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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not understand the workings of Weight Watchers and the Pro Points and whatever else they do?

26 replies

MoaningLisa · 26/05/2011 16:56

I have read and read and read about WW and SW. But i still do not understand it.

I need to loose weight, i have bought some WW meals for the next week and eating healthily in between my main meal which will be my WW meal on an evening. Each meal is 6 pro points Confused

Dont understand it, i cant afford the weekly meetings.
So can someone please tell me in simple form about WW and how to work it so that i do loose weight? Please please pretty please?!

OP posts:
FabbyChic · 26/05/2011 16:58

The only way to loose weight is to reduce your calorie intake, you have to take in less than you lose so that you burn the fat.

I calorie count and have lost 2 stone, just trying to lose the last stone.

I'd certainly not pay to lose weight when it is so easy.

Original poster
MoaningLisa · 26/05/2011 17:00

i hardly eat as it is. i can go a week with just having an evening meal each day, no brekkie, no dinner, but coffee and a fag through the day.

OP posts:
Original poster
MoaningLisa · 26/05/2011 17:01

and yet im putting weight on! :(

OP posts:
JaneFonda · 26/05/2011 17:06

You need to eat little and often, or else you're bound to put on weight because your metabolism is so slowed down.

Eat healthy snacks throughout the day - fruit, veg, and other nutritious things.

A coffee, fag and one meal is not giving you the nutrients you need.

Dozer · 26/05/2011 17:09

Go to one meeting (there're often vouchers online so can not pay the joining fee), get a pack, buy the shopping guide (this has points values of most things), get told how many points you get etc, then just do at home! Think there is a thread in the weight loss bit of MN.

tallulahxhunny · 26/05/2011 17:10

have you looked on ebay for the program books? you can buy those and do it from home so you dont have to pay weekly

Original poster
MoaningLisa · 26/05/2011 17:13

i just dont understand the concept of it. How many points are you allowed a day, whats the pro points - whats the point if you can still eat your normal WW meal etc adn then eat a choc bar! i dont get it.

OP posts:
Original poster
MoaningLisa · 26/05/2011 17:16

ta il have a look. cant afford it today - will do tuesday - payday lol

OP posts:
JustcallmeMummyPig · 26/05/2011 17:19

the sun has been doing join weightwatchers for free and an online 3month subscription for £30ish have a look on their site.

I hae been doing ww for 4 weeks and have lost 10lb so far but i have a long way to go hopefully 2.5 stone in total.

I think you will find it very hard to do without joining. The classes are expensive but doing it online isn't so bad about half the price... you can track everything you eat on there which works out your daily points etc for you. Without it, unless you only eat ww(or morrisons eat smart which has points on too) yu won't know how many points things are.

The ready meals aren't that big, i have been having one a week if the kids are eating earlier and i domyself a microwave bag of veg to go withit. The rest of the time i just cook healthily... for me it has been more about portion control.

be careful buying books online as ww now has a new pro points system(not sure what it was before tho)

if you do decide to do it, i'd love a buddy as haven't told anyone in RL what i'm doing.... dh hasn't noticed yet :(

mycatoscar · 26/05/2011 17:19

most people have an allowance of 29 propoints a day plus 49 optional points a week

all foods have a points value (although some foods have a zero value so dont need to be counted as such)

if you eat only up to your personal points allowance then you will lose wieght

it's no different to calorie counting, both as just a system of counting up what food you eat and having a limit. It's really not that compliocated but if you want to do ww it would be advisable to go to one meeting or buy the starter books off ebay.

i dont do ww or sw anymore, i just use the paul mckenna method and have lost nearly a stone (albeit it slowly)

tiddlerslate · 26/05/2011 17:29

mummypig - that's fantastic. I need to start off soon as got a college reunion coming up and one of my mates has just done the London Marathon and the other is doing the New York marathon next year. I cannot even run the length of myself!

FabbyChic · 26/05/2011 17:33

If you dont eat enough you wont lose weight, you have to eat X amount of calories a day to lose weight, otherwise your metablism slows down and doesnt burn fat.

pasqueflower · 26/05/2011 17:45

If you can't afford WeightWatchers, try www.myfitnesspal.com. There's a support thread for it on MN under the "weight loss club"

fedupofnamechanging · 26/05/2011 17:45

Firstly, I think you should get your thyroid checked by your doctor. If it isn't working properly, you will put on weight very easily.

