Anyone on the new WW plan?

[FatChance14]

WW is the only programme I've followed that actually works for me – I lost two stone postpartum on it a few years ago. Since those pesky lockdowns have put some heft back on my hips, I've started again. I've seen on FB a lot of people aren't happy with it, but I'm loving the new version! It's far easier to follow because there are loads more zero point foods I can fill up on that don't need logging religiously, so I'm not obsessing over points. I've lost 4lbs in a week! Is anyone else is on it?

(I know there's a WW sub-category but it's as lively as a graveyard, so I thought I'd start a thread on here.)

Yes I am on it but alongside eating mostly whole foods/cook from scratch and avoiding most UPF. I really like it and have lost 4 and a half stone so far.

@FatChance14 can you tell us roughly speaking how it works?

Congrats on that amazing loss! I did a lot of cooking from scratch a lot already - my problem has always been snacking between meals. There isn't a packet of crisps in the world I won't make friends with! But by ramping up my meals with loads more veg and whole foods, I find I'm naturally snacking less, or I'll make zero point ones like roasted spiced chickpeas. Plus, after years of avoiding fruit because of the sugar, I'm now eating bananas and berries again, and they're curing my sweet tooth!

I just hope they don't change the plan again before I reach my goal weight.

You get assigned a daily amount of points, plus a lump sum of weekly points – weeklies – that you can add to with exercise. Every day you 'spend' your points on what you want to eat and obviously the more unhealthy the food is, the higher the points. For example, you get on average 23 points a day – a pizza can be up to 28. But the genius of this new version is that 200 foods have been assigned zero points. That includes fruit, non-starchy veg, legumes, turkey and chicken breast, all manner of fish, eggs and no-fat yoghurt. Previously when I did the plan a lot of these had to be pointed too and it was a slog. So now you can bulk out your meals on zero foods (but obviously not go mad – 20 eggs a day are not going to help you lose weight!) and save your actual points for the foods you like. They also say it's okay not to log the zero point foods on the app, so it definitely feels less obsessive, which I love. I can snack on a banana and not give it a second thought!

I was doing it. I need to get back in the zone. Thanks for this.

You're welcome! As I said, I lost weight on it years ago and it's the only programme that's worked for me. It gets a really bad rap though, because if you do go back to eating pizza every day afterwards you're of course going to pile on the weight. But this new version does feel more geared towards promoting a healthy eating mindset change.

Hmmm this version isnt that new? It's been going for at least a year or two if not more.

To be honest I didn't find it helpful. I do a lot of exercise, and basically found that the WW model just isn't good at understanding / calculating that. So basically I was at a point where according to WW I could continue to eat however I liked because I was earning so many points through exercise. Needless to say the diet didn't work! (Now doing intermittent fasting and gentle calorie counting - that has been effective).

Also the zero points thing ... yes it encourages healthy eating to a point but it puts no limits on them which is problematic in my view. Eg a punnet of grapes is really quite high in natural sugars and calories but would 'cost' nothing on WW.

But, it's whatever works for an individual and feels comfortable. I did WW for ages and lost weight but this was before the zero point shift.

seasaltwater I thought it was only launched in December? I swear I read that on the app! But it's definitely new to the version I did before where you had to count EVERYTHING and it was so tedious and obsessive that I hated it, even though I did lose the weight.

I do get what you say about fruit and zero point foods in general. The plan encourages you to be mindful, but I guess that could be problematic for some people. I'm finding the stuff about portion control really helpful though.

Re: exercise, I've been able to link my Fitbit to the app so it's recording my exercise through that. That's also a bit of a gamechanger from last time. I'm also being careful not to go mad and eat all my exercise points, because I can see that's a double-edged sword. But I like that I'm not giving as much headspace to counting in general now.

Years ago lost 10 stone. Have put 5 back on. Bereavement. Thinkin of going back. Debating whether to do online as still try to keep distance from people due to Covid.

I'm doing it online because the nearest meeting is when I'm at work. There are a few FB groups you can join for support.

@BCBird I always did WW online as I'm not a fan of group stuff like this. (That's not as anti social as it sounds!!)

I think what WW does well is give you a really clear framework. And the zer points is good for making it feel less restrictive.

I'm sorry for your loss and good luck with what you decide going ahead. Xx