To both Lindas and Robin, I can't tell you how much your words of support mean to me! I feel so much better this morning. I really feel lucky to have all of you and my husband for support. My husband keeps telling me that this is a marathon and not a sprint; and he's right! Two of you mentioned that you continue to journal and this might be something that I should do as well. I guess I just had some momentary disappointment. I have 150 pounds to lose and thought that I would at least lose a pound or two a week. Hubby again wisely pointed out that my average IS two pounds a week so far. I really love that man!

I'm going to stay with WW and Core. I, too, have tried a zillion other diets. I fasted for 6 months on optifast, I did SouthBeach, and a special diet with a bariatric doctor a million years ago that was alot like SouthBeach but with no carbs or oil EVER. Of course, this is also about the fifth or sixth time I have joined WW. Many of the plans worked but none were healthy except for WW. I feel healthy on WW and Core. More importantly, I don't feel as hungry or deprived on Core. On Flex, I would spend points for empty calories and would end up being hungry and wanting more of whatever little squib of stuff I would eat.

This is the beginning of my new Core week!

Thanks again!

I was looking at my food lists and couldn't answer this question, so maybe one of you can help me. I know sweet potatoes are core but are they on that list of foods that you can only have once a day?

Thanks

Hey all! I have a sort of random question that I hope someone can help me with. I joined WW last Thursday and actually started CORE on Monday. I went to last night's meeting and weighed in - down 1.4lbs.!!! - this was after being on the program a little less than 4 days. I wondering in order to propoerly gauge my progress if should consider Friday as the 1st day of my new week or should Monday continue to be the day. Just wondering if anyone had the same issue at that point and how it was handled. This will definitely affect my FPs.

Robin, my week one book just says potatoes are limited to one meal a day. Sweet potatoes are not listed separately anywhere, inclulding unders the starches, grains and cereals that we can have more than once a day. My conclusion is that the ARE limited to once a day.

Sorry...I suspect you hope for a difference answer!

Chic, welcome to Core! I would start your new week of Core with last night's weigh in; meaning you start fresh today with 35 flex points. You know WW encourages you to stay with one or the other for at least the whole week to avoid the dilemma that you were/are in.

No, I'm fine with that answer. I just really didn't know!

Robin

Vicki, thank you so much for your reply! Thinking about it, starting today would make the most sense. YAY!

txlawchic....The more I read and re-read your post the more I agree with Vickie. Good luck on your weight loss journey......Linda (L.J.)
Keep us posted!!
Have a great and focused weekend....

Linda, I have maintained the last 2 weeks even though I was trying to lose. I'm thinking it may be because I ate 14 WPAs this week when I usually only use 5 or 6.

I wonder if your body will just level off when you get to the weight you should be and stay there as long as you continue to eat Core and limit the WPAs to 35? After all, isn't that they way natural skinny people maintain their weight? Eat only what their body needs, eat only when hungry, stop when full and limit extras to special occasions? Just a thought.

Janette....I am not sure which Linda you were writing but this is LJ and as I read your post I am now wondering, if we want to get a bit more weight off would going back to Flex help boost that. What you are saying make sense and yes eventually we must maintain our chosen goal. Tomorrow I w/i officially and can't help but wonder if I will show another loss. I have been very good and 100% on program. I have learned that our bodies will LET us know when it wants to show that loss. We have no control over that, sad as that is :-)
I know when I reached WW goal and did the 6 weeks of maintainence I never added those extra pts we were suppost to and continued to lose 7 more lbs. I am now .5 below my WW goal and I doubt very much that I will be adding them again. I am satisfied with the amout of food I have been eating on Core. I do not stuff myself at all and eat what ever the serving size sugguests, and I walk away from the table completely satisfied. I don 't have that "eat as much as you need to be satisified" thing don't pat yet, and so just doing servings suggestions works fine for me.
Today starts my 'new' week, although I w/i on Sunday. I am having a little battle with...should I continue Core and do Flex. The past two weeks has been nice not counting points, although I DO journal everyday. Actually I journal the night before for the next day, so I am on top of things and focused. I also feel going out to eat is much easier on Core. I most likely wil continue my weight loss journey this way. After all isn't a lifetime committment might as well enjoy the ride with as little stress as possible.
Yes I am at WW goal but I'd LOVE to lose 7 more lbs to get back to my personal goal.
I have not cheated once so whatever the scale says tomorrow the scale says. I know I have been On Program.
Looks like for the next week it's Core for me again.
Oh as far as using PA last week I used 15 and the end of this week I it's 13. Last week I had a good lost so we'll see. I mean we are allowed to use those PA if we choose. I will let you all know how it went. I have a feeling it will be a STS (stayed the same)
I hope everyone else is having success and feeling good about what they are doing.
Hoping to hear from everyone....but in the meantime, have a great day out there.
L.J (Linda)

