[Sylvia from NS]

Hello! This is my first post, as I found out about site at Tues WW meeting in my hometown of Truro, NS. Great site! Wanted to pass on some thoughts about the Power of Positive Thinking and all the negativeness I am finding at my WW meeting. I took in samples and two recipes to share with the group. I do this frequently, but rarely does any one say thank you for the effort that I am putting out. (One THANK YOU from Joan!) One lady sampled a fat free Coffee merangue that is a wonderful treat, and her comment was "Oh, I could never make those. I couldn't have them in my house. I'd eat them ALL!" Why don't more people realize that it is a TREAT! That is what we are there to learn. That the way we have eaten in the past did not work for us and we need to think positively and tell our selves that we will have something as a treat to get us thru each day. Don't say I cannot buy single serving Pringles because I'll eat all six packs. Have some confidence and know that the weigh-in each week is a direct result of doing the best job we can and that is why we are members of such groups. All this NEGATIVE talk each week at such meetings (and I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way) is such a downer that I think occassionally that perhaps it is not the place for me. But, then I think that I am succeeding at this program and I do get some good things from each meeting, and I am losing each week, because I don't each all 60 merangues that I baked for a occassional treat. Perhaps some input from others will get the ball rolling. THINK POSITIVE and things around you will improve. This is the way I live my life, and it works!! Lots of Luck and Love to all, Sylvia from NS

[2BFIT1]

I think you would be fun to have in a WW group. How thoughtful of you to not only share recipes but take in samples, too. I agree with what you say about having to re-think things in a more positive way. That's what this is all about: changing old habits and thought. Did you post your coffee merangue recipe in the WW recipe section here? I would love to try it.

[shrinkadink]

I think your heart is in the right place, but it sounds like you don't really respect people setting boundaries for themselves.

Honestly, a lot of people can't handle having sweets in the house, or other junk food snacky things. Yes, WW lets you fit anything you want into your diet, if you choose to eat it. But a lot of WW-ers realize that they have trouble controlling themselves around certain foods, so they don't keep them in the house. I do this with all sweets, including things like 100-calorie packs and fat free pudding cups and homemade low-point treats. If I want a dessert as a "treat" - "treat" meaning something I have *occasionally* - I will have dessert outside my house so there aren't leftovers around.

And honestly, I think WW meetings are not the place to bring in cookies, no matter how low-point they are. If someone is saving their points for a special dinner out, why do they need the temptation to have something they haven't planned for in the one place they should feel safe from temptations?

WW is not a diet - it's a program that helps people learn how to control the number of calories they take in by balancing portion control and food choices. Because it has so much freedom, people learn to eat how they need to eat to feel satisfied while staying within their Points target. A lot of people choose not to waste their points on junk food, and that is what these lowfat "treats" are. If you are able to incorporate them into your daily diet, good for you. But you can't expect everyone to jump up and down and say goody-goody thank you if they have struggled with sweets and have found that staying away from them helps them use their Points in a way that works better for THEM.

Just as you don't want people telling you not to eat FF Pringles, other people probably don't want you telling them that it's ok to have a meringe because it's only 1 point. That makes you no less of a food-pusher than Aunt Betty who thinks you should go ahead and have a second slice of pie just because it's Thanksgiving.