My latest weightloss thread

[DucksLikeRain]

I am looking at signing up with WW-I have never done a formal diet before, just "watched what I'm eating" sort of thing. I get a 20% discount through my insurance I guess, which is sort of motivating. I have a history of not losing weight very easily regardless of the changes in my exercise and I think the diet is going to be a real key component for me...and "watching" what I'm eating just isn't gong to cut it

So, my big question-is there a WW tool where I can put in my recipe and have it calculate out the points on it's own? Like put the whole recipe and the serving size and it'll just figure all the ingredients together and spit out a number? Or will I have to go to great lengths to be using some of my own recipes?

I guess I'm just trying to get a good idea of what kinds of tools are included in the "online tools" and also how easy it's going to be making family-size meals and not just individual meals. I want to only be making one dinner at a time which to me means being able to use/adapt recipes and easily/quickly. Does that make sense?

[MrsMan]

Yes. When you sign up you have the option to use eTools. It has a recipe builder that will calculate the pointsplus value based on the number of servings you suggest.

[DucksLikeRain]

Thanks, Cindy. I think I'm going to only do the online WW. I know there is no way I'm going to make it to a meeting once a week with mine and John's schedules so I guess I'll start online and see how it goes from there.

[Flynn08]

I just entered a recipe for the 1st time a couple days ago & it did not take long which is my biggest requirement. I've only counted calories in the past and I've been happy with WW so far- good luck!

[swannie]

Hey! Yay for WW Online! That's the route I'm going now too. Make sure you sign up for the email newsletter, too, btw. It's really, really well-written and the recipe picks are always outstanding too.

[DucksLikeRain]

Ha! Well, of course! That's the reason I'm going with it. Who wouldn't want to read writings of such a witty woman each week???

[sourlemon]

I don't do it online. I only use my books and calculator. I LOVE IT! When The hubby get's a raise this month I am going to ask him about e-tools!

[Flynn08]

Hey! Yay for WW Online! That's the route I'm going now too. Make sure you sign up for the email newsletter, too, btw. It's really, really well-written and the recipe picks are always outstanding too.

Not to get off topic- but I'm making the cauliflower poppers today!

[DucksLikeRain]

Is it not pathetic that this is like my third or fourth (or more?) thread in here?

I'm not quite ready to jump in full-force. But I'm really super close. I just had surgery yesterday and it will be a few days before even walking is going to agree with me-but the goodnews on that is that even walking to the kitchen is painful so I'm not snacking on food I shouldn't be

I just took the plunge and signed up for WW online...so here we go.

Starting weight 195. 5% goal is 185.2

[sourlemon]

Girl you can do this. Can't wait to her about your first loss.

[swannie]

I've been following it again in earnest as well. I am down a few pounds already, to 205. Totally looking forward to getting to 199 again. Let's do this, lady!!

[DucksLikeRain]

I am sort of lost on here.

I can basically eat all the fruits and veggies I want? What ones are not free points? I love fruit and veggies and want to stock up on the easy free ones for snacking since I kind of am emotionally eating right now...

And where is the recipe thing-like where I can put in what my recipe is and how many servings and have it spit out my points?

I'm excited about doing this...I just am nervous about actually dieting since I've never done it before! But I figure NOW is the time to get the diet down while I'm still a bit laid up and not exercising much.

[swannie]

Did you take the "how to use the site" tour yet? If not, start there. Understanding how the Plan Manager works is crucial (second tab at the top there).

[DucksLikeRain]

I did, and I know how to search for foods, I think it was just a lot of info thrown at me. I'll have to go through it slower a couple more times I think.

[swannie]

The Recipe Builder is integrated in the Plan Manager, btw. And yes, there are a few fruit/veggie exceptions, but other than that—eat as much as you need to feel satisfied.

[sourlemon]

Within 5 servings a day. Right Swannie?

[DucksLikeRain]

Oh...they limit you to just five servings? Darn!

[swannie]

There's no limit (unless, as my WW expert says, "You're having a banana-eating contest every day.").

[Mrs. C]

Girl you can do this. Can't wait to her about your first loss.

ITA!!! You can do it!

[DucksLikeRain]

There's no limit (unless, as my WW expert says, "You're having a banana-eating contest every day.").

Darn. I'll have to withdraw from that one, huh?

so glad to hear there's no limit! I had a wonderful spinach/strawberry/blueberry salad with a sprinkle of feta and a drizzle of FF raspberry vinegarette for lunch.

I can actually see how it might be hard to hit all my points every day when eating at home and not getting any take out. I have 20 points left for dinner/snacks and, well, dinner was going to be another salad (7 points) maybe over brown rice this time. Guess I'll have replan that!

