Anyone on Weight Watchers?

smiling76 · October 2013

Hi ladies--- I'm so super stressed lately between work/home--the daily juggle that we all go through--that I'm gaining like crazy. Thinking of re-joining Weight Watchers....again (I'm a lifetime member that lost 25 pounds in 2001 but have gained 50 pounds since). BUT I'm really worried about cooking for the family. Although I use lean cuts of meat, it's still a lot of points--- even the chili I'm making tomorrow will be a ton of points.

What are your tips for success? What snacks do you bring to work that are low in points? Any tried and true low point recipes for the family (I love the slow cooker or anything I can prep in advance).

And when do you fit in exercise? I would have to wake up at 5am to exercise which means I'd have to go to bed at 9pm to get enough sleep (I have really severe fibromyalgia so lack of sleep is really bad and makes the symptoms way worse). No time for exercise after work and I can't work out at 9pm after everything is done...or I'll never fall asleep.

I just want to do this thing right this time.....thought getting "real" advice from "real working moms" would be the best!!

Kewii · October 2013

I don't follow weight watchers, but I would recommend the Skinny Taste blog. She has points on all her recipes and they're usually super easy to follow.

My husband also loves the food as well. It's pretty tasty, but also pretty healthy.

aeh72 · October 2013

I followed WW in the past and lost a lot of weight (I need to do it again!). I found that the easiest way to make it work was using leaner meats/healthier options as much as you can, but for family meals where that could be tough, focus on portion control. So, if we're having burgers and fries, I would make my burger smaller or use only half the bun and instead of having fries, I would make myself a salad.

The main way I was able to make WW work for me was with my breakfast and lunch options, which were totally within my control.

For snacks at work, I would usually bring fruit or I would eat a single serving bag of microwave popcorn.

I was single when I did WW so I had more flexiblity with working out, but I've always found that if I don't do it first thing in the morning, I'll find too many excuses not to do it after work. These days, the only time I can work out is early in the morning before everyone wakes up. If mornings are tough, can you walk at lunchtime?

Recipes - I don't have it off the top of my head, but WW has a great chicken stir fry recipe that my husband, to this day, asks me to make.

GL to you!!

financialdiva · October 2013

I did WW before I got married and lost weight successfully. It was a good program then.

Then they changed their program around. I tried twice after I had DS1, before I got pregnant with DS2. Hated it both times. A 3oz piece of chicken is high in points on the new plan, when it really shouldn't be. It's 120 calories. I don't get it. And I made chili the other night for dinner, it was well within my calorie limit for the day. I guess they make the beans high in points too?

I use myfitnesspal to track my calories. I'm 10lbs under my my pre-pregnancy DS2 weight (he's 8.5 months old). I exercise twice during the week in the evenings after I put DS2 to bed and first thing on Saturday (or Sunday) mornings.

Dinners are tricky, but I make sure to plan my whole day out accordingly. Sometimes, I eat something different from DS1 and DH. Like for example, I made taco's the other day. I used ground turkey breast. They had taco's, I made a taco salad. Grilled lean meats and veggies. I use my crock pot to cook chicken or meat in. Like the other day i put a few chicken breast in the crockpot with water. Cooked all day. Shredded them up, added hot sauce (or whatever seasoning you want) at the end of the day and put them in lettuce cups. Or over salad, or in tortillas, or even a sandwich.

As cliche as this sounds, doing it with friends has kept me motivated as well. Myfitnesspal lets you add friends so you can see what they are eating for ideas, and it shows your friends when you lose. (not when you gain though).

Anyway, good luck to you!! Maybe we should start a weekly weight loss post?

smiling76 · October 2013

Kewii said:

I don't follow weight watchers, but I would recommend the Skinny Taste blog. She has points on all her recipes and they're usually super easy to follow.

My husband also loves the food as well. It's pretty tasty, but also pretty healthy.

