Finally! The New Weight Watchers Program!!!

[SnackyStacky]

I can finally tell you all about it!

It's called TurnAround.

There are choices with TurnAround, and one of them will remain exactly the same. That would be Flex. (Notice they dropped the Points part of it? Just Flex now! )

The other part is called Core.

There is a list of foods that you will be able to eat as much of as you NEED (very different from WANT) to stay satisfied. They will give you instructions on how to acknowledge if you're hungry, comfortable, or stuffed. With Core, you need not TRACK your foods.

You will have 35 points to use for foods that are NOT on the core list.

So what the heck is on the core foods list? It's all unprocessed, whole nutricious foods. Here's the complete list:

Vegetables and Fruits

Vegetables

Vegetables cannot contain ingredients that are not on the Core Food List (e.g., regular refried beans, pork & beans, corn in butter sauce, dried tomatoes packed in oil, French Fries, and sweet pickles are not on the list). Vegetable juices are not on the list.

Fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables (including beans and lentils) without added sauce, fat, or sugar. Tomato paste, puree, and sauce.

Fruits

Canned fruits must be packed in water or juice (not syrup) and drained before eating. Unsweetened applesauce is on the list, but sweetened applesauce is not. Fruit juices are not on the list. Dried fruit is not on the list.

Fresh, frozen, or canned fruits (without added sugar), any variety.

Soups

Choose fresh, canned, frozen, or homemade soups made only with Core Foods. Cream soups are not on the list.
Bean soup (e.g. lentil soup, split pea soup)
Bouillon
Broth-based soup
Tomato soup

Starches, Grains, and Cereals

Whole-wheat pasta or brown rice or potatoes is limited to one meal a day only
Barley
Buckwheat
Bulgur
Cornmeal (polenta)
Couscous
Kasha
Popcorn (air-popped or 94% fat-free microwave-popped only)
Quinoa
Rolled oats
Starchy vegetables (e.g. peas, corn)
Puffed wheat, puffed rice, shredded wheat, and 100% bran cereals that do not contain added sugar are limited to one meal a day only and must be eaten with fat-free milk or fat-free plain yogurt
Cooked (hot) cereal (any plain variety that does not contain added sugar)

Lean Meats, Poultry, Fish, Meat Substitutes, and Eggs

Choose visibly lean cuts and trim any excess fat. (At the meat case, look for the key words “loin”, “round”, and “leg”) Processed meats such as deli products and hot dogs are not on the list.

Ground beef with no more than 7% fat or ground turkey or ground chicken is limited to one meal a day only.

Beef
Bottom and top round roast
Bottom and top sirloin steak
Eye round roast
Flank steak
Filet Mignon
Organ meats
Round steak
Round tip steak and roast
Sirloin steak
T-bone steak
Tenderloin roast and steak
Top loin steak
Top sirloin roast

Lamb
Leg roast
Loin chop or roast
Organ meats
Sirloin chop

Pork
Canadian-style bacon
Ham
Loin chop or roast
Organ meats
Sirloin chop
Sirloin cutlet
Tenderloin roast

Veal
Cutlet
Loin chop or roast
Organ meats
Round steak
Sirloin steak

Poultry – chicken and turkey
Trim any visible fat before preparing and remove skin before eating
Fresh, froken, or canned
Organ meats (e.g. chicken livers)
Fish and shellfish
Canned varities must be packed in water, broth, or tomato juice (not oil). Fresh, frozen, or canned, any variety.

Meat substitutes
Dried beans and lentils
Tofu, any type
Vegetarian burgers, frozen

Egg Products
Egg, whole
Egg, substitutes
Egg whites

Dairy products and dairy substitutes
For items marked with an asterisk (*), 1 cup counts as 1 serving of a milk product
Weight Watchers Smoothies or dairy shakes or sugar- and fat-free instant hot cocoa is limited to once a day only.

