Weigh-in WTHs

So I went to weighh in/pay the piper on Saturday...and I was soooo confused. Ok, so I went to a meeting back on 2/11...it was a Friday at a different location. I remember the meeting. I don't remember weighing in, well ok, I do NOW. But for whatever reason, I never logged it in my blog, and I literally had forgotten all about it. What I remembered was wanting to skip the weigh in and just attend the meeting. And I also had forgotten that the previous weigh in was one at home. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why that 196 wasn't in the WW system. And how I had a loss instead of a gain. Well I had a loss only because I had a huge gain 2 weeks back. WTH? I'm wayyyy to busy if I can't remember stuff that happens 2 weeks ago. At first I thought it was just a mental thing--like, I blocked it out because I didn't want to remember. But I had a similar experience in paying for lunches at the girls' school. I thought I owed money, but I'd paid the Friday before. ?

Anyway...back to weigh-in. I've been playing around with the same 8-10 pounds since November. This is stupid. When the going gets tough, I seem to revert back to old habits. Time to knuckle down and get on with the next 25. There are no tricks. Eat the right amount of points. Write them down. (Or in my case, use my WW iPhone app EVERY DAY FOR EVERY MEAL.) Exercise. Lose. Seems so simple, but it's not.




Take # 4,389.

Reporting on Day 1

Ummmmm....that was EASY!!! It's weird, but even though some points went up. Like WAY up, I'm feeling full. How could this be? Gonna keep this short and sweet. Got my Old Navy fleece pajamas on, so sleep is calling. Looking forward to Day #2. (Ok, I guess technically I just completed Day #2, but it feels like #1, since it's the first day with e-tools up and running.) I have NO idea how some people can do this without e-tools or mobile apps. I just don't like writing this stuff out. Surely there are those who feel the exact opposite of me, and together we all make the WW-world go 'round!

G'nite, I hope you all fared well!

Introducing: Weight Watchers PointsPlus

So as mentioned in the post below, I ventured out early this morning into the cold, urban tundra that is Chicago to see about this rumored new and improved program. As I approached my WW center, I noticed quite a few more cars than yesterday morning. The place was packed. I "checked in," because all members coming this week have to check in, regardless of whether or not you're weighing in or not. I was handed a new PointsPlus Getting Started book, a pocket guide, weight record and weekly journal. (ACK! Gimme my new iPhone app NOW, please.) Even before the meeting, I decided to buy the points calculator (half off for now) because even though my iPhone app will have it, I just won't be able to easily eyeball things, etc...and this week could prove to be hell without it, should my app not be up and running right away. $5 for sanity, even if just a week, is fine with me. I'm rambling...

New Gear

So upon checking in, I got my new points target, which is 30. That number meant nothing to me. Could be a lot, could be nothing, could be about the same. The new points values consider fat, fiber, protein and carbohydrates. No calories. The Getting Started guide says that "PointsPlus values take into account the energy after you've processed a food." (page 38.) See below:



As such, some foods that you eat will go up tremendously, others will go down, and some will stay the same. The example here shows how much microwave popcorn is effected. I calculated by super-duper lean ground beef (96/4) and it actually went down. My cheese I use for tacos stayed the same. (which really means it went down, since my points went up, right?) My favorite protein drink went up by 1, but again, my daily points went up.



There's gonna be a whole lotta calculating going on in the next few weeks! I personally don't mind. It's good to re-tool, and I guess I sorta feel that after having reached a cool milestone yesterday (under 200 + 25 pounds gone), now's as good a time as any to change. Some people at the meeting were livid. "Does this mean the 1 point bars I bought on sale yesterday are now higher? That's false advertising!" "This is STUPID!" "Not counting calories? That's a mistake!" Now I'm not making any conclusions, but all of those mad seemed to be on the other side of 60. I'm just reporting observations, no conclusions. Make your own assumptions. (ahem.)

