Core Program
 

Since it was introduced today, lets hear all about it!!!

It is just a list of dos and don'ts really. Really restrictive. Much like the old selections w/optional calories program and very low carb. You can only eat a starch at one meal a day...no counting except for the APs and FPs (both FlexPlan and Core have FPs).

That is inaccurate information.

The Core Program is a real innovation - not a low carb diet. It's similar to South Beach, with a list of foods to eat. Other foods may be added with flex points.

It's a no count food list with a rich variety of lean programs, all fruits, veggies, whole grains, starchy veggies, etc.

I just learned about it today at my meeting and am very excited about it. You also learn about a hunger/fullness scale to help monitor your eating. This is not a pig out like Thanksgiving program. You eat to satiety, but no portion control. You are an adult and responsible for curbing your own portions once you realize you are no longer hungry.

I love this plan and highly recommend it. Over 10,000 volunteers were recruited to test this plan over the past 18 months and it was very successful.

I am very pleased with it.

To me not being able to make choices is restrictive. Being able to have starches in only one meal is restrictive and low carb. SBD is low carb! Not being able to have bread unless you use your WeeklyPointsAllowance (aka FlexPoints) is restrictive. Only being able for the most part using FlexPoints for dining out is restrictive.

I do understand that some people need this structure

I'm sorry but in my opinion if you have a list of you can eat this and this in unlimited quantities (you don't learn portion control) and this is a limited item for only 1 meal and having to do this or that is a DIET not a new way of life.

Really it is a lot like the old selection plans. Restrictive.

Kelly: are they still running flexpoints concurrently? I ahet plans with dos and don'ts.... The reasons I have been so successful with WW is the fact I can eat whatever I want.

Cheers!

Ali

Yes you get an option of following FlexPlan or CorePlan. That is the beauty of W/W now you have an option....there are many who have been on selections in the past (and many lowcarb switchers) who said this plan is a DIET and not LIFESTYLE change with the Core. Many say they may use it to get over a plateau since you can switch back and forth at any time you want but they suggest follow each for at least a whole week.

Kelly: thanks. I know some people struggle with a lack of structure, but I do worse with structure. I tried SBD for a while to help with my gain and couldn't maintain its discipline. At least they are offering both. I'll be curious to see it when I go to my meeting tomorrow. Plus I need a plan I can maintain for life. I messed up maintanence before, but I am a few years older, a little more mature and am respecting my body better.

Cheers!

Ali

Once again - starches are not allowed at only one meal. Please have your facts straight!

Unless you use FPs you can only have pasta or potatoes (ie., starches) at one meal...this is a partial except (much of it is missing but the details ont he starches are there...limited to 1 a day....unless you choose to use your FPs).

"READY-TO-EAT COLD CEREAL:

....Details

Cold cereals are limited to one meal a day ..."

GRAINS AND STARCHES:

...Details

Whole-wheat pasta or brown rice or potatoes is limited to one meal a day."

QuilterInVA, So yes I had my facts maybe you did not read that! maybe since you have not been to your meeting (next Saturday) you did not know that.

I'm thinking that this is a bit southbeachish, but since I modified south beach and made the scale move downwards, it may not be such a bad thing in my case.

We eat pretty mostly unprocessed foods. We rely on mostly fresh veggies, cheeses, fruits and meats. We do eat more bread than we should, so this be hard. I like the fact that it emphasizes whole foods instead of all the pre-processed stuff that is out there.

I think the recipes are pretty decent. I may be making moussaka tonight.

I wonder how some of WW very own exceedingly processed food products will fit in with the "core"

lala

Originally Posted by Kelly_S:
Unless you use FPs you can only have pasta or potatoes (ie., starches) at one meal...this is a partial except (much of it is missing but the details ont he starches are there...limited to 1 a day....unless you choose to use your FPs).

"READY-TO-EAT COLD CEREAL:

....Details

Cold cereals are limited to one meal a day ..."

GRAINS AND STARCHES:

...Details

Whole-wheat pasta or brown rice or potatoes is limited to one meal a day."

