So I'm here to report that I did go to the WW meeting today. It was just as I expected full of older (40 ) women. I and another new girl were the only 35 and under in there. So to say I felt out of place is the LEAST! But they made me feel welcome and they seemed nice. Just hard to relate. But the leader showed us a before and after picture and she's definately lost a lot of weight. I am going to continue to go but it's just hard not having someone relate to my struggles (Not being home enough to cook meals, working and going to school,etc..) These are all housewife, retiree's or just working women.
The meeting information was very good and all the new materials I got are very helpful! I got all the guides and found out that my alotted points per day is 30. Yea, I'm trying to plan a menu and it's hard trying to find foods to fill up these 30 points! *sigh*
I'm going to be honest, I'm confused with all the adding and subtracting to find out how much points everything that's not in the guide is. It's tough for me to plan a menu. I think I'm just going to plan a regular menu and then just find point value to it, then either add or subtract.
GLORY & PRECIOUS PLEASE HELP ME!!! Or anyone else that has done Weight Watchers.
All of the menu's call for cooking meals with meats and fresh veggies, something I do not have readily available! I need some menu's with practical foods that I can prepare easily. It's also hard for me to figure out the points for normal foods, like a bowl of spaghetti, or a grilled chicken breast. That's what is confusing me the most. If anyone has any websites that would help with this, I'd GREATLY appreciate it. I really want this to work but I know I can easily get frustrated and fall back into my poor ways of eating, I DO NOT want this to happen.
But other than those frustrations, I'm GLAD I joined because when I got on that scale I wanted to cry. I've gained 6lbs since the last time I weighed in! I knew I was going to have a gain but I didnt expect 6lbs!!!! But that's my own fault...I haven't exercised since the gym has been closed, I have been eating candy and snacks [I.E: the break room sagas] I haven't been monitoring my calorie intake, I've had ONE too many Sourdough Jacks and Dunkin Donuts. It's inevitable. But today starts a new! No more of this eating crap stuff. I have my menu planned for tomorrow but I'm NOWHERE near my points for the day. *sigh*
Tomorrow's Menu:
Breakfast: Banana, 1 scrambled egg w/ .5 cup of cheese and piece of wheat toast. 7 points
Snack: Orange, sugar free pudding, 1/2 cup of raisins & water. 5
Lunch: WW Smart one, cup of salad and fat free italian dressing, Crystal light. 4 points
Snack: Apple, pack of mini delights, water. 3 points
Dinner: Grilled chicken breast, green beans, raw carrots and diet soda. 4 points
Snack: Peanut butter & wheat toast. 4 points
See that's only 27points, I need 3 more points.
I just need some easy to whip up meal ideas. I know I can't go wrong with the Smart Ones so I may eat more of those :)
Ok. That's that. Tomorrow I will start working out. I'm thinking I'll do 30 minutes of rollerblading or do my work out tape..Although I hate it, I have to make sacrifices for what I want.
Pour in those suggestions girls!
Quote for the day: "Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow." ~Ronald E. Osborn
Posted By: As I Am
Comments to this post:
01/08/2008 22:07
I hear you!!
I get 30 points as well and I feel like I can never use them up!!
Those last 8 points could be 1 cup of 2% milk and 1 cup of cereal - depending on the cereal. The milk is 3 points....just an option.
Before I forget, if you haven't look at your reponses from your last post please do. A person by the name of Glory has a link in her repsonse that I think is very helpful. I'm glad she posted that because I was looking for that site recently and I couldn't find it.
Anyhow I know the points system can be frustrating and tedious, but it is so worth it because it works! I don't know if you are willing you spend a little more cash but WW has way more food items on their list that is available on the internet for a fee( I thinks it's called etools). Also WW has cook books and there meals in the book already have there points per serving. I have a cookbook where all the meals are 5 points and under (I think) it has a lot quick meals. Once I figure out the name I'll be sure to let you know. Another tip is once you go to the grocery store before you put your groceries up try writing all the points on the items with a sharpie so you won't have to figure it out later, it saves you time in the long run.
As far as not having too many points. Try eating peanut butter, it's healthy and it takes up a lot of points. You can also try peanuts, walnuits, almonds, etc., they take up a lot of points as well but they are healthy points! If I think of any more pointers I'll be sure to let you know.
Whatever you do please don't quit at least give it a try for one week to see how it goes( staying on plan 100%). Hope This Helps,
I totally understand what you mean about not being able to relate to anyone at the meeting. I go with my mother, so at least I'm not walking in alone, but at the same time, I'm 22 and everyone else seems much older. Also, my mother doesn't have nearly as much to lose as I do. A lot of times I think she just goes to support me.
In the back of Book 1, there's a list of a lot of common foods and their points values. And definitely register on the Weight Watchers website. If you decide to go to meetings every week, sign up for the monthly pass. It's 39.95/month and includes access to all of the tools on the website for free. Otherwise, I think it's like $5/week to register on the website. But once on there, there's a tool called "Find and Explore" which will allow you to search for points values of just about anything. It even has points values for just about every menu item from several restaurants. I'd probalby be lost without it.
