Weight Watchers - What are your best WW tips?

Hi girls! I am new to the WW flex plan. I would love it if some of you old or new to the program could let me in on your secrets/tips. I feel that I really need the motivation right now. Thanks so much!

Love,
Deanne

Plan, plan, plan.

Journal.

Persistence.

Those are my general tips. What specifically are you looking for?

Just general advice on the program...thank you so much!! I see you've lost a huge amount of weight. Congrats!

Love,
Deanne

I want to say work the program and it works for you! It really is a simple program (both Core and Flex but I prefer a bit of both --- utilizing real food, less processed junk, simple carbs, etc but following portion and points control) and both work well.

If you have questions ask because someone will always be helpful.

Find some fabulous recipes that sound good to you. This way you'll look forward to the delicious food you should have and not feel bad for the nasty fattening food you are not having. Make meals and freeze the extra portions so you can take them to work for lunch or have them when you don't feel like cooking.

Always have healthy snacks that you enjoy in the house. If you can, get rid of the other snacks. This way you won't be tempted to munch on junk food.

Persevere. It takes time and patience to succeed. The only way you can fail is to quit.

For me, it helps to do a lot of cooking on Sundays. And as Monkey said find recipes that you like, and I make them on Sundays and keep them in the refrig or freezer to use through out the week. I really cut back of grabbing lunch at a fast food place before going to work, and instead i bring a tupperware like container of homemade food with me. That has really helped me to. Plus drink lots of water, or Crystal Lite. I just feel better when i drink a lot fo water. Plus I usually have one day where i splurge a little cause it makes it feel less of a diet.
Hope this helps ya.

If you get the urge to binge...brush your teeth. That way whatever you want to put in your mouth will taste yucky. Plus, it's good for your pearly whites! :)

Brain check. In the past I would fail because I would feel like trying to lose weight was a punishment for being fat. This time, it's a reward for being worth it.

Be creative. I have not felt deprived more than a few times in the past 10 months or so. If I want a hotdog, I get a turkey dog. If I want a burger, I get a Jr. Burger, or make it at home. Cake? Soda cake & light whipped topping. Mashed potatoes? try mashed califlower or use potatoes w/ chicken broth. I have embrassed alternative cooking!

And, as Kelly said, plan, plan, plan. Don’t let being unprepared let you slip into a bag of chips! I plan my meals weekly, and always have healthy snacks around my desk.

Oh, and exercise. As you most likely know, you will have faster success if you combine some regular cardio, strength, and flexibility training.

Thank y'all so much!!
Melanie- What is soda cake?

1 boxed cake mix
10-12 oz (most use 10 oz) of Diet Soda
(optional) 2 egg whites

mix and bake. Depending on the mix it is 3-4 points for 1/12 of the cake (without frosting of course) or 1 point for 24-36 cupcakes.

Many combinations are out there: white cake w/diet orange or diet rootbeer; chocolate cake w/diet cola....use your imagination.

I tried the soda cake today. That was the best 3 points I ever had! I used a devils food cake mix with coke & iced it with fat free cool whip & sugar free chocolate pudding mix. However, the devils food is great without icing. can anyone tell me how you add a picture to your postings? :?: I am a lifetime member starting over. I lost 50 lbs. with ww years ago, but gradually gained it all back. I've been back 3 weeks and have lost 6.5 lbs so far. What has helped me the most in the past is finding a leader who gives out ww receipes and snack ideas (like Blue Bunnies, ww carrot cake, etc.) The receipes on this web site look terrific. We got a new receipe for a ham, macaroni & lite Velveeta skillet dinner this week that was great for 6 points.

Figure out the points for your family's favorite recipes, then enjoy them, using portion control. Portion control is everything!

Other tips include:
*Keep a scrapbook (or some form of record) of how far you've come.
*Keep track of your measurements. There will be times when your loss will slow down, and watching these numbers go down will be a big incentive.
*Take dry cereal to the movies. A cup and a half of your fave will last a good while and will keep your hands out of the popcorn and milk duds.
*Come here often. When you're not doing so well, you need us, and when you are doing well, we need you!

And for those reading this who haven't yet begun, ask yourself - If not now, when? What am I waiting for?

Hope these help! :)

Personally I don't like the Diet Soda cakes. I have never used the oil in my boxed cake mixes. I made one last night and what I do is 1 boxed cake mix, the amount of water called for, for the oil I just add that much more water, and usually 3 egg whites for white and 5 for other cakes. Works out the same points as the Diet Soda Cakes.

My best tip for you since alot of them have been covered is WATER water and more water. :) Make sure you try to drink half your weight in water a day. I wasnt losing much and someone told me to start drinking water and it worked! My body wasnt hydrated enough and needed the water to flush out the fat. I hate drinking plain water so I get crystal light and sprinkle some in my water bottle.. enough to give it a little flavor.

Good luck on your WW's journey!

Kristy

I agree the water really helps. Not only does it cleanse the body but it just makes you feel good the next day. The only down fall-----------> you pee like a race horse all the time. Its a bit ridiculous LOL

I agree on the water thing - but needing to pee alot has its advantages - the extra exercise up and down the stairs!

Also, journal. Every day. Every mouthful. Helps you see where you go right and where you go not so right.

Good luck!

