Candice, all fruit drinks are not on core either so that is probably why V-8 isn't a core item... it's probably something people would go overboard on. The same with breads and nuts... ww tried finding items that are healthy but wouldn't lead to a binge, who wants to binge of hardboiled eggs or ff cottage cheese huh? And for yogurt, only the ff plain is on core, not the fruited kind.
And when it comes to servings of grains.. you can have all the oatmeal and hot cereal you want throughout the day, it's not limited to once a day and neither is corn or peas (starchy veggies) only br. rice, ww pasta, and potatoes are limited to once a day and that means you get ONE of those 3, not all 3 once a day. Cold cereal has to be eaten with milk and you also get it once a day IN ADDITION to your br. rice. ww pasta, and potatoes... so you could have cold cereal with ff milk for breakfast and spaghetti for dinner.
But when it comes to bread, or eating cereal as a snack ,etc that is what your 35 weekly pts are for... ww isn't telling you not to eat them, they just aren't on the list so use your pts for ww breads or tortillas and stuff you enjoy eating.
And I say give Core one week! Try it for one week and if you don't like it you can always switch back to winning pts. Hope I was some help to you!

I agree with Sprying, try it for one week as see how it works. I decided to do that and have actually been enjoying this greatly. I ate out yesterday and managed to only use 2 flex points, not too bad!
You guys have just got to try this.... take an ordinary cookbook (in my case Fanny Farmer, my old time favorite) and filp through a few pages (other than baked goods) and you will find many "core" recipes are just there waiting to be made. Some recipes might need a few substitutes such as non-stick spray vs. butter to fry/sautee or plain ff sour cream vs. milk or cream in a creamed soup and whole wheat pasta or rice, etc. You will find yourself looking at one recipe after another and exclaiming, "I can have it now"!!!!!
Here is one example from the Fanny Farmer cookbook:

Sour Cream Baked Noodles:

Makes four servings

"You will find this recipe has infinate variations use the butter (non stick spray for us) to saute' any one or more of the following, then add to the noodles: 1/4 cup chopped onion, 1/4 cup chopped green pepper, 1/2 cup chopped celery, 1 cup sliced mushrooms, 1 cup well drained flaked tuna or 1 1/2-2 cups diced cooked poultry.
1/4 pound noodles, 1/4 inch wide or wider, cooked (we use whole wheet of course)
1 cup cottage cheese (we use fat free)
1 cup sour cream (again, we use fat free)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
4 tablespoons butter, melted (we don't touch this or use flex points and margarine if you must, use non stick spray for all the sauteed stuff)
Preheat over to 375 degrees, Butter a 1 1/2 quart casserole (again think non stick for the rest of your life here). Put the cooked noddles into a bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients. Put into the casserole and bake 50 - 60 minutes, or until bubbling and set.

So, this could be a good choice for us,we just have to look at a regular recipe and substitute.
I like the idea of adding mushrooms and cooked poultry to this, it would have a "comfort food" quality for me, I think!
At any rate, on almost every page of the Fanny Farmer cookbook, is a recipe that can be looked at just a bit differently, I especially loved going through some of the seafood and soup recipes and seeing that many recipes can just be made, as is, or with just a few substitutions. I have a Hungarian cream of mushroom soup recipe that came from my mother in law and it indicates that one can use either cream or sour cream. So, why not fat free sour cream and just give things a try?
I have a quiche recipe that is also quite low in fat, used plain non fat yogurt in it, so why not try it "crustless" or figure out a way to use whole grain cerial to make some kind of crunchy edge for it, maybe even frozen hash browns that you are supposed to brown in oil pressed against the edges or something.
I have been trying to use my imagination and wish I had time over the last few days to make up a few more adventurous things. Now that it is SO darn hot in NH, I am wishing for a cooling pasta salad recipe with whole wheat pasta! But, why not experiment with cut up veggies, whole wheat pasta, ff italian dressing, ff cheese, etc. and toss one together? Might come out really good!
I will miss a few baked goods, but that is what my flex points are for and I truly shouldn't be eating that much, and haven't been all along due to the points.
Linda in 90 degree NH

Is anyone else feeling a little bonkers after a few days on the core plan? I've not switched back yet to the flex plan, because i really want to see how this affects my weight loss but right now my mental state is making me think that it's not going to work for me in the long term. I seem to be thinking about food a lot more than before--wondering what i'm going to eat next, wishing i could have things that aren't on the approved list but not wanting to spend my flex points on them, etc. I really like the idea of eating such nutritious food but I have such intense head hunger for other things that I"m sort of beside myself at the moment.