OMG thank you so much--never heard of this blog and it's awesome! I love that she puts new and old points--very interesting. I really did well on the "old" and not so well on the "new" when I restarted a couple years ago (only lasted a couple months). What great meal ideas!!

smiling76 · October 2013

aeh72 said:

I followed WW in the past and lost a lot of weight (I need to do it again!). I found that the easiest way to make it work was using leaner meats/healthier options as much as you can, but for family meals where that could be tough, focus on portion control. So, if we're having burgers and fries, I would make my burger smaller or use only half the bun and instead of having fries, I would make myself a salad.

The main way I was able to make WW work for me was with my breakfast and lunch options, which were totally within my control.

For snacks at work, I would usually bring fruit or I would eat a single serving bag of microwave popcorn.

I was single when I did WW so I had more flexiblity with working out, but I've always found that if I don't do it first thing in the morning, I'll find too many excuses not to do it after work. These days, the only time I can work out is early in the morning before everyone wakes up. If mornings are tough, can you walk at lunchtime?

Recipes - I don't have it off the top of my head, but WW has a great chicken stir fry recipe that my husband, to this day, asks me to make.

GL to you!!

No--unfortunately because I had to really move my hours around to accommodate my oldest sons schedule, I don't get an actual lunch so can't leave. And that is my biggest problem--since starting this new schedule I don't have much time for breakfast or lunch but I AM hungry so I end up eating junk and snacking--I bring fruits and stuff like that, but I think from lack of sleep and stress I'm still wanting the bad with the good (even granola bars can be bad after a while). LOL Really struggling with this work schedule.

aeh72 · October 2013

smiling76 said:

No--unfortunately because I had to really move my hours around to accommodate my oldest sons schedule, I don't get an actual lunch so can't leave. And that is my biggest problem--since starting this new schedule I don't have much time for breakfast or lunch but I AM hungry so I end up eating junk and snacking--I bring fruits and stuff like that, but I think from lack of sleep and stress I'm still wanting the bad with the good (even granola bars can be bad after a while). LOL Really struggling with this work schedule.

No matter what program you end up following, really try to make the effort to eat breakfast and bring your lunch with you to work. You will eat junk if you're starving. The hardest part of WW to me at the beginning was the upfront effort I felt it took to get organized about what I'm eating. Eventually I got into the swing of things and pretty much everyday I ended up eating the same foods for breakfast and lunch. Once I stopped feeling like, each day, I had to think about what I was going to eat, it become so much easier. If excercising is tough, focus on the food right now, and work in little things where you can - park farther away from your building so you have a longer walk in, take the stairs, etc. I feel like success - even little successes (i.e., losing 1 pound or going a day without eating junk) - begets more success and eventually, you will probably find the energy to work some excercise in too.

jlaOK · October 2013

I don't do WW but I count calories. I don't change what I cook for dinner based on being on a diet, I just limit my portions and if we are eating something particularly high in calories I'll make myself a big spinach salad and then have a small taste of whatever I fix for everyone else. I also make sure to eat really well for breakfast and lunch that way I can splurge a little on dinner (usually it's a glass of wine after dinner).

newenglander71 · October 2013

I follow WW and love skinny taste also and have found so many good recipes on there. I think planning and prepping are the biggest keys to losing weight, whether it is on WW or just counting calories. Others have addressed most of your questions, but regarding working out - I commit to going to the gym 3x/week. We have a treadmill and elliptical at home that I can do whenever, but I found that committing to a trainer and going those 3x really forces me to work out. 2 of the nights I go after work, which means that DH had to also commit to not working late those nights. And then I go Saturday morning. Luckily for me, DH understands that I need to do this for myself.

PSU_Texan · October 2013

I have done WW with "old points" (pre-kids) and now with the 360 program after kids. I've had success both times. I like how fruit and veggies in the new system are 0 pts. I think tracking your food and weekly weigh-ins make the program work. I know a few people who have done it only online but I know I wouldn't be as successful if I didn't have to go weigh in.

