[PolkaDot]

I would like to start posting here again. It is the only place, other than to myself, where I am accountable- LOL.

So, I joined WW Online this week. I had procrastinated since we were heading to Hawaii in late April. My goal for HI was to not gain, and thanks to a wicked case of food poisoning + lots of walking, I didn't. I don't overeat on vacation, but choices are not good. I did as well as I could and really controlled portions. We walked a lot! I returned home the same weight as when we left, so that was good.

Since returning I've lost 6 lbs, but then stopped losing, so now I am using the online program to at least be able to figure daily points. Holey moley, I reach my points limit easily. Hmmmm, that tells me that portion sizes might be an issue for me?

How is everyone else doing? I know that Joyce is doing very well! WTG, Joyce!

[Sara Arell]

I'm not doing WW, Dot, but I am doing portion control myself and we are eating alot of veggies, salads, special soups and only healthy meals - we do cheat occasionally, but I've lost 4 lbs by changing our diet.........I've been doing sit-ups and riding my exercise bike while watching tv news early in the morning and it's made quite a difference. I don't have alot to lose, but what I do have, I got from sitting too much while my ribs were healing - and eating all of those high-calorie meals that were just easy to fix.

I'm here with you, my friend!

[princessrunningfingers]

Go Dot and Sara. I have three more pounds to reach my goal. Then it's maintenance, where I have met my downfall in the past. This time I am staying with the online program during maintenance. I keep reminding myself how much better I feel and how nice it is to be able to wear those clothes I couldn't wear last year.

[BarbaraC1977]

Go Dot, Sara & Joyce. I'm doing WW online, also, and will be at nine weeks this Friday. I'm 8 lbs down, which already feels SO much better. I have a long way to go, but am encouraged. The points add up fast, and I'm having to watch portion size, but not finding it hard to stay in the confines most days. I Love being able to have some blueberries or strawberries or an orange whenever I want.

[Sara Arell]

Isn't it just amazing how just 4, 6, or 8 pounds lost can make such a huge difference? I first noticed how much better I felt......

Go ladies! If we do it together, it's almost fun!

Thanks, Dot, for starting this thread.

[princessrunningfingers]

Good for you Barbara. I just finished my 13th week, and have lost 13 pounds, which is probably a good rate to lose. Keep up the good work.

[Sara Arell]

princessrunningfingers, on 08 June 2011 - 06:02 PM, said:

Good for you Barbara. I just finished my 13th week, and have lost 13 pounds, which is probably a good rate to lose. Keep up the good work.

Wow, Joyce! Thirteen pounds is great! I think that's a good rate too ......WTG!

[Rose Ann]

I have been on a WW vacation, but I have maintained my loss. It's been really hard to lose while celebrating the end of the school year, so I am glad to have maintained.

I am so happy to hear about your removals, ladies!! Keep up the good work!

[ArizonaAngel]

I am still weight watching. I'm down 10.5 lbs since I started. My DH & I do WW online and we do our best to keep each other in check. So kudos to all of you who are losing with WW (or whatever method works for you!) I'm glad to see this post again. It helps me too so thanks Dot for starting us back up!

[PolkaDot]

WOW! This is very encouraging to me! I am really happy for all of your weight removals (not losses, because we don't want to find it later- LOL!) Joyce, Sara, Barbara, Rose Ann and Brenda, congratulations! I am really happy to read of the rate of loss, which sounds very reasonable and healthy and steady. I was surprised at my Dr. visit last week when he suggested a protein/shake (substitute for food) program. I am quite sure that it would work, but does not sound like something I could do long term. (Also, when I checked into it online I found the price was over $400/month!) WW Online has been fun so far, don't you think? I can already see what some of my problems are....portion sizes, for starters. It's a good reminder for me to get the water in and to start moving on a regular basis. I do enjoy it more than the local meeting, but know that meetings are important for a lot of people. I am thinking that I can be honest with myself. It won't hurt to be a little accountable here as well.

Are you all weighing in on a weekly basis, or do you jump on the scale daily? I confess.... I am a daily. I am going to make my weigh in day Monday. That should help me be even more conscious on the weekend.

Again, that you for sharing your successes! WTG, Scrap Girls!

[BarbaraC1977]

Dot, I check my weight more often (even though WW recommends against it) but only record it once a week. So it's the only one that counts. :-)

I joined on a Monday, but WW online forced my weigh-in day to Friday. Not sure why, but it was ok, since it's before the weekend, or I get a chance to recover after a weekend.

