Hi
I dont know much about the flex system, but I think you are suppose to use them all especially if you are exercising each day, then you have to add even more. If you go too low you will gain weight since your system will go into what I've heard "survival mode". I'm on WW and if I'm not sure I go over a few points to make sure I dont shoot to low.
Hope that help some,
Chrissy

When I started working out I also expercienced the scale going up, instead of down. Keep at it, your body is creating muscle and changing from the inside out, it just takes longer for the scale to show it. Some other ways to measure your success are to take a photo journal, and to use your body measurements. Two things to keep in mind, you need to be sure to eat your AP points, and all points are not equal. Be sure that your points are coming from high quality healthy food.

Try eating some of your flex points or activity points. I know it sounds weird but it helps boost your metabolism. If you are strict and are exercising too, your body feels like its starving. The flex points are there to eat and enjoy, not just to eat when you want to be bad.

use youre points. youre body may be goin into starve mode

The flex plan is designed to maximize your weight loss by eating most or all of the flex points. If you don't eat them, your metabolism slows right down, and your body will try to keep the weight instead of losing it. If you both exercise and demand that your body process a certain amount of food each day, your metabolism will speed up and your weight loss will speed up with it!

EAT YOUR FLEX POINTS AND YOUR ACTIVITY POINTS for a minimum of 3-4 weeks if at the end of that time you haven't started to see losses (average .5-2 pounds a week) then drop back by about 7 a week on the FLEX POINTS but eat your ACTIVITY POINTS. Do that again for 3-4 weeks and re-eval.

If you are not losing after that seek the advice of yoru doctor because you may have some underlying medical problem.

Also analyze your program:

1) Where in your points range (range meaning utilizing your TPs, APs, and FPs) are you eating? Most people find they lose better when eating most if not all of their points for the week. Especially if you are exercising you need to eat toward a high point total and not the lower end. The reason is because your body thinks it is starving and slows down your metabolism and holds on to the calories you intake.

2) What are you spending your points on? Review the POINTSPIES (Also make sure you get in some REAL fat (butter, margarine, mayo, real salad dressing, etc) however your fats really should for health concerns come from non-saturated sources. I had subconsciously removed almost all fat from my diet and had plateaued for SIX (count them 6) months. Make sure you get in some fat. Again W/W and nutritionists recommend for health healthy fats such as olive, canola oils etc but the important thing is to not eliminate the fat and get in at least 2 points in real fats (this is from nutritional courses).

3) Are you drinking your water?

4) Are you eating a lot of processed foods (canned, frozen, etc.) which contain a lot of sodium, which causes water retention. What about diet sodas? They can cause bloating and water retention.

5) Are you exercising? Have you taken your measurements to see if you are building muscle while losing? Remember muscle weighs 2.2 times more than fat volume for volume (this means for a 3”x3” piece of muscle and a 3”x3” piece of fat the muscle will be 2.2 times heavier). If you are exercising remember to eat high in your point range.

6) Are you journaling? This includes every BLT (bite, lick and taste). Those BLTs can add up in 'hidden' points. My leader suggested for each BLT or freebie to put a tick mark in your journal and for each 4-5 add 1 point to your day.

7) Are you calculating points correctly? Ninety percent of new members don't count points correctly. I have a favorite muffin and I realized my 3-point muffin is really 6 points because it is 2 servings. Make sure you use the nutritional information rather than the 'generic' list W/W puts out. You'll find a lot of differences.

Once you have analyzed these things then you need to start playing with the program to adapt it to you and your body. Like reducing the carbs and increasing the protein and stuff like that.

Additionally try following the 8 Great Health Guidelines in your materials and follow a Points Pies

Balanced (under 250 pounds)

Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 8-9 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 6-7 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 0-3 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 2-3 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day

20-28 points a day

Higher Protein (under 250 pounds)

Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 5-6 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 9-11 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 0-1 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 2-4 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day

20-28 points a day

Higher Carb (under 250 pounds)

Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 9-10 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 5-7 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 1-3 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 1-2 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day

20-28 points a day

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Balanced (over 250 pounds)

Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 11 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 10 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 3-4 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 2-3 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day

30-34 points a day

Higher Protein (over 250 pounds)

Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 8 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 12 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 2-3 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 4-5 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day

30-34 points a day

Higher Carb (over 250 pounds)

Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 13 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 8 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 2-4 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 3 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day

30-34 points a day

Thank you ladies, I'll try to use up a bit more of my flex points, I usually try not to thinking that it might aid my weight loss. I'll give it a go for 4 weeks and see if there is any difference. :hugs:

Jigglybits, I am with you I have had the same issues and next week I am gonna try the same. Thanks for asking that questions cause I was at my wits end with WW and I didn't understand what was going on. So know your not alone I was eating within my points, water , exercise and only eating a few flex points and no AP so I wasn't losing at all. So thanks again and keep in touch, maybe we can get threw this together. I noticed it has been a while since you posted how was this weeks weigh-in.
Stacey