As for meals, I eat almost the same thing on the way to work each day, 2 slices of low cal bread and either 1T margarine, laughing cow light cheese, or 1 T reduced fat PB. It takes 2 minutes to make. Lunch is either left-overs that I pack the night before while cleaning up or a grilled chicken wrap from the cafeteria at the office. Dinner is whatever I cook for the family, either in smaller portions or over salad. For example if we grill pork/chicken and the sides I"m making are not points friendly, I'll just put the grilled meat over a big salad. I like skinny taste as well.

The key for me has been packing good snacks to get me through the day for minimal points and to avoid the candy at work. I always bring a light cheese stick, apple, and maybe a small portion of pretzels if i need a salt fix. I also think it's important on WW to pay attention to the good health guidelines and make sure you are getting the right amount of dairy, veggies/fruits, etc. I notice that moves me off a plateau if I'm stuck.

Exercise is harder. I try to take a walk at work after lunch and then I usually head to the Y after 8:30 at night. I'm not a morning person

scrappingcat · October 2013

Mostly lurker here but I just restarted WW as well (lifetime member here too!). I have found several good meals in the recipe section of their website and we have been loving Skinny Taste as well. Most things I make for dinner are 10 points or less. If it's something with higher points (quick pizza night, ect) I have a smaller portion of the entree and add some extra veggies or a big salad for filler. It's been working really well and everyone seems happy!

There are lots of good crock pot recipes that can be prepped the night before. I usually do a big prep session on Sunday to get veggies cut and meat thawing as needed.

KKCARLS · October 2013

I've been doing the online WW and I I realize now why I was gaining weight when I thought I was eating relatively healthy before (i.e. granola bars for snacks and lean cuisine for lunch.) Although those weren't too high of points I've gotten into the routine where I don't really need to track the points daily anymore to know where I'm at. (Note to self - cancel WW and stop paying!) but I eat a 2pt Greek yogurt and a banana or apple for breakfast. I began buying lettuce and salad fixings on the weekend and leaving them in the fridge at work all week. I have lettuce and tomatoes which are 0 pts. Deli turkey or chicken that i cut up each day, and a little sprinkling of cheese. I found a 1pt lite Italian dressing. So the salad is 5 points. For snacks during the day I eat lots of fruit. If you drink water all day or diet pop by time you go home you only have used 7 or so points so supper is a little easier to accommodate because 19 points are still left.

bubble515 · October 2013

Ive been a lifetimer from the old WW. Since Ive been doing it for so long, it's ingrained. But here are what I still do:

-I still journal what I eat. (I think it's been 7 years lol)

-www.skinnytaste.com- GREAT recipes

-exercise.. lol I don't do this because I don't have time

rockychryslerb2010 · October 2013

I joined ww in May and am down about 40 pounds. I barely get time to exercise these days, so it is mostly just tracking points. Here is my typical day:
breakfast - usually greek yogurt smoothie w/ banana and spinach coffee with fat free half and half

lunch - egg whites, small chicken sausage and arnold sandwich thins or a salad with chicken

dinner - lean protein and veggies

snacks - usually a fruit or veggie, or the special k cracker chips

the biggest change for me was getting away from the idea that a complete meal was protein, veggie and a starch. I rarely eat potatoes, pasta, rice, etc. If I do eat it is sweet potato, brown rice or brown rice/whole wheat pasta.

I have a sweet tooth, so my keys are PB2 and this greek yogurt souffle recipe (i just added some pumpkin puree last weekend and it was AMAZING!!) https://julesfood.blogspot.com/2012/10/greek-yogurt-souffle.html

This menu allows me to have plenty of points to eat out on the weekends and enjoy wine/beer. My weight loss has slowed down, but I'm still losing about a pound a week, and I don't feel like I'm missing anything.

PunkyBooster · October 2013

I love sugar snap peas for a crunchy snack! Frozen grapes just slightly thawed rock my world too.

Milk said what I was going to- eat a much smaller portion then I added a salad to my plate too.

Exercise- I suuuuuuck at this so no help here. My cousin has FM and says walking first thing in the a.m can help her. Gets the blood flowing? I think she wakes up early to do it.

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