Dairy
Fat-free cheese
Fat-free cottage cheese
Nonfat or skim milk*
Sugar –and-fat-free pudding*
Fat-free sour cream
Fat-free plain yogurt*

Dairy substitutes
Soymilk (plain)
Soy cheese
Coy yogurt (plain)

Oils
2 teaspoons per day of olive, canola, safflower, sunflower, or flaxseed oil.
Fat-free salad dressings
Fat-free margarine
Fat-free mayonnaise
Nonstick cooking or baking spray

Condiments
Baking powder
Baking soda
Capers
Cocktail sauce
Extract
Flavorings
Herbs
Hot sauce (pepper sauce)
Ketchup
Lemon juice
Lime juice
Mustard
Salsa (fat free)
Soy sauce (shoyu)
Spices
Steak sauce
Sugar substitutes
Taco sauce
Teriyaki sauce
Vinegar
Worcestershire sauce
Gelatin (unflavored and sugar-free flavored)
Weight Watchers Fruities

Beverages
Club soda
Coffee (black, without sugar)
Seltzer (plain or flavored, unsweetened)
Diet soft drinks
Tea (without sugar)
Water
Note: beverages containing alcohol are not on the list)

You also need to stick to your healthy guidelines, no matter whether you choose core or flex. (5 fruits or vegetables a day, 3 milk products, and 6 glasses of water) They also tell you to take a multi-vitamin, choose protein, choose WHOLE GRAIN products, and to use at least 2 teaspoons per day of canola, flaxseed or olive oil daily to get essential fatty acids, and Vitamin E.

So what have I been meaning when i say combine the two parts? This is NOT part of the official plan, and is only my personal reccomendation. Weight Watchers does NOT endorse this!!!! Follow Core, but use the points target that's been set for you on Flex. So if your points target has been 24, eat 24 points worth of the Core Foods. When you get to 24 points, either stop eating, or use those 35 extra points.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. I'm more than happy to answer anything I can.

 

[hlane]

My WW leader said he's been doing this new plan for 2 weeks & has lost over 11 lbs. I'm just scared of change!!! I keep telling myself WW wouldn't introduce something that's not going to work. I know I need a change at least for while, I've really been struggling lately. I think I'll give it a 2 week trial and see how I do but I'm nervous!!!

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by hlane
My WW leader said he's been doing this new plan for 2 weeks & has lost over 11 lbs. I'm just scared of change!!! I keep telling myself WW wouldn't introduce something that's not going to work. I know I need a change at least for while, I've really been struggling lately. I think I'll give it a 2 week trial and see how I do but I'm nervous!!!

Absolutely! What Weight Watchers is trying to do for you is make the plan fit better into your lifestyle while still giving you the best nutrition that it can.

And you're not the only one who's nervous. At our staff meeting way back in March, there was a WHOLE lot of the same feeling you're experiencing. Everybody was doubtful and had many reservations about it, but in the end it worked for some people!

Go ahead and try it!!!

 

[cinmell]

Thank you so much for the information! I'm actually excited about "officially" re-joining WW again.

 

[taekwondo mom]

Thank you for sharing..

 

[hlane]

I was thinking...what about the frozen meals such as Smart Ones, Lean Cuisines? Would those come out of the 35 flex points? I live off these things since I don't cook.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by hlane
I was thinking...what about the frozen meals such as Smart Ones, Lean Cuisines? Would those come out of the 35 flex points? I live off these things since I don't cook.

Some will fall into Core, and some will not.

You have to be very careful about which you choose. IF all the items contained in the meal are Core Foods, then yes - it will count as a core food. Otherwise, no - you will have to take the points from those 35 weekly points.

Most will NOT be core foods because they contain things like pasta, or white rice, or a cream sauce.

There's a lean cuisine that is chicken with roasted vegetables and potatoes. That would be considered a core food. (But it would use up your allotment of a potato for the day)

A lasagna lean cuisine is NOT a core food.

Weight Watchers will be redesigning their packaging and will come out with a checkmark looking thing. That on any of their products means that it is a core food. I'm sure they will redo their frozen entrees. I'm just not sure when that will come out.

 

[tw1nsmom]

Except for a few items on the list of allowable foods, this plan sounds a lot like South Beach.

 

[CruisingCA2005]

You have to be very careful about which you choose. IF all the items contained in the meal are Core Foods, then yes - it will count as a core food. Otherwise, no - you will have to take the points from those 35 weekly points.