I find the weight watchers food to be very bland. You would be better off eating fresh vegetables, salads, lean meat and fish and eggs. These foods are healthy and filling. I am slowly but steadily losing weight by counting calories and by giving up alcohol, reducing sugar and eating lower fat, healthier meals. It's much cheaper and nicer than WW.(And you can have a chocolate bar, so long as you account for it in your daily calories)

HonestyBox · 26/05/2011 17:52

I joined the myfitnesspal site and have lost 5 pounds in two weeks. It is really an eye opener to realise the calorific value of a 'normal' plate of pasta. Best of all - it is free. WW only worth it if you really need the public humiliation weigh-in and group support.

RogerMelly · 26/05/2011 17:55

can you not cut a WW voucher out of the weekend papers? I know in the daily and sunday mirror they do free registartion, free meeting vouchers and you get the whole pack given to you and the leader will talk you through it. The first month you can pay 12.99 through the monthly pass scheme aswell, is that too much? I just think if you are lacking motivation it might help to you to go to meetings first off to get into the swing of it. It really is dead easy. I have lost over 30lbs since mid january but I need to go to meetings to stay on track as I need the humiliation of someone else weighing me Blush

MrsTerryPratchett · 26/05/2011 18:03

Every person has a different allowance so difficult to tell what you would be allowed. I get more for BFing and people get more for exercising. They also encourage you to eat fruit and veg, drink enough water and take vitamins if you need to. Sounds like you need encouraged to eat a bit more healthily. I've lost 18 lbs in about as many weeks. I have to go slow because they don't like you to lose to much when your BFing. The point of the meetings with me is to keep me honest. I won't cheat if I know I have to face Kim (my leader).

On the chocolate bar issue. Yes, you could have the chocolate but only if you have enough points left. Just like calories, if you use 2000 in a day and eat 3000, you will gain weight. Points is just a fancier way of doing that, taking into account fibre and so on.

I don't eat the meals, just count the points of food I do like.

MerryBlessings · 26/05/2011 18:14

Depending on your weight/circumstances (i.e. if you are breastfeeding) you are given a daily allowance of propoints (for most people it is 29). All food has a propoints value which is based upon the nutritional values of the particular food. Foods that are heavy in calories, fat and sugar (carbs) are scored highly whilst foods such as eggs, lean meat are low pointed. Most fruit and vegetables are free (but not dried or juice because of the sugar concentration). You can eat whatever you want but need to stay within your daily allowance. On top of your daily allowance you can earn additional points for exercise and you are also given 49 'weekly points' which you can use however you like. For example you may decide to divide them across the week and up your daily allowance or to keep them for a treat/event you might have.

I can't recommend WW enough. Since the end of March I have lost 2st with another 0.5 - 1 stone to go, having lost consistently each week (slowing down from an initial big loss of 7 and then 5 pounds). I don't go to meetings, just do it online and really love it. The new system gives you loads of flexibility if you have to eat out without you feeling like you've ruined the diet and might as well pig out. It is also a system that I feel is sustainable in the long run and already I feel I have adjusted my attitude to food in the long term. I feel so much better about myself and don't feel that my weight is holding me back.

I agree that you either need to go to the meetings or do it online. That way it will be easier to track and you'll find it easier to track what you've eaten.

Hope this helps,

MB

BTW I agree that you need to see the GP if you are really only eating one (normally sized), reasonable meal a day. Make sure you're not drinking loads of cals tho!

harrygraciepie · 26/05/2011 18:27

I been doing ww about five weeks and lost over a stone its really easy but I find it much easier if I attend the meetings, from what I gather most of my group are on 29 points a day but to know the point values of things you would need the books, I have porrige oatso simple with skim milk (3 points) jacket with tuna (5 pnts jacket) tuna (4 pts) tinned fruit drained with a low fat yoghurt ontop is 2 pnts

LindyHemming · 26/05/2011 18:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

harrygraciepie · 26/05/2011 18:50

I agree Euphemia im defo never hungry on it and the fruit thing is great just not to many narnas! It really does work I was ver good last week and lost 4.5 lbs at weigh in! Dont know if ill do quite as good this week as am off camping tomoz so beans and barms anyone?

pranma · 26/05/2011 20:10

29 a day and 49 extra a week-I lost 3 stones in 10 months

GoingLoopyLou · 26/05/2011 20:13

My husband has lost 3 stone in 4 months on pro points and I am AMAZED at what he is able to eat!

Keep meaning to have a look at it myself and see if I can do it but I love my bread.

squeakytoy · 26/05/2011 20:22

I am a fan of My Fitness Pal too. Its free, its easy and it works. Plan your meals for the following day, enter it in, look at the calories, juggle it around so that is is within the limit, add your exercise too, and stick to it.

I have lost 20lb so far in 8 weeks.