I am retaining water so badly from my surgery yesterday. My sandals hurt to put on. So I'm working on really downing the water and have eaten two whole cucumbers today hoping to get myself to start letting go of it!

[Flynn08]

I hope you have a speedy recovery- I think watermelon is a good diuretic, too. I never have trouble getting in all my points! I love veggies & fruits but I seem to get hungry not long after eating them.

[DucksLikeRain]

Good idea-we finally have local watermelon on here so I might have to have DH pick some up. I did end up eating all my points last night, but only because I had a hershey chocolate bar and a can of creme soda to use them up. Otherwise I would have been left over with 8 points. I think it might take me a bit to get the hang of this. I'm not real good with planning out my meals the whole day in advance so that will be a big change for me!

I seriously am feeling like I did after my c-section. I am sure it won't last as long as that did, but right now, just getting out of bed is a process let alone walking around

[sourlemon]

Man I hope you feel better soon. Make sure you add some meat / protein to your diet also. It will eat up some points too! Even a tbsp of peanut butter. I was told limit your servings of fruit and veggies to 5 servings unless your over 350 pounds then it's 9 servings I think. Anyway it don't matter as long as your eating right! WAY TO GO!

[swannie]

Man I hope you feel better soon. Make sure you add some meat / protein to your diet also. It will eat up some points too! Even a tbsp of peanut butter. I was told limit your servings of fruit and veggies to 5 servings unless your over 350 pounds then it's 9 servings I think. Anyway it don't matter as long as your eating right! WAY TO GO!

Just curious told you this and when? It's definitely not a part of the plan now (and hasn't been for a while, as far as I can recall).

Also think out of the box for snacks. Or even think up little mini meals too. There are some good, better, best snack articles on the site. I'll have to find them.

[DucksLikeRain]

today for snacks I've done some beef jerkey for 5 points and some peanut butter and carrots for another snack. I think I'll have no problem hitting points today. I think yesterday I just wasn't feeling hungry still because of not moving around much after the surgery and whatnot. Oh, TMI, but I also finally started pooping again today which probably has helped me feel like eating more

I got on the scale yesterday in the middle of all my bloat from IV fluids and I was up from the 195 that I know I was on Wednesday morning before surgery. So that's depressing, but I'm just still going to count 195 as my starting weight since I know the couple extra are just fluids waiting to slew off.

[gimmemama]

Remember, it's just a number! It doesn't define you.

Glad you're feeling better.

[Flynn08]

Surgery really screws up your body. I got so many fluids when I delivered my boys that my maternity clothes were more tight when I left the hospital than when I went in. For me, it took about 2 weeks and then suddenly I was much smaller (albeit still very big).

Do you snack when you give your girls snacks? That's a trouble spot for me but I'm doing better about planning to only snack when they do.

[DucksLikeRain]

I don't usually snack when they do. They are old enough and enjoy being independent enough that I usually tell them "it's snack time" and two or three options for snack and let them get it themselves-apple, banana, cheese sticks, bag of pretzels, etc. My big snacking time is from like 8-10 after they're in bed and I'm lazing around either watching tv with DH or crocheting, sewing. But for the last two nights I haven't done any snacking and have gone and cut up an apple or cucumber every time I feel the urge. When I snack it's on crunchy salty things so while I'm not replacing the salt I am at least giving myself the crunch with those.

[DucksLikeRain]

I had an amazing chicken salad at Baja fresh today that was 15 points (I know I could have cut out the rice and saved points...but it was SO GOOD) piled high with fresh yummy pico. We went and spent over an hour walking around downtown Portland, another hour at the art museum and another hour walking the dog at the park. I am really hurting right now at my incision sites, but other than it all went well, I stayed on plan, I'm not getting hungry and am sort of feeling like I'm "conquering" myself. I EVEN chose coke zero over Mr Pibb. Which is huge. Like crazy huge for me. I drink my calories so easily when it comes to soda and I have very rarely been able to have the self-restraint to choose diet over regular soda

[DucksLikeRain]

Ok, so I am using the recipe builder and for a smoothie that should be 3 points it is saying it is 10 points!?

1c ice
1c skim milk
1T flax seed
1 banana
1 apple
1/2c blackberries

The fruits are all fresh, the milk should be 2 point and the flax seed 1 point...why is it coming up with 10 points?

When I click on the "why are the points higher" link thing it still doesn't make sense-something about calculating them before the serving size is applied or something like that. But I still don't get how all that can add up to 10 points? Am I doing something wrong with the recipe builder?