I tried WW a few years ago and I bought a book that had "regular" foods in it listed my name brand and point value. This made it easy to make things simple like sandwiches, or chicken and vegetables., etc. You may want to ask your leader about it. I don't think it was expensive, otherwise I wouldn't have bought it..lol! Or you can go online.. but I'm not sure how much that is either. I think the book may be cheaper, and you can carry it around w/ you in your purse for reference, the book also came w/ a complete fast food guide. Good luck you!! I wish you the best!!
Sounds like your meal plan for today is great. It's all about planning. If the frozen meals work for you, I say go for it. It is so hard to try to cook things with limited resources and space. So, if it works, it works. You know?!
I'm proud of you for going to the meeting and joining. As far as the 6 pounds. Yeah, you had a gain. But it was also on a different scale than you usually weigh on. So.....just remember that. And also remember that since you're doing something about it, it's the last time you will see that number!
Nice to meet you. I am glad you stopped by my webblog to say hello. Good for you for joining WW. I did it several years ago and was very successful. If you follow the plan, it does work.
I understand what you mean about the meetings. I went to one and then never went back to the meetings. I do the on line WW. I like it a lot more. I also don't have the time to go to meetings. I also did not seem to have anything in commom with the women at the meeting I went to, other than the obvious, being fat.
So try the meetings and if you find they don't work for you, don't give up. Either try the on-line or find other support. There are great sites out there. I have found great friends and great support here.
One thing that has helped me with the points, sometimes I need to think outside the box or I need to eat a "non- diet" food. What I mean by that is , if I have so many points left that I need to use, maybe I have a grilled cheese with regular cheese instead of low fat or fat free, or I use regular dressing instead of fat free. I just make sure to use the proper portion and make sure to journal it. It has also helped me to stay on track doing this occasionally. Remember WW is to teach you proper portions and what is healthy to eat.
I will keep in touch. I am glad to meet you. Feel free to email me anytime.
Do not freak out! Yes it is overwhelming to start. Does that mean it's hard? Hell no! So many people do this! I find myself calculating points in my head automatically and I haven't been on WW for a year. It's simple, and you'll get the hang of it before you know it.
As for how to get all of your points in? Well, the first thing I noticed when I looked at your menu is that you do not have both of your dairy servings in. Adding in another chunk of cheese, or some yogurt, or a big glass of milk will help you get some more points.
Here's what you need to remember: "Pay your bills first!" My favorite WW leader used to tell me that I needed to spend my points on the healthy stuff before I could start spending them on junk food. In other words, I needed to pay my bills before I could start shopping for fun! Here is an example:
On WW you need to fulfill your healthy food guidelines, that includes:
2 dairy servings
2 healthy oils (olive, or coconut, or nuts...)
5 fruits & vegetables
8 glasses of water
Now... let's see here? Two dairy servings (at 2 points a piece) is about 4 points. Your healthy oils? That could be anywhere from 4 points to 7, depending on how much you use. Fruits & Veggies? Let's say each fruit or veggie has at least 1 point (for the purpose of this demonstration). That is 5 points from there. Putting you at between 13 - 16 points used. That's half your points right there! On the stuff you need! Then you add in your protiens & your healthy grains. See? It's not so hard once you get the hang of it.
As for the calculating points, your points!finder is your friend (that cardboard thingy they gave you!). Once you're proficient in that, you'll be fine. Eventually, you won't even need it anymore.
Both of these sites contain lots of recipes with the points values already included. Crazyness! Also, if you haven't done it yet, sign up for the WW e-mal newsletter. It's free and provides you with tons of recipes every month!
Good luck... if you need anything, e-mail me through the "contact me" button on my blog and I'll get you my e-mail address. I don't have AIM.
I love Dotties site. I cant afford WW and didn't have the time to go, so a couple of the girls I work with let me copy their stuff initially and then I went and found Dottie's site. I love it!
Water is the most important thing!
And I love the Points finder (the little cardboard or paper thingy) I actually made a couple copies of it. I stuck one in my locker at work, and one in my purse.
I don't have any suggestions I just wanted to let you know that right now it may be difficult for you to figure up the points value for foods but soon it will become like second nature to you!!
I sympathize - counting points, calories, etc. drives me insane - that's why I don't do it. Doesn't WW have a non-points option? My mom goes and has had great success. Good luck!
I agree with Glory http://www.dwlz.com/restaurants.html Dotty's weight zone is the bomb especially if you like eating out like me. If I am at Macky D's (McDonalds) I need to know how many points those fries are. Also, you will get the hang of how to count. Do you have any examples of foods you would love to eat but don't know the point value? Also if you go into the daily plate in put in your item it will give you the calorie break down. Does this help?
