topic Re: Weight watchers in Wellness

Weight watchers

sweetkelly — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 05:57:36 GMT

Anyone tried weight watchers simple start program yet? How is it? Opinions / thoughts about weight watchers?

Re: Weight watchers

OnlyShopsOnline — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 06:06:43 GMT

I started Weight Watchers on June 26th, and have lost over 35 pounds. I am doing the Points Plus program and find keeping track of my points to be fairly easy. They key to success is to keep track of your daily points. It has really now become a habit and I can pretty accurately estimate the points values of many foods. I also have a few restaurants where I know I can get "point friendly" items on their menus, so I really don't feel like I'm sacrificing anything. I don't even crave sweets anymore.

I got a booklet on the Simple Start program at my last meeting. It looks very easy, but I think it's only meant to be used for two weeks. You can then switch to the Points Plus program, or use their Simply Filling plan which focuses on eating power foods and not counting points.

The program works for me because it provides me with structure. And, I enjoy the support I get at weekly meetings.

Re: Weight watchers

VaBelle35 — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 06:12:06 GMT

I've been a WW member since September 1999 and Lifetime since 2003.

Points Plus is my least favorite plan, but it's still a great program and I still go to meetings most weeks.

Re: Weight watchers

Mistreatedbycs — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 06:21:45 GMT

oh my gosh, the simple start is really really simple, eat off the list of foods as much as you want, you get 7 indulgent points for butter , treats or anything else not on the list. A gal in my meeting lost 6 pounds last week with the simple start so it does work and I asked my leader if you'll see results like that and she said "yes".

if can't hurt, it's only for 2 wks and then you go back to the points plus or just eat all the power foods.

portion control is the key, knowing if you have a big breakfast you need to limit your lunch and dinner vs eating a small breakfast, going out for lunch and then back to a smaller point dinner. it's choices, give and take, if you fall down, just pick yourself up and move onto the next day, no need to beat yourself up about it.

Re: Weight watchers

Tissyanne — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 06:35:57 GMT

I have been on WW for quite some time and have lost over 30 pounds. I like points plus, but am trying simple start. I then intend to do simply filling which is the same thing. You can have unlimited power foods, which consists of fresh fruits, proteins, fat free dairy, and all fresh veg including starchy ones, grains, and 2 tsp. Healthy oil. You then have 7 points a day to use on indulgences.

Re: Weight watchers

Mmsfoxxie — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 06:39:15 GMT

On 1/1/2014 nantucket shore said:
oh my gosh, the simple start is really really simple, eat off the list of foods as much as you want, you get 7 indulgent points for butter , treats or anything else not on the list. A gal in my meeting lost 6 pounds last week with the simple start so it does work and I asked my leader if you'll see results like that and she said "yes".

if can't hurt, it's only for 2 wks and then you go back to the points plus or just eat all the power foods.

portion control is the key, knowing if you have a big breakfast you need to limit your lunch and dinner vs eating a small breakfast, going out for lunch and then back to a smaller point dinner. it's choices, give and take, if you fall down, just pick yourself up and move onto the next day, no need to beat yourself up about it.

So, nantucket shore, there's more to Simple Start than just eating power foods? And why only 2 weeks?

Re: Weight watchers

VaBelle35 — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 06:55:35 GMT

On 1/1/2014 Tissyanne said: I have been on WW for quite some time and have lost over 30 pounds. I like points plus, but am trying simple start. I then intend to do simply filling which is the same thing. You can have unlimited power foods, which consists of fresh fruits, proteins, fat free dairy, and all fresh veg including starchy ones, grains, and 2 tsp. Healthy oil. You then have 7 points a day to use on indulgences.

Not to nitpick, but its not unlimited. You eat only when you are hungry and you eat to satisfaction, not until you are full or stuffed.

Learning what satisfaction is and feels like is the key.

Re: Weight watchers

Mmsfoxxie — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 13:47:41 GMT

On 1/1/2014 VaBelle35 said:
On 1/1/2014 Tissyanne said: I have been on WW for quite some time and have lost over 30 pounds. I like points plus, but am trying simple start. I then intend to do simply filling which is the same thing. You can have unlimited power foods, which consists of fresh fruits, proteins, fat free dairy, and all fresh veg including starchy ones, grains, and 2 tsp. Healthy oil. You then have 7 points a day to use on indulgences.

Not to nitpick, but its not unlimited. You eat only when you are hungry and you eat to satisfaction, not until you are full or stuffed.

Learning what satisfaction is and feels like is the key.

Ok, this answers my question above. Thanks a bunch.

Re: Weight watchers

Lipstickdiva — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 21:36:34 GMT

It's my understanding Simple Start is meant to jump start your weightloss which is why it's to be used for the first 2 weeks. Then you switch to a regular program.

Re: Weight watchers

Mmsfoxxie — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 22:09:06 GMT

On 1/2/2014 LipstickDiva said:
It's my understanding Simple Start is meant to jump start your weightloss which is why it's to be used for the first 2 weeks. Then you switch to a regular program.