If something in a meal is not on the core foods list, will you only have to count the points for the non-core item or will you have to count the points fot the entire meal?

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by CruisingCA2005
If something in a meal is not on the core foods list, will you only have to count the points for the non-core item or will you have to count the points fot the entire meal?

It's probably better to just count the whole meal.

The whole purpose of this plan is to get you to eat healthier, unprocessed foods. The frozen meals are loaded with sodium and preservatives, so it's better to count those against your weekly points.

 

[CruisingCA2005]

I do eat healthy unprocessed foods and have been doing WW by eating many whole foods.

For instance, if you a dish like a Pesto Chicken Salad (which I'm assuming to be chicken, pesto sauce on a green salad) do you count all the points or just the points for the pesto sauce?

I think I'm going to enjoy doing the core foods instead of counting points because I can go back to more SBD eating. I've been staying away from salmon because of the high point values.

I've been doing WW online for the past month (just got my little 5 pound star) but I just ordered my "at home" materials today. I can't wait to get them.

There are several things that I don't like about the online point pad. 1) I wish it would take more detailed information for activity points. I liked seeing a cumulative total of the points that I earned and the activity points that I've traded. 2) I wish you could calculate the food points/activity points on the same screen instead of having to go to a point calculator screen then return to the point pad screen to enter your points. Perhaps they can add a favorites drop down list too.

**Do our activity points expire the day we earn them?**

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by CruisingCA2005
I do eat healthy unprocessed foods and have been doing WW by eating many whole foods.

For instance, if you a dish like a Pesto Chicken Salad (which I'm assuming to be chicken, pesto sauce on a green salad) do you count all the points or just the points for the pesto sauce?

Actually, depending on how much pesto you use, it could be core foods. Part of the core is using 2 teaspoons of oil. I'm not sure if there's pine nuts (I've never made pesto, only eaten it! ) - but if it's just ground up basil with olive oil, 2 tsp or less = core.

I think I'm going to enjoy doing the core foods instead of counting points because I can go back to more SBD eating. I've been staying away from salmon because of the high point values.

Likewise. I was able to eat enough oatmeal to satiate me until lunch!!! I HATE having just 2 points worth of oatmeal. It's not enough!

I've been doing WW online for the past month (just got my little 5 pound star) but I just ordered my "at home" materials today. I can't wait to get them.

I love the at home kit. Combined with support of WISH, it's such a great tool!!!

There are several things that I don't like about the online point pad. 1) I wish it would take more detailed information for activity points. I liked seeing a cumulative total of the points that I earned and the activity points that I've traded. 2) I wish you could calculate the food points/activity points on the same screen instead of having to go to a point calculator screen then return to the point pad screen to enter your points. Perhaps they can add a favorites drop down list too.

I haven't used the online tools too much. I do have access to them, I just don't use them too much. But you should address your complaints to them. They really do listen. If there's enough feedback, they re-evaluate and change things.

**Do our activity points expire the day we earn them?**

Yes. Your activity points are valid for 24 hours. If you haven't used them, they're gone.

 

[CruisingCA2005]

Thank you so much Dan for all of your help. I think that if I stick to my activity points I won't have to dip into my other points. I'm still a relative newbie to WW so your assistance is appreciated.

LOL - I'm an old fashioned oatmeal lover myself. Yum. Sometimes I add a little vanilla & cinnamon to flavor it up a little then add a packet of Splenda.

I hope to see you 'round the WISH boards more often.

 

[ohMom]

dan -- thank you so very much for sharing and detailing the new WW plan!

i must admit it looks more complicated - i'm leary -- i may try for two weeks as you suggest after printing it all out and simplifying it into what my staple meals would be, etc

hearing the skeptical leaders turned believers is powerful though!

 

[chrismiss56]

Hi to all

Dan, thanks for all the information

I am a newbie to WW online and need to decide between the two plans.

Question - If I am reading this correctly - I cannot have a sandwich without the bread or tortilla wrap being counted as a non-core point. Correct?

Also is the oven-roasted turkey breast in the deli dept. considered a Core or Non-Core food. Saw in the guide that deli foods were a no-no to Core but on the core list it shows Butterball Oven Roasted Turkey Breast as acceptable.