Actually you know the best tips are the ones W/W puts out as "The 8 Good Health Guidelines" (page 34 of the Week 1 Booklet or for onlines <and only onliners because e-tools gets it in the booklet> on the website and after you log in, it can be found in the Select a Resource dropdown menu located in the Shortcuts toolbar on the left hand side of the page. Click on Weight Loss Topics of the Week in the My Plan section of the dropdown menu. On the next page you will see the View Topics Archive link in the box on the upper right side of the page. Click the link to be brought to the topics archive. 8 Great Health Guidelines is the firs first link on the archive list.)

1) Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day
2) choose whole-grain foods when possible
3) included 2 servings of dairy (3 if over 50 or a teen)
4) have 2 tsp of healthy oils such as canola, flaxseed, olive, safflower, sunflower a day
5) get enough protein
6) limit empty calories like added sugars or alcohol
7) drink at least 6 8-ounce glasses of water a day (1/2 your body weight is not needed but not bad for you either)
8) take a multi-vitamin

Yeah the bathroom trips DO get old! LOL

Especially at work. LOL I once peed 6 times in a half hour when i started drinking all this water. Thought I was gonna go crazy!

Chubbyvixen - I love your avatar! :D

what works for me is:

- planning ahead with menus, recipes and grocery lists and preparing in advance for special occasions where I know there will be tempting food

- I banish anything from my kitchen that I know I can't resist- in my case that means chips, oreo cookies and butter tarts...anything else I can ignore :lol:

-brownbagging my lunch to work and packing good snacks so I am not tempted by treats brought into the office

-I find that water tastes better with a slice of lemon squeezed into it or with crystal light mixed in

- when going out shopping and running on the weekends I pack a small lunch size cooler bag with a granola bar, baby carrots, dates and bottled water so that if I start to feel a bit hungry I won't eat fast food at the mall

-I make exercise part of my daily routine, I get up everymorning, put the coffee pot on and do pilates or yoga for about 20 -30 minutes

-getting out of my office/workplace at lunch time everyday. I go for a 20 -30 minute walk during my lunch break, not only do I get a bit of exercise, some sun on my face and fresh air, it also helps me clear my mind and feel refreshed for work for the rest of the day :)

I know this will sound weird but...In the window of my wallet I have a tiny typed note that says " Don't eat that!" so that when I get a chip or chocolate craving and go to check my wallet for money the first thing I see when I open my walled is DON'T EAT THAT! and I think "Oh, yeah" and put my wallet away with out buying the junk food. It sounds silly but it has worked everytime :D

The basics seem to be covered, I like the Don't eat that! nothing silly about it! I am into the Italian Charm bracelets and have been putting together one for my weight loss journey....i.e. 2 of the letter "w" and a number 5 for every 5 lbs...also have a bunch of fruit and vege charms and some sayings like beauty, health, "go-girl" etc...sounds a bit out there, but it is nice to look at as a reminder of what my life is about...of course the goal is to have more "5"'s than anything elso....


Julie

I love your idea for a bracelet! Very cool! :cool:

So far, what works for me is cooking 12-18 egg mcmuffins with lite english muffins and freezing them. I thaw them out a few at a time and have one for breakfast almost everyday. Because they have fiber and protein, they keep me satisfied for hours. Then for lunch a Lean Cuisine or WW frozen meal (to which I often add extra cut up chicken, protein makes me less hungry) and then for dinner, something fairly simple-usually processed so that I can count it easily. The WWCalc program for Palm makes it so easy. http://www.3fatchicks.com/weight-tracker/img/bar-retro3/slider-scaleyellow/lb/238/140/234/ (http://www.3fatchicks.com/weight-tracker/index.php)

To me the best thing to do is plan ahead. I sit down every night and plan out my meals for the next day. That way there's no standing in front of the pantry or fridge, starving, and eating the first thing you grab. I also like to get my fruit servings out of the way as snacks. I typically have a banana in the morning, and applesauce or an orange in the afternoon.

Another great thing to drink when you're SO bored with water is the carbonated fruit flavored water. I know that wal-mart, kroger, target, etc all have store brands. It's 4 servings, and it's nice to break the water monotony.

Also, if I'm craving...I don't know, pizza, during the week, then I tell myself I can have it Tuesday night, after my meeting. Then, if I've got enough Flex left, and I lost weight that week, then pizza it is. You can afford to treat yourself as long as you stay within your Points, and if you wait until the last day of your WW week, then it's really like you're rewarding yourself, so you might enjoy it more.

Good luck!

I love all of these ideas. I especially like the "dont eat that". I think i will try it. Its like you know not to eat it but that little phrase brings it all into perspective when you are about to cheat. I know what has worked for me is definately the planning. If you dont plan you will fall. Theres days when I just didnt plan and those are the days i ate way to much of the wrong foods. I have also learned to spread your points out over the day and not eat one big point food, because you will not be satisfied long. I also have to workout at LEAST twice a week to keep my loss in check. other wise its like my body is punishing me for not working out so it is not going to lose any weight haha.

My best tip is to keep coming here for inspiration. Also keep trying new ww receipes to allieviate boredom. A ww leader who gives you a new receipe for the week is worth her weight in gold!

Thank y'all for all of the great tips! I printed all of your post out and put them in my weight loss binder. I know, a little neurotic. I have different sections for my points, progress, calendar, magazine cut outs, exercise suggestions and inspiration. My husband thinks Im crazy but it helps me alot!

Love,
Deanne

chubbyvixen- nope, don't think you are crazy at all. I too have a WW workbook that I keep notes, useful articles and old menus and trackers in. I think it helps to have this things handy for information and inspiration :D

I am going on holiday this week and wearing my "all about me" charm bracelet to inspire me to stay on track :)