I've done the Points Plus program and the South Beach Diet, and now the new Freestyle program since Jan. The Freestyle is the only one where I've actually lost weight - a whole dress size. I'm fitting back into clothes that wouldn't close by a full 2 inches and I was about to donate.
So, I'm sticking to it.
When I was on South Beach, it is sooooo restrictive, especially on the first 2 phases that I felt I was being PUNISHED
while on that diet. I did it because it really does keep one's blood sugar levels lower. Yet, I couldn't wait to get to Phase 3 so I could eat more of a variety of items. Then one day, it dawned on me that Phase 3 is basically the same thing, just a few more foods, but it is
maintenance level, and they call it a "lifestyle" not really a diet, so I'd NEVER be off those foods and would
still feeling punished all the time.
I never did lose weight. I quit that "lifestyle/diet."
I am grateful that South Beach taught me the
real 4 food groups, (not the 4 food groups taught in grade school,) but to recognize the difference between proteins, carbs (both simple & complex,) fats & fiber, and HOW they METABOLIZE in the body and why & how we should be eating them in better/different RATIOS than we've been traditionally taught here in the U.S. in the last several decades post World War II which is the pushing of processed food era. The U.S has the fastest growing rate of diabetes and obesity than any other country. It is due to how we eat too much processed foods, too many carbs and larger portion sizes, not genetics.
I tried Weight Watchers after that with their old Points Plus program. But while they attribute points to foods & recipes,
they were too carb heavy back then. They didn't understand there is an actual science with data of how CARBS metabolize into FAT and is stored in the body. It wasn't a diabetic friendly diet, except to promote loading a LOT of artificial sweeteners for replacement for sugar in one hand, while loading into the mouth too many carbs with the other hand. Back then protein foods had higher points than many high carb items. AND every. single. food. ingredient. was. given. points.
So every single ingredient in a recipe had to be counted. It was too easy to go over the daily points allotted and feel like a failure.
Back in January, I checked their new Freestyle Program as the commercials were advertising all the new "Zero Points foods." I actually wasn't interested in doing it. I was just curious and only wanted to read what the Zero Foods are. I also knew that Oprah had heavily invested in the new program, literally, by investing mega-milllions of dollars into the program. So she has helped change their program quite a bit. I found that WW
finally understands the science of how foods metabolize in the body & a better ratio of protein to carbs to fats to fiber better.
Although
some of their zero points foods items is a bit ridiculous. Zero points does NOT mean zero
calories. Some people who haven't really researched the new program well or understand the new concept will think 98% lean chicken breasts being 0 points means they can eat 5 of them for one meal and it will be okay.
No, that is NOT how the program works. There will always be massively stupid people, so I guess they had choose to create a diet regardless, that more people with hopefully enough common sense & intelligence will be on it and know that is not the
intention of making some foods zero points. On the Points Plus program, if a slice of cheesecake is the same points as a salad loaded with a lot of ingredients in which ALL the ingredients had to be added up, and the points were about the same points as the cheesecake, after a looong day of counting points and depriving oneself all day, most people would eat the cheesecake - and end up not losing weight or being healthy.
With the new Freestyle program, one
can eat everything one wants
(in proper proportions.) Usually
after eating and getting full on the Zero Points foods. One of their mottos is, "No one ever got fat gorging on fruits & vegetables all day. So load up on them for ZERO points."
So, instead of starving oneself all day and then wolfing down a full cheesecake slice worth 9 points, one eats a Zero Points 98% fat free chicken breast on a big salad, with 2 Tbs of fat-free dressing. Only the dressing has points, about 1-3 points. One feels full, and then eats maybe 3-4 bites of the cheesecake and feels
satisfied with that amount of bites and can push the plate away. They've stayed within their daily points allotment for the day, OR if they've splurged into their 35 extra points everyone is allotted each week for the 9 points cheesecake. AND best of all, they don't feel like a
failure for going over points and then quitting the program.
The psychology is very important. I think that's the biggest thing Oprah probably brought to the changes. Having been on every diet in the world and
failing them and feeling deprived, she understood that is the quickest way to quitting a program.
I read a blogger that recently summed up WW's new Freestyle philosophy. I actually like it. It is sooo much better than South Beach, which
never had any satisfying food combos. Or Points Plus, in which ALL the food has points -
especially the very necessary healthy foods one
needs.
"You need to remember, in Weight Watchers, we talk about what will satisfy you vs what you want. So some days, maybe only a really good piece of sharp cheddar will work for you & others, you can be satisfied by some fat free shredded cheddar. Some days, maybe a 99% fat free Hebrew National will do the trick, & others, you want a full fat Hebrew National. You learn to recognize what you need, what you want, and what will satisfy."
For me, I will always be on a primarily lean, higher protein based diet as I am genetically predisposed to diabetes and need to keep weight off so as not to become diabetic. A sluggish metabolism due to thyroid disease is not helping. (Dropping a dress size, my Dr. told me my blood sugar levels have dropped to below the dangerous "pre-diabetes" level I had been at.
) And I have certain food allergies/intolerances that make being on any diet probably too restrictive in available food choices.
I have been looking at more 1-3 point Weight Watcher food choices & recipes to add on as sides, snacks & treats, while not quite being on the WW program. I don't pay to be a member or part of the program. (They are still too much into artificial sweeteners and processed foods, especially luncheon meats.) What is great about WW being such a popular program is thank god for Google. I can look up the points of anything I do eat or look for better substitutions other people have already found. There is usually a blog entry, a website, a message board post or Pinterest pin somewhere that has the points I am looking for and better Freestyle substitutions.
There will always be certain foods that I can/will not give up, like my Coffeemate creamer in the morning. A saying of WW is, "I'd rather eat the "points" than give up ___," which was part of the problem of the Points Plus program when cheesecake was the same points as a healthy meal. Coffeemate
satisfies me in a way that almond/rice/soy/coconut milk and the fat-free Coffeemate does not.
And I've even seen WW people recommend some weird protein powders to add to coffee. Uh NO!
I now mix fat-free Coffeemate with regular Coffeemate and have halved my Coffeemate points and get better taste.
And thanks to Trader Joes, I finally found an acceptable substitute my NYC thin-crust pizza which is 7-9 points
per slice. I originally wasn't giving that up, and used to prefer to "eat the points." I used to eat 2 slices at once. But, 14 points is almost 2/3 of my daily points - and that was just for ONE meal.
Googling, I discovered TJ Lavash bread. It's cracker thin and crisps up, giving me the thin-crust taste & texture I have to have. Half a slice is 1 Freestyle SP. TJ actually has a good pizza sauce. 2 Tbs is 1 Freestyle SP. TJ also has a fantastic Lite shredded mozzarella cheese that melts beautifully and tastes like real, full fat mozzarella, as it isn't loaded with artificial, plastic-y stuff, but made with part skim milk. I add extra cheese so it's 2 Freestyle SPs. Total: 4 Freestyle SPs for one thin-crispy crust pizza slice now.
I usually have 2 slices, so I've halved my total points for pizza.
Any dinner for me is rarely over 7-8 points.
