Weightwatchers ProPoints Plan

[squashedfrogs]

I've been following WW online for a few years on and off and today my account has changed to the new ProPoints plan. I haven't yet looked into this properly but was wondering if anyone else knew much about it?

I know there is another thread where someone (sorry can't remember who) was testing the new plan, has it been easy to follow & does it work?

Morning everyone (well, just about morning anyway!)

Well done on another loss Lucky you're doing really well! Hope your office weight loss challenge goes well too I so know what you mean about eating out too, when you actually enjoy the food and feel satisfies you don't mind using you extra points but when it's crappy you feel cheated don't you?

hmc well done on the treadmill, good on you for not letting the weather beat you! How was your dinner last night?

What an excellent weight loss littlefish that's absolutely brilliant well done! I think aiming to stay the same over Christmas is a really good way of thinking, it's what I'm hoping for too. It can be done, just stay focused and try and opt for leaner foods.

So pleased you still lost muffin that's fab, see as long as you point it and stay on track the rest of the time you can still lose even after schoofing an entire chocolate orange (Which you are not alone in doing by the way as I love the bloody things!)

Good to idea to track over Christmas vnmum it certainly makes you more aware of what you're consuming doesn't it? I think aiming to stay the same really is the most sensible option as I think it can be near impossible to lose weight over Christmas, not saying it can't be done but I do think it's harder.

I've had a small binge this morning resulting in using 12 points already - erm, ooppss Dinner is in the slow cooker and will be 10 PPs so that leaves me 8 so soup for lunch it is

How are you all feeling about Christmas, are you in charge of the cooking or are others doing it?

Norma could you post some of your favourite WW friendly slow cooker recipes please?

I am using a schwartz slow cooker packet mix today (smells lush) but have shied away from using the slow cooker since starting WW as i don't know what will be WW friendly

Littlefish well done on such fantastic weight loss both this week but also overall, that's very impressive. A really good friend of mine lost 10 stone (yes, 10 stone!!) on WW a few years ago. It took her 3 years, she had a baby in the meantime, she went from a size 20 to a size 12. She has kept it off for 5 years now, she looks amazing, totally unrecognisable from her larger self. She is the best inspiration story I can give you!!

Muffinchops I only joined WW 5 weeks ago when they changed it to propoints. I have lost 9.5lbs in 5 weeks, however, I was doing the 'old' WW myself with the books and weighing myself at home, so my start weight was 11st 7lbs. So if I get to 10 stone, I will have lost 1.5 stones, which I will be chuffed to bits with!! I'm just gutted now when I think of the clothes I got rid of cos I never thought I would fit back in them!!

vnmum I know a few people who do Zumba...sounds like good fun if nothing else!!

Norma Hello special leader-lady . I wouldn't worry about your binge, you're still on track. I had half a can of beans for lunch....5pps!!!!!!! I'm OK cos I can do it in my daily allowance, but with 1 slice of toast (would normally have 2) and a scrape of marg that's an 8pp lunch!

I also work in a pool doing hydrotherapy which I did this am, my last patient cancelled so I had a free 30 mins before I had to pick DD2 up from playgroup, so I swam 40 lengths. First bit of exercise since being unwell last week but feel fine now.

vnmum oooo gosh I could be here all day listing them

The one I have in today is garlic pork which is basically just pork chops with peppers, onions and a jar of garlic pasta sauce. Just chuck it all in and cook on low for 6-8 hours then serve with boiled pots and baby spinich.

I'll type a few out tonight once DH is at work

Norma, you are so right about pointing and just aiming to stay the same over Christmas. Dunno if I've got the will-power to do that though! And looking forward to your slow cooker recipes!

Go Lucky

WeWishYou - thank you for telling me about your friend. I don't know anyone with as much to lose as me, and I;m worried I won't be able to do it. I'm very good at losing the first 2 stone, but then my willpower starts to slip. I am determined to do it this time. I'm 42 years old, I have a six year old dd and I want to be around to be a granny!

I saw my GP this morning and she was surprisingly supportive and was very pleased with my weight loss so far. She can be a bit frosty at times but she was lovely today (thank goodness, or I might have cried!).

She has prescribed me Orlistat to try for a month and see how I get on (it's the one that blocks the absorbtion of some fat by the body). The side effects sound pretty minging, but I suppose it will encourage me to keep eating a low fat diet!

