Just got done reading that post and was very impressed with it. That's the way I've always thought, too, you have to 'trick' your body into letting go of those pounds. However, I'm not very good with figuring out the numbers. I don't do WW, I'm a calorie-counter, and was wondering if someone could do the math for me?

I currently eat 1200 (no more than 1300) calories a day. How would I turn that into the Wendie Plan? I'm always terrified of those days I'm supposed to eat more than usual (I've tried the zig-zagging before) and I end up chickening out.

Can someone help?

First off your caloric intake should be based on current weight to maintain (read on Basal Metabolic Rate) and then to lose 1 pound a week you reduce the daily calories by 500.

18 points = 1050 calories
20 points = 1150 calories
22 points = 1250 calories
24 points = 1350 calories
26 points = 1450 calories
28 points = 1550 calories
30 points = 1650 calories
32 points = 1750 calories
34 points = 1850 calories
35 points = 1900 calories (Weekly Points Allowance)
36 points = 2050 calories

Remember this is not always true but a good guide and DOES NOT include the 200-250 calories a day W/W built into the program for free veggies.

So without giving away some of the copyright info (PM me and I can tell you what your daily target points would be but I need your current weight) I can't tell you in an open forum what your points would be so you could look at the average calories above.

Well, I don't go by points, I go by calories. That's what I was having trouble with. How would I figure my daily needs with an actual calorie count rather than points?

I'm currently 139 and my maintenance calories are about 1750. Which is why I eat around 1250-1300 calories per day. So what I need to do is figure out in calories how much I should be eating per day if I were to try this plan. I don't know how to convert points to calories.

Thanks for the help and if you still need to keep anything private, just PM me

What you want to do is average 1300 calories per day over the course of the week. 1300 x 7 = 9100. You don't really want to go under 1000 calories a day. So just make sure your average is 1300.

A simple spreadsheet could do it.

Label Cells A1 - G1: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun
Label Cell H1: Total
Label Cell I1: Average
in cell H2 put the following formula: =sum(a1:g1)
in cell I2 put in the following formula: =average(a1:g1)

In the second row, enter your calories each day.
You don't want your total calories to exceed 9100 and you want your average to be 1300.

A "Wendie Plan" week might look like this.
M, T, W, Th, F, S, S,
1180, 1300, 1000, 2000, 1050, 1350, 1220,

This give you a total of 9100 calories for the week and an average of 1300 per day. I try to not have a high point day right before weigh in. But if you are doing it on your own, then when you weigh in is more flexible.

If you are rotten with spreadsheets and you pm your email address, I will make one for you.

Actually research states a woman should never fall below 1200 calories a day.

BTW I send a PM to you about how to convert the Wendi Plan and poitns into a caloric version.

Thanks both of you!

This is all about cutting back on some days so you can splurge on others and hoping it tricks your body into doing something different.

Considering there are lots of Dr. approved VLC diets, I am sure that if someone occasionally had 1000 calories, it wouldn't kill them. As a matter of fact, there was a really good section on VLC diets in "Thin for Life" that had many examples of people that had lost weight eating in a very low calorie range (~600) on a daily basis who were still able to make the transition to maintenence, although some admitted it was tough for them.

However, we aren't even really talking about a VLC diet, just about having 1000 calories occasionally so that you can splurge occasionally.

Besides, research is all about the "average" women. I have a cousin who is 4'10 and 95 lbs often eats about 1000 calories to maintain her weight (which is perfectly healthy at her height). There are always people who have circumstances that put them outside the recommended ranges be it by metabolism or genetics.

BTY, I got the spreadsheet done if anyone wants it for calorie counting or points.

I have days where I only have about 1000 calories. Then I have other days, Sunday especially, where I eat way more than usual. I save one meal a week (Sunday dinner) to allow myself to eat what I want and as much I want. I always have. That's my splurge meal. My MIL comes over every Sunday for dinner and I fix whatever we're in the mood for. And I EAT and don't worry about the calories.

And I'd love that spreadsheet! I'll PM you with my email addy.

Can you please post the spreadsheet here? Thanks so much.

It can't figure out how to upload it. The forum doesn't seem to allow for that type of file. I can email it to you.

LLV,
I hope you're watching the fat as well as making sure you get enough fiber in your diet. On thing I found out with just counting calories. It's easy to get caught up in the caloric intake and not realize the lack of nutrition. Sodium could also be an issue with some foods. Some foods will take away the fat and sugar to makeit low-cal but add lots of salt for flavor. Be careful. I do the WW points, still, I keep a food journal because it's easy to get too much sodium with the points as well. Good luck with your diet.