Frustrated and starving on weight watchers!

I know I am doing something wrong but I cannot figure out what.

Admittedly, i do not have much to lose - but in the past year I have gained about 6 lbs that I cannot lose. I am 5'5 and weigh 126 lbs - I am trying to get back down to 120.

I have been working out for about 90 minutes a day and I am GAINING weight and starvng! After I factor in the points for all my meals - I don't have any points left for snacks. I really do not want to swap out my healthy food for super processed low fat junk.

My typical day looks like this:

B= chobani champions yogurt, low fat organic granola (2/3 cup) and raisins

L= whole wheat flatbread, turkey, slice of reduced fat cheese, 2 avocado slices and arugula, half a banana

d= whole wheat pasta, turkey bolognese, steamed spinach.

AND THAT IS ALL MY PONTs! I would love to have snacks because I am STARVING!

Please help me! TIA

Re: Frustrated and starving on weight watchers!

i just started litterally today so i am no expert but why not snack on fruit and vegetables they are free points?

Plus do those numbers include your felx points for the week?

Re: Frustrated and starving on weight watchers!

Here is my honest advice...

You are focusing way too much on #'s. If you had a lot of weight to lose, or even a solid 10 to be at a healthy weight, I'd understand where you're coming from. But at 5'5", an IDEAL perfect weight is 125. You are right there.

By working out 90 minutes a day, you are definitely accumulating muscle mass. And you will see a gain in #'s or at the very least maintain while you're eating a healthy diet. I bet you anything that while you've been working out like that, you've lost inches and toned, no? But the # on the scale won't reflect that.

I bet you anything that if you scaled back the stuff at the gym you'd see a few pounds drop off due to losing muscle mass. But I bet you look fabulous at your height and weight and with all the working out. Maybe don't concentrate so hard on a number... Sorry if my advice doesn't help, just offering my perspective.

Re: Frustrated and starving on weight watchers!

Also..i tried to add up your points. It seems you're eating maybe 22 a day. Which is really low...and that can backfire, especially if you're burning like 500+calories at the gym. What kind of workouts are you doing?

Re: Frustrated and starving on weight watchers!

Thanks for the feedback!

I have 26 points a day to eat - with the menu I posted I end up at about 29 points so I am also eating my activity points. As far as workouts, it varies depending on the class I go to on that day but usually I wll do a 1 hour bodysculpting class and 30 min on the elliptical.

I know the actual number should not matter but I just can't help it. Also, I am a total foodie and I LOVE food and wine which makes this so much harder for me.

I wish I could be one of those girls with a small appetite but I am always ravenous

Re: Frustrated and starving on weight watchers!

Fruit and veggies are free. Have those as a snack. Try making your own sauce and adding carrots and other veggies (minced) to it to bulk up the fiber and make you feel fuller.

Also maybe switch to the trader joes whole wheat wraps. They are one point. That way you can add more turkey.

Have you tried doing measurements rather than pounds. I bet you are getting slimmer but, gaining muscle.

Re: Frustrated and starving on weight watchers!

you may have to add some more protein to your diet

Re: Frustrated and starving on weight watchers!

I would be starving on your menu, too, to be honest......is the granola high? Here's an example of a typical day for me:

Breakfast:
1/4 cup of steel cut oatmeal made with water, diced apple, nutmeg and cinnamon - makes 1 cup total (3 pts).
hard boiled egg (2 pts)
Coffee with International Delight Creamer and spenda (2 pts)

snack:
Banana
2 tablespoons of PB2 on a slice of Nature's Own Double Fiber Wheat (2 pts)

Lunch:
salad with crumbled Veggie patty - usually morningstar farms california turkey burger (2 pts)
Kraft Red Roasted Pepper Italian Dressing (1 pt)
Cup of Mexican-Inspired Vegetable Soup - WW recipe (1 pt)

Dinner:
4 oz boneless pork chop (5 pts)
1 cup of brown rice (5 pts)
broccoli steamed with garlic salt

Total: 23 pts. that leaves me with some points for snacks after dinner -- either a WW Fudge Bar (3 pts) or some hummus and pretzels (5 pts). I am allowed 28 points per day.......

I find that by making sure I get alot of protein, it keeps me satisfied alot longer than just focusing on fiber, which is what I was doing previously......

Re: Frustrated and starving on weight watchers!

Although I do not teach Weight Watchers (and I actually have nothing against it), it does not seem like you are eating enough. First of all, our bodies fight against a "weight set point" which it sounds like your current weight is. Also, believe it or not, when you dont eat enough and you exercise a lot, your body goes into starvation mode and you will likely not lose. Instead of adding up points on your menu, I added up the calories and it is too low for you (not exact as you didnt have portion sizes but a good estimation). Also, if you do not eat every few hours you will eventually slow your metabolism down. At this point honestly, your weight is very normal and healthy and by not eating enough you will not lose weight at the rate you are going. Listen to your body and if you are starving than you need to eat more. No "diet" (and I hate that word) should require that you walk around hungry all day. When I work with my patients fyi...the ones that lose consistently say they feel great all day. This is because they are being nourished properly and appropriately for healthy weight loss (which in my professional opinion dont think you need based on your ht/wt). Good luck

Re: Frustrated and starving on weight watchers!

how about some nuts in your brekkie instead of granola? And since fruit is free for you, why not have grapes instead of raisins?

Here's one of my fav brekkies:

1/2 cup lowfat cottage cheese
1/2 cup berries
2 tablespoons walnuts

I am not on weight watchers so don't know the points but I will say that the above is filling and yummy.

Also what kind of sauce are you using at dinner? I found a good one at whole foods that is only 40 calories and 1 gram fat.