Sounds like the Induction phase of the Atkins program, First 2 weeks got you motivated to keep losing.

Re: Weight watchers

qualitygal — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 22:18:44 GMT

We got a short preview at the end of last weeks meeting. I'm finding out, I don't care for my omelets. And I realize comfort food happens in winter to make you warm and cozy. Cold veggies are great in the summer, but when there's almost 8" of snow outside, cold veggies, lose their appeal for me. I'm at least getting in touch with a few more areas I didn't realize before in my relationship with food. There is one you know?

Re: Weight watchers

VaBelle35 — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 22:30:41 GMT

On 1/2/2014 Mmsfoxxie said:
On 1/2/2014 LipstickDiva said:
It's my understanding Simple Start is meant to jump start your weightloss which is why it's to be used for the first 2 weeks. Then you switch to a regular program.

Sounds like the Induction phase of the Atkins program, First 2 weeks got you motivated to keep losing.

But it has nothing to do with low carb. Power Foods are not low carb foods.

You always lose big the first week or 2 on WW, but a lot of people join and dont know what to eat because every other diet tells you what to eat. So WW is trying something new with giving you a list and sample meals for 2 weeks to keep people from dropping out.

Re: Weight watchers

Mmsfoxxie — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 05:51:50 GMT

On 1/2/2014 VaBelle35 said:
On 1/2/2014 Mmsfoxxie said:
On 1/2/2014 LipstickDiva said:
It's my understanding Simple Start is meant to jump start your weightloss which is why it's to be used for the first 2 weeks. Then you switch to a regular program.

Sounds like the Induction phase of the Atkins program, First 2 weeks got you motivated to keep losing.

But it has nothing to do with low carb. Power Foods are not low carb foods.

You always lose big the first week or 2 on WW, but a lot of people join and dont know what to eat because every other diet tells you what to eat. So WW is trying something new with giving you a list and sample meals for 2 weeks to keep people from dropping out.

Oh, I understand that it is not necessarily low carb (that's constipating for me unless it's veggies) but I thought you meant that this 2 week phase utilized more of the foods to help jump start you weight loss quickly but the foods shouldn't be used long term on their own because they didn't include enough nutrients. Thanks, VaBelle35.

Re: Weight watchers

Rununculus — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 14:42:28 GMT

WW is a good program imo, it helped me lose 25 lbs. last Jan.- May. The points plus is not that difficult to understand... it seemed overwhelming at first but I started by calculating the points in foods I eat a lot and sticking that value on a post-it note on the package. My biggest friend was the ginormous salad I'd eat for lunch 3-4 days a week, then all that must be measured is dressing and any protein + croutons. I'm talking a huge meal for 6-7 points. Also ate one starchy fruit (banana or apple) plus berries each day. I definitely at lower carb but not drastically low like Atkins or anything. I'd tried Atkins before, also tried Nutrisystem -- both made me feel like I was starving to death.

It's a great system, best wishes that it helps you accomplish your goals!

Re: Weight watchers

VaBelle35 — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 15:00:25 GMT

On 1/2/2014 Mmsfoxxie said:
On 1/2/2014 VaBelle35 said:
On 1/2/2014 Mmsfoxxie said:
On 1/2/2014 LipstickDiva said:
It's my understanding Simple Start is meant to jump start your weightloss which is why it's to be used for the first 2 weeks. Then you switch to a regular program.

Sounds like the Induction phase of the Atkins program, First 2 weeks got you motivated to keep losing.

But it has nothing to do with low carb. Power Foods are not low carb foods.

You always lose big the first week or 2 on WW, but a lot of people join and dont know what to eat because every other diet tells you what to eat. So WW is trying something new with giving you a list and sample meals for 2 weeks to keep people from dropping out.

Oh, I understand that it is not necessarily low carb (that's constipating for me unless it's veggies) but I thought you meant that this 2 week phase utilized more of the foods to help jump start you weight loss quickly but the foods shouldn't be used long term on their own because they didn't include enough nutrients. Thanks, VaBelle35.

No, it's not like that at all.

WW has had for a number of years now two plans. One is called the points plan (by various names) and one is called Simply Filling Plan (previously known as core).

The Points plans have always relied on calculating points for everything you ate and keep track of it. You get a certain number of points a day plus extra weekly points to use.

The Simply Filling Plan is for people who do not like to count points and track. The plan is to eat as much off the Power Foods list as possible until satisified (not full) and you don't have to track. So, if you don't like to track, just eat off the list and you don't have to worry about writing anything down. If you decide to have pretzles, say. Then you use your weekly points for that.

Simple Start is kind of a hybrid between the 2 plans.

- It's meant to be used for only 2 weeks (although you can stay on it for life, there's no police who will come to your door and stop you)

- It's meant to highlight the Power Foods List,

- it's meant to attract people who do not want to keep track of what they eat and calculate points,

- it's meant to help people who have done every diet under the sun (especially low carb and elimination plans) to know what to eat. So many people joine WW (especially the online version) and come to their message boards freaked out because they don't know what to eat. They will say "I never eat breakfast, what should I eat for breakfast, I don't like cereal or oatmeal." So WW is addressing this big issue by giving you 2 weeks of sample meal plans and a food list so you can pick the food you like off the listand go shopping.