[ArizonaAngel]

I weigh in on Mondays (for the record) but I admit that I sneak a look more often. I used to check every day but I'm trying to break myself of that habit. And Dot, I have a soy protein shake every morning and have been doing that for almost 20 years. If I miss a day I notice that I'm hungrier and tend to eat more throughout the day.

[PolkaDot]

Thanks, Barbara and Brenda. I am also trying to not weigh myself everyday. It's a hard habit to break, though, isn't it?

Shakes...I have been drinking a daily Slim Fast Milk Chocolate made with 1% milk and a large banana, whipped in a Vita Mix. I add six ice cubes and whip again until the volume makes two large glasses. It's almost like a milkshake. I agree....it keeps hunger at bay for a long time. 6 points and worth every one. I can't start a day with carbs or I have the hungry growls all day long, no matter if I add protein later or not. But if I start off with protein or a shake, I am fine. I also like yogurt shakes with added milk and fruit, whatever strikes my mood.

[princessrunningfingers]

I have to confess that I weigh every morning. I have tried to break myself of it, but can't seem to do it. I love WW online, and one of the things I enjoy is the recipes. I also love that so many restaurants have their choices listed. I went to Olive Garden today with my friends, and I decided what I was going to eat before I left home. And didn't change anything once I got there. When it comes to breakfast, we eat cereal most mornings, with english muffins and low fat pancakes thrown in here and there, and an occasional omlette. Dot, I am glad you re-started this thread. It really helps to have feedback from others.

[April Showers]

Really, there isn't anything wrong with weighing every day- as long as you don't let it derail you if you are up a bit. A lot of people way every day and it can be a good way to keep in check for some people. You just need to know yourself. I don't weigh everyday, but I do weigh several times a week. It helps me to know that I can go up and down 2-3 pounds during a week. Sometimes the scale on my weigh in day may say that I am down .6 or up a bit, but it can help me to know that two days before I was down a few pounds. Really, it is all about what works best for you.

[PolkaDot]

April Showers, on 10 June 2011 - 01:10 AM, said:

Really, there isn't anything wrong with weighing every day- as long as you don't let it derail you if you are up a bit. A lot of people way every day and it can be a good way to keep in check for some people. You just need to know yourself. I don't weigh everyday, but I do weigh several times a week. It helps me to know that I can go up and down 2-3 pounds during a week. Sometimes the scale on my weigh in day may say that I am down .6 or up a bit, but it can help me to know that two days before I was down a few pounds. Really, it is all about what works best for you.

That's a good "weigh" to look at it, April. I am trying to learn moderation in all things (except Scrap Girls.) It did help me to get on the scale tonight, and I rarely weigh in at night, and find that I am down a pound. Now I'll wait until... oh, Saturday sounds reasonable :-)

[PolkaDot]

princessrunningfingers, on 09 June 2011 - 09:46 PM, said:

I have to confess that I weigh every morning. I have tried to break myself of it, but can't seem to do it. I love WW online, and one of the things I enjoy is the recipes. I also love that so many restaurants have their choices listed. I went to Olive Garden today with my friends, and I decided what I was going to eat before I left home. And didn't change anything once I got there. When it comes to breakfast, we eat cereal most mornings, with english muffins and low fat pancakes thrown in here and there, and an occasional omlette. Dot, I am glad you re-started this thread. It really helps to have feedback from others.

Joyce, it really helps me to hear from you! You are a real inspiration. I think you are a good example, along with Barb, Brenda, Sara, Rose Ann, of slow and steady wins the race. WTG on your Olive Garden success! That could not have been easy! Pre-planning is really the way to go. Good for you!!

I have to say that I haven't tried recipes on the site. That's a good idea. I do like the success stories, especially that you can find similar situations. I can't use my age as an excuse when I read some of those.

Right now I am fighting to lose the 20 lbs I have gained over the past year and a half with BP medication changes. When we switched to try to find a med which wouldn't cause gain, the substitues did not control my BP. So, that's out, but this WW plan seems to be going well and I am finally inching my way down.

One time a heavy instructor who had a size 2 daughter told the class that her DD always tasted everything, but stopped after two bites. She said that after the first two bites every bite tasted the same. FOOD for thought- LOL.

Thanks to everyone for adding to the thread!

