Weight Watchers - I Finally Found Something That Works!!!!!!!!!!

I finally found something that works for me. I was reading another thread on Dotti's web site about starting to cound your points at dinner and go until the next evening and I have found this is the best thing sinse I started ww and have lost 6 1/4 in 2 weeks. I start at dinner and that is my first meal.This is our "family" meal because we are all together and also our larger meal. Before I would be at the top of my points or close to it. I can have a meal that everyone else is having because I know I always eat a low point breakfast and have salad or small lunch. I know it is a mind game, but it works because I am more aware of counting the dinner-bedtime points because I have 2 other meals to get in the next day. I eat now at the low point range of my points and for some reason not as hungry. Do you find this works for you too????

I too count my points like this - and I agree - it's a LIFESAVER!

I have been doing it for months and its just so much more relaxing! I usually have a bigger dinner - so it made sense to count it this way.

I can surely have a smaller breakfast and lunch the next day. I mean if I want to have 20pts for dinner - I can!

I think some people think that this way gives you an "excuse" to overeat at nite. I don't see it that way at all - actually I stay in my point range better doing it this way - so its working for me!!

Good luck with it - it is a tad confusing at first - but its so much easier now that I do it this way. I love it!

Tara :D

Windwood, what a great idea and thanks for sharing. I am now at goal but still need to count my points. That makes so much sense.

Because my retired DH fixes his own breakfast and lunch, this method works great for him. He knows how many points he has to play with! It is true, takes a little while to get use to but I too found it seemed to be more relaxing. My breakfast and lunches are pretty much the same.

Annette

What a great idea Windwood! It makes so much more since than starting in the morning. Now I can have what I want, within reason, for dinner and make up for it with lower point breakfasts. I always eat all of my points by midday then I'm starving for the rest of the day. By thinking of my meals starting at dinner it gives me more control. Or maybe I just think it does. Either way it seems like it would work better. I am going to my first WW meeting next Tuesday but thought I would start counting points on my own. Tried it last year but had some things happen and had to quit. I am sticking with it this time. This site is great for extra support. I love hearing everybodies suggestions.

Hi Girls!!! I am intrigued by this idea and what to make sure that I understand how it works.

I start to count my points with supper being my first meal and then count everything I eat until just before the next evening's supper. Is this correct?

For example, say I have 12 points at supper and then a 2 pt snack before bed, a 5 point breakfast, 7 point lunch and then a 0 point snack after school. That would put my points at 26 which is at the low end for me right now. I would begin a new day with the supper.

Is this correct or am I way off here?

Elaine
297/280.5/250 first goal

Teach 93 ..Thats correct. Once you get used to it I know you will love it. Like I said in the earlier post, I used to be sat the top or over for points after dinner and then had nothing for the munchies but now it is so easy and I know I have to be careful because I have to get in 2 other meals the next day. Good luck and keep us posted. I have found so many helpful things along the way and it's nice to share with others.

Teach93 - Yeah you have it right. What I do is I cross out the breakfast, lunch, and dinner and do it this way:

Dinner 9/2

Breakfast 9/3

Lunch 9/3

Snacks

So my tracker looks like that and it works great!!

I love this way of eating - it helps me so much - good luck!

Tara :D

Hi, I am new to this board and hope I can responding correctly. I have a WW question. Where can I obtain the recipes for the neat snacks people think up? Like the gram crackers with FF Cool Whip, frozen as an ice cream sandwich for 2 points?

Any help would be appreciated.

Also.......Do you think WW is a low fat plan? If so how many fat grams do you think are in the 20-27 range? Is there a low fat forum on this site?

Thanks!!!

Oh my gosh! What a great idea. I have a big problem with night-time eating. I have no appetite during the day. I think this will really help me out. I will continue to cut back on snacking at night but this will help me keep within my range. Thanks for posting this.

