[Osteengal]

Hi everyone! I'm new to this site, but not new to WW. I have always done the Flex Points, and have usually lost weight pretty quicky on it. About 3 weeks ago I started on Core for the first time, and am a little disappointed that I haven't lost weight as quickly. But I feel a lot better and am not hungry (I am following all the Core rules). What I need help with is this: Can anyone who has had success let me know about it--does it really work, if you follow the rules? Did you lose weight as quickly on it as you did on the Flex Plan (if you did Flex)? I need some encouragement! Thanks everyone! Denise

[Vickie]

Denise, I lost 45 pounds on Core fairly quickly when I first started and was religiously following the program. It definitely works. I lost more quickly than on Flex. I, too, have been at WW a long time. Here are some differences that I've noticed with Core.

You must master the satisfaction level. When I was doing well, I was always a tiny bit hungry. No where near as much as Flex but still a bit hungry. When I stop feeling hungry then I know I'm letting my portions get too big again.

Secondly, water volume is way more crucial on Core than Flex. You must drink a lot of water to flush through all the fiber we are eating. When I was losing fast in the beginning, I was drinking 8-10 eight ounce glasses of pure water in addition to my other decaf beverages.

The weight loss on Core is different. I'd lose 3.4 one week and then nothing the next or I'd have a slight gain. It was always slow, slow, then a huge loss. I'd say you have to give Core a full month before you make your decision on whether or not it really worked for you. Also, I noticed WAY more inches lost on Core than Flex. Even the weeks that I wasn't losing, my clothes would start to get loose. Exercise, of course, will help tremendously.

Good luck!

[itsux2bfat]

Hi, Denise--

I've been eating Core for exactly 1 month as of today--and I've lost 12 lbs!! My experience has been similar to Vickie's in that I tend to stay at the same weight for over a week, and then have losses 2 or 3 days in a row, then stay again for awhile ... it's kinda weird, but who cares--as long as it comes off!

I must say I'm not stressing over the small stuff, worrying about being perfect, or any of that. I usually have something non-Core on Fridays; not planned, but it just works out that way. And it hasn't affected me at all. ('Course, Core does allow you to have, what, 35 points per WEEK of non-Core foods?) So even doing that isn't breaking the rules.

I found that the first week (making those big habit changes) is the hardest. After that, I kind of found my "groove" and have been just rolling along.

One other thing that I'm doing this time that I haven't done in any recent diet attempts in years is working out. I joined a health club right next to my office, and I've been going 4-5 times a week. When I'm there I'm usually there for close to an hour. So I'm sure that's making a big difference for me.

I wish you luck ... try to stay with it for at LEAST a few weeks to see if it's really going to work. I'm convinced--it's working for me, thank God! (I have quite a ways to go, but I'm just focused on one day at a time at this point.)

Take care--

Laurie