WEIGHT WATCHERS...

[AnnetteW]

On Core, avocados, peas, and corn would also be no points. Trust me, you can do it if you plan well.

It's not any different than planning macros on Fitday, it's just a different way to do it.

As yes, the goals are based on what is considered a healthy BMI range. Obviously some people fall on either range of that, and to have that number be considered a goal in WW means getting a note from your physician that you are at a healthy weight. That is often an issue with very obese people.

I just don't want someone to scoff at the plan when it really is a decent plan, and one that can be individualized for each person.

I'm still wondering if the original poster has seen that his numbers are totally off.

[Cynic]

Originally Posted by Frank.S

3 spears of broccoli - ~30cals.

Three spears!? Are you talking about the stem and florets? I usualy have like one cup of florets.

Brocolli is tough eat for me. I usually have to slather it with dressing.

[fengshway]

I am a lifetime member of weight watchers, and I was able to go from 228 to a more reasonable 178 over period of two years, which I more or less maintained for a while. when I became a runner and triathlete, WW became much less reasonable---the more active I became, the less the points system worked for me. even if I added in my activity points, the calorie deficit was too great. some of my fellow WW on the triathlete message board still do points, but add WAY more AP then WW allows. most of us now count calories and macronutrients. my meetings are free now, and I still go once a month. my receptionist is a fellow triathlete, and I really like my leader--I still learn some good tips there and find some good recipes.

the question I can't answer?? if something like precision nutrition had been around in 1999 when I was my heaviest, would I have been able to reach my body comp and fitness goals more easily? in retrospect, I often wonder if my calories were too low during my WW days, resulting in muscle loss and that whole restrict/overeat cycle where you lose muscle and regain body fat, etc.

I can tell you for sure, now that I have discovered precison nutrition, I will never return to the points/flex system. I agree with the previous posters, that for me, Core was a better way to go. but in my opinion, neither of the ww programs are as good as precision nutrition. (john berardi's plan precisionnutrition.com)

[Troy810]

Yes, i've been reading all your great posts, it'll be 2 weeks tomorrow with 7 lbs lost, from 238, to 231, almost to my 225.
Again, 41 6'3, well 42 in January22,nd .
I don't go anymeetings or such, just got books from someone and doing it myself.
It is tough, I'm starved right now, eating peper slits and bland celery...
Ive had the
3 egg whites,1 whole egg breakfast 3 pieces turkey bacon 5 pts
Small apple 1pt
average salad with straight vinegar, and 1 nice size grilled chicken 4 pts
and now another apple 1 pt.
Its 2:30 and I've had like 11 pts...
I'll have maybe a rice cake with peanut butter soon, 1 pt,
That will be like 12 pts so can have a 13 pt dinner and a 2-3 pt snack.

NO ALCOHOL again till this weekend, and birthday weekend, is it ok to treat myself to 1 order of WINGS?

Thanks for advice,
where do I learn about the CORE system?
THANKS again for all advice.
I do have the EGO problem, my bench went from 320 this weekend to about 315 today..OUCH.
Do I change my attitude and don't worry of lifting so heavy?
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[missjane]

Dude! you need more food! more protein!

[sunshinekisses]

Originally Posted by Troy810

where do I learn about the CORE system?
Do I change my attitude and don't worry of lifting so heavy?
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

if you are using the "Getting Started" book for your info, there is actually a section in it that discusses the core plan.

you are dieting. in my opinion, its a given that your strength is going to suffer just abit.

[missjane]

Troy, your strength doesn't have to suffer while you lose fat. Have you ever taken a look at the TNT plan?

[sunshinekisses]

actually, the tnt workouts are designed in a way to accommodate for the weakness and other side effects that come with adjusting to eating a low/no carb diet. TNT is a great plan: if it works in your life. but, like any other plan, it has its own set of drawbacks (depending on your life and preferences).

in my opinion, troy should give weight watchers a fair shot. if after a month, he is completely unsatisfied with his progress, and how the plan makes him feel, then go ahead and move onto something else, give that a shot for a month etc etc until the right plan is found.

[AnnetteW]

There's no use in following a program if you are doing it wrong.

Weight Watchers updates their program almost yearly. I have numerous versions of it here at home.

CORE has only been around 2 years now I think, if you are following an older version you won't have the info.

If you aren't doing meetings, or doing the online version, why do it?

[Troy810]

Cause the meetings? I have all the information, and not needing to lose tons of weight, it basically is guiging me. It's working I still benched this morning at 6 am, 315, whichis my normal and I did my weekly weigh in this morning, EVERY TUESDAY, and I lost 4 more pounds.
So in two weeks, went from 238 down to 230 with, I'm sure little strength lost, yes, I m sure I lost some, but at 41 to be 42 years old, I'm content with it...
What do you think?Stick with it?
I admire the advice....
So, need more food? Protein
All I had this morning so far at its 9 is 2 LIGHT WAFFLES of 80 calories each, so 3pts with a little peanut butter on it, about 2 pts, so 5 pts..
Now what?
HELP.hahah

[sunshinekisses]

Originally Posted by AnnetteW

There's no use in following a program if you are doing it wrong.

Weight Watchers updates their program almost yearly. I have numerous versions of it here at home.

CORE has only been around 2 years now I think, if you are following an older version you won't have the info.

If you aren't doing meetings, or doing the online version, why do it?

i have never gone to meetings, or done the online version. i have the start up package literature that my bf's mother got when she started going to meetings in 2005. it works fine for me.