I think I need to just get out and do something--I've spent too much time home alone today with too much time to think about food and I bet that's part of the culprit. Still, the one thing I can say about the flex plan that even though I tend to make less-healthy choices, I don't think about it except when I'm hungry. I hate obsessing about food, and I'm afraid that the Core plan is really bringing that out.

Anyone else feel like kvetching about this plan but not quite ready to switch back to Flex?

It's having the opposite effect on me, although I am having to plan meals a bit more.

I was so full from lunch I had to remind myself to fix dinner--ate at 7:00! I find I don't get as hungry nor do I think about food as much because there is so much I can eat without worrying about the number of points or using all my points up. My energy level is up too. When I was on winning point all I thought about was food cause I had to plan, plan, plan to make it through the day on program.

Thanks Spring, yes you did help with my questions, I'm alittle skiptical of this plan, to me it does not set enough limits on portions but I am willing to give it a shot once I am comfortable with knowing about the program. I am currently maintaining and I usually only spend extra pts on sweets (I love baking cookies). I am so afraid of gaining again..It's been 5 years now....I guess we just need to find out what works for us...I now the pts system does, just wanted to try something new. I could eat oatmeal 3 times a day or more..love the stuff!

I am also not thinking about food as much. I am calm and not worrying quite at much about not having enough to eat as my points dwindle throughout the day. I think I am happier, but will still reserve judgement on this entire thing until I'm done with a few weeks. Knowing that "I can have as much as I want of the core foods" has helped me to not feel deprived as much. I haven't been binging on them, but I think just knowing that I am allowed has helped me mentally.
In fact, I might go back to flexpoints next week as we are going away over Labor Day weekend and some of the core foods are just really hard to stick with when you are eating out lots of the time.
My leader was saying that switching back and fourth would be a great thing.
Wubby, maybe you need to talk with us, here, about what food choices on the core plan you have made in a particular day. Maybe it's what you have selected that is contributing to your "out of control" feelings. Or, maybe you are one of those people who really needs more structure. You have to allow yourself enough of the core foods, I think, to feel satisfyed but to recognize real hunger. Also, I worry that many people are calling this new plan low carb and it is not, I don't think. It is more SMART carb choices and balanced properly in my mind. You may be trying to use what you know about Atkins or So. Beach and interpreting this plan a bit different from what it really is? Like in Atkins, (seems like I know ALL the "diets", wonder why???) our fruits, espcecially would be forbidden, we would be eating high fat cheeses, dressings, etc. and we all know those things are not right for us. Who are they kidding on a diet like that? We are not at all limited on carbs, just told to make better choices on carbs! I am missing flour products like bread, etc. but I know I can have them with my flexpoints if I truly want them.
I used 5 flex points last night, but had planned that choice to use them for two days ahead of time! I still have 16 flexpoints left until Tuesday. Last night, my family had burgers. Everyone else had theirs on a roll, but I microwaved a baked potato (wouldn't heat up our house on a 90 degree day for one baked potato!) and we all had salad. I opted not to have cheese on my burger as well. Then, I dipped my pieces of hamburger (lean, of course) into ketchup on my plate and was just fine with it all.
But, as planned, we went out for ice cream afterwards. I ordered, with confidence, a 5 point small chocolate soft serve cone with jimmies. I knew, from my food companion, exactly how many points this was. I totally enjoyed it. I could have spent 3 points on a hamburger roll and two points on cheese on that burger, but I made a choice to have the ice cream instead - which was a milk as well, but doing that and enjoying the trip out with my family made me feel so happy - much happier than eating processed flours in a roll that is only a "vehicle" to carry the burger.... hope that makes sense?
I portion controlled all through the day, resisted buying a doughnut when we stopped for gas and iced coffee (with skim milk and splenda) when we were out in the morning at yard sales. I was able to resist that doughnut so much more easily than I could have on flexpoints - as I just wasn't feeling like I was starving and on the edge of hunger all the time. I had a nice breakfast before going out and wasn't really hungry!
So, if you are feeling out of control, take a look at your choices. Really consider that you may need to be one of the people who chooses flexpoints.... nothing wrong with that program, just a different option. I am so glad ww people have given people two choices!
Please post again and let us know how you are doing!
Linda in NH
Linda