Can anyone help?

Need lunch ideas - I am a substitute teacher and have to bring my lunch to work.

I am leaning towards the core plan because it doesn't involve much in point counting.

How long do we have to decide?

Thanks
Have a Disney Day!!

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by chrismiss56
Hi to all

Dan, thanks for all the information

I am a newbie to WW online and need to decide between the two plans.

Question - If I am reading this correctly - I cannot have a sandwich without the bread or tortilla wrap being counted as a non-core point. Correct?

That is correct. Bread or tortillas have to be counted against your weekly point allowance.

Also is the oven-roasted turkey breast in the deli dept. considered a Core or Non-Core food. Saw in the guide that deli foods were a no-no to Core but on the core list it shows Butterball Oven Roasted Turkey Breast as acceptable.

There are no deli meats that are core foods. If you buy a Butterball Turkey Breast from the meat department and oven roast it, then it's a core food, as long as the skin is removed.

Need lunch ideas - I am a substitute teacher and have to bring my lunch to work.

Can you eat canned chicken or tuna? You could either use some fat free mayonnaise (or a tablespoon of light, and count it against your weekly points), and have some carrot sticks with it.

You could also buy salad mix, and cut up some veggies and throw some fat free salad dressing on it in a rubbermaid or tupperware bowl.

There's quite a few possibilities.

I am leaning towards the core plan because it doesn't involve much in point counting.

How long do we have to decide?

Thanks
Have a Disney Day!!

You can decide whenever you like! There's no time limit - EXCEPT: You may not switch from Flex to Core or Core to Flex within a week. So if you start Flex on Monday, you wouldn't be able to try Core until next Monday.

HTH!

 

[CookieGVB]

I have a question - did you still lose weight using the 35 points budget (or whatever term WW is using now)?

I find on flex points that the fewer of the extra 35 I use, the better my weight loss. Is this still the case with the Core Plan?

And believe me, at this point I'd have to be wrestled to the ground to give up my angel food cake with non-fat whipped cream!

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by CookieGVB
I have a question - did you still lose weight using the 35 points budget (or whatever term WW is using now)?

I find on flex points that the fewer of the extra 35 I use, the better my weight loss. Is this still the case with the Core Plan?

And believe me, at this point I'd have to be wrestled to the ground to give up my angel food cake with non-fat whipped cream!

I did lose my weight using the 35 weekly points.

You'll need to find a good balance for yourself. You don't have to give that up, because in eating the core foods, you're going to speed your weight loss. So using your 35 points for the other stuff shouldn't really matter.

 

[KimRaye]

FABulous thread, and FABulous advice Dan! Even for a hard-core carb-lover, that needs to know anyway, WWer.

Can you explain the deli meat thing? I've been eating 96-98% fat free packaged deli meat, so why is that NOT allowed, whereas buying a fresh turkey, and roasting it, and slicing it, is different? (Surely I don't hold you responsible for WW thinking, but can you explain it??) As for the bread issue.........well, just remember I'm a carbie.

I think I could do the Core plan for maybe 2 weeks, but I don't want to mess with a GOOD thing right now. jmo

Dan, you've been INVALUABLE during these first few days! Thank you Again!!!

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by KimRaye
FABulous thread, and FABulous advice Dan! Even for a hard-core carb-lover, that needs to know anyway, WWer.

Can you explain the deli meat thing? I've been eating 96-98% fat free packaged deli meat, so why is that NOT allowed, whereas buying a fresh turkey, and roasting it, and slicing it, is different? (Surely I don't hold you responsible for WW thinking, but can you explain it??) As for the bread issue.........well, just remember I'm a carbie.

I think I could do the Core plan for maybe 2 weeks, but I don't want to mess with a GOOD thing right now. jmo

Dan, you've been INVALUABLE during these first few days! Thank you Again!!!

Kim, glad to help!

The thinking behind the deli meat....

The Core Plan is designed to get you to eat healthier....get you to eat foods that are going to help you lose weight. The deli meats (even the healthy ones) are loaded with sodium and preservatives. They're not unprocessed. They're TOTALLY processed. A whole turkey is not. It's a fresh turkey and nothing has been added to it.