[PolkaDot]

Just got an e-mail from Hungry Girl with a great sounding recipe for Crispy White Pizza. If you are interested and look on the Hungry Girl website, it's under the TV shows section/You Want A Pizza Me?, along with several other great sounding recipes. She includes WW points values.

Joyce, thanks for the inspiration to try some new recipes. Next week DH is away and that's a good time for me to experiment.

[Sara Arell]

Oh, gosh, if I weighed every day, I would be in a home for sure, Dot! I determine what I need to lose (and where I need to lose it) by the way my clothes fit! LOL If I put on my favorite jeans and they're too tight, I go into orbit! Since I normally waver between two sizes, I get really angry with myself if the smaller of the two sizes is too tight and I have to drag the others out of the closet. Isn't that silly? But, I love it when I put on the bigger size and they are a little loose! LOL And it varies from day to day so I know that if I stepped on the scales that I'd see numbers I don't like very much.

If I am loyal every day and do my exercises and stay active then I generally feel pretty good about myself and I do drink the Slim-Fast shakes that you are drinking too. I rely on those to fill me up.

Rich and I both have a terrible habit of not eating anything in the morning and sometimes even skip lunch which only makes us starving by mid-afternoon and then we eat something that is terrible for us. Cause he's a guy, grrrrr-rrr, the weight seems to just drop off of him and I often wonder if I don't get what he loses! It's not fair that men lose quicker than women!

The older I get the more the inches like to accumulate and the harder it is to take them off. But I'm working on it and you are all such an inspiration and this thread is such a big help. I'm so glad you started it back up, Dot!

[Rose Ann]

To me it's so much easier to eat healthy in the summer when it's so hot I don't feel like eating anyway. LOL.
We have a berry farm across the river in S.Carolina and I have been eating fresh strawberries and blackberries so much I think I might turn into one.

I haven't tried protein shakes yet, but have heard good things about whey protein.

I try WW online recipes all the time. My mom and I really enjoy trying new things because we never know when we'll find the next wonderful thing. She loves the 0 point soup and we found a page that had 3 or 4 variations on it so she wouldn't get tired of eating it. My favorite find is 0 and 1 point sauces to put on your main protein. I am totally a griller and dipper. It's so easy to grill fish or chicken or shrimp and then just dip it in the sauce for a change up between Monday's chicken and Tuesday's chicken.

[BarbaraC1977]

Cute new siggie, Rose Ann!

Sara, you have a great strategy to check the fit on your favorite jeans. One of my resolutions is that once I get down to goal, or near goal, to buy only pants WITHOUT elastic waists. They are just too forgiving for me, even though they feel good! We'll see if I can live with that.

[princessrunningfingers]

BarbaraC1977, on 10 June 2011 - 08:31 AM, said:

Cute new siggie, Rose Ann!

Sara, you have a great strategy to check the fit on your favorite jeans. One of my resolutions is that once I get down to goal, or near goal, to buy only pants WITHOUT elastic waists. They are just too forgiving for me, even though they feel good! We'll see if I can live with that.

But you do know that saying, "elastic is your friend".

[PolkaDot]

princessrunningfingers, on 10 June 2011 - 10:37 AM, said:

BarbaraC1977, on 10 June 2011 - 08:31 AM, said:

Cute new siggie, Rose Ann!

Sara, you have a great strategy to check the fit on your favorite jeans. One of my resolutions is that once I get down to goal, or near goal, to buy only pants WITHOUT elastic waists. They are just too forgiving for me, even though they feel good! We'll see if I can live with that.

But you do know that saying, "elastic is your friend".

Don't get me started on elastic. It's a sad day when I contemplate the elastic which has buttons to move if necessary. I was looking at those in a sewing ad the other day. NOT gonna go there!

Did anyone have a light bulb moment that it was time to start again? My shameful moment was when I broke my DD's toilet seat. Granted, I had to reach at a weird angle for tissue, but still..... mortifying!

One thing which really keeps me going is the memory of a substiture leader at a WW Meeting. This man had reached and maintained goal for 10 years. He started the meeting by saying, ""183." That was all, just the number. He got everyone's attention and it was quiet. He asked us to guess what 183 meant. Lots of incorrect guesses....goal weight, starting weight, etc. Finally he said, "No. 183 is the number at which my knees finally stopped hurting. I got out of bed one morning and had no knee pain for the first time in years, and when I got on the scale I was 183." For some reason that story really stuck. My knees are b.a.d.

