Weight Watchers experts, please come in

Sooo, after losing 40 lbs over time before my wedding and gaining most of it back :( I need to get back on track. I'm a member of WW online (have been the whole time).

I just have some questions that maybe you can clarify for me

1) What is WW 360? It seems like the same program with some new etools? I don't see how it's differerent from PointsPLus based on the website.

2) What's with fruits and vegetables. I know they'e "free" but when part of a recipe they are tracked. Does this mean that if I throw a banana into my protein shake or if I add some spinach to a canned soup or a recipe I have to track it separately for fat, carbs, etc? How do you typically manage this?

Any other tips?

ETA: I feel like I lose a lot not going to meetings but I don't know if I can find the time/money..mostly time.

Message edited 1/30/2013 11:17:39 AM.

Weight Watchers experts, please come in

Forget Ww and join myfitnesspal for free. They have calorie info and other nutritional info on their site. Or you can put it in yourself.

I have seen most people lost more weight using MFP vs Ww that I know

Also - I'm so anti free cal foods like veggies n fruits. In my mind, a calorie is still a calorie. You need to account for everything you put into your body and track it in order to lose weight and maintain it.

Re: Weight Watchers experts, please come in

Thanks. I have heard of MFP, but I really like the weight watchers program.

Weight Watchers experts, please come in

FM Colleen (missfabulous) She has been on WW forever and has had amazing success losign and keeping it off. SHe knows the program.

I only know their old programs.

Re: Weight Watchers experts, please come in

Re: Weight Watchers experts, please come in

Posted by EatingMyVeggies

Posted by JenniferEver

Thanks. I have heard of MFP, but I really like the weight watchers program.

Gotcha. I figured I'd suggest it because I know the WW program can add up money-wise.

Either way, good luck on your journey! I'm on my own, as well.

Re: Weight Watchers experts, please come in

I actually prefer WW to My Fitness Pal. I have done WW successfully in the past and just rejoined a few weeks ago. I tried My Fitness Pal this summer and thought it was harder to track every calorie than to count points and focus on the good health guidelines of WW. A lot of people criticize the fact that you are not counting fruits or veggies, but unless you are really gorging yourself on them, I don't think it's going to hinder most people's weight loss. I mean, I probably have about 3 servings of fruit a day and aim for at least 3 servings of veggies. And it definitely steers you away from empty calorie snacks!

The 360 program is technically the same as Points Plus, in terms of the point values of the goods and the formula for calculating points. And the Good Health Guidelines (dairy, lean protein, healthy oil) also remain the same. The 360 seems to be about getting control over your routines and your "spaces" (e.g., organizing your kitchen, dealing with eating out at restaurants). It's more the emotional support aspect of the plan than the technical part. So yes - same as Points Plus, with a slightly new philosophical overlay, if you will!

As far as fruits and vegetables - I think they are only meant to be "free" foods if they are consumed in an unprocessed form (which is why fruit juice isn't zero). So if you eat a whole apple, it's zero, but if apples are chopped up and incorporated into a recipe (e.g., apple pie), they count. I use my judgment....I probably wouldn't count the fruit in a single serve smoothie or the spinach added to a bowl of soup. But if I were making a recipe - such as a multi serving casserole - that had spinach in it, I would plug everything (including the spinach) into the recipe builder and it would be counted in the points. But if I make a single serving salad with spinach, tomatoes, cheese, and walnuts, I would only count the cheese and walnuts. If I make a multi batch pot of vegetable soup, I plug everything into the recipe builder and the vegetables count.

I think there's a bit of discretion. If you found you weren't losing, then I would maybe tighten up how I counted the fruits/veggies, or limit servings. Same with the 49 extra weekly points - a lot of people say they don't lose if they eat them, but I've been eating most of them each week and have been losing weight. So a bit of trial and error and tweaking is involved, because not everyone can do the exact same thing and be successful.

Good luck getting back on track!

Re: Weight Watchers experts, please come in

Thanks Christine!

I've been doing the same as you for the fruits and veggies. I don't know how we're "supposed to" do it.

I don't honestly remember what time of say it was or what I was wearing when I weighed myself over the weekend, but since then I've lost 4lbs. I'm thinking it's closer to 2 since I was probably wearing clothes, or maybe zero if I had eaten, but I'm going to cling to that for now

Re: Weight Watchers experts, please come in

That's awesome, Jennifer.

I was skeptical about getting into Points Plus this time -- I loved the old Points program (did it back in 2005 and then after having my son at the end of 2008), and lost the weight and kept it off with no problem until the last year or so. I tried Points Plus a little over a year ago, but it didn't really "take." This time, I have lost 6.2 lbs in 3 weeks and am finding it pretty easy to stick to, so now I am a fan, of course!

I am sure you are well on your way!

Re: Weight Watchers experts, please come in

The original points program was easier to understand (and also to calculate points in your head), but the new one is ok. I feel I lost less weight on it, but it's better than gaining weight

Weight Watchers experts, please come in

360 is essentially the same program food wise. There are just a couple of changes that focus on the "mental" part of the plan.

I don't count fruits and veggies when they are part of a recipe. I have been losing consistently with Points Plus this way. Unless you're OD-ing on fruits, you're fine. Some fruits and veggies do have a value (such as avocados).

Re: Weight Watchers experts, please come in

Thank you so much, Colleen!