WW Point Question

[uptown_girl44]

I'm fairly new to WW (just over a week) and am having a super hard time using all of my daily points. I have 25 and hardly ever use more than 20. I've never touched my weekly points. Will this hurt me in the long run? I've read some people saying that this will cause me to gain weight, but I'm not quite sure how. I probably could use all of them but I don't want to feel like i'm stuffing myself... that seems counterproductive.

 

[tiggerlover]

As a long time WW member let me be the first to tell you that you HAVE to eat all of your alloted daily points. It is hard to reason that eating more will help you loose weight, but it is true. Once you get comfortable eating your daily points you may want to experiment with your flex points, they are there to use and most people find they need to experiment with how many points they can eat and still loose. Also, if you are exercising you should be eating a little more to help fuel your body. Good luck and to WW.

 

[Caitsmama]

I agree, you really really should eat all of your daily points.. If you aren't -- honestly, i can't see that you are eating a well balanced diet??
I am allotted 24 daily points, and believe me, i use 'em! Especially if you are working out -- running, walking, whatever.. your body needs the fuel.
If you don't eat your alotted points, yes, your body can think it's going into "diet starvation" and start to hold onto the food you DO eat -- and it very well could slow your weight loss down.
i am sure there is a banana (2 points) and maybe an extra glass of milk (2pts) that you can even do to get those extra 4 points..

And -- believe me,the first time on a weekend you go out to eat, you will be so thankfull for those "extra flex points"!
Good luck!! It really is a great program!

 

[lilsweetpea]

As stated before, if you aren't eating all of your points, I don't really see how you are eating a balanced diet. Can you give us an idea of what you are eating? Do you eat all three meals? Are you sticking to the healthy guidelines by eating all of your fruit and veggies, drinking your water, getting dairy and oil?

 

[uptown_girl44]

I think I am getting everything I need but I'll post today's food in case i'm not
Breakfast-2 slices toast with apple butter 3pts
Lunch-Butternut squash raveoli lean cuisine 7pts; Sugar cookie 2 pts
Dinner-Veggie Shepards Pie 3pts; 2 pieces french bread 2.5pts; 1 serving soy milk 2pts; sugar free jello pudding 1pts
Snack-3/4 cup straberries 0pts

The lean cuisine had 2 serving of veggies and the shepards pie had atleast 2 as well. The only thing I may not have gotten enough of is dairy but that is harder for me because I don't drink milk. (I don't like it and haven't drank it in almost a year.) I didn't write it but I also drink water all day.

 

[Caitsmama]

The big thing i see that you could do more of is fruit. I only see one fruit on your menu -- that and yes, dairy. It doesn't have to be milk - but what about yogurt or something??
And to me, the 2 slices of toast for breakfast is just not enough to sustain til lunch.
Are you exercising at all? If so, then you REALLY need to eat more.
I would talk about this when you go to your meeting this week, i am sure your WW coach can help you with your menu.. but as we have all said, to really make the program a success, you need to eat the min. number of points per day.. I am allowed 24 points, and i can tell ya, i would never make it on just 20 right now! LOL

 

[bucci818]

Hi! To get in your dairy, try lowfat string cheese. One stick is a dairy serving and 2 points. Also, yougurt is a great source for dairy. I'm having a hard time eating my points too (28). You also should eat a snack between breakfast and lunch and lunch and dinner. If you add the cheese and yougurt, you hit your points, but also keep your metabolism going. I've been doing this for over a year, so I know it can be hard....I use to have to eat 34 points a day!

 

[lilsweetpea]

I think I am getting everything I need but I'll post today's food in case i'm not
Breakfast-2 slices toast with apple butter 3pts
Lunch-Butternut squash raveoli lean cuisine 7pts; Sugar cookie 2 pts
Dinner-Veggie Shepards Pie 3pts; 2 pieces french bread 2.5pts; 1 serving soy milk 2pts; sugar free jello pudding 1pts
Snack-3/4 cup straberries 0pts

The lean cuisine had 2 serving of veggies and the shepards pie had atleast 2 as well. The only thing I may not have gotten enough of is dairy but that is harder for me because I don't drink milk. (I don't like it and haven't drank it in almost a year.) I didn't write it but I also drink water all day.

What kind of toast did you have? Most bread is 2 points per slice.
How do you know the lean cuisine has 2 servings of veggies? And the shepherd's pie? Check the portions against your weight watchers book. Weigh and count everything. You may find out that your points are off. To me, they seem low. I used to guestimate, and now that I weigh and portion everything, I realize just how much a point is. What about your oil? How are you getting healthy oil?

I would recommend you try to eat more whole, fresh fruits and veggies. If you don't eat your points, you risk tricking your body into thinking it is starving and that will slow your metabolism. Stick with it! You'll get the hang of it!

 

[Caitsmama]

Oh, i definately second that lowfat string cheese!! I love that stuff! I have had one everyday this week!

also, for fruits and veggies, you could have one glass of V8 Fusion Lite - it equals one serving of Fruits and Veggies, and is 2pts for a glass. I personally love the Peach / Mango blend.

Also, for a mid a.m or p.m snack, you could have a pack of 100 cal. Honey Maid Graham cracker thin crisps. That is 2pts for a bag and they are tasty!

 

[goldengourd]

I think you might be off in your points too. Only some really high fiber/low fat bread, or little tiny slices bread, are one point each, most are two. And the french bread for two slices might be more like 4 points, again depending on size. Very seldom do the frozen foods like Lean Cuisine have that two veggies per serving, that would be a full (packed) cup of cooked veggies and usually their whole package isn't that much.
Also, you really need the dairy and healthy oils serving. Without enough good fat in your diet, not only will your system be - umm- slow, but many of the nutrients/vitamens need fat to be processed. If all else fails, put a teaspoon of olive oil on your green salad for dressing. I'm a dairy-lover person, so I can't help you with ways to get it in when you don't like it. Others seem to have good suggestions. All I can add is that the WW smoothies are pretty good, especially made in a blender with ice. Good afternoon treat for one point and one dairy.
And yes, not enough food can slow your weight loss. I too, have a lot of points, and find that when I'm low on points for several days in a row, I'll won't lose as well or not at all. Not recommended by WW, but what works for me, is to mix it up. Have some days you make sure you really get in those full points and fat, other days I have less points. Just keep your metabolism from thinking you are starving it. Weight Watchers is a slow weight loss process, you should be only seeing 1-2 lbs average a week. It is not a fast "diet".
Good luck. Weigh and measure. You'll find a balance soon.

 

[uptown_girl44]

The toast is thin slices, which is why it's only 1 pt a slice. I don't have any bokks or anything, I'm doing WW online
The shepards pie is a frozen single serving, the brand is amy's according to the NI and the online point counter the points were correct.
According to the packaging the lean cuisine (butternut squash ravioli) had 2 full servings of veggies. I'm being very careful measuring everything making sure my points are correct for the food that I eat. The problem isn't fitting the food in it's eating it without feeling stuffed all day (that just makes me feel icky)
I don't have a WW coach or go to meetings, that's kinda why I asked for help on here.