Tamara

THIS IS SO GREAT. WHAT AN IDEA. THIS SHOULD HELP ME ALOT. I HAVE JUST STARTED BACK TO WW AFTER SO MANY TIMES. I WILL START THIS TODAY. YOU HAVE REALLY HIT ON SOMETHING. THANKS SO MUCH AND BE BLESSED.:)

I have been on WW since July 30. I count my points starting with dinner & have found it to be so much easier. Like someone said, it is a "mind thing" but it really does help me. I usually use 10-12 points at night but if I use more then I can always have the lower points breakfast & lunch.
This way of counting has been a great help to me.

Ladies, it has taken me a couple of days to have the time to sit down and figure this out, and to be honest, at first I thought this was unworkable.

However, after doing some quiet time thinking I see the beauty of this. For example, if we eat out on Friday or Saturday night, and we often do, then if I use 15 points, I can easily make it up at breakfast and lunch, which traditionally are smaller meals anyway. This really fits our lifestyle. It is very unusual for us to eat lunch out, but we eat supper out frequently.

24 hours is 24 hours isn't it, no matter when you start? I am starting with supper tonight and going through my afternoon snack tomorrow after school, which generally is a 0 point veggie or low point fruit.

So what if it is a mind game. Whatever works.

Elaine;)

This is such a good idea - and it makes perfect sense! I've heard of it being done before but just never paid it any serious attention, but this time I listened! LOL I am going to try it out, starting with last nite's dinner. Good luck to you all -

CJ

Hi to all of you. I started this post and wanted to let you know I lost another 2/3/4 this week. I have been overweight most of my adult life and NEVER felt that something just clicks. I am not as hungry and don't know why. I have 35lbs. to go to goal and feel for the first time I can do this Good luck to all of you and see you thinner!!!!!!

Today was my second week of WW and I gained .4 lb. How depressing is that! As if this week wasn't bad enough.

I'm going to try counting dinner first as well!

You all seem so excited about it! Here goes!

Amy

I went back to WW this week just because of this post. It made perfect sense to me and I thought I can do this if I figure my points this way. We'll see how it works. Thank you

I had posted earlier how much easier I think it is to start counting your points with dinner. I went
BACK AGAIN to W.W. on July 30. As of yesterday I have lost 14 pounds.

This way of counting does work. It takes time--planning your meals, measuring & weighing food, & writing down what you eat. But you have to do that no matter what time of day you start counting your points. It takes some work to do but is well worth it. As we know this is not a short time fix, this is a life time way of eating.

Windwood, thanks for starting this post. How is it working for you?

Can someone please explain this to me? You still have to plan (as you say, above, It takes time--planning your meals, measuring & weighing food, & writing down what you eat. But you have to do that no matter what time of day you start counting your points. It takes some work to do but is well worth it. As we know this is not a short time fix, this is a life time way of eating. IT IS THE SAME to me as starting in the morning.

HOW IS THIS ANY DIFFERENT?

Hileader..... You are right to a point. Since most of us eat our larger meal, go to dinner and have parties in the evening, why not have your points starting at night with a fresh start?????I know this works for me and the other 17 of us that have tried this for the last month.We have ALL lost over 2 lbs per week since startng this. I feel it is a lot less stressful when you do it this way. As the saying goes:Differrent strokes for different folks!!!!Best of luck whichever way you do it.:dizzy:

But what I don't understand is, you're still counting the points. What's the difference between counting the points from breakfast/lunch/dinner from the a.m. or the p.m.? Is this a mind game I'm missing? I mean, if you're counting, (and I understand you've all lost weight) then why can't you just allocate those dinner points knowing at breakfast what you're anticipating for dinner? WHAT am I missing?

Yes, Leader, it's a mind game. I find most of weight loss is.
Instead of saying "Oh no, I only have a few points left tonight; how am I going to manage dinner? What if I go over??", this method relaxes you by letting you say "I've had 0 points so far today. If I eat a large dinner, or if I snack this evening, I can make up for it at breakfast and lunch tomorrow by eating more lightly and still remain within my points."

Also, many of us don't plan each entire day's menu ahead of time. It sounds like you do that, and that's great if it works for you. In my case, though, we do a lot of spur-of-the-moment going out with friends. Starting my day by counting dinner sounds like a pretty good idea, and I'm thinking of trying it. I'm not sure it would work consistently for me, since I tend to eat my largest meal at mid-day. But I really like the idea.