Like I mentioned above, I bought the new calculator if for nothing else, to save my sanity for this week. I mean, technically I should be doing the old program until next Saturday since, in theory, that's what the rest of them are doing. But I will tell you what, I want to be able to use my iPhone app the moment it updates. My iPhone notice said it'd be a couple of days. At the meeting they said all smart phones will be up to speed by next Monday. (side eye glance.) E-tools switch over tomorrow, which is supposed to include all of your recipes re-calculated. Guess we'll see about that. In the interim, I'm walking around with this little number that looks kinda like a birth control pill pack from the outside.



I calculated my breakfast and what I plan to eat for the remainder of the day, sans my chicken/cheese soup. I'm just gonna wing it and see how it re-calculates tomorrow via e-tools.



What is super cool is that most fruits and veggies are now 0 points. We were told by WW leader Jennifer (she seemed cool!!) that the stipulation is that we eat to be satisfied, not stuffed. (errr, ok. I could eat my weight in black grapes.) Note that this is SOME fruits and veggies, and sadly, not avocados. WAHHHH! But I didn't for one second think that those would be one of those freebies. A girl can dream though, can't she? Anyway, on the way home I picked up some bananas. To add to my beloved Clementine cuties already on my kitchen counter. ;)

Other important notes about the new program:
*We still earn activity points
*I think we all re-set to a new 5% and 10% goal.
*Those 35 flex points are increased to 49 points
*Every meeting this week will be an introductory meeting
*E-tools up and running Monday 11/29
*All smartphone apps completed by next Monday 12/6

So, that's pretty much what I found out this morning. My WW leader yesterday said that the reason they started this now during the holiday season is because WW members who come during this time of the year are generally more dedicated to the program. They will try it out, and then by the time the new year rolls around and you have to arrive 20 minutes early just to get a seat in your meeting (due to all the New Years' resolutions,) you'll be able to say how great the program works. And you won't be bombarding WW staff with 1,001 questions at the same time a bunch of newbies are. (I added that one, they didn't say that.) I mean, really though...imagine if they did this in January and a bunch of new members see established members looking worried and in disarray.

Let me know how the new program works for you, I will do the same!

Unveiling the New Weight Watchers Plan: POINTS PLUS

So I went to my usual WW meeting today, which is T minus 1 day until the new WW program is officially unveiled. I CAN tell you that it is called Points Plus, which is what our leader told us. (I'd heard already that it would either be that or something similar. There's all sorts of information if you google it, but still not 100% details.) What seems pretty clear to me is that the new points equation involves fat, fiber, protein and carbs. Anyway, at my center, the first meeting is at 7:30am, likely before the girls wake up (especially since I'm going to keep them up late tonight ON PURPOSE FOR THIS REASON), so I'm gonna go find out the deal. I'll post here back here as an update tomorrow morning. :) I'm not too worried, as I'm a huge fan of protein and have inserted many different options into my artillery of filling foods: turkey, chicken, 96/4 lean ground beef, and EAS myoplex protein shakes (check the awesome stats). The only thing I'm worried about is supposedly my iPhone app will go down at some point, and may not come back online for a few days. wha-wha-wha WHAAAAAAAAAT? Say it ain't so! See ya tomorrow, to whomever may be reading.

UPDATE: Going to do a new post instead of an update. (I mean, if you're looking. You probably should have already seen that.)

Sticker Shock

Once featured as one of Oprah's favorite things, yes, Garrett popcorn really IS that good. I've been digging in (on occasion) for many years. The only flavor that's worth it is the "Chicago Mix," which is a caramel/cheese mix. Just when you can't take the savory "gooey" cheese, a sweet crunchy taste of sugary goodness flips the script on your tastebuds. It's incredible. It's best when served warm, right after it's made. It turns your fingertips orange. It's not cheap. It's well worth the wait--(lines have been known to wrap around the corner and cost you 30 to 45 minutes of your life.) But it's a 45 minutes and $6 to $20 well spent.