[PolkaDot]

Rose Ann, on 10 June 2011 - 06:50 AM, said:

To me it's so much easier to eat healthy in the summer when it's so hot I don't feel like eating anyway. LOL.
We have a berry farm across the river in S.Carolina and I have been eating fresh strawberries and blackberries so much I think I might turn into one.

I haven't tried protein shakes yet, but have heard good things about whey protein.

I try WW online recipes all the time. My mom and I really enjoy trying new things because we never know when we'll find the next wonderful thing. She loves the 0 point soup and we found a page that had 3 or 4 variations on it so she wouldn't get tired of eating it. My favorite find is 0 and 1 point sauces to put on your main protein. I am totally a griller and dipper. It's so easy to grill fish or chicken or shrimp and then just dip it in the sauce for a change up between Monday's chicken and Tuesday's chicken.

Oh, that IS a cute siggie!

Good thought about low point sauces. If you happened to catch Dr. Oz yesterday, he showed 64 sugar cubes as the equivalent of the amount of sugar in bottled sauce!

I used to enjoy a WW "5 can" soup. It was really spicy and probably a bit high on sodium since it was all canned, but it was yummy. I'll try to find it, but I think I threw away all my old material. From memory, I think it used one can Progresso Minestrone, one can black beans (I used spicy, and it really flavored the soup well,) one can corn, one can mixed vegetables and one can diced tomatoes. I think.

[anemone1983]

I'm glad I found this forum again. I'm off the wagon of my previous diet plan. I was down 15 and gained 5 back already, then lost 2... so still down, but out of control...again. I'm contemplating rejoining WW online or doing Dr. Ian Smith's 30-day plan. Much more restrictive. If I can get my mind around it, I'm starting next week. Thanks for the inspiration, gals!

[Sara Arell]

Going out to eat is really tough, isn't it?

We went out to lunch today and I knew I wanted a salad until Rich said he was ordering sweet potato fries! Now, he has it in his head that because they are sweet potato fries that they are a healthy thing to eat (he has no weight whatsoever to lose, but does have to watch cardiac)!

So, our little server grinned at me, and I blurted out quickly that I wanted the "wee dinner salad" before I could change my mind and I always have a little thing of blue cheese dressing on the side so I can just dip my fork into it and not smother my salad with dressing.

Yay, me! I was good!

[princessrunningfingers]

Sara, you mentioned how going out to eat is hard. I found a website that lists a lot of restaurants that aren't listed on the WW site. You will find a listing on the left side of the home page that will take you to the WW guide. I found Olive Garden on there, and a few others, that have helped me.


WW Restaurant Guide

[anemone1983]

I re-opened my WW online account. Now I have to figure out these new point values! I hope they have an Android app too...

Thank you all for the inspiration!

[Sara Arell]

princessrunningfingers, on 11 June 2011 - 06:26 AM, said:

Sara, you mentioned how going out to eat is hard. I found a website that lists a lot of restaurants that aren't listed on the WW site. You will find a listing on the left side of the home page that will take you to the WW guide. I found Olive Garden on there, and a few others, that have helped me.


WW Restaurant Guide

Thanks, Joyce! That's great to know! I did find several restaurants there that I like! Last night we went to Applebee's - mainly so we could visit with our son, Brian, who's a bartender there part time, and I do like their 550 calorie menu - I don't like the whole wheat pasta dish they offer but they have several other dishes that I do like. Applebee's has actual WW dishes and I can almost always find something there that I want. And the big plus is that I get to sit at the bar and chat with my DS! My downfall is that I'm a huge diet soda drinker and I know that they aren't really good for me, but I drink them anyway! LOL

[anemone1983]

FYI...I searched the Android Market for Weight Watchers and WW, Int'l has a free app - but you must log in with your WW online credentials, so if you're "unofficial" it won't work. There are other paid apps out there. The WW app only allows you to calculate points for foods and activities, like the mini calculator - but that's one less gadget in my purse. I'd have liked to have the full Plan Manager on my phone so I could record on the go! Oh well, I do have a small notebook I carry for notes, so it can do double-duty while I'm out-and-about.

Also, I saw some posts about weigh-in days. You can change your weigh-in day in the Settings area - it's a button on the top right of the Plan Manager window - I'm currently on Wednesday.

I'm "living it up" this weekend - visiting relatives 1.5 hours north of here and our favorite Chinese food buffet. Grocery shopping tomorrow for good stuff...and ready to go Monday!