Also, I'm not sure what you mean when you say "this is a lifetime way of eating." That is, of course it's a lifetime way of eating, but how is this way of counting points incompatible with that philosophy?

I've been at this now for more than 3 years. (I've been losing slowly, in part deliberately.) I find myself trying all kinds of new ways of working the program in order to remain interested and motivated. I applaud anyone who gets creative in order to make this program work for them and keeps chugging toward a healthier lifestyle.

--Lauren
274/212.5/down (home scales)

Thanks for the tip! I've just come up against a wall with my WW plan......could be what's going on in the world! Sat down in front of the TV tonight with a bag of peanut butter cups. Just chomped away and watched the horrors on TV. After I was full (!) I counted up the pathetic, empty wrappers. I discovered I'd consumed over 800 calories!!!! I'm disgusted with myself!

I love the "reverse" points counting. It's just a great idea! I'm going to start tomorrow.........(when my peanut butter cups have disgested and left!!!!)

God Bless and take care!
:wave:

Hi,
I'm new to this website and I'm intrigued by this idea. How do I post to my journal on WW starting w/dinner instead of breakfast?
Won't my journal be out of whack?

:) Hi Judy, all you do is "pretend" breakfast is dinner when you post your points. Just cross off "Breakfast" and enter "Dinner" and the same for dinner. You're still working the points system, but making it a little easier by not being stressed out over how many points you may have left at the end of the day. It's just a mind game, but seems workable for those of us who get too caught up "in our heads" over points.

Good Luck!

;)

Hi Judy, Your journal will look like this.....


Dinner 9/18

Snack 9/18


Breakfast 9/19


Snack 9/19


Lunch 9/19


Snack 9/19:)

Leader

As I mentioned earlier, this way is helpful for my husband because he is on his own for breakfast and lunch. I make our dinners and try to keep it within a reasonable range but sometimes something special comes up. This way he knows how many points he has to work with for the next two meals.

New-Me

Just finished my first week back to WW and using this new way to keep track of my points and I lost 4.2 pounds. I'm sticking to this plan!

Hi Miller, Good for you!!!!!! Isn't this great. I have lost 14 .5 since doing this and it is so easy..... We can do this. As I stated earlier, there are 16 of us that started all at the same time and have not gained and still have an average of 2+ lbs lost per week. I just hope it keeps up. Best of luck to you and your journey. Patti

I am so glad to read this post. :) My head is always playing games with me and it usually wins. Such as: I will be going to town today and we need to go out to lunch, so I won't count points,,,,,I will think about points tomorrow,,,Just like Scarlett O'Hara.

Windwood, could you tell me how long you excercise or maybe I should say how often. Except for the treadmill, I hate to excercise. And how much weight have you lost since beginning this backward point system. How much were you losing before you started this system.

Please reply. I will go back and reread the posts to see if you had already answered the questions I have asked. (See I am already doing some things backwardes) Thank you for your time.:D Threads (as in sewing threads)

Hi Threads..... I was only losing about 1/4 to 1/2 per week and getting really discouraged with the whole thing. Sometimes we eat at the spur of the moment when it comes to dinner since my husband who doesn't have a weight priblem likes to go out to dinner more often than we should. I read this post on another site and thought I would try it.I LOVE it because it makes it seem so relaxing because at the end of the day when you might have "goodies" then have them, Before I would get "nuts" thinking I had only 8 points for dinner until I went to bed and would go over simply because I was so stressed over it. Now I have whatever I want for dinner and sometimes desert, 3 bite rule, and something before I go to bed. Breakfast is always 3-5 points and for lunch always soup, or salad or a huge sandwich with light bread, tons of veggies, and fruit for afternoon snack. I exercise everynight for 30 minutes on the treadmill and play disco cds on my cd headset. Sorry can't get over the 70's. Anyway, try it for a week and see what you think. I have now lost 19.5 since starting this about 6 weeks ago. Let us know how this works.... Patti;)

Windwood, it sounds like something that could work. I haven't gone to WW for 3 weeks,,too embarrassed. ::o I will go next week. We are on the Community Weight Watchers, so I have already paid up till the middle of October. Is there a special reason that you excercise in the evening instead of the morning?