So while out doing what one does on Black Friday (read: spend too much money) the girls and I were at Navy Pier, which is pretty much a tourist trap I never set foot in, except we met friends for a trip to Build-A-Bear Workshop and the Chicago Children's Museum, so it was ok. My friend decided to pick some Garrett's up as we left, and the girls claimed they wanted some too. Got a large bag. They didn't eat it, they were too preoccupied with their "bears" (which weren't even bears.) So now I have this LARGE bag sitting on the table downstairs. Maybe I'll have some tomorrow....flex points, ya know?

So I went to their website and HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They have the "nutrion"al info all there. 3/4 of a cup is 170 calories, TWELVE grams of fat, and 2 grams of fiber. 4 points. Who eats 3/4 cup of popcorn? The small bag is probably at least 6 cups. I have no idea what that large bag is sitting downstairs. At 6 cups (essentially 8 servings), my trusty iPhone WW app tells me it's 34.5 points. wha-wha-wha WHAT?! That's one week's flex points that I could devour in a very short time, I'm sure.

That-there bag will be eaten by others. Not even sure if I wanna waste my flex points on that. I mean, it's good, but I also kinda like spreading my extra flex points out over Saturday and Sunday. It "feels" like cheating when it's not.

Wow. Special occasion flex point kinda thing, I guess. Yeesh!

Nerves of a Wet Noodle: Part II

Ok...so it's been a weird week. Have barely made time to work out (just Sunday) though I plan to this evening, tomorrow and Friday. These fall-colored M&Ms and Brach's Autumn Mix candies have been calling my name from the kitchen. Solution! I packed them all up today. Some went to the first grade Thanksgiving hullabaloo, the others in the kitchen at work, in a bowl, with spoon next to it and paper cups. They're gone and I can't hear them anymore. YAY!

"Just one of me won't hurt!"

"Just a few, just eat 1 point worth! C'mon, you can stop when you want!"

Since we last spoke, i've still been obsessing. You haven't missed a beat. Here's what I have already journaled* in my food diary for the big day tomorrow:

MORNING:
2 pieces of Healthy Life white bread (1 point)
2 egg whites, seasoned with salt and pepper (1/2 point)
1 american cheese slice, 2% (1 point)
Total Points: 2.5 points (but that protein will keep me satisfied for a bit.)

MIDDAY (also known as "gametime")
1.5 cups cooked collard greens (1 point)
4 ounces turkey breast, roasted, no skin (3 points; turkey you ROCK)
4.5 ounces Honey Baked Ham brand (8 points and worth EVERY BIT OF IT, mmmm)
2 servings (1 cup) Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, a WW recipe (1 point)
1/2 cup Stove Top Stuffing (pretty sure we're getting box version) (4 points)
Total Points: 17 deeeeeeeelicious points.

EVENING
3 ounces Honey Baked Ham (brand) (5 points)
2 servings (1 cup) Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, a WW recipe (1 point)
1 cup fresh spinach (0 points)
1 small tomato, cut (0 points)
1 T FF balsamic vinaigrette dressing (0 points)
Total Points: 6 points

That's a 1/2 point over. I guess I won't quibble about a half a point on Thanksgiving. I feel good about this now. I will report back to you on how I do! Wish me well!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

*Is it really journaling if you're doing it via the WW app on your iPhone? Hmmm

UPDATE: I did great! While I didn't stick 100% to my already journaled plan above, I improvised. Here's how it went down. The dressing (stuffing) was not Stove Top--not that that's my preference anyway--but it looked like a lot of calories. I decided since it may/may not be great, why waste the points on it? There were also deviled eggs. Which. I. Love. So I had that instead, and dropped my soup as well. Then instead of leftovers for dinner, I just really didn't feel like it. I had a bag of 94% FF microwave popcorn instead. And that was it! Hooray. Tomorrow is weigh-in, let's see what happens.

UPDATE #2: I lost 2.0 pounds this week, but better than that, I hit the 25 pound mark AND went below 200. Yay!