I've found that I lose more when I don't eat my WPs, but I have a friend who swears she always ate them and consistently lost more by doing so....I've tried both ways, but I think it really depends on the person. I would definitely stick with eating the WPs if you're losing between 4-5 lbs per week, that's AMAZING loss!

I plan to be on my points number every day. I don't use the Flex Points unless I absolutely need to, like I'm having a hungry day (this happens occasionally, so they are nice to have around...). This way, any unintended overages get taken care of nicely (you know, like you have a 1 point food but eat it twice in a day and if you double the calories/fat/fiber and enter the total it adds up to 3 points but you've counted them as 2 points because you ate them 6 hours apart...).
At the beginning, I ate all my Flex points and all my Exercise points and didn't lose a thing. For 2 weeks. So for ME this doesn't work.
It totally rocks if you can do this!
Kira

I have always use what ever I am alloted. WPA and AP's

It has helped me to Maintain at at a High number of points which still include my WPA and AP's

But every one is different. You need to test the waters and see what works for you.

But I was not going to spend a lifetime at 18 points so I used them all.

Need them for special occasions, going out........

They are built into the program for this. Why would you deprive yourself?

Think about it. Are you going to deprived your self for life????

I find that the 35 extra points are a great insurance policy in getting through the week without having that feeling of being deprived or carrying around guilt (as if we don't have enough to already carry around as it is)

I just started week 2 and am getting use to the AP's.....I guess these give you extra points as well and I would be interested knowing as well if they should be used. I did WW years ago and exercise was just a given in terms of losing weight and keeping it off.

One thing I am not looking forward to is losing a point for every 10 pounds I lose...it that is the way it goes I will be at 18 points and I don't know how I will be able to do that. The old way you seemed to gain more points when you got to maintenance....perhaps that was making up for Core Points and incorporating filling foods.???

So I think that I am going to try sticking to keeping my 35 bonus points so that I don't get discouraged. I just lost 5.2 pounds on my 1st week so we will see if that continues in week #2. I am hoping that like Nicole I can keep the points and still lose at that rate!!!

Anyway....looks like this is post 25 for me and I can now get my official ticker!!! Woo hoo

~ Ivory

I have found that it doesn't make much of a difference for me if I eat them or not, so I eat mine.
I use them as a backup in case I run into a situation where I have to go over my points (like a party or a dinner out or if I'm just feeling extra hungry one day). If the weekend comes and I haven't used them yet, we usually go out for a nice meal and I use them!

I try to just keep in my "normal points" during the week and only use the Flex Points on the weekend. I find that I lose more weight if I don't use all of my Flex points, and I try to avoid eating all of my AP as well. A rule I follow is that I can eat half of my earned AP the day I earn them. The weeks that I've used all of my Flex points I do not lose weight. I think everyone's different, and you should see what works for you. If you're eating them and losing more weight, keep eating them

I think I'm in the same boat as a few posters, I try to save my flex points, particularly for the weekend when I feel that I have less control over food or to use them as a backup when I have something unexpected come up - like I have to go for lunch with the girls, I don't feel like I'm cheating because I have a little insurance in the bank.

I always feel so guilty when I use them. Which is totally wrong, I know that. They are there for a reason. I (re) started WW a few weeks ago and have used them all up each week but part of me feels like a failure when I go over my Daily Points and tap into my weeklies. Like today. DH and I went to TGI Fridays. I had a big salad but it wasn't necessarily filled with the healthiest stuff. So by 2pm, I only had 3 points left for the day. Not a big deal since today is day one of week 4 and I have all my weeklies left. But I feel so mad at myself.

I need to get over that. Those extras are there because we can't live off of a restricted amount of points for the rest of our lives. Ugh, but it is so challenging to stay away from "diet" mindset.

I'm only on week three of my first shot at WW. I have attempted to stay on point daily, but don't feel bad if I go over, because I have the weekly 35. So far, I've looked at them as "insurance", as others have said. This week (cause I feel I have done REALLY well, we'll see at weigh in tomorrow), I may use my extra points to treat myself to something I've been craving......

I plan on using them always, unless my weight loss slows.

I do not want my body to get used to losing on a small amount of calories. I would much prefer it maintain or lose on a larger amount.

I try not to use my activity points, but sometimes that happens.