One week I walked 17 1/2 miles and gained over 3 pounds,,,and I couldn't tell a difference in my clothes. :?: Thanks for the encouragement,,and keep up the good work. I have no less than 30 pounds to lose. I wanted to get it off by Christmas. Maybe using your method I can. Have a great Tueday. Threads

Hi,

Leader, I started ccounting points with dinner for a very practical reason. My dinner plans often changed at the last minute. And if I didn't have enough points left in the day to handle the spur of the moment switch, I'd end up going over points. When I started counting points with dinner, I could use whatever points I needed and compensate at breakfast and lunch, meals I eat alone. Everyone in my family takes care of their own breakfast and lunches, mostly because we get hungry at different times or are on different schedules. I am much more consistent in staying within my point range when I count my points starting with dinner. And I'm not a night eater, so that wasn't an issue for me.

If you're a person who eats their largest meal at lunch, or goes out often because of your work schedule, you could start counting at midday, I suppose. The important thing is to count your points in whatever way helps you to remain within your point range for each 24 hour period.

Good luck, everyone.

Lin

This is such a great idea! I had been struggling with the same problem because I never know what we are going to be eating for dinner! THANK YOU!

I'll try anything that might work. I also never know what I'll be having for dinner. I hate looking at something in the fridge and knowing I can't have it as I don't have enough points left. As form tomorrow teatime though I will have points as long as I don't mind compensating with the following lunch and breakfast.

Thanks for the sharing the idea - I'll let you know how I get on with it

Carol

Week two of counting my points starting in the evening. I lost another pound. Slow but sure. Plus I'm alot less tense. It used to be at the end of the day I would stay up till I had eaten all the points I was entitled to. Now since I need the points for the next day I quit eating when I should plus I have points for my afternoon snack when I need it during the hardest part of the day for me, between getting home from work and supper. This is great.

What a great idea. Ive been struggling with the fact that we frequently eat out for dinner and if I haven't planned for it....oh well! We went to our favorite Italian place tonight so I'll start with that. I agree its a mind thing, but if it works who cares.

This is working for me! I cannot tell you what a relief it has been. Since returning to work in March, I never know what we will be having for dinner. This is a Godsend! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Hi Tami, I am so glad this is working for you!!!! I love it and am so glad that so many people are happy with it. Keeep it up. Patti

I have lost 7 pounds with WW and that sounds good..But I have been going since January!!! I watch all these folks slim down as I barely make headway. Mainly because I cant seem to stick to the points. Someone at a meeting said they started counting at night and I didnt think much of it. But after reading it here, I decided to give it a go! In my journal I start with dinner..fill in the info and then add the breakfast and lunch on the same page the next day ...so its real easy. And surprise! Its so much easier to do it this way! If I have a glass of wine, I can make up for it the next morning when I am less prone to overeat! I think this method will work great for me! I am very excited about it! Thanks all for posting your success with it.

dear fellow ww, I am new to this site but not to the battle this idea sounds great as i work night shifts and find it hard to make the shift on my days off. that is what got me last time i love the point system and know that it can work and am now starting again FOR ME!!! hope with the help of all of you that i can make a old version of me ,the one i was when I was 90 pounds lighter ,be born again, thanks for the tips and ALWAYS REMEMBER ,IF ITS WORTH DOING ITS WORTH DOING RIGHT!!!!! THE NEWEST MEMBER

Good Morning! Vi I just read your post. I am confused.:?: When did you start your points using this new method? How much have you lost since using the backward (so I call it) system.

I have been having so much stress lately that dieting has been put on the back burner for now. Don't get me wrong, I am cutting back on the eating but I am not doing the points. Once I get back from moose hunting I will be able to relax a bit,,,I hope:lol: !

I know that this will work for me once I start it. Also once I start excercising on the treadmill again. Have a great day folks. Happy trails, Threads

Hi Threads, I have lost 21.25 since starting this about 8 weeks ago. I will NEVER go back to the other way of counting points. I feel like I am finally under control. I know what you mean about stress and hopefully our lives will be back on even keel someday. I am intrigued about your moose hunting. I had it once and is delicous. Hang in there, and best to you and your hunting!!!! Patti:dizzy:

Hey, all!