Candice, if you have been on maintenance for 5 years you have all the portion controls and knowing when you are full down pat. You shouldn't have any problem eating the core foods and staying on program. Remember you have the extra 35 pts. a week for special treats. Linda, glad you got to have your ice cream. Guess you just shot down all those folks who keep yelling about the plan being so restrictive and telling you what you can and cannot eat. Why can't they understand it is just like flex except you don't have to count certain foods, just the same foods they were probably using their flex points to eat anyway. We are still eating the same number of points every week--we've proven that by counting them every now and then. WW has just made the healthy choices easy for us. I'm going to a family reunion today but I have my plan in mind and I will be ok. I'm taking a huge green salad and a huge fruit salad. If I don't find anything else on the table on core, I will be full on that but I'm sure someone will bring a ham or chicken or other veggies. I just won't go to the dessert bar, not because it is off-limits to me on Core but because I will be full. I really don't miss desserts much because I found on the winning points plan that when I did indulge (1) it didn't taste as good as I remembered or thought it would, (2) after finishing it I realized it really wasn't worth the points, and (3) it usually made me sick!

Yes! Pizza Crust On Core!!!!!!
 

First, Fiftieslady, hope the family reunion goes as planned!
One could make a whole wheat pasta salad with tomato, cucumber, peppers and ff cheese with ff italian dressing. No one would know it was a ww treat!
Now for my reason for this post, ta da!!!!
First, credit where credit is due.... I am on another thread and have been whining about not having pizza and the wonderful, dear Melanie :cheers: came back with this pizza crust recipe! Haven't tried it yet, but I will for sure!

PIZZA WITH POLENTA CRUST

Non stick cooking spray
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup cold water
1 cup boiling water
1/2 teaspoon salt to taste
1/2 cup grated fat free parmeson (Kraft makes a Non Fat "grated topping" that is on my core companion book

Spray a 9 inch pie pan with non stick spray. Preheat oven to 375. Place cornmeal in small bowl. Add cold water and stir until well mixed. Stir cornmeal mixture into saucepan of boiling water. Cook, stirring over low heat until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stirr in salt and parmeson. Spread cornmeal mixture to form a crust in the greased pan, using wet hands or a spatula. Spread evenly across bottom and up sides. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Add toppings and bake until finished.

6 points for the whole crust for those who are doing points.

Thank you Melanie, you are the "queen" today! :bravo:

Now, for toppings, I would go with diced canned tomatoes, mushroom, pepper, onion and maybe some canadian bacon. Also artichoke hearts. All core! Bon Appetite! :cool:
Linda in muggy NH

thanks for the pizza crust recipe!! What kind of texture will it have and how does it hold up? I mean is it crumbly or very similar to reg pizza crust when you hold it?

and Candice, if you are concerned about portions I would recommend still using ww portions as before, like 1 cup for pasta, 4 oz for chicken, etc until you are more comfortable with yourself on this plan. I think it's going to take all of us some time to get used it.

Hi Gals
I tried catching up on some of the post but it looks like everyone answered each others questions really well!

My own personal experience with the Core plan was that it took me a good week to really get excited and "see" the unlimited possibilities of the plan.

My husband & I are finishing up our 3rd complete week.

Remember we dont have to "sell" anyone on the plan.It is simply another option!

Glad to see you all sharing ideas! Some people are real creative.others need some suggestions to get their own creative ideas going!

Learning your comfort zone is very important too!

By the way.in the complete food book Fiber One cereal is supposed to be a Core food and is not checked off. I also think the chicken leg with skin at KFC is NOT a CORE food but has a check mark next to it.(mistake)

Later
Cin ;)

I am starting to bring in even more Core foods to my house. I may switch my yogurt from fruit to plain and put splenda and vanilla in it or pieces of cut up fruit. I bought some shredded wheat and will gradually head more core than I am already. I still will count my points just due to emergency fixes etc.

I'll admit, I am still doing flex, but want to make my eating as healthy as possible (mine definitely isn't bad, gave up junkie snack foods a while ago). I am the type of person who can binge on anything, so I do need to monitor my portion sizes. I might be in the minority, but I never felt deprived on points.

Cheers!

