For anyone who has switched from low-carb to WW?

I've been doing low-carbing on and off for the past few years with some amount of success. I recently started doing WW since I personally felt like it might be more of a sustainable lifestyle change than just cutting out bread.

Here are my questions/issues though. I feel like I'm so programmed by the low carbing that I don't really "trust" the WW points and I'm not sure how I can really lose weight. For example, I was shocked that a 1/2 cup of grapefruit juice was only 1 point. When I think of juice, I automatically think of how much sugar and carbs are in there. Also, a salmon filet is 7 points, which is a lot in my low-carb mind since I know that salmon is really healthy for you. But, somehow, a salmon filet is only 1 point less than a Burger King hamburger?

So, I guess my question is 1) how do I get out of the low-carb mindset and 2) is there anyone who can explain the points system to me since it seems inconsistent with what I think of as healthy food.

Thanks so much and sorry for rambling!!

Re: For anyone who has switched from low-carb to WW?

I could have written this post myself! I have been through this - going from WW to Atkins to WW to Atkins. The low-carb diet sort of "ruined" me for WW - it took a long time to not automatically think of the amount of sugar and carbs that were in a product - also - it seemed like any low-carb products I bought were much higher in points because of the fat content.

If you want to do WW, you may be better off starting off with the Core Plan which is a low-carb plan that you are not really tracking points - if your goal is eventually to go all the way over to points, it may be a easier transition.

Re: For anyone who has switched from low-carb to WW?

WW definitely does work, although it is a slower loss than prob what you were used to doing low carb. Because its meant to help you long term, its good to lose the weight slow (1-2 lbs a week is average in the beginning).

1 pt for 1/2 cup juice sounds right. It's prob about 50 calories, and that is about 1 point give or take. And the salmon filet, while healthy is also a 6 ounce portion of fish which is a lot.

You really have to just get out of the mindset that anything with carbs/sugar is bad...you just have to use your points wisely and get the max out of it every day.

For example, although WW is not low carb, if you want a bagel you can have it-BUT a bagel will cost you 6 points. Most people will opt for wheat bread or scooping out the bagel to reduce points.

Good luck, FM me with any questions-I've done WW so long i know it like the back of my hand!

Re: For anyone who has switched from low-carb to WW?

Re: For anyone who has switched from low-carb to WW?

I am currently doing atkins again

Unfortunately, WW has not been sucessful for me - although it was in years prior. I am pre-diabetic and I should really be eating low to no carbs all the time - but it's so difficult - so with WW - I don't have control over my carbs, so it's not working. I kow Atkins is not a long term diet, but I can't find something that works for me

Re: For anyone who has switched from low-carb to WW?

Posted by mrswask

I am currently doing atkins again

Unfortunately, WW has not been sucessful for me - although it was in years prior. I am pre-diabetic and I should really be eating low to no carbs all the time - but it's so difficult - so with WW - I don't have control over my carbs, so it's not working. I kow Atkins is not a long term diet, but I can't find something that works for me

Re: For anyone who has switched from low-carb to WW?

Re: For anyone who has switched from low-carb to WW?

Lisa - thanks for that list - this is what i never really knew how to do - how to follow on past induction - i don't know how much of these to eat...

Re: For anyone who has switched from low-carb to WW?

Here are some ideas how much 5 net carbs is...

Vegetables
RAW:
13 cups Lettuce (shredded)
49 cups Spinach (about 0.2 net carbohydrates per cup)
4 cups Turnip Greens
2 1/4 cups Cucumber
3/4 cup Sweet green/red pepper
1 cup Cherry tomato
3/4 cup Tomato
2 1/2 cup Mushrooms
7 medium Green onions
1 1/4 California Avocado (black skin)
3/4 Florida Avocado (green skin)
COOKED:
2 3/4 cups Spinach (from canned)
3 1/2 cups Turnip Greens
1 cup Turnip
1 1/2 cups or 12 medium Asparagus Spears
1 cup Yellow Summer Squash (fresh)
1 3/4 cups Broccoli (chopped)
2/3 cup Spaghetti Squash
2 3/4 cups Cauliflower (chopped)
3/4 cup Green or Red Peppers
1/2 cup Tomato (from fresh)
1/2 cup Brussels Sprouts (from fresh)
1/4 cup Onions
1 1/2 cups Cabbage (from fresh)

Dairy
3/5 cup or 5 slices Hard cheese (Cheddar, Provolone, Swiss, Mozzarella etc.)
2 cups Goat cheese (Crumbled)
1 cup Fresh cheese (Cottage, Farmer's, Pots)
1/2 cup Ricotta
4/5 cup Cream cheese
3/4 cup Heavy cream (Fluid)
4 1/2 oz Light cream (Fluid)
3 3/4 oz Half-and-Half (Fluid)
1 1/2 cup Heavy cream (Whipped, Unsweetened)
1 1/3 cup Light cream (Whipped, Unsweetened)
2/3 cup Cream (Whipped, pressurized container)
1/2 cup Sour cream

