New To Weight Watchers...lots of ???

I joined WW yesterday for the first time....

I have to lose roughly 40 lbs.

So far breakfast and lunch have been pretty easy to track points because i have not had to cook. Tonight....for dinner....thats a different story.

How do i calculate points based on the ingredients i use to cook?

For example....tonight i'm making grilled chicken with broccoli and rice. When i cook my rice i use water, low fat/sodium chicken broth and some butter so the rice doesn't stick....how do i calculate how many points the butter is? or if i marinade my chicken breast....how do i calculate that? So confusing!!

I'm thinking of purchasing the WW scale and point measurer...is this worth it? It looks very helpful.

Any healthy low point snacks (not just veggies) you can recommend?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

Re: New To Weight Watchers...lots of ???

You can look online for measurements. A 4 oz piece of protein should be about the size of your palm and the thickness of a deck of cards. You can measure your rice in a measuring cup-as well as veggies.

Re: New To Weight Watchers...lots of ???

Did you suscribe for the monthly pass or have e-tools? There is a handy dandy recipe builder on there, so you can figure out exactly how many points your rice would be per serving.

If not, you can measure the amount of broth you put into the rice as well as the butter and just divide it by the approximate number of servings of rice.

I usually don't count marinade because I usually use no or low point items (fat free italian dressing, teriyaki sauce etc.). But that is just me.

I would definitely recommend getting a scale (ww brand or other). I think I got a cheap one in the grocery store a couple of years ago. It makes measuring out ounces so much easier than guessing.

Honestly, I mostly snack on fruits and/or veggies like baby carrots because it keeps me the most satisfied. But occasionally I like:

sugar free jello cups (10 calories = 0 points)
turkey hill fat free no sugar added ice cream (2 pts per cup)
100 calorie snack packs (most are 2 pts)
BJs trail mix snack (3 pts per bag)
Edy's frozen fuit bar (most are 2 pts per serving)
pickles!!!!! 0 points!!!

Good luck!!!

Message edited 8/15/2007 5:38:00 PM.

Re: New To Weight Watchers...lots of ???

SugarFree popsicles
in a yellow box in the freezer sec. of supermarket

Re: New To Weight Watchers...lots of ???

The greatest tools I bought were the WW scale and the measuring cups that they sell at the meeting.
Both my sister and I are on WW. Last night we made pork chops on the grill. I put the plate on the scale, zero'd it out and put the pork chop on. It measured in at 4 oz. I was surprised. I actually would have jipped myself because if I was guessing, I would have cut that pork chop in half.

As for snacks, I do keep the 1 pt mini WW bars around for night time snacking.
Popcorn
sugar free jello
fat free pudding
cut up cucumbers with some balsamic or fat free italian dressing
WW or dannon light and fit yogurt
sugar free ice pops
sugar free Rita's child size ice
trader joe's oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
wheat thins with hummus

Good luck.

Re: New To Weight Watchers...lots of ???

as the OPs mentioned, i think you should get a scale. i was so bad with portion sizes in the beginning. and then i couldn't cheat either!

for recipes, i do it the old school way. look at the calories, fat and fiber for each item, figure out the points and add them up for the meal. then i divide by the number of servings. i use the WW book to calculate points for things not in a package.

Re: New To Weight Watchers...lots of ???

I try and stick with eating LC's for dinner or smart ones..also Morningstar garden veggie burgers and some trader joe's things that are low in points. I like to know for sure how many points I am eating.

As far as snacks I LOVE 100 calorie snacks!!