Ali

Ali, love the size 6 leather pants thing.... with the devil as well, you go girl!
Thanks for the corrections, Cin, and cheering us on!
Spryng, I have to admit I shared that recipe without trying it first, but it sounds great and, time permitting, I may treat myself and make it for lunch today.
I'd try it and see what happens.
I love corn meal products, corn muffins, etc. so look forward to an interesting taste this pizza would take on. This seems like it would make more of a "pizza pie" kind of thing. In fact, if I like this crust, may try doing other things with it!
The scale seems to have moved, here at home, about two pounds since last week's meeting. My weigh in is tomorrow morning, so we shall see. My scale and theirs are usually different.
Linda

I just started counting points today. I checked the WW site and this site, and discovered that there's a new program.

Let me know if I have this straight: you eat unlimited amounts of food that on the core list, and you have 35 points to use for the week for foods not on the list, right?

Personally, I don't like food lists, and that's one of the reasons that I wanted to try flex points. (I couldn't stay on other diets in the past that used food lists i.e. LA Weight Loss and the old Jenny Craig.) I think I'll try the flex points first. But I would like to get the information. I'm doing the plan on my own, so is there a way to get the core food list? Thank you.

No, you don't eat unlimited amounts of food on the core list. You eat until you're satisfied, which is a big difference. You also have 35 points to use for foods that aren't on the core list. For example, this morning I had a light frappucino at Starbuck's, which is 2.5 pts. so I deducted 2.5 pts. from my 35 pts.

I've seen the food lists on several other sites that I can't mention here, but you can try using your search engine.

Hi guys! Weigh in was good, I lost another pound.
Yes, it is correct that one shouldn't go "wild" on the new core program and that "unlimited" is not the right way to put it, exactly. I have been eating if I am REALLY hungy and having "normal" (meaning normal for ww) portion controlled meals. If I don't know the proper portion, I check my ww guides or the packaging the food came in for that. Seems to be working well for me so far.
I find this diet fascinating and really feel it's awfully similar to what my friend eats, and she is a diabetic. We had lunch together last week and compared the diets and there are few differences! She found out she was diabetic last February, I think, and has lost 30 pounds since then, she looks and feels great and is controlling her illness with proper eating disciplines vs. medications. I'm proud of her!
I have diabetes in my family history, so am really pleased that this diet compares quite a bit with that program, as perhaps it will be preventative for me?
I was only going to try this plan a week and maybe go back to flexpoints as we are going away over Labor Day weekend, however, I am finding it so easy to stay on and eat out with (not fast food, though) that I think I can live with this, even while away!
Linda in NH

Hello!
I am a returnng newbie to these boards and have a few various questions. You see i have in the past 4years not stuck to ww for more than a week. I have all the new programs(purchase at home kits every year) I have been doing the core all day but am finding a few issues to confusing,hubby says im over thinking. BUTTTT im one of those that likes to get it down pat,would like to make sure im not still thinking the old flexpoints way.

first of all if i wanted to make a pizza & i wanted to use a low carb tortillia for 1 point & rest was all core would i count the one point or all the points for the pizza?(3)

Am i correct in understanding deli meats are NOT on the ok list?

I am currently keeping track of points just to make sure i have portion control down,tried eyeballing the portions then measureing & MAN was i way off.so for the first 2 weeks will measure & way EVERYTHING...any other advice? I am needing to lose 20 lbs (dr orders) due to a back disorder, i spent the whole winter here in WI in agony barely moving ...Thank you for having me and i just wanted to say the cheerful posts really get sme going !
hugs
Niccii
(aka microminime)

Nicci, you would just count the tortilla as 1 pt.

Except for Canadian bacon, and a couple other brand names products, deli meats are not on the list. Until you know the brand name products, it's probably best to assume that none of them that you currently use are on the list. Better to be safe than sorry, right?

I'm with the group that thinks its counterproductive to keep track of points while on the core program. The new program was designed so that you don't have to keep track of points (except for the non-core food, of course), or weigh and measure core foods, but still lose weight. One of the more interesting parts of the new program is to let your body determine whether or not you are satisfied and eat only until you are satisfied. I have to admit it's pretty darn scary, and one of the reasons that at first I wasn't going to do the core program, but I'm finding that it's going pretty well. So, I encourage you to put away that scale and see how it goes for you. If, after a couple of weeks, you decide you really want to weigh and measure, then you can go back to the flexpoints. Good luck with whatever you decide! :)

Sheila, that makes such good sense to me. I am so trained to journal everything that not doing it feels weird. Thanks for the explanation, even if I wasn't the one who asked the question!!!

THANK YOU! lol yes make sence,just so darn scary..but up ontop of the fridge goes my scale!
hugs
niccii

Hi there. I'm still considering.
 