Robin, Keep at it. Sounds like you are just beginning this journey. Remember that it's a life long journey and that it takes a very long time to see the results. It's easy to binge and get frustrated.
Hi Vickie, glad we were able to help you a bit. Have patience, all good things come in time. We still all, in our heads, want that quickie "miracle" quick fix weight loss, it's just ain't out there. It takes true commitment, hard work and determination to achieve one's goals.
Janette, LJ, responded to you, not me. Neither she nor I can address your ultimate question. However, you must "use the force, Luke".... my Star Wars phrase for the week! The force, is a zenlike feeling that a person can achieve when they are working towards a goal. This force is kind of like hypnosis and allows us to walk away from the chocolate, walk away from the French Fries and choose better choices. This force gives us strength and courage to go through each and every day and add some activity.
You must ask yourself, are you TRULY satisfied with 166 vs. that written goal you have under your signature of 150? Have you consulted height and weight charts and do they say, for your height, that 166 is a good and healthy weight?
You must not allow the "dark side" to sway you into thinking that your body has "leveled off to a weight you should be at". You have lost water weight, some initial weight and here is the time for truly hard work and committment. You must use the force to take a serious look at what you have been eating. Journal, measure, work out, walking, parking the extra few spaces away at the end of the parking lot, taking the stairs, etc. The force is always with you, my dear. The dark side is forever there, lurking, and it can be like the devil in terms of swaying your thoughts.
May the force be with you all today!
Linda, using her "lightstick" to ward off the dark side from coming into her life

Hey Linda in NH :-) - I love your interpertation of The Force. Great wording!!
We absoulutely have to be in control of what we do and what we choose to eat. I am a prime example. A lifetime member falling off the wagon, something I SWORE I would never do!!!!
We must be conscience every day, for me it's every moment. Sometimes to obession, but that is what I have to do to obtain my goals. I made it back to .5 under WW goal, in 16 weeks and I am proud of myself. I worked TOO long and TOO hard to get rid of 55 lbs in 2001 - what the heck was I thinking when I "fell off the wagon" No more, not me. The support of this group has helped me stay even more focused. The imput of each of us is "priceless" So I thank you all for being there!!
And thank Linda in NH for such a great insite of how to look at things on our weigh loss journey.
To everyone else.........hang in there, we can do this and we will. We're in it for life and we're in it together!! Hope to hear from the rest of our great group soon.
L.J (Linda)

Actually I was responding to Linda's query of how maintenance would be handled on Core. I did not mean I was content at 166 lbs. Weight Watchers says I should not weight more than 145 but I was not able to maintain that weight so I am starting with 150 to see what happens when I get there. Yesterday when I weighed I was the same but---------

I am happy to report that this morning (my official wi day) I showed a 1 lb. loss!! I don't have digital scales so it's not easy to "record" a loss until the needle actually moves from one slash to another--plus after the wi this morning I moved my scale to a better place where the numbers are in a better light--duh!

So, the WPAs didn't hurt me this week--who knows maybe they helped. I am still going to change my exercise routine to morning so that I can get it in no matter what.

Good to have the support of friends as we travel along.

Janette, I would think they would help and think this way too, if you can gradually start using all your WPA's then once you start to maintain and get those extra 28 WPA's we'll be eating like Kings! (or queens, lol) Maintenance scares me a little, I'm getting so close and all I have ever known is how to lose weight, I don't know how I'll handle a permanent stall, lol. I'm afraid I may not know how to stop losing weight and become under weight... I guess I shouldn't worry too much though, that is why I am part of this support board, so everyone can keep me in check, lol.

I agree with Spryng- I have only known what to do to lose the weight, never using the additinal pts we get after that...too afraid I guess :-) Now on Core when maintenence kicks in you get to add an additinal 28 pts per week making our WPA 63!! Scary, huh!! But surely enough doable, but nevertheless scary. I guess it's so we can find out where our stiauous is, and we can zero in on the number of those WPA works for us. Use some and show a gain then cut back, use some and don't gain, add a few. It's a learning process we will all face soon :-):-)
A pound down Janette is great I am hoping for that too. I find that I do better from Sun to Sun then Sat to Sat....I show the loss if any on Sunday....go figure!!
Janette what do you do for breakfast?? Thanks to you I am now eating my fruit :-) 3 times a day according to the 8 healthy guide lines. I am kind of getting used to having them. One of the Kathy's here posted a mixture of FF PLAIN yogurt (yuk) with some FF/SF instant pudding.....well I am here to tell you it is dee-lish. Had it last night for my dessert. Did NOT overload on in, 1/2 of the plain yogurt and 1-2 TBS of the ffsf pudding, mixed together and chill a few minutes....it was great and I was happy and satisfied and sweet tooth pleasantly pleased. It's a must try!!
I may treat myself tomorrow night too but this time add 36g on a gram scale of FF cool whip (1 pt)
Again Janette I don't know which Linda you actually wrote but this is Linda (L.J )answering again. I am sorry if it weren't me that you were questioning, on your earlier post. I guess it can get confusing....but we are all here to help each other that's what I like about this particular board, and again it is you I thank for my fruit :-)
Talk to you all later............how is everyone doing???? L.J.