This is perfect. You can microwave or grill and that's fine. I would just add in something else that's easy, steaming, for vegetables, and also salad or perhaps soups.
There is also a WW slow cooker cookbook. We don't sell them in the meeting room anymore but I believe they are still available on
Amazon.
Points is a shorthand way of talking about calories. Every food has a points value and every person has a personalized points target. I think points make it easy and manageable, plus there are some foods for instance where the points allow you to "get more." I usually have fat free cheese slices on my sandwich. Well, one slice is 1 point, but 2 slices are also 1 point. It doesn't tip up in points until 3 slices. So, therefore I get more than I would if I had just counted the calories.
You calculate a personalized points daily points target, then you also get a set of weekly points to use as you see fit. A little everyday, or all of them for a big bash. They are there to help you from feeling deprived.
Sukie does most of the cooking during the week, and I cook on weekends.
Typically our meals during the week are very simple. Some grilled veggie burgers, soup and some steamed veggies.
I eat HUGE meals. I mean the sheer volume is staggering. But, it is comprised mainly of vegetables.
I also really like the "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" spray and the Molly McButter cheese sprinkles.
We still do have some very special meals out, but special means special. I like to focus on
IPF
I = Items (what I choose)
P = Portion (how much I eat of it)
F = frequency (how often I eat it)
[When I weighed 90 pound more, I was eating half of an extra-large pizza a few times a week. Now pizza is very infrequent, a
very special treat, and I don't eat half a pizza anymore.]
I would say that using fruits and veggies are good, because they are filling and round out a meal. Starches are good too, but the right kind. Some are more filling than others. For instance a plain baked potato is more filling and has more staying power (for satisfying hunger) than bread. I frequently have oven roasted potatoes (no oil) with my dinner. I also have a sandwich everyday (bread that is 1 point for 2 slices) for lunch.
For me it worked. I realized that I couldn't go it alone. I don't know why. The support really helped and I also used (and still use) the tools for living and helpful habits (all the behavioral tools) to help motivate myself and help me control situations.
I have already started using "mental rehearsal" for our trip to WDW. I have the entire "film" in my head of the meet-up brunch at Olivia's and what I am going to order and how I am going to order it. This is just one of the tools for living. I know it sounds goofy, but the more mentally prepared I am, the more likely there will be a winning outcome and I'll make the right choices rather than panic and make a choice that will make me unhappy later.
I don't want to make it sound like I will be depriving myself either. I will just be choosing when to "spend" my points and when not to. I still have Dole whip planned in, nice dinners and a big splurge at Boma and California Grill.
You can attend a meeting for free as a guest. As I tell my new members, it is important to find a leader you like and a group you like. I lead 3 meetings on Sunday mornings and all three are so completely different that it's astounding.
I have some members that are big fans and some members that come and prefer other leaders. Just like fashion, there's choice. Otherwise, there would be only one style of clothing for everyone in the world.
OK, one of my final comments about WW. I like the fact that everyone, including the CEO is on the program. Everyone who leads a meeting must have reached their goal and stay at their goal. Unlike other programs, we all know what members are going through. I have a member who lost 100 lbs who has just become a meeting leader.
I like the fact that WW requires that we "practice what we preach."
But honestly, I also believe that any program that works for you is the right program, be it WW or something else that helps you reach your goals.
I hope that some this helps. I know that Weight loss is not easy. I wish it was.