I was reluctantly considering joining WW. I've been doing it at home for a while and just not putting my whole heart into it. But I seem to have a problem losing weight. Long story. But my sister actually JOINED WW and she's lost well over fifty pounds. Okay, I'm jealous. I'm happy for her, but I'm jealous. I got a small raise and decided that perhaps I should actually join, maybe that was the secret to my willpower:Accountability. But now I'm hearing about the Core (and continue to read all of your posts) and think it might sound like a Java Turtle (that's me) friendly diet. I'm going to go back and start reading ALL of your posts and I'd dearly love any and all advice I can pick up from you that are already doing it. I have lots of issues that would be far too many to list here, but I so need to get this weight off. I'm turning 40 next month and I've been super fat all my life. It's time to actually be successful at it. I work too hard to not ever see progress. It's late, I'm rambling. Thanks for listening. Mary in WV :coffee:

A guy following Core
 

I went to my first WW meeting last week (well, my first WW meeting since the last time that I had joined WW - about 5 years ago; but I'm sure others know all about that!). I came to check out the new program and it has really knocked my socks off. I am very happy with Core. At first I was worried whether I could be trusted to set my own portions, but I find that, when I stick with the Core foods, that is not really a problem.

I've read the posts and recipe suggestions - and there are some really great ones. I do most of the food buying and preparation in my house. So far, my wife and the kids have been happy with what I've been fixing, and I have not felt deprived.

Tuesday morning - review
 

Well, just got back from a long holiday weekend and I blew it for my "core" plan.
I have my weekly weigh in this morning and am even contemplating using my no weigh in pass, but truly think I should "face the music".
I am reevaluating my core plan and as of this morning am going back to points, at least for this week.
I need to journal, regain my control and perspective. I like the core plan, but without my journalling, I totally lost it and found myself going wild, munching on peanut M+Ms and the like - totally NOT core!
What a bad girl I was.
Linda

dannyb -great to have a guy on board!!! I wish my brother would try the new CORE plan. He desperately needs to lose about 100 pounds. He tries things and quits because he doesn't like the limits, but CORE would really work for him. Sounds like you have a good support system. Family helping really helps. Someone there to encourage you and also discourage you if you try and take a false step.

This is my second week on CORE and it does take some adjusting, but it is working, I'll know how much when I weigh-in on Wednesday. :)

Danny, so good to have you on board with us as well.
I was feeling pretty dismal as I totally blew it this weekend and my weigh in showed it. I gained 1.8 pounds.
I have decided to continue on core, however, I am journalling again and trying to actually do the points program, but use core foods. I just lost total control and need the portion size and control I used to get with the points plan.
So far, today, I'm doing well. Very bummed out about the gain, though.
Linda in NH

Core question.
 

Hi, I have a question about the core program. If you are making a dish that is mixed with Core foods and non-core foods, do you count the entire dish as points?? I asked a leader at a W.W. center this morning and she got pretty nasty and said, "If I have to dis-sect each recipe then I am going to just count it as points!" This was not my regular center and I do not intend to go back to that one. She was just not helpful but very short and curt. Sooooooo, I don't really feel my question was answered. Thanks for any input...... :?:

I'm doing Core and if I have a recipe that I can eliminate the Core foods easily and then refigure the ones I have to count points for, I do that. In fact somewhere in the book it says that is o k. If you're eating out and a dish seems to be too difficult to try and figure what is in there, like lasagne just count the points for the whole thing.

I have Cinnamon Bran Muffins for breakfast each morning and I had to figure the points for the flour, a bit of sugar, (I know I could use all Splenda but prefer 1/2 and 1/2), some apple butter and raisens. Then I just divided the total by the number of muffins I am making.

Some recipes it is easy others a bit more difficult. Some recipes I just say forget and I won't fix it. I know it won't be as hard when on maintenance and you get to add back more points. I'm looking forward to that day.

Why are the leaders so anti Core. My leader doesn't even talk about it. I think the longer it takes one to lose weight the more times they go back to the meetings and pay. I'm also going to try other meetings this week.