I have to fess up. I'd been doing so well and fell off the wagon. I bought myself a package of skinny cow p/b cup ice cream sandwiches last night. Then I made the mistake of watching the program about Flight 93, cried and at the whole thing. Well, confession is good for the soul!

Patti,,,I am impressed!!:cool: I think when I get back form "the hunt" I will get back on track. My big problem is,,,when I tell someone that I am trying a diet or a new way of eating,,,I get all puffed up about doing good and then I fail.

Well back to cleaning out the camper. Later.

Tami, Just remember that day is gone and a new one is here. We all have days that our eating get out of control, but just remember we are so fortunate to have this board to vent our frustrations and setbacks, God knows I have had my share but You can do this. Best to you!

Threads,Just take one day at a time and you will do just fine too. Want to help me clean my camper too?????Just think of all the exercise you are getting....Patti

this is awesome! I am so glad found this thread. I would always panic mid afternoon, knowing I was hungry and only had maybe 7 points left. Now, I know I start fresh with dinner, how freeing!
Thanks all.

Threads,
I know just what you mean. I really have a lot of good ideas about losing weight, finding recipes, offering suggestions, etc. Unfortunately I love to share and then I lose focus of the main thing which is doing this and staying OP. Sometimes I think it's easy for me to make the mistake of thinking that talking about it is the same as doing it (staying OP) and that doesn't work at all.
Good luck and success to us all.
234/209/199soon!:smug:

This is so wonderful!!! I have been on WW for 9 weeks now. I started at 135 and am now only at 127. I have been discouraged for the past 2 weeks untill this morning-I was cleaning out my closet this morning and decided to try on all of my jeans from 2 years ago-they were super tight this summer, before, I started. They fit perfect this morning! (Were not tight at all!!!) I have come to find that it is hard espically on weekends to stay in my points range which is 18-23. I am going to start counting at dinner tonight!!!

Just a reflection- Before I started WW I made all of the WRONG eating choices. The other day I was craving McDonald's so bad so I decided, I'll get a happy meal, then when I got to the window I blurted out, "I'll have a crispy chicken meal with a medium fry." I could have died, when I got to work I saw that it was like 26 points. Woops!!

I guess my point is WW is good because it really shows you what not to and what to eat. I am sure all of us really never gave it a thought on what foods are really good for you, and how bad some really are.

If anyone would like a buddy, I need one!

This is such a good idea, my leader really has never said anything about this, good for all of you who are sticking to the program-just stick with it, it WILL come off!!!!

I hope no one minds if I "resurrect" an old thread.

I post on the Fabulous Forties' thread, and this topic came up.

It's so easy to direct people to this newer thread instead of searching for it.

By the way, how is everyone who posted on this thread originally doing using this method ? just curious.

Thanks!
Jen

HI to all of you again, I started this post many months ago and have lost a total of 34.5 doing this. I am no longer stressed over it and know this works for me. I have about 25 more to go but for the first time I know I can make it. I could NOT do it without all the wonderful ideas and help I get from this board. I use 15-20 at night for my dinner meal and make up the rest for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast is always cereal or oatmeal with some kind of fruit. Lunch consists of wonder bread lite with turkey or tuna with lots of veggies and low fat miracle whip. I always save a couple of points for midafternoon snack of some kind of fruit again. Tangerines are .5 point and sooo filling This is the best and healthiest that I have ever eaten.We can do this!!!!! Best to all of us, Patti :)

That's it -- I'm switching!

I know it sounds like a head game, but by the sounds of windwood's posts and losses, it's worth a try!

THANKS!

Hello there! I just have a question. If I want to switch to this way of doing the journal, how do I switch when I've been doing it the other way? I would lose part of my day I think. Please let me know what you did. Thanks

Hi Jakesmom,

If you read the Fabulous 40's thread over by WW Other Age Groups on #114 page one Points explains it. I had to read it twice to get it but now it makes sense. This is my 3rd day & I'm not as hungry as I use to be.