QuilterInVA, So yes I had my facts maybe you did not read that! maybe since you have not been to your meeting (next Saturday) you did not know that.

This is the way I'm reading it:

One portion of cold cereal a day PLUS one portion of starch/grains a day? So technically, you still get two portions of carbs everyday if you wish. Right?

I read it the same way but it still doesn't include bread unless you use your FlexPoints....

I am not saying it is a bad program just for my lifestyle it wouldn't work at all and it is a bit restrictive. I am not looking for a diet...I am looking for something I can do every day for the rest of my life. I would not be able to follow this Core Program for life...I do follow many of the aspects on trying to stay away from the convenience foods and lean meats and lots of veggies and some fruit.

One of the other aspects I think needs to be brought into the Core program is portion control somewhat. While many of us realize we need to watch portion sizes many will just hear 'unlimited' or 'eat until you are full' and not realize being full does not mean stuffed. I see many people (true newbies) thinking that eat until you are full as a license to eat all they want and failing and quiting. While I would do everything I could to help them many will just give up.

Please do not think I am putting down the new program as it can work with discipline and responsibility.

I'm thinking that the exact opposite may be true - its the end of the day - I'm full - and I only have had 15 points worth of food. The risk of undereating is as much a possibility as overdoing it. That's why I think the "core" to the core porgram is really understanding the comfort scale. I am going to track points for a week a two to make sure that I am 'in check" on the portion sizes and not undereating. Other than that I am fine with the notion of concentrating on core foods and adding others out of my AP's or points allowance.

I often work the points system to a fault and probably eat more than I need to just because I feel that I should eat every point I am "entitled to". For me - the key to a way of eating for life is understanding what my body needs and enjoying the food that I choose to eat. I don't want to do math every time I eat and I am sick to death of washing measuring cups and spoons. LOL - Sounds like the core program is going to perfect for me doesn't it?

Good luck to everyone - if we stay OP we'll all be fine regardless of which option we choose.

I see this as a way for me to really retrain myself to be responsible for what I eat and really pay attention to my fullness. I like WW, and the points makes so much sense, but after about 8 weeks I am so sick of hearing about points I get really frustrated. While the Core has more structure, I don't think it will be as frustrating and aggravating as me concentrating on every point. I think I need to be able to focus on the quality of the food, not the points. Instead of looking for "O point this" or "2 point that" I want to focus on high quality, real food for a change. I am going to try the core program for these reasons. ... shelle

not low carb
 

I don't see the core plan as low carb. Fruit, unlimited starchy vegetables, hot cereal (not mentioned as only one serving allowed), cold cereal, grains, pasta, potates, vegetables. Plus 35 flex points per week. I see that as two meals with whole grains. The South Beach diet allows very tiny amounts of whole grains in phase 2. Maybe one piece of fruit and 1/2 cup of brown rice.
It looks to me like the only grain I will be avoiding is bread.
I am a lifetime member (1989) and have had a hard time keeping my weight down with points. I think it is just too much freedom for me, there are never enough points to get me through the day.
I also tried South Beach in the past and it was way to restrictive for me.
I am hopefull that the core plan will give me the variety with structure I need to find success, yet a little bit of freedom in the 35 points per week for a few indulgences. (wine, chocolate and a bagel now and then)
I am hopefull.

I wish ya'll you try all the luck in the world. But as I said for my lifestyle it just wouldn't work. If you eat out there is very little on the retaurant list you can have and you have to use FPs for the rest. With only 35 FPs a week for me that is impossible. I do find on my 24 TPs a day + 35 FPs a week + any APs I earn a day (some is 0 some is 3 but usually never more than that) I am not hungry.

Actually I think that the concepts of the Core should be stressed more into Flex and the portion control of Flex incorporated into Core.

I was looking at it and if I could eat until my body told me I was full (mostly because I am a fast eater probably) I would totally over do it. I love meat and could easily get 2000-3000 calories a day on lean meats, I would omit veggies and veggies becuase they are not really what I love but I do eat them at times, I love milk and could easily since it is unlimited get back into drinking 2 quarts minimum which is another 640 calories.

