Weightwatchers. #2
My first few days with Weight Watchers are over, my first week nearly done, and so far, things have been great. I've been losing weight and never once have I been hungry (well, I have but than I was able to EAT!) My first impression of the program is really positive and it doesn't feel like dieting at all.
When I was at the meeting last Tuesday, I signed up for a Month Pass that also allows me to use the online tool, called @ssitant. It's incredibly helpful! Basically, @ssistant is like an online diary where you can enter your meals and it'll do the points math for you. You can enter your weight and it gives you a chart on how you're doing and it also helps you keep track of your exercise. It has also a databases for recipes (with their points value) and food and beverages (again with their point value). You can create your own recipes or use the database. And there's a points calculator in the tool where you enter the nutrition values and then it gives you the points value. And then with one easy click, you add it to your diary. It's really handy for lazy people like me. *g*
The Weight Watchers program seems pretty doable so far. I know there will come periods when this initial excitement and fun-feeling will go away, maybe my weight will be stuck where it is and then I'll get frustrated and annoyed with having to count and measure and calculate and plan. Hopefully I won't be there for a while. Right now, it's still fun.
I found out that nothing really is taboo if you plan your day smartly and eat some things in moderation. For those not familiar: based on your body weight, gender, age and goals, you are given a certain amount of points you can (and should!) eat each day. On top of that, you're given a weekly amount of points that you can eat on top of your daily points if you want to. F. ex. when you're invited to a party, you want to treat yourself to something nice or you're simply more hungry one day. You don't have to eat the weekly points. On top of those, you can earn activity points by working out.
Once you have your points, it's mostly about planning what you eat, making substitutions and combining things smartly. On Friday, f. ex. I ate Cesar salad for lunch and then spaghetti alla carbonara for dinner and I had a glass of wine. Things like candy, chocolate and alcohol obviously have lots of points, but if you make some other decisions (like a salad for lunch), you still can enjoy them without a bad conscience.
Right now, I'm still a little overwhelmed when it comes to what's good for me and what's not. Things like fruit and vegetables, you can eat as much of as you want, but other things are harder to figure out. Why does this kind of flour have more points than that kind, etc. etc.? That'll take a while, I suppose.
But overall, the program is fun, even though planning your meals ahead of time is unusual for me. Also is measuring the food and portions. (One of my problems before was always that I ate too big portions because sometimes, I barely at all day and then when I did, I was starving.) I've realized though that I'm perfectly happy with eating smaller portions. What I like is that I can adapt the program easily to my lifestyle. It's not like a diet where you eat steak/soup/pasta/no carb/whatever for a week and then you're 5 kilos lighter. I eat mostly organic food, especially when it comes to diary products. Most cheese doesn't even exist in light versions (light products usually have lower points because they have less fat). Yet, I can still eat them. I just need to save the points by leaving out something else. With a bit of thinking, it seems perfectly doable.
I've also had my first moment of success. I bought a vest the other day and it was pretty snug. I wore it yesterday as I went to the farmer's market to buy fresh veggies and it was definitely less tight. :) (I also tried to buy a measuring tape but couldn't find one in the stores I went to. Must get one tomorrow after work.)
My overall weight loss goal will be 65 pounds. Maybe even 70, if that's doable. I know it'll be a long way till there, so I'll be setting myself milestones and treats for myself once I reach the milestone. One of those milestones will be this dress once I've lost 30 pounds. YAY!
When I was at the meeting last Tuesday, I signed up for a Month Pass that also allows me to use the online tool, called @ssitant. It's incredibly helpful! Basically, @ssistant is like an online diary where you can enter your meals and it'll do the points math for you. You can enter your weight and it gives you a chart on how you're doing and it also helps you keep track of your exercise. It has also a databases for recipes (with their points value) and food and beverages (again with their point value). You can create your own recipes or use the database. And there's a points calculator in the tool where you enter the nutrition values and then it gives you the points value. And then with one easy click, you add it to your diary. It's really handy for lazy people like me. *g*
The Weight Watchers program seems pretty doable so far. I know there will come periods when this initial excitement and fun-feeling will go away, maybe my weight will be stuck where it is and then I'll get frustrated and annoyed with having to count and measure and calculate and plan. Hopefully I won't be there for a while. Right now, it's still fun.
I found out that nothing really is taboo if you plan your day smartly and eat some things in moderation. For those not familiar: based on your body weight, gender, age and goals, you are given a certain amount of points you can (and should!) eat each day. On top of that, you're given a weekly amount of points that you can eat on top of your daily points if you want to. F. ex. when you're invited to a party, you want to treat yourself to something nice or you're simply more hungry one day. You don't have to eat the weekly points. On top of those, you can earn activity points by working out.
Once you have your points, it's mostly about planning what you eat, making substitutions and combining things smartly. On Friday, f. ex. I ate Cesar salad for lunch and then spaghetti alla carbonara for dinner and I had a glass of wine. Things like candy, chocolate and alcohol obviously have lots of points, but if you make some other decisions (like a salad for lunch), you still can enjoy them without a bad conscience.
Right now, I'm still a little overwhelmed when it comes to what's good for me and what's not. Things like fruit and vegetables, you can eat as much of as you want, but other things are harder to figure out. Why does this kind of flour have more points than that kind, etc. etc.? That'll take a while, I suppose.
But overall, the program is fun, even though planning your meals ahead of time is unusual for me. Also is measuring the food and portions. (One of my problems before was always that I ate too big portions because sometimes, I barely at all day and then when I did, I was starving.) I've realized though that I'm perfectly happy with eating smaller portions. What I like is that I can adapt the program easily to my lifestyle. It's not like a diet where you eat steak/soup/pasta/no carb/whatever for a week and then you're 5 kilos lighter. I eat mostly organic food, especially when it comes to diary products. Most cheese doesn't even exist in light versions (light products usually have lower points because they have less fat). Yet, I can still eat them. I just need to save the points by leaving out something else. With a bit of thinking, it seems perfectly doable.
I've also had my first moment of success. I bought a vest the other day and it was pretty snug. I wore it yesterday as I went to the farmer's market to buy fresh veggies and it was definitely less tight. :) (I also tried to buy a measuring tape but couldn't find one in the stores I went to. Must get one tomorrow after work.)
My overall weight loss goal will be 65 pounds. Maybe even 70, if that's doable. I know it'll be a long way till there, so I'll be setting myself milestones and treats for myself once I reach the milestone. One of those milestones will be this dress once I've lost 30 pounds. YAY!