Seeds and Nuts
3 3/4 oz Macadamias (Dry Roasted)
2 1/4 oz Almonds (Dry Roasted)
1/4 cup Peanuts (Dry Roasted)
2 tbsp Peanut Butter (Natural, no sugar added)
1 cup Coconut meat (Fresh, shredded)
2/3 cup Coconut milk (liquid expressed from grated coconut meat, water added)
1/4 cup Sunflower seeds (Hulled)
2 1/4 oz Sunflower seeds (With hulls)
3/4 cup Walnuts (Shelled)
1/2 cup Pistachios (Roasted)
4 1/2 oz Pecans (Dry roasted)


Berries
3/4 cup or 9 medium Strawberries (Raw, 1 to 1 1/4 inch diameter)
1/3 cup or 32 berries Blueberries (Raw)
1/2 cup Blackberries (Raw)
3/4 cup or 55 berries Raspberries (Raw)
1/2 cup Gooseberries (Raw)
1/2 cup Watermelon (Raw)
1/2 cup Cantaloupe (Raw)
1/3 cup Honeydew (Raw)

Alcohol
Bourbon - 0g
Brandy - 0g
Gin - 0g
Rum - 0g
Tequila - 0g
Vermouth, Dry - 1.4g
Vermouth, Sweet - 4.5g
Vodka - 0g
Whiskey - 0g
Wine, Red (4oz) - 2.0g
Wine, White (4oz) - 0.9g


Legumes
0.075 cup Cranberry Beans (Raw)
0.15 cup Chili beans, barbecue beans, ranch style beans or Mexican- style beans (Raw)
1/5 cup Fava Beans (Cooked, unmashed)
1/5 cup Lima Beans (Cooked)
1/5 cup Red Kidney Beans (Cooked)
3/4 cup Soy Beans (Cooked)
0.15 cup White Beans (Cooked)

Fruits other than berries
(All raw)
2 slices Apple
1 1/2 Apricots
5 Cherries (sweet)
5 Grapes (with seeds)
1/2 Kiwifruit
1/5 cup Mango (sliced)
1/3 Nectarine
1/2 Papaya (small)
1 1/2 Passionfruit
1/2 Peach (medium size)
1/4 Pear (medium size)
1/4 Persimmon
1/2 slice Pineapple
1/2 Plum
3/4 Cup Rhubarb (cooked, unsweetened)
4 Tamarinds

Starchy Vegetables
2/3 cup Carrots (Raw)
1/2 cup Carrots (Cooked, fresh)
1/3 cup Celeriac (Cooked)
1/4 ear Corn (Cooked, fresh)
1/3 cup Peas (Cooked, frozen)
1/4 cup Leeks (Cooked)
1 Parsnip (Cooked, small)
4 French Fries (Cooked, straight cut)
0.15 cup Potato (Cooked)
1/5 cup Sweet Potato (Cooked)

Whole Grains
1 1/2 tablespoons Oat Bran
2 tablespoons Wheat Germ (Toasted)
1/4 cup Oat Meal (Cooked)
1/2 slice Wholegrain Bread

Re: For anyone who has switched from low-carb to WW?

Lisa - thanks SO much!!

Are those numbers accurate??? 49 cups of Spinach????

How do you incorporate - do you just eat one more thing a week? in any particular order? Are you making it 5 more net carbs a day or a week?

thank you thank you thank you!!

Re: For anyone who has switched from low-carb to WW?

that's RAW spinach...so one cup of it is like nothing, probably a few leaves

the best way is to pick one new food to start with...eat it every other day to see if it causes cravings or weight gain...the next week try another food...stay on that rung for a few weeks and try new foods...

Then when you feel ready, move to the next rung and do the same thing...still eating from the previous rung...


It's 5 net carbs a day...

Re: For anyone who has switched from low-carb to WW?

OK - last question - you've been so helpful - so the rungs start with the first one - veggies - and go up to the last one grains - and i should add a new one every week and eat it every other day?

Confused about dairy - so I am eating hard cheese now as part of induction - but it has hard cheese listed...


thanks

Re: For anyone who has switched from low-carb to WW?

Yes, after you are done with induction you are ready to move on to OWL (Ongoing Weight Loss)

Start at rung 1...pick one NEW food to start with from there and eat it a few times that week to see how it affects you...if you pick a food you are already eating I think you can eat that every day...but the idea is to incorporate some new foods into your diet

You spend at least 3 weeks on each rung before you move on to the next rung...so, if you are doing induction at 20 net carbs...at rung one you would be eating 25 net carbs, rung 2 is 30 net carbs, etc

For the cheese you are allowed an EXTRA 5 net carbs a day, but be careful with cheese, it stalls a lot of people

Re: For anyone who has switched from low-carb to WW?

Thanks Lisa!!!

Watch out for those onions