Hi all! I have rejoined WW online to hold myself accountable. Somehow I’ve gained back most of the weight I lost last time around. I don’t have enormous amounts to lose, so I think I tend to get frustrated and veer off course unless I have an event to target (like my S’s wedding last fall). Just the act of writing down what I eat makes a difference but apparently I don’t have the discipline to do that without paying for the privilege! So, here we go…again! My goal this time is to get rid of the stubborn 10-15 pounds that have crept on and remained with me for the last 10 years. Threads like these are great support and I take much guidance from your posts and advice. Wish me luck!
Congrats to everyone on their triumphs!
I am down a definite pants size (woohoo). I went to a birthday party yesterday for my Aunt and am proud to say I drank only water and stayed away from the rolls, sausage and peppers, and meatballs on the buffet. I asked for my salad to be un-dressed and took only half a spoonful of the pasta and sauce being served. Thank goodness for the roasted chicken breast!
My cousin was there (who lives out of state and I have not seen awhile) she has dropped 44 lbs on Weight Watchers. Not sure how long she has been doing it but she looks fabulous. My aunt told me I looked great and I said “I am on the Mother of the Bride diet!”
@runnersmom Having to track everything definitely helps with discipline and it definitely made me realize that I used to eat a lot when I wasn’t truly hungry or that I chose the wrong foods for snacking.
One thing I am pleasantly surprised about is how easy I am finding it to resist temptation. My husband can order dessert in a restaurant or dive into the bread basket and I’m fine not having any. Someone can bring in baked goods and leave them in the kitchen at work and I pass them right by. It’s not that I wouldn’t love to have some, but it’s much easier than I thought it would be to say no.
Best of luck!!!
2nd weigh in today - I was dreading it because I did fall off the wagon on Saturday (College Graduaton Luncheon w/ roommates families)…but I was good enough before and after that I was still down 2.4 lbs! I think this is the first time I have not thrown the whole week down the drain because I screwed up 1 day…now I see how rewarding getting right back on track is. So far this Freestyle is working for me. I’m wondering how difficult it’s going to be when all the good fruits and berries go out of season?
@threeofthree - good for you.
So here’s my take on “falling off the wagon” with Freestyle that concept just doesn’t exist. Instead we count it (even if that means we throw all those “extra” weekly points in to count for it)! There’s no “off” there’s simply accountability. I think that’s why this plan works. Nothing is off the table as long as we account for it.
@JustaMom - I think you’re right…I am diligently counting and that was tough to do on Saturday! I’ll miss my next weigh in due to vacation (hope to find a WW at destination)…but it is a tropical beach vacation so those fruits should be readily accessible!
After some initial weight loss in the first month, I seem to have hit a plateau. It’s very frustrating because I am consistently below my daily point allowance. I think my reliance on zero point fruits may be the culprit. I wonder if others are having this problem. I will typically have 1-2 bananas, mixed berries and 3 manderins in a day. I am trying to get a handle on what is appropriate amount of fruit daily. Would greatly appreciate any thought on this.
That could be it. In spite of their point values, every thing you eat has calories. Eat too many zero point foods, and you’re eating too many calories.
Maybe rethink where you’re spending your points in terms of foods that are more filling?
@RonnieGirl, even on the plan that preceded Freestyle, fruits were zero points, and they were a problem for some people. When people would hit a plateau, one of the things my leader would suggest was to look at how much fruit they were eating. Sometimes, she would recommend that people limit fruit to three servings a day and see whether that helped, and for some people it did help.
I think it may be the same on Freestyle, although now life is more complicated because there are so many other zero point foods with substantial calorie counts. Prior to Freestyle, only fruits and nonstarchy vegetables were zero points, and it’s hard to get yourself in trouble with nonstarchy vegetables. But you can easily overeat things like eggs and beans.
Thanks for the advice @bjkmom and @Marian. I will limit fruit to three servings a day and see if that helps. I wonder if anyone has recommendations for snacks on the go? I typically rely on mandarins or banana as a take along snack. Thanks. I am inspired by all of your progress
@RonnieGirl you said you are coming in below your daily point allowance so I wonder by how much? It is possible that you are not eating enough (even with the fruits) and that is causing a stall.
Oh, and for on the snacks, I always seem to have a clementine with me. I also love the WW barbecue popped chips (2pts) and depending on where I’m going and whether I can take a little lunch bag, I might bring a yogurt (dannon light and fit Greek -2 pts) or a light cheese stick (1pt).
Thanks @Bubblewrap666. I generally have 5-8 points left a day. I had been having fruit for breakfast daily. I don’t like eggs and that certainly limits breakfast option. The cheese sticks sound great and I will have to look for the WW popped chips. I have not see any WW branded products locally. I have only seen them online so maybe I will order some.
@RonnieGirl just for fun, try a week using all your points, you may be in for a very pleasant surprise. Btw, I buy the chips at the meetings, I don’t think they’re at stores but I’m guessing they’re online.
I don’t know if WW talks about MyPlate (the most recent version of the old “food pyramid”) but take a look at the graphic and you will see that half your daily “plate” should comprise of fruit and vegetables - BUT of that half, there is a greater portion of vegetables than fruit - so perhaps reduce the fruit, increase the vegetables - raw or otherwise. Once a week chop up raw vegetables you like - carrots, cauliflower, red peppers, cucumbers - whatever - and make up small baggies that you can grab and go for snacks.
https://www.choosemyplate.gov/
@RonnieGirl “I generally have 5-8 points left a day.” - I will tell you that adds up to a lot of leftover points at the end of the week (and also implies not eating any of the weekly “bonus” points) - I would venture to say that’s where the “plateau” is coming from. You’ve got to regularly eat your points (not necessarily the “bonus” points) ESPECIALLY if you’re also exercising, which burns “points” - Reduce the fruit, increase your daily points, and I’d bet it makes a difference. As for snacks, I like bite sized shredded wheat (no milk, just plain, like chips) when I am craving something crunchy and filling. One cup = 3 points. Easy to take in my purse (in a baggie).
Thanks for all of the great ideas. I am doing this alone online so it is really helpful. I have been reluctant to spend my points each day and make food choices based on which has the least points. I will definitely try to add in more vegetables and be a little freer with my “point spending.”
Here’s a typical day for me, with 23 points
2 ego low fat waffles… 4 points
Banana. 0 points
Snack: 1/2 Fiber 1 English Muffin I forget ( sorry I’m at work) 1 or 2 points
Smackers sugar free raspberry preserves. 0 pts
Lunch. Joseph’s flax pita bread…1 pt
Chicken or turkey breast. 0 pts
Clementine. 0 pts
Jello sugar free chocolate pudding. 2 pts
So I get home from work with something like 14 points. I have dinner, then usually end with 2 or even 3 gingersnapa with a. Cup of tea while I watch TV, they’re a point apiece.
If you want something besides eggs for breakfast, my 5 point breakfast is a cup of regular cheerios, 1/2 cup skim milk and a pile of berries or bananas. Since the fruit is free I do pile it on but it is a satisfying breakfast break from eggs.
Thanks again for all of the suggestions. I am happy to report that my scale has moved ever so slightly downward again! I am particularly enjoying adding the Eggo waffles and cereal as breakfast options. Bread and carbs have always been my downfall so I had totally eliminated them from my diet since starting Weight Watchers. Portion size is also a challenge for me. Whenever I look up an item on the WW app their portion size is often half of what I would typically eat. I am working on reducing portion size but I do find that I’m still hungry at the end of a meal.