Simply Filling/Core - WW Awful Customer Service

Hi - I called ww with some questions because I find core extremely confusing and they were rude and unhelpful - all they could say was if it is not specifically on the list it is not core. They couldn't help with my pasta question, they couldn't tell me if a jar of pasta I found that was made with all core ingredients with no sugar or salt added was core. It was extremely annoying - it was alike a mantra - if it's not on the list it isn't core over and over again - and they have no idea what makes something core or not - I think weight watchers should have done a lot more work before they rolled this program out - they seem to caught with their pants down!

I personally am not on the ww diet, but I do work in a call center, and I can tell you that what you experience probably should not reflect the way that you view weight watchers. I imagine somebody having a very bad day who is irritated with their job. Maybe you could call back and ask to speak with a supervisor of the call center. No matter what aspect of customer service you work in, you should never treat your customers like that. As a customer, I say you stand up for yourself and speak with a supervisor. That way noone out there will get discouraged by speaking with the same person!!

I agree with Badge...it is very confusing and the person representing WW should have been able to asnswer your question or offer to get back to you with an educated answer. I think the program needs some more research...like why is chili considered 8 points if all the ingredients that you make it with are CORE foods? They should specify this, because some people think outside the box! Some people may just subtract 8 points, when they wouldn't have to use all eight of their points-depending on how the chili is made! I do think the CORE plan is do-able, but it needs better specifications and more staff education!

Samantha: I also have at one point worked in a call center and I actually did ask to speak with a supervisors and unfortunately got the exact same response and answers. I don't think they have any other information. It was sad really.

Unless the pasta is whole wheat it is not Core.

Core is more processed, less convenience foods. It really isn't that hard.

There is soo much that everyone thinks is confusing but we are making it that way. It really is a simple program. They want you to eat SIMPLE.

One of the things that is confusing is recipes. If you make a recipe and it makes something that is not a Core Food it is not Core even if you use all core ingredients. For example a cornbread recipe that is floating around. W/W states bread is NOT Core so this is not a core food even though every ingredient is Core in the recipe however I have a recipe that is a brown rice recipe and it uses all core ingredients that doesn't change what the out come of the food is so it is Core.

I think most pasta sauces that don't have added oils or sugars are Core (don't quote me but I haven't looked).

Don't make it harder than it is. It was researched and worked on for 1 1/2 years and proven (just like the points program).

Idealperson, what chili recipe?

I really don't have a recipe, but I use lean beef-drained of course of all visible fat, then I add kidney beans, onions and no-sugar added tomato sauce, cut up tomatoes, chili powder, and some hot sauce. They are all core foods individually, so this should be considered core, right?

Idealperson:
Yes - your recipe would be core. The Week 4 literature includes information on combining core foods in recipes to make core meals. To me it is crystal clear that this is consistent with the Plan as documented.

Ideal, That is what I would say too. It is just like a soup and would be Core (or at least the way I interpret the 'recipe' rules.

Thanks for the clarification-I have a ton of onions and tomatoes in my garden, so I plan on making alot of this and freezing it for winter.

No problem. LOL! Did you just add that picture or is my computer just slow?

It sounds to me like nonesense - If you have a brown 'recipe' using core ingredients and call it something other than brown rice it is no longer core but if you call it brown rice it is? Give me a break! It sounds to me like they made stuff up which is okay but that's what they should say. All 94% ff popcorn is core - oh unless it's kettle corn and that's because you might eat too much - but you won't eat too much butter flavored popcorn - this is not scientific - I'm not saying it won't work or that it's bad - it's just made up -

If you have a brown 'recipe' using core ingredients and call it something other than brown rice it is no longer core but if you call it brown rice it is?

No where did I nor W/W say this. If it doesn't change the component. For example brown rice and veggies and egg and olive is Brown Fried Rice and is core. But taking oatmeal, oil, water and mixing it into a batter to make a pancake is not because pancakes are not a Core Food or taking cornmeal, oil, water and (can't remember the other ingredient but it is a core thing) and making a bread is not a Core because bread is not a Core Food. Not hard or nonsense at all.

All 94% ff popcorn is core - oh unless it's kettle corn and that's because you might eat too much - but you won't eat too much butter flavored popcorn It is not just that you have the potention to over eat but the sweetener (Splenda) can trigger an over eating (this is proven scientific research). That is why the Kettle Corn isn't considered Core (at this point) but is being evaluated again. What is a trigger for some may not be a trigger for others.

You sound really down on the program. It is a simple program (and while it isn't for me -- too much dining out and need to be satisified wtih breads) and many of us are over thinking it and making it harder than it is. W/W does things for a reason based on research and trials...we have to trust them.

Can you use splenda on the core program?

yes it is a Core food.

Thanks for the clarification-I have a ton of onions and tomatoes in my garden, so I plan on making alot of this and freezing it for winter.

I have canned up about 12 pts of sauce so far this year.. I'm doing another 12 pts on saturday...

Oh and salsa too.... My salsa is integral to our turkey chili recipe (core).

lala

Badge - I totally agree that it "sounds like nonsense". In my opinion the rumors about core food combinations are not correct and don't make any sense when you try to apply them to anything but individual people. (PLEASE don't let this start an argument - I realize that others trust their sources - I am going by what my leader and my Local franchise, and WW materials say).