I'll try not to bore you too much, these are some of my favourites

Mustard and Bacon Chicken ( Serves 4, 7 PPs minus the mash)

Brown 4 chicken drumsticks (you can use thighs if you prefer, just adjust the points value) in a frying pan then put in the slow cooker. Cook 4 diced rashers of bacon (fat trimmed off) in the frying pan then add 2 tablespoons of plain flour, 600ml of vegetable stock & 3 teaspoons of wholegrain mustard. Bring to the boil then pour in the slow cooker covering the chicken. Cook on slow for 8-10 hours then serve with mash.

Sausages and onion gravy (Serves 4, 8 PPs minus yorkshires)

Brown 8 beef sausages (butchers one are best) then pop in the slow cooker. Slice 2 red onions and brown in the frying pan, add 2 teaspoons of muscovado sugar and cook until caramelised. Then add 2 tablespoons of plain flour, 450ml of beef stock and 1 tablespoon of tomato puree and bring to the boil. Pour into the slow cooker then cook on low for 6-8 hours. I usually serve this inside a giant yorkshire pudding with carrots and broccoli which does push the points up but you could serve with mash or just normal yorkies

Curry Pork (Serves 4, 8 PPs minus mash)

Pop 4 pork steaks, 1 diced onion, 1 tin of chopped tomatos, 1 tin of baked beans and 2 tablespoons of mild curry powder mixed with water into the slow cooker. Give it all a mix to combine and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Lovely with mash but is actually quite filling without any mash at all!

Tomato Chicken Pilaf* (Serves 4, 9 PPs)

Fry 4 skinless chicken breasts 'til browned on one side only then set aside. Fry 1 large chopped onion and 2 chopped garlic gloves, add a tin of tomatoes, 50g of sun-dried tomatoes, bring to the boil, add 600ml of chicken stock then pour into the slow cooker. Rinse 150g of brown easy cook rice in cold water then stir into the slow cooker. Put the chicken breasts on the top browned side up making sure they're at least half covered with the liquid then cook on high for 3-4 hours.

I also do things like spag bol, sausage casserole with dumplings, meatballs and chicken chasseaur in the slow cooker as well as others

Norma they all sound yum, many thanks for that.

My schwartz packet sauce chicken curry did not turn out too well. It said med for spiciness on the paket but even DH said it was too hot and couldn't finish it. He said "a curry that mes you sweat and your nose run while you eat it is not medium!"
the kids wouldn't eat it so ended up having scrambled egg. i guess it's not too bad for WW as i didn't eat alot of it but does mean i'll be hungry later.

can i just ask, for the spag bol, do you just put mince, tomatoes veg etc in and just cook the sauce or do you put the pasta in too?

littlefish Of course you can do it! You just have to keep up your motivation. Is your DH/DP supportive? and RL friends? How about doing it as a sponsored slim for charity and getting friends and family to sponsor you then pick names out of a hat of all the sponsors for where the money goes. I have found that something very public like my competition at work has really helped. It's more embarrassing if you don't lose if everyone knows you are dieting. It might seem harsh, but it might be what you need to get you past that initial 2 stone weight loss, which is still fabulous, but you have to keep going. If you email me at luckymummy74 at yahoo dot co dot uk I will email you a before and after pic of my friend to help motivate you. You won't believe the difference.

bigtillymint thanks for your support . 5 days and counting.

I haven't told anyone in RL yet (apart from Dh). He is incredibly supportive (apart from eating chocolate in front of me ).

I just wanted to wait and see if anyone noticed before saying anything. I have a fab good friend who lives locally who will be very supportive when she finds out.

I don't think I could face the idea of a public thing like your suggest, but I would really love to see a picture of your friend (I'll email you). I think part of the problem is that in my head, I'm still thin. It's only when I see my reflection in shop windows that I realise I'm really fat.

Thanks Norma - will give them a try asap!

WeWishYou - your friend's experience is amazing - all the more admirable that she has kept the weight off! Is she a very determined woman?

Thanks for sharing the fab recipes Norma

Am feeling happy today because I had lost 3.5 lbs at my weigh in last night, and this morning I got my exam result for my 'Total War' Module (ou History degree) - distinction!

well done hmc on both the weight loss and the degree work

Morning everyone,

Are you all managing to keep warm in this horrid weather? It's weather like this that usually causes me to reach for the hot buttered toast or the biscuit tin to accompany my tea so I took DS out in the pushchair for a long, brisk, hour long walk to avoid the munchies!