Good luck ;)

Hi Jakesmon, Just start journaling say with tonights dinner, then go to tomorrow's breakfast and tomorrow's lunch. So your journal will look like this:

Tuesday's Dinner

Wednesday's Breakfast

Wednesday's Lunch

Try it and see what you think, Good luck!!!!

windwood, what I don't understand is what happens to the rest of the day's points. For instance, I've been journalling using the morning-noon-night way. So if I want to start the "new way" tonight at dinner, where do I journal all the points I've already had for breakfast and lunch? I understand how to journal once I've switched to evening-morning-noon...it's the switch over that I don't get. If I want to start this evening, do I just eat very little in the morning and lunchtime and not journal those points at all? It's hard to explain what I am asking. The way I see it, I'll have a time period that I won't journal just on the first switch over day.
Thanks for your advice.
Melanie

Hi, You'r right. I looked back on my first day journal and I had lower point day with breakfast and lunch being low so that's how I started. I know if you try it you will really like it. I seem to have points left instead of at the toplimit. Best to you, Patti

:?: Could you/ would you please explain that way of keeping track of points again please. If I understand correctly. I would use last nights meal then post this moring and my lunch? That would be a whole day? So is I start this AM just use last nights supper? help, I just started here and, I need all the help I can get been WW for 20 some years but, forgot to stay on it. Now I'm hypothyroid and need to loose 50 some pounds.

Hi Petunia. That's right. Start with last night's dinner, then count todays breakfast, and todays lunch..... So it would look like this

Wednesdays dinner-points

Thursdays Breakfast-points

Thursday's Lunch-points

Total for that 24 hour period-points.

Let us know if this works for you and best of luck to you, Patti:)

I will let you know how it works for me. I basically started today. Counted last nights supper and then breakfast and dinner (lunch) then tonight we went out so I started my new day with this meal. I'll do it for a week, either way I'm sure it balances out at the end of the week. I weight on Tues. usually.

I LOVE this idea! I am going to try it too. I think if dinner is your biggest meal you should start there. If breakfast is your biggest, then you should track the "regular" way.
There are quite a few times where I have no time in between my 2 jobs so I have to grab something quick.

I am tired of using my points up before dinner and going to bed hungry and p*ssed off!

My hat's off to the person who thought of this!
I am a WW retread and have always had a hard time with not having enought points for dinner and always being hungry.

Well, my first weigh-in was yesterday and I lost 4.8 lbs! The beauty was I wasn't even hungry and I had a hard time eating my minimum points (although I ensured I did)!!

I could hug you all for this great idea!!
Here's to great weeeks ahead!!
Cheers
Kittyhawk
206/201.2/150

:) I've been doing this for two weeks and, I absolutely love it. I'm down 4lbs from 2 wks ago. I only weight in every other week. Can't wait until 2 more weeks go by. I may even go next week just to make sure I'm still loosing. I love starting the day @ 4PM its just so much easier if I over do it at night to cut back in the daytime and, drink more water. Will keep you all updated, just 64 more lbs to go. one pound at a time.

What a great idea. I would of never thought of that.

I think I might start doing it this way. It still all works out the same. Thanks for posting this. You just helped me out.

I'm absolutely LOVING this way of journalling! I'm so thankful to have learned of it. As several people said, it IS a mind game, but it sure does take a lot of stress off the "What's for dinner and do I have enough points left?" time of day. It's so much easier to come up with lower point breakfasts and lunches than it is for dinner. I've been journalling starting with dinner now since I read this thread a week ago. I've told all my friends about it. I'll never go back to journalling the other way.

I have low-point breakfasts and higher points at lunch. I would say that I have my most points at lunch time. I like journalling because then I can plan the day better and I know ahead if something new is going to possibly put me over and I can accommodate for it if I am still going to have it.

My evening snacks are usually 1 - 3 points depending on how the day went.

:wave: Hello ladies: The board is getting a little slow, how is everyone doing with the backward counting. I'm just staying the same, no loss no gain but, for me that's ok. I loose sooooo slowly but, since the time passes anyway I'm sure that someday the sexy chic that's under all this will emerge.