Unless a particular combination of Core foods into a recipe is causing a particular problem (i.e. a trigger food) it is completely okay under Core. Plain and simple. The new WW Core Cookbook contains a recipe for Potato-Zuchinni Pancakes that includes potatoes, corn meal etc. to make pancakes. The Week 4 literature recommends certain ingredients for use in recipes that result in core foods.

The cool thing about this plan is that it provides guidelines - Those of us that subscribe to the principles and guidelines are charged with the responsibility of figuring out what works. I like having that responsibility.

p.s. Here's a link to the recipe:
Edited - Sorry I can't make the link work. The recipe is in the new WW cookbook and posted on ***.

Your link doesn't work (may still be a conflict betweent his site and that one --- long story). I did find the recipe over at *** and it is 2 tablespoons of cornmeal that makes up a vegetable 'pancake' which is Core and not a bread or baked good that isn't.

However I did confirm about there are changes to the books and clarification on what is and is not a core food. Not arguing and I posted another thread that may help people on another member revelation about Core...do what you find best but W/W did over a year and a half of research and has made 'rules' and 'guidelines' for a reason. Yes we can only believe what we have been given and we even have a leader (CIN) who confirmed her region has gotten the changes already (as has other various ones) and they are coming down the pipeline. Do what is best for you! No one is saying otherwise.

Why are people trying to do core if they don't want to follow the rules? Makes no sense when the flex plan is available. Just goes to show they don't take the time to read the materials or maybe they don't go to meeting and are trying to wing it. If they know how to do it better than WW, I don't see how they got overweight to begin with.

LOL susan!

I'm not doing CORE yet but have been lurking to find out more until my current diet needs to be kicked up a notch. This certainly is a hot thread sometimes. I'm learning a lot though. Keep it up ladies!

Why are people trying to do core if they don't want to follow the rules? Makes no sense when the flex plan is available. Just goes to show they don't take the time to read the materials or maybe they don't go to meeting and are trying to wing it. If they know how to do it better than WW, I don't see how they got overweight to begin with.

Once again you are misunderstand what the post is about. It is about clarification not about breaking or bending rules. It is about UNDERSTANDING and COMPREHENSION. Re-read it and you'll see that.

I finally chose a picture for my name. If someone else already has this one let me know and I will try to find something else.

Back to the original post, maybe they don't give you information because they want you to go to the meetings and pay the weekly fee. That would be my guess, since they are a for-profit organization.

I paid to be on-line but can't say that I'm finding much help there besides having the Core list and the points pad to keep up with my extra points and charting my losses.

Keep faith. We will figure this out sooner of later, and in the meantine we are losing so we gotta be doing something right!

Hi Everyone:

Obviously WW has not done a great job of making things clear. That seems to be a fact and I think what it all comes down to is that if you use core to make a food and it is not a trigger food for you it is okay. If you can't handle that don't do it. As with anything you have to use common sense and be flexible enough to do what works for you. Our leader uses a WW'ism that basically means not one thing works for everyone. Just as some could eat the top of the range and lose and some had to work the bottom, WW has never been all that rigid. It's a lifestyle change and with anything in life, you have to have some flexibility to make it work.

I too found the customer service for WW to be less than helpful or even kind. I got the brushoff when asking a question about pricing. I work for a health insurance company and we would not have a job very long if we treated customers that way.

I'm really new to this, but in all the years that I started (& stopped) WW, they were always generous with their information if you go to a meeting. Myself, I can't afford it right now. I have the books & information. I feel they got into a panic with all the lower/healthier carb diets like South Beach. They want it to be a little different so they wouldn't appear to be a copycat (my opinion, again). They're winging it right now. Common sense says if you use Core ingredients (lean meat, vegetables, brown rice) in a casserole, it's CORE. Bread is bread. I don't know anyone who can eat a small portion of cornbread. Cornmeal polenta is a different story. You don't need to eat a lot of that to be satisfied, it's the density they're talking about. One other thought, in the Complete Food Companion, there really isn't that much that explains the "diet". Other diets (SB, Atkins) have books one can purchase that explain the jist of the diet. Customer service doesn't know the answers because they are afraid of giving out the wrong info because right now this seems like it's trial & error.

India, I can eat 1 slice of cornbread, no problem--but don't put a bowl of mixed nuts in front of me--I would have it empty in no time with mindless munching. :o I don't have a big problem with keeping to portions when eating a meal. I fix my plate in the kitchen and take it to the table. I usually don't even finish what I thought I needed. But snacking would be another matter--especially if I am stressed.

Have a good day yall.

You know I just thought of something. Maybe they did not think that so many would come up with the 'carb' options (and I believe truly that maybe the test group didn't) such as the corecorn bread and now are clarifying some of the 'recipes' that the truly creative people have come up with.

Janette...I have two trigger foods....Trail Mix with the M&M's in it and Peanut Butter!!

Bayley's mom...Happy Birthday to your baby! I love your lilliepie line. I tried to attach one a while back, but my internet provider was giving me trouble, I coul dnot figure it out?

Well, I really just wanted to say happy birthday...My TJ is 14 months

wow this thread was hot today.. But you know what, I find the world is rude today. People are just plain mean, most of the time...that when someone is nice, I think they are up to something? Sad to be like that?
Also, I don't want to be disrespectful? but at my WW, the woman are kind of older and they can't really handle all the questions and confusion during weigh in...they start getting snappy.

maybe you got a cranky group? Is ther a 1800 WW #