How are you feeling about your work weigh in Lucky do you think you'll thrash him again? That would be fab to see him lose again and what a brilliant incentive for you

littlefish I'm so pleased you have a supportive GP, makes all the difference when they listen doesn't it? You can do it, I promise you can. Just short of two years ago I was a size 22, I'd piled on a lot of weight during my first pregnancy, a bit more after and I didn't have the will power to lose it as I knew we were going to have another baby. Now I am 46lbs lighter and a size 14. I have another 23.5lbs to go to reach goal, by the time I reach goal I will have shed 5 stone, it's not been easy, it's not been quick but it is possible. I am walking proof of that as are several other ladies. I am going to mortify myself now and show you photos, this was me in Feb 2009 I'd already lost some weight and was down to a size 20 from a 22. This was me in May this year down to a 16, this is me in August and me now in a size 14, not the best photo as I have my coat on but you get an idea. If I can do it so can you We're all here to cheer you on!

hmc what a fantastic weight loss and well done on your exam too, way to go you

Norma - whilst you were overweight in the first pic, you still looked pretty great (radiant smile and projecting confidence). As size 18/20 if caught in a photo, I mostly looked apologetic and embarrassed....

What a transformation to your 'now' photo where you are looking tiny wee!

In fairness hmc I was p*ssed as a fart in that photo Aside from one other photo I can find, which I'm too ashamed to post, it's the only photo I have of me as I refused point blank to have my photo taken. My MIL has some I'm certain but I cannot bring myself to look at them, I was so desperately unhappy with myself. Now, even though I am still overweight, I feel so much more confident in myself and even bought a pair of skinny trousers today - that is a huge deal for me as I have never worn a skinny anything

You shouldn't look apologetic, though I understand what you mean, just because you're a bigger size does not mean that you should feel that way. You are a lovely person, you're taking control and doing something about your weight so feel proud of you what you're trying to achieve!

Littlefish Well done on your weightloss so far. About 15 months ago I had 7 1/2 stones to lose. I would lose a stone or so put it back on for about a year. I knew I needed to get my butt in gear and lost two stone. I could feel I was losing motivation and knew the weight would pile back on so I asked my GP for help. 12 weeks ago I was prescribed Orilstat and it has really helped me stay on track, I have lost 24 lbs in that time (I didn't take it for two weeks in the middle as I went on holiday and gained 6lbs!). WIth orlistat stick to meals that are below 5% in fat and less than 15 grams of fat per meal and you shouldn't have any of the nasty effects. If you have any other questions about it feel free to ask. I still have 3 stone 11 lbs to go but really do feel like I am going to get there this time!

HMC WEll done on your distinction!

Norma Your photos are a real inspiration!

Norma those photos are a great inspiration. you look alot happier and confident in the slimmer photos. I also have hardly any photos of me when i was at my heaviest (denying i was a size 18) and i used to avoid the camera at all costs. now I am coming down to a 12 i am more confident and not quite so camera shy.

I watched a programme last night, it was 10 years younger, and was about a lady who had lost 9stone in a year by having drastic stomach surgery. she had been left with lots of sagging skin and had to take something like 12 vitamin tabs a day for the rest of her life because her body doesn't absorb stuff from her food. DH actually said that after seeing that he is glad i took the slow and steady approach rather than doing something so drastic and frankly unhealthy

Norma Thank you so, so, so much for posting your photos. It's fantastic to see a "real life" change.

Going thank you for your message. I didn't know bout the 5% in fat and less than 15 grams of fat per meal. I don't eat that much fat any more, now that I've given up butter and cheese, but I should still take a closer look at what the fat content is though.

vnmum - I worry about the saggy skin thing. It's such a balancing act isn't it - wanting to lose weight quickly so that you stay motivated, and wanting to lose it slowly enough to avoid saggy skin!

HMC - great weightloss and fantastic new about your distinction. Well done.

news not new

I believe...I may be wrong here.....but I think that if you lose a considerable amount of weight (5 stone plus?) and keep it off and have saggy skin, if you keep the weight off for 2 years, you can have a tummy tuck on the NHS??? It may be an urban myth, but it would make sense as you are saving the NHS money in the long-run.

