Hi, I am tracy and im 26 yrs old and new to WW. I have been on it for about a week now and have lost 1.2 lbs. I was just wondering if anyone could give me any tips. and also some good tips on foods. I am in school full time and work full time as well. so i am very busy. I dont have time to prepare meals so i kindof have to grab already prepared stuff. Can anyone give me any tips as to what to get when i go grocery shopping?

I'm proud of your ambition! My son is your age and I so wish he'd get back in school.

There are so many good convenience food choices now...bags of prewashed lettuce, bags of baby carrots & other veggies, precooked chicken fajitas as well as cooked whole chickens in the deli section. I stock up on Lean Cuisine and Smart Ones when they're on sale and steam veggies to eat with them.

Breakfast during the week is usually yogurt and Fiber One cereal, fruit. Easy to grab on my way out the door and easy to eat at my desk after I get to work.

On Sundays, I usually make a big salad in the large yellow Tupperware bowl with either black beans or chicken and divide it into 4 smaller Rubbermaid bowls to take to work. I pre-measure my dressing for each day into a smaller container. Each morning I just grab a salad, dressing and piece of fruit.

I also like to fix meals in the crockpot which can be eaten for several days either for lunch or dinner. I package them in individual containers, ready to reheat in microwave.

Hope this helps some. I know you'll get lots of good ideas here. Keep up the good work!!

Do you have a freezer available to you and a blender?

For breakfasts put together in freezer bags 1 1/2 cups of frozen fruit, 1 1/2 ounce of banana. In you refrig have plain fat-free or vanilla flavored fat-free yogurt and Diet V8 splash. In your pantry have vanilla extract (for when you use plain yogurt) and Splenda or Nutrasweet. While you take your morning shower put the fruit in the blend to soften a bit...then add 1 cup of Diet V8 Splash, 1 cup Yogurt (vanilla to taste if you use plain), sweetener to taste. 4 Points and you get a dairy and 3 servings of fruit.

Here are some other Grab&Go Breakfasts around 3-4 points each: http://www.cspinet.org/nah/11_99/bre...rab_n_gos.html

For lunches you can do sandwiches, soups (great in a thermos), and salads.

Dinners you can get a Geo Foreman (easily hid in a dorm) and do lean meats, veggies in the microwave, baked potatoes (wash and pierce a potato with a fork, wrap in plastic wrap and microwave 6-10 minutes), or instant rice or potatoes in the microwave.

Hi again, Tracy! Let’s see what ideas I can come up with…

I usually try to make enough dinner that I can just grab leftovers for lunch and I know I’m having a healthy, inexpensive meal.

For breakfast, I like instant oatmeal and a banana; toast 2 slices of lite bread to make laughing cow cheese sandwich (2 pts); breakfast lean pocket; Canadian bacon and cheese heated on an English muffin. When I am chopping green peppers and onions, I always chop extra to keep on hand in the fridge. It takes about 5 minutes to put together a yummy omelet using peppers, onions, tomato (chop while sautéing p&o), egg substitute, light cheese (2 pts). If in a hurry, toss your omelet on a hamburger bun or toast and take it in the car!

I have found out that Michaela’s (sp?) Lean Gourmet meals are really good and less than $2 each. The points are on the container (but you might want to double check as I have been told some prepackaged foods have the wrong points on them). I have made a habit of adding lettuce, tomato, and maybe onion to almost all sandwiches and burgers. That way you fill up a bit more on the veggies and need less cheese/meat.

The crockpot is one of my best friends. There are tons of WW recipes on the ‘net for the slow cooker. I plan to use it twice this week.

I think the biggest thing is planning ahead. Be intentional about the veggies you will add to the meal. I do a tentative meal plan each week to know how I will balance things out. If you must grab fast food, remember there are healthier options out there. You can have a kid’s meal for much less calories and it’s all the food we really need anyway. Leave off the mayo to save a point or two at most places. Do you NEED the 2 pt cheese? How about a side salad instead of fries? I have a cheat sheet of most my favorite places, so I can run by the drive thru without eating too much junk!

Great ideas!! I really have trouble getting my servings of vegetables in. Fruits arent a problem. But veggies are because im so picky. But i have been forcing myself to try new things lately. I WILL do this.. I Can do this.

That is all you can do is keep trying. Most of us don't like veggies because the have been over cooked for us in the past and are tasteless that way. Try steaming until just tender crisp or try a stirfry...veggies really are good.