My friend Christina and I joined WW today, and I'm so excited! Is anyone else on the program who can offer a newbie some good tips?

Congratulations! I've been on Weight Watchers for a little over a year and I've lost 104#. My husband joined shortly after me and he's lost 105#. I should be a spokesperson. Post any questions and I'll try to answer them as best I can!

April,

I am giving some serious thoughts to joining WW. My co-mgr. has been going for about 3 months and has lost around 50 pounds!!!! I need to find a convenient time close to work/home to attend meetings. I thought about doing it online, but I think I need to have to go in and weigh in front of others to hold myself accountable! Let me know how it goes.
Good luck!.....Does anyone know how anything about weight watchers online????
jano1

We (my husband and I) just do it online. I have a lot of people at work that are also on it with me. Some of them go to meetings and some just do it over the internet. I think it's the greatest diet ever because if you are really craving something, eat it! You just have to count it.

tn21angel,

How does weight watchers work online? What format do you follow? Do you log in at a certain time each week, do you post your weight, or do you just get the tools you need online and it is kind of a do it yourself deal.
Sorry for so many questions, but I want to get started on something that will work and also fit into this crazy schedule.

Thanks,
jano1

jano1,

It's kinda a do-it-yourself type thing. You log in as often as you want to (I usually log in at least once a day). There is a journal on there that you can enter your food that you have eaten for the day. They have a food database that you can look up like 17000 different kinds of foods and get the point value for. It tells you what your point goal is for your weight. It also has a weight tracker on it that graphs your progress.

I really like it because I work night shift and I'm not always awake during the day to go to a meeting.

There is also a website that a lady named Dottie has made that has tons of restaurants on it that had the points for different menu items. Her website is www.dwlz.com

tn21angel

tn21angel

Thanks for your info. I checked out the web sight and it looks really good. I even downloaded the weight commander (unfortunately I had gained 1 lb. between yesterday and today). I am still undecided about the online weight watcher. I manage a BBW store and we work some openings, some closings, don't usually have 2 days off in a row, and not the same days off every week. SOOOO online weightwatchers would be my best bet, but I just don't know if I can do it. I am just a whimp!!!! why can't I committ????????????

Thanks for your help!

jano1

Jano,
I tried WW online about a year ago, and failed miserably. I've been very successful with the traditional method of meetings.
To detail how busy my schedule is:
I work full time
I have a part time job
and I go to school part time

The meeting times are very flexible and don't take very long - you could go on your lunch hour. If you visit the WW website, you can enter your zip and they will show you locations.
Good luck to you, and CONGRATULATIONS tn21angel! That is terrific!

April.

Thanks for your input. I think I will do better if I attend the meetings. How long do the meetings usually last? Do you weigh-in first and then have the meeting?

Thanks!

jano1

I finally joined weight Watchers and although I am brand spanking new (this is just the beginning of my 3rd wk) this has GOT to be the most sensible weight loss plan I have been on. I don't feel deprived and still get to eat the foods I like! Have you tried the snack packs of oreos, chips ahoys, cheese nips etc...that are only 2 points? I also found that ice cream without added sugar is only 3 points for 1/2 cup. Yeah...do you have some tips for low point foods?

Thanks!

jano1

Congratulations on starting this great program! You're right, it is a very sensible plan and I've lost 88.8 pounds so far.

You might like Kudos granola bars. The M&M or Snickers ones are 2 points, the chocolate chip or peanut butter are 3 points. Most fat free pudding cups are 2 points. For something salty, 37 oyster crackers are 1 point and fat free pretzels are also a good choice.

A really yummy treat: take a chocolate graham cracker, break it in half, put on 2 Tablespoons fat free whipped topping and put the pieces together to make a sandwich. Freeze for an hour or more. It tastes just like an ice cream sandwich. Two of these are 3 points.

I hope you have great success on the plan!

yummmm Sally! Thanks! Another treat with low fat graham crackers is to put strawberry glaze (like the kind you mix with fresh straberries for shortcake) on the crackers. I crunch up the crackers, mix in the glaze, and refrigerate to chill. The glaze is fat free and only has 30 calories for 2 tablespoons.

Do you go to meetings or do WW online?

Thanks,

jano1

I have been going to the meetings--it has been almost 2 years now. I'm glad they offer the online program as another option, but for me, I really need to be at that meeting, to face the person when I weigh in, and get myself re-motivated every week. It's also nice because you can make some really good friends and you know that there are millions of people all over the country that have the same weight struggles and challenges as you do and they're using the same program as you.

Some of the snacks I like:

Fat free Pringles - 15 chips for 1 point
Act II 94% Fat free Kettle corn mini-bag - 2 points for the whole bag

Skinny Cow ice crean sndwiches (taste like the real deal) - 2 points each

I also like those 100 calorie packs in Oreo, Chips Ahoy and Wheat thins.

I have been out of town alot and working crazy hours so I haven't been to Weight Watchers for 2 weeks. I am going Thursday or Friday though, but I heard the program is changing. Has anyone been lately to let me know what has changed?

Thank you!
jano1

The new program is just being introduced this week, so if you do attend this Thursday or Friday you will get the scoop. You can still stay on the current Flex Plan, or you can try this new Core Plan. It's a very interesting meeting--hope you'll be able to get to one!

after hearing all of the success that everyone here has had with weight watchers i'm motivated to give it a try but i was curious as what kinds of exercise did you guys do in conjunction with weight watchers? thanks.

I didn't exercise for the first year. I just watched what I ate and still lost 1-2 # per week. When I saw that I wasn't losing as much per week (about a year into the program) I started doing water aerobics 2-3x/week.

My experience has been similar to tn21angel. After awhile, your body adjusts to your new healthy eating habits, and the weight comes off more slowly--but it DOES keep coming off. I hate exercise but I just try to get moving somehow. You could try walking around the mall over lunch. I do fairly simple exercises like sit-ups and leg lifts and it has really helped. I have some weights to help tone my upper body and also have an exercise bike for cardio work-outs. Anything you can fit in will help!

Ronnie,
I have to admit that I am not good at exercising. I am on my feet all day, but at night a couple of times a week I try to walk. I have had some foot problems the last couple of months so I have not even been faithful doing that. If you do exercise the weight will come off even faster, but I am losing without exercise (although I highly recommend exercising). I am really please with WW. It took me a few months to decide to do it, but I am glad I did. If I am hungry I eat the vegetables that have no points and save my points for the stuff I really like to eat!
Good luck.
jano1