In every WW plan, you lose a lot the first 2 weeks. When they rolled out Points Plus, a lot of people didn't lose those first 2 weeks because they pushed free fruit lilke nobody's business and people went crazy with the fruit (people were making 500-600 calorie smoothies every day and saying it was 1 or 2 points (for the milke or almond milk). And WW wouldn't admit fruit shouldn't be free, so they just said "if you aren't losing weight, you might want to rethink calculating your smoothies."

Also, when Points Plus first rolled out, the floor was 29 points a day and many of us did not lose on 29 points and they lost a lot of people right out of the gate because they would go 1 or 2 weeks and not lose weight and give up.

Simple Start is meant to bring in new peopel who have never used WW before and to bring back people who were not successful in the last change.

Simple Start is not a magic program, I don't want anyting to think they are going to come in and do this for 2 weeks and lose 15 lbs or something. It's not meant to suggest that. Yes you will have people who are 400 lbs come in and lose 16 lbs their first week (we have a gentleman in our meeting who was like that, he's down over 100 lbs now), but most people will lose a big amount that first week (3-4 lbs depending on how much you have to lose and how much water you are retaining), and then after week 2 or 3, that levels off to the typical 1-2 lbs a week if you follow the plan closely.

Re: Weight watchers

VaBelle35 — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 16:09:06 GMT

Now that WW has all this data at their fingertips from eTools and online tracking, they can really pinpoint what people are doing and not doing and when they fall out of the program.

This Simple Start is a great way to introduce people to WW who are new to the program and a great want to get people to come back and be successful this time.

They've basically worked out all the kinks to Points Plus so that people won't have the same problems they had with that.

They learned a lot of lessons from that debacle. Sadly, the CEO had to go as a result. I liked him but he was an epic fail.

Re: Weight watchers

VaBelle35 — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 16:27:16 GMT

Another great thing about this Simple Start/Two Week Plan is that after you go on vacation or have a long holiday season like we just had, this Simple Start is a way to get back into the program again and re-start/jump start.

So in that regard, I would say it's like Induction or Attack (in Dukan) where you go back to that to re-start and get that jump you need.

I just don't think it's going to be a huge weight loss like you see with Attack and Induction, so I want to temper people's expectations.

Re: Weight watchers

Lipstickdiva — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 18:40:40 GMT

On 1/3/2014 VaBelle35 said:
Now that WW has all this data at their fingertips from eTools and online tracking, they can really pinpoint what people are doing and not doing and when they fall out of the program.

This Simple Start is a great way to introduce people to WW who are new to the program and a great want to get people to come back and be successful this time.

They've basically worked out all the kinks to Points Plus so that people won't have the same problems they had with that.

They learned a lot of lessons from that debacle. Sadly, the CEO had to go as a result. I liked him but he was an epic fail.

What kind of kinks did they work out of Points Plus? I joined in April but went off the program because I don't like it. At that time, PP was the same as it had been. 29 points was still the bottom level of points, fruits and most veggies were free, etc. I didn't realize WW re-did Points Plus again. I thought they just introduced this new Simple Start but the rest of the program after that initial 2 weeks stayed the same.

I have been through 4 WW programs and out of the ones they introduced while I was losing my weight, I really dislike this new Points Plus program the most. In fact I am back to doing 123 Success which is what I lost most of my weight using. Then they switched to Winning Points which was a big adjustment.

Re: Weight watchers

VaBelle35 — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 18:51:19 GMT

26 is the lowest now. They changed that 2 years ago. They changed it a year aftet Points Plus rolled out because 29 was too high for many.

I go to weekly meetings because i love that part of WW but I count calories a n d track on Sparkpeople. I don't like the way Points Plus calculates for the way i eat.

If they ever change the calculations I'll count points again.

Re: Weight watchers

Lipstickdiva — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 21:23:05 GMT

On 1/3/2014 VaBelle35 said:
26 is the lowest now. They changed that 2 years ago. They changed it a year aftet Points Plus rolled out because 29 was too high for many.

I go to weekly meetings because i love that part of WW but I count calories a n d track on Sparkpeople. I don't like the way Points Plus calculates for the way i eat.

If they ever change the calculations I'll count points again.

Thanks. I'm sorry. I knew it was 26. Duh. I was just there within the last 6 moths.

I would have to think there are in fact issues with all the "free" fruits. I know during one of the more recent meetings I attended, the leader said if you are having problems losing and are eating a lot of fruit, you might want to look into scaling back some. That to me says the fruit isn't free and should be pointed.

I remember at least a year ago, the leader gave us a smoothie recipe that included frozen fruit, diet 7-up and fat free jello powder all blended together. Everything in it is free but when she called WW to ask, they told her it had to be counted. I believe it was 2 points per 8oz glass. That seemed odd to me.