Starting WW tomorrow! Does it actually work?

[takeawayandwine]

So I've been trying (and failing) to stick to 1200 calories a day so I've signed up for WW and start tomorrow.

I've planned out my food for tomorrow and have used 19 points so far but it still seems like a lot of food if you factor in zero foods like fruit/veg/protein etc.

Has anyone had good losses with WW? Does it actually work? 😬

I'd love to hear your stories!

Thanks for the pizza tip. Has anyone got any breakfast on the go tips? I commute and so eat when I arrive, tends to be fruit and yoghurt but it gets a bit boring.

Warburton’s bagel thins and then top with peanut butter ( weighed out) or something like the lightest Philadelphia ( weighed out)

I was told off for using peanut butter (too much fat!) by other WW people in my group. It’s my treat breakfast at weekend.

Not sure if any of these would pass the WW recipe test but you could adjust them and cut down on things if doing low carb:-

https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/16-easy-healthy-grab-and-go-breakfast-ideas/

I tend to find if I have a more filling breakfast I can get away with a much lighter lunch eg salad too.

@GonnaGetGoingReturns I used to have a Warburton’s bagel thin and peanut butter ( measured and spread very thin) and still lost weight. It’s up to you how you spend your points and if that means having peanut butter every day then that’s up to you so long as you stick to your points I don’t see the problem.

Peanut butter bagel is a good idea thank you. I’ve also just made a fritter with 1 egg, cinnamon and a grated apple for tomorrow, I used a spray of olive oil and I will eat it with some berries.

Joining for some company! Two and half weeks in and I've lost 2.5 kg. I'm pleased with that as I'm perimenopausal and thought the weight would be hard to shift.

I'm not exactly enjoying it but it's easy enough and it's fairly flexible. I'm lucky that I enjoy all the zero point foods but they aren't things I want to over eat so portion control is ok. I'm getting a fair few points from exercise but am trying to not eat all of them, and using my weeklies for those times when I want to be a bit more flexible.

Im also impressed with the recipes. I looked at Second Nature but the recipes were uninspiring and not things I could have fed the family whereas the WW recipes are mostly very good. Plus I can cook for four, eat 25% and the ravenous teens share the rest between them.

Breakfast- I'm having zero fat yoghurt or cottage cheese with berries and peanut butter powder (a revelation!) or eggs in some form. Today I'm going to workout then will have poached eggs and mushrooms.

When I am out and looking for lunch or brunch I look for ones that offer poached eggs and toast. If it comes with a side salad I try and remember to ask for no dressing. I find this fairly filling and low in points ( without butter).

Just woken up at 1am and joined before I had time to properly think about it! I’ve been pretending to myself that I’m capable of losing weight without a programme but I’ve gained so much weight trying to do it on my own, it’s ridiculous. Hoping this gives me some control back.

It's basically calorie counting, low anything if you follow it, yes it works.

Hi, starting WW on Sunday, (I like a Sunday diet start 😀) so am not joining till then.

It's a good few years since I did it so would really appreciate answers to a couple of questions so I can plan my meals for next week. I've got some of the publically available recipes from the site but still need a bit of help please?

I've been reading old posts on here and I know it changed last year so...

Are avocados free?
About how many points a day will I get?

Thanks

Avocados are not free. Half an avocado is four points. Almost all other veg and fruit is. It's one aspect of WW I think could be improved - it's a healthy fat after all. I appreciate that if you eat lots the calories add up but still...

Your points depend on your start weight. The minimum daily point allowance is I think 23, and i also get 28 weekly points to use when you want. I am trying not to use the extra points I get for exercise and to scatter my weekly points around so I can have a bit more slack on days I need it.

I am so far enjoying it and don't feel deprived. If I want something I have it and adjust accordingly elsewhere which is something I've never been good at. I've just had an egg and pepper tortilla with asparagus for lunch and will have leek risotto this evening. That plus some fruit will be all I have and will be less than 23 points but I won't feel deprived. I'm meeting a friend for lunch tomorrow so the 3 or so points I don't use today will mean I can order with fewer restrictions.

In just over three weeks I seem to have lost around 3.5kg which I'm pleased with.

Hi all, do you mind if I join.

I've been doing WW since 1sr week of Feb, I have lost a total of 24lb. Which I'm so happy with as you can imagine.