So, need more food? Protein
All I had this morning so far at its 9 is 2 LIGHT WAFFLES of 80 calories each, so 3pts with a little peanut butter on it, about 2 pts, so 5 pts..
Now what?
HELP.hahah

if you think you need more protein, why not have eggs at breakfast. you can make scrambled eggs in the mircowave really quickly if time is an issue. just make sure that every time you eat you are getting protein and fat. for example, you can split your meals ino point values. you get 26 pts a day so why not use 6pts at each meal. designate 1 pt to carbs and split the other 5 pts between fat and protein. if you have 6 points at each meal, then you will have 8 points left to use for snacks. you could do a morning snack, afternoon snack and evening snack of 2-3 pts that are a combination of protein and fat, or protein fat and carb. then use your excercise points for the proteins and carbs you want/need to ingest around workouts.

i get 20pts a day and am managing to get adequate fat and protein amounts for my bodycomp so i'm sure its possible for others as well.

[AnnetteW]

Okay, I agree you can follow the plan without meetings or the online version, if you are following it correctly. Troy should be eating about 40 points of food daily, plus his 35 extra weekly, plus his exercise points. But he said he only get 28 points. That's wrong, based on his height, age, weight and activity level.

That's more my point.

Plus there is a reason the plans change and variations are made to it....they continue to research and do testing (they use WW groups around the country/world to try new plans.) BTW, the plan in England or other countries is somewhat different from the US plan, people eat differently.

[Lost Dog]

You have to be careful saying you're on a program when you're not. Using WW guidelines to lose weight might be fine, but you're not actually on Weight Watchers without going through their programs (one way or another).

If you stick with it, and it works, fine. If you decide that it's not working for you, don't tell people that you tried WW and it didn't work, because without the meetings or online support and counseling, you were not on WW.

I know five people who claim to have been on Atkins, yet NEVER read the book. They are fat, to this day, and say that Atkins is terrible. Of course, all they did was spend a couple of weeks eating nothing but meat. That IS terrible. That's not Atkins, either.

I know two people who got fatter on the what they called The South Beach Diet. Of course, all they did was read parts of the cookbook and eat a lot of the SBD bars and frozen meals. And, somehow, they thought fast food was fine if they only had a small order of fries and said "no ketchup" on the burger.

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by Troy810

Cause the meetings? I have all the information, and not needing to lose tons of weight, it basically is guiging me. It's working I still benched this morning at 6 am, 315, whichis my normal and I did my weekly weigh in this morning, EVERY TUESDAY, and I lost 4 more pounds.
So in two weeks, went from 238 down to 230 with, I'm sure little strength lost, yes, I m sure I lost some, but at 41 to be 42 years old, I'm content with it...
What do you think?Stick with it?
I admire the advice....
So, need more food? Protein
All I had this morning so far at its 9 is 2 LIGHT WAFFLES of 80 calories each, so 3pts with a little peanut butter on it, about 2 pts, so 5 pts..
Now what?
HELP.hahah

Sign up for a free fitday.com account. Spend a few days recording all the foods that you eat and get an idea of the calorie levels to see where you stand.

There's nothing magical about WW. If anything, the "magic" is in it's simplicity, it's support system, and it's good track record for success. When people follow a plan that they "know" works, it is going to work for them, too. Right?

However, if you're eating dramatically less than other diet plans would have you eating, then odds are that you are doing something wrong. If you are eating too little, eventually, it's going to catch up to you. Better to find out now.

Here's an article on WW that clarifies the concern about lack of protein. WW Article

[Troy810]

GREAT REPLYS guys, this is very informative.
Again, lost 8 lbs, feeling ok.
My biggest thing, is how do I know if I get 2 excer.pts if I do heavy weightlifting and not cardio?
And do I really get 40pts? DAMN, I would think I was in heaven.
SEe how it's changed my life though? Eat great in morning, noon and now nights maybe alittle more portion..Still enjoy my weekends..again, NOT an alchy. haha but Saturday night, had like 7 beers in time,, that was plenty and none sense and wont till this Saturday, celebrating BDAY.
Can I have WINGS then? hahaah
Sunshine, can you give an example of day of eating?
Same with someon on the TNT plan.
But for now, think my version of WW is fine, but agree, can't say Im full blown, so if doesn't work, it's my fault and not the ww plan. Good point.

[sunshinekisses]

Originally Posted by Troy810

Sunshine, can you give an example of day of eating?
Same with someon on the TNT plan.

here is how i am using my 20 pts today

breakfast: 1/4 cup dry oatmeal, 1 tbsp natural peanut butter, 1 tbsp protein powder, 1/2 cup fat free cottage cheese, 1/8 cup half and half in coffee (6pts)
lunch: 2 lrg eggs, salad with ff dressing, med orange, 1/8 coffee in cream (6 pts)
snack: fruit and almonds (2pts)
dinner: 4oz lean steak, 1 tsp oil, 1/8 cup half and half (6pts)
late night snack: pure protein brownie (1tbsp cocoa, 1.5tbsp protein powder, 1 tbsp fat free cottage cheese, 1 tbsp water, all mixed together in a small microwave safe dish and nuked for 45 secs.) topped with 1 tbsp pb (3pts)

that puts me at a point deficit of -3 for today. so i'll just take the 3 points from my bonus points.
today i'll be getting 94g protein and 60g fat. my goal for protein is 107g daily and for fay 54g so i'm not too far off.

when i did tnt- plan a, my daily plan looked like this

breakfast: 2 lrg eggs, 1 oz cheese, veggies
lunch: 3oz chicken, 2 oz cheese, tbsp olive oil, veggies
workout pre and post snack: 40g protein from whey
dinner: steak, cheese, olive oil, veggies
i also had cream in all three of my coffees during the day.
fat was around 100g a day, protein was around 95g and carbs were always below 75g and all from non starchy veggies

[Cynic]

Originally Posted by sunshinekisses

carbs were always below 75g and all from non starchy veggies

That's a lot of vegetables! I mean, a freaking farm field. Wow, I think I'm doing good with two salads.