No one said this was a LOW CARB but a LOWER CARB way of life. If you really look at it ---- it does lower the carbs somewhat.

It's funny, I pretty much eat good carbs anyway, I just do it my way through flexpoints. I do at least two servings of milk product daily,2-3 servings of lean protien (including eggs), 2-3 serving of complex carbs and at least 2 fruit a day with lots of veggies and some added non-transfat fat occassionally. I find through years of working at my food, I just have found a good combination of foods that keep me satisfied, yet help me reach my goals. The way I eat now, is far different from my initial weight loss on WW. Much healthir and less processed. I still like the flexibility though because sometimes life happens and if an indescretion or an emergency fix comes into play, I just like to put that into my daily allottment of points. I'll look at the Core program, but I like the portion structure of points. I have a tendancy to binge on good healthy foods and I don't have a very good "I'm full switch". I am glad they're offering both programs! We can all support each other regardless of which way we choose.

Cheers!

Ali

Ali, That is me also! But I am not against the other program just not for me.

Is there anyplace online that I can get more detailed info on the new program? I did WW a few years ago with the 123 Success and then the Winning Points. I made lifetime on the 123 program but have not been back to a meeting in about 3 years. This new program sounds like what I need to get back on track. I went to the WW site but all the information was very high level.

I never really got much out of the meetings and lost the weight on my own. I can't afford to sign up onlilne and would appreciate any links or info on the new program.

Thanks!

The Weight Watchers Site will give you a tour of the program. I like the core because I like fruits and veggies and found myself limiting my fruit because I didn't want to use the points. I also like milk and hated to waste the points on it. This way, I eat lots of fruits and all the milk I want. I still use the portion control that I learned in points. I never did last very long with the flex system. I like having the 35 points to have an occasional coke or bread if I want a sandwich or hamburger. I don't have to worry about overdoing on the meat cause it is a stretch for me to finish a pork chop.

I already looked at the tour but it is at a high level. Is there any other place that gives more details on how the program works? I'm still at a loss.

Candice, You realize you posted a copywrite word for word out of a W/W booklet. That is illegal.

I view the CORE program as the healthiest new diet out there. Everyone is on the low carb craze now, but they aren't getting all the proper nutrition from each food group. WW designed a program to go with today's trend that is a healthy approach, one that can be followed for life. If you do well on Flex, then stick with it, but there are many of us out there that need definite structure and to be told you can and can't eat this (like me). This is only like SB in the aspect that there is a food list, but the contents of the list are very different.

I have been doing a combination of WW Flex points and South Beach Diet for a several months now but have adapted it to my daily points and keeping portion control in check since that was one of the main problems I had before I started WW. I don't use my 35 points much as I usually eat my exercise points instead.

I have found this to be a good combination for myself and I have stayed on Phase II of SBD/WW for a while since it seems to be working okay.

Each person is different so if Flexpoints works for you then great- if the Core works then great. I am thinking of trying the Core for a week or two to see what happens :) If I don't like it I wil go back to Flexpoints.

I am reviewing the new materials tonight to decide before doing the weekend grocery shopping :chef:

Originally Posted by Livvi:
I view the CORE program as the healthiest new diet out there.

This is why I don't think CORE would work for me. I'm not looking for a new diet. I chose WW because its a lifestyle change, and something I could do for the rest of my life. I don't want to limit my foods to a list, I love Breads and Pastas. Why would I willingly give up the foods I love so much?!! I think the key to weight loss and maintenance is eating in moderation with the correct portion sizes and to obviously exercise. When I go to a social function I don't want to have to refuse foods because they are not on my list!! Everyone says its about eating healthfully and giving your body only what it needs, but I like to enjoy the foods I eat. Of course I love vegetables and fruits, but I also love sandwiches, rice, and pastas. I'm not going to neglect myself of those.

Of course, this is all my opinion and I wish the best of luck to those that are on core or are thinking about trying it.