Great pics Norma, I wish I could post these 2 of my friend but I'm not sure how to. I've got snapfish but I think you have to be a member and I have to invite people to share them for them to come up as you did it. I'll try and see what happens.

More stick from my nemesis today....stupid tosser still telling me he's won...blah blah blah!! Can't wait to get on those scales Tuesday morning!!

Did a hard 45 min spin after work. Felt bit dizzy and sick when I got off the bike....Ooops!!

Norma - LOVE the pics. What brilliant inspiration for us and what a great photographic record of how much you have achieved. Much respect to you and what a lovely lovely smile! You had better make sure you get a pic of yourself in those skinny trousers to add to your visual record of success. Great to have a face to put to all that sage advice too!

Lucky - gunning for you for Tues and soooo hoping you knock your cocky colleague of his perch and wipe the floor with him in the weight loss stakes!

hmc - congrats on the fab loss AND the distinction. Distinction across the board for you.

littlefish - you can do it and everyone here will support you through it too.

There is sooooo much chocolate in our cupboard thanks to my well meaning mum who has contributed chocs for christmas but to the extent that I fear for the cocoa plantations! This is the first time in years though that said chocolate has remained untouched (with the exception of the choc orange incident). In previous years I would just dive in and sneakily replace what I had eaten. Something must have finally switched in my head.

By the way, do you all still have a pint of milk a day as they used to push under the old plan? It doesn't seem to be flagged up under ProPoints (unless I've missed it) and even skimmed milk is more now.

Hello - been a bit busy this week with school events so not able to get on pc - boo! But I am back! Didnt even manage to get to my weigh in this week as had a lunchtime meeting but my scales show no loss. That is ok to me as I lost my way a little last week. Back on track now and got my works do tomorrow afternoon! That wil be all 49 points gone then

well done to all the weight losses this week - just updated by spreadsheet and our losses for last week were 20lbs - averages at just under 2lbs each! In total we have lost 114 lbs, which is 8 stone 2 lbs That is a whole (small) person!! Wow that is fab! It looks like this week will be a bumper week this week as well!

I am also going for the staying the same over Christmas - it is only one day of eating in this family!! I have ordered some shopping to come this weekend and got loads of stir fry veg - so will be super healthy this side of christmas. Will also be aiming to go some long walks between christmas and new year as well!

norma those photos are great - you should be so proud of yourself! Cant wait to see the at goal one!! Is anyone brave enough to post any photos?

Have a good weekend all!

Thank you for all the congrats on the exam result - you're all lovely

Going - i recognise that pattern you have described of losing a stone and regaining it. I have been trying to lose weight for 6 years on and off (post ds) and start well but peter out. I reckon there is something qualitatively different this time - I am completely in 'the zone' and 100% committed. Sounds like you are too! I am just frustrated that I couldn't have found that steely resolve a little quicker than 6 years down track!! I have promised myself that when I shift all of the weight it is never ever going back on.

So know what you mean vnmum and littlefish about that background fear of saggy skin post weight loss. Am hopeful that none of us will be affected since WW is a healthy steady diet rather than a quick fix programme...

Well done muffinchops on resisting all the Christmas chocolate in the cupboard. I am with you on that 'switch' in the head - I am able to resist the children's chocolate and cake stash now and was never capable of doing that previously

On tenterhooks WeWishYou for your Tuesday morning face off with the bloke you work with. Looking forward to hearing that you have completely trounced him.

Second day of a mild cold and sore throat today - normally do daily exercise but wondering whether or not to have a 'rest day' today as I am worried about the virus getting a hold of me if I push myself physically?

Hope you don't mind me sticking my head in again. Sounds like you are all doing really well. I hope those who are ill feel better very soon.

Fab photos Norma, very very inspiring.

I am delighted as went to my WI yesterday and I have lost half a pound. Which doesn't sound like much but when I have been doing SW, this is the week of my cycle that I gain or stay the same. And I so don't feel like I am on a diet. The phone app is great. I just bash in what I'm eating when I get up then change it as I go along if I want something different. I can't say how I'll feel 3 months down the line I guess but would be very surprised if I ended up eating the SW way again, this feels so very liveable.