treadmill, and I hate every second of it. It's boring, and my whole body hurts the next day every time. I love walking, using the elliptical, and Zumba classes. I can work out harder and longer with those than I can running, and I actually enjoy it. But the trainer at the gym keeps telling me not going to lose weight if I don't run for cardio.

 

[pjlla]

I finally broke through my 149 plateau. Just when I was ready to take a break from counting points too!

I'm having a real dilemma with my cardio routine. I've been doing a couch to 5k program on a treadmill, and I hate every second of it. It's boring, and my whole body hurts the next day every time. I love walking, using the elliptical, and Zumba classes. I can work out harder and longer with those than I can running, and I actually enjoy it. But the trainer at the gym keeps telling me not going to lose weight if I don't run for cardio.

Congrats on breaking through your plateau! If you are tired of counting PPV, how about doing Simply Filling for a while?

(DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a trainer nor an exercise physiologist.... just regular person.) I'm going to say BS to your personal trainer!! You can lose weight without RUNNING for cardio!! I hate that folks believe that they can't/won't lose weight without being a runner!

Here is how I see it..... you are running for exercise/health/weight loss, not because you love it. You will start to DREAD your exercise time because you don't look forward to running. You will start making excuses to miss workouts because you DREAD the running. You start missing workouts because you don't want to run..... any how.... see where I am going with this?? ( I have some personal experience with this...... )

I think it is more important to EXERCISE and (hopefully) enjoy it and look forward to it! Cardio AND strength training are important, but it doesn't need to be any ONE particular exercise. What is MOST important is that you DO IT!

(Hopping off my soapbox now!).............P

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Congrats on breaking through your plateau! If you are tired of counting PPV, how about doing Simply Filling for a while? (DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a trainer nor an exercise physiologist.... just regular person.) I'm going to say BS to your personal trainer!! You can lose weight without RUNNING for cardio!! I hate that folks believe that they can't/won't lose weight without being a runner! Here is how I see it..... you are running for exercise/health/weight loss, not because you love it. You will start to DREAD your exercise time because you don't look forward to running. You will start making excuses to miss workouts because you DREAD the running. You start missing workouts because you don't want to run..... any how.... see where I am going with this?? ( I have some personal experience with this...... ) I think it is more important to EXERCISE and (hopefully) enjoy it and look forward to it! Cardio AND strength training are important, but it doesn't need to be any ONE particular exercise. What is MOST important is that you DO IT! (Hopping off my soapbox now!).............P

Thank you. It really helps. I don't mind strength training. I just never made time for it before because you don't get as many AP's for strength as you do for cardio.

I think I will stick to cardio I enjoy for now, and maybe try running outside when the weather is better. I know a lot of people snub the elliptical, but if you up the resistance, keep a fast pace, and don't use the handles you can get a great workout.

 

[Psychodisney]

I finally broke through my 149 plateau. Just when I was ready to take a break from counting points too!

I'm having a real dilemma with my cardio routine. I've been doing a couch to 5k program on a treadmill, and I hate every second of it. It's boring, and my whole body hurts the next day every time. I love walking, using the elliptical, and Zumba classes. I can work out harder and longer with those than I can running, and I actually enjoy it. But the trainer at the gym keeps telling me not going to lose weight if I don't run for cardio.

I'm not a trainer but I am a Physical Therapist.
I would echo the above poster regarding strength training...especially if your over age 35. Also, your body shouldn't "hurt" the next day after running. Maybe you need to be stronger in certain muscles and/or need new shoes.

The more important thing about your cardio is making sure your heart rate gets high enough to burn more calories. Talk to your trainer about your target heart rate and learn to monitor it. Another option is interval training whether it's on the treadmill(walk/run), bike, elliptical, etc.

Keep up the hard work!!!!!!

 

[sbtrfly74]

I finally broke through my 149 plateau. Just when I was ready to take a break from counting points too!

I'm having a real dilemma with my cardio routine. I've been doing a couch to 5k program on a treadmill, and I hate every second of it. It's boring, and my whole body hurts the next day every time. I love walking, using the elliptical, and Zumba classes. I can work out harder and longer with those than I can running, and I actually enjoy it. But the trainer at the gym keeps telling me not going to lose weight if I don't run for cardio.

Just my opinion but cardio to me is more for health related reasons than loosing weight. Just find something you dont find boring is the important thing.

Sorry but I dont agree with your trainer, you dont need to run to loose weight or get great cardio, stick to the zumba and elliptical if thats what you love. Not everyone runs, I hate running. Even at my strongest/healthiest I couldn't run.

Ive lost my 17lbs (143) without exercising at all (not bragging, I wish I could exercise). I looked at an elliptical the other day and after 30 seconds said nope... my legs felt like they had knives poking in them. The only thing I can take right now is a stationary bike but only about 10 mins but still havent gotten the energy to do that yet. Chronic fatigue sucks.


Congratulations on your loss