For those just starting, all I will say is yes it works, but also be kind to yourself, and really embrace it as a life style change rather than a diet, that's what has worked for me.

I don't have a lot of experience with diets, but this time does feel less like a diet than the ones I have tried. I just don't feel particularly hungry or much desire to eat things I would have over-eaten in the past. I am sure there will be ups and downs ahead, but (for example) I've happily reduced my bread intake by around 75% since starting, as well as other starchy carbs. Not cut them out completely, but way fewer than I used to. I also am eating a lot less processed food.

Just to reiterate and I think a lot are the same it’s a lifestyle choice but it is a diet too, if you eat bad stuff you’ll gain just like any other diet.

It can get relentless tracking and I actually found a combo of tracking and not tracking helped with my biggest weight-loss.

I’m not going to lie, it is boring, the food whilst tasty isn’t the same as your full calorie meals and following low calorie options for weeks on end even with chest days gets very boring. I think long term that’s why when you lose a lot of weight you leave WW or SW and when you put the weight back on you return.

I like the recipes for veggie lasagne, a potato gnocchi one with tender stem broccoli and spinach and can’t think of the other… their ready meals I’ve tried I wouldn’t bother with, small
portions and not even that tasty.

What I have in mornings is what I said before but now zero fat Greek yogurt and blueberries and I have been having the odd pasta salad with feta cheese (Boots) and mozzarella (Tesco Finest). I could beat myself up over it but it’s only 2 days a week!

Oh I must be different or lucky 🤣

I don't eat any low calorie things, I just find balance in my diet.

I'm still having dominoes some Fridays, a cheeky MC Donalds, I ate 500g of Cadbury fruit and nut this week and still lost 2.5lb.

I've just learnt balance and portion size, and moderation.

What I was lacking before I think.

I only track pointed foods, I don't track any of the zeros.

I've learnt to prepare or cut back after big nights out and things.

I suppose it is a diet in a way, but I wanted to learn how to maintain and healthy eating habits so I can keep it off.

I can fully accept if I'm the odd one out here though lol

Thank you all.

I know why I'm around 4stone overweight. A combination of alcohol and portion sizes.

Hopefully I'll be more accountable for my choices.

@HereComesMaleficent You’re not really meant to track the zero points food, I think.

What you did is fine, I was doing similar when I lost a load too, as long as you are generally good, tracking the pointed foods you can offset against eg the bad stuff you put down, I did similar. The trouble is too many of the bad stuff soon adds up hence tracking it.

I’ve been creeping beck buying marmite cheeses and having those with Baby bel lights and then Muller light chocolate desserts, but they’re 63 or more calories. I really need to just not buy them or only buy one or two treats and that’s it.

My issue is I’m feeling a bit down re work, my current job is really boring and I do have things to diet or slim down for but it’s not like I’ve got a holiday to aim for (I actually do but I’m not fussed about that!). I need real incentives!

I'm thinking of joining but I'm feeling really unmotivated - I've done well on WW before but all the tracking and thinking about food and unhealthy options just get me down. Anyone still going? I need inspiration!

Back in the noughties, I chipped away about a stone and a half using WW online (in 2 goes, had a baby in between!) but then, years on, after gaining a bit of it back during a stressful time I found my fitness pal much more useful both in terms of ease of use (no stupid points) and setting myself up to maintain.

Just to update you. I’m still on WW but not tracking. I find it quite a faff to weigh lots of things although I should do.

I don’t think I’ve lost much since I posted before but the weekly meetings I find invaluable because with getting to know members and the coach it helps to keep me on track.

As @PickAChew says I’ve heard MFP is better but of course less support. It depends what you think is better for you.

Any people currently recommend WW? Thinking of starting in January. I do use MFP but need more of a framework to help me.

Yes it definitely worked for me. I always lost weight very easily on it. However I always gained it back too LOL. But I definitely think it's one of the better diets in that you're encouraged to eat everything and not cut out groups of food. And it worked for me without strenuous exercise, I was just more active generally and did activities I enjoyed, like wandering around the markets or gardening.

Thank you! I've managed to lose 10lbs but am not taking it seriously enough. I need to get into it more. Its definitely healthy, with you getting penalised a lot for non-healthy food- I'm looking at you 11 points for a creme egg 😭

A diet hasn’t worked if you have regained the weight