Hi, I'm new here and a long time WWer. I am in my second week of Core and am enjoying it immensely. Packing a lunch is a bit more challenging than it used to be though!

cheers
Novabubble

Danny welcome. We are glad to have you with us.
Linda, I read your post earlier and started to reply but decided that it might sound like I was trying to talk you out of going back on flex. I am so glad you decided to stay with us. I was really pleased with the way I made it through this long weekend. I wasn't restless or craving food like I usually do. I think it is because I ate eggs both mornings and fruit early in the day (bought some on clearance and had to eat it or throw it out) and it just settled my blood sugar down without the spike and instant hunger. Anyway, glad you reconsidered. The important thing is to get right back on track and that is what you are doing.
I would only count the points for the non-core items in a recipe. So sorry about the leader being short with you. The ones I have had have been really nice.
Janette

Greetings ladies, and Danny :-). Guess what?....yup there is another male lurker in here :-)...Well I wrapped up my first week on Core, and I LOVE it!!!!!!...I am down 5# for the week and 49.8 total since Feb. I was shouting the praises of Core at my meeting today, and I think I made a few "converts"...Well thats it for now..here goes another week.

-Nate


SW: 251
CW: 202
Goal: 165

I would like to thank all of you wonderful ladies for making me feel so welcome. And, thanks to you, too, Nate, for helping me not feel so alone (and congratulations on being a whisker away from 50 lbs!).

It can be difficult for a guy to participate in WW - when I walked into my first meeting last week (a few minutes late due to long line to register), the leader stopped mid-sentence and said, "Why, look everybody, we have a male joining us!" Most of the ladies smiled and clapped, but a few just eyed me suspiciously. She then walked over to me and introduced herself in front of the whole group and asked me my name (I hadn't even had a chance to put on my name tag yet!). She cracked, "You probably weren't expecting to have a harem, were you?", to which I responded, "No, but I was hoping!" Good thing that I'm not shy - - if I were, I don't think I'd be going back. Not everybody wants to draw so much attention when they are at their peak weight and trying to improve themselves!

Linda, I think that you're idea to stay on core but to continue journaling is a really smart move.

I think that the reason that some leaders may appear a little obstinate when it comes to core is that they have been doing the same thing (tracking and counting) for years, and this is new - - radically new. Radical changes will encounter resistance from some in most any setting.

I've got my first weigh-in today. I think I'm down about 5 lbs (if only all weeks were the first week!)

Have a great day!

Danny
- -

It's weird, my leader LOVES core and keeps encouraging us to try it... so I am trying it this week completely (asides from a treat meal Saturday night). It's weird, I have been counting points for four years so it's a little weird and requires a lot of effort NOT to count points.... I usually eat mostly core foods anyway. I am now just using Plain yogourt and trying to get more variety with my fruit. It was nice to throw some blueberries into my yogourt and cereal (shredded wheat) this morning.

Cheers!

Ali

Hi All!

My name is Katy and I joined WW a couple of weeks ago to get the Core information. I have joined plenty times in the past and have never been able to stick to the points program for long because I would become obsessed with the points and end up just quitting. This seems like a great program to me! I've lost about 30lbs in the past year just trying to be more active and cutting back on processed food and sugar. I've tried Atkins a few times but found that although I could stick to it without cheating for up to 12wks at a time, once I slipped up it was all but impossible to "get back on". Yesterday was my first day actually doing the Core program as I took some time to prepare myself mentally and get my environment in order. I was very surprised that I wasn't hungry at all nor was I obsessed with what to eat next, etc. I can only hope that things will stay this way. I earned some activity points yesterday and used those, but haven't gotten into my flex points yet. I will be using some today when I eat out with a friend. I downloaded all of the points lists to my palm pilot to take with me when I go out so I know how many points I'm using. I love technology!! :-) I had to laugh when one of the men in the group was talking about being noticed and put on the spot at the meeting. The same thing happened to the only guy at my meeting. If it were me, I don't know how I would have reacted, but he took it all in good fun. I guess the leaders are just so excited to have a guy on the team, they just can't help themselves, LOL. Well, I hope that all of you have a great Core day...I plan to!

Take Care,
Katy

OK Danny - don't keep us in suspense - let us know how you did so we can :cheer: you on!!!!! Welcome Nate!!!!! We have a male member of our WW team and Randy is doing wonderful - he and his wife joined together - he has lost over 40 pounds!

Core Loving Leader
 

Good Morning
First of all a note to Bradlyn.................the response that Leader gave you about recipes made me chuckle because those are the exact words the Week One book uses as an example "If you find yourself dissecting something like lasagna.then count it as points" ;)

My Week one book is in the trunk of my car or I would go get the page number!

Basically..if you can keep the recipe simple and figure out what is Core and what is points.that is fine! Last night I made salmon patties.the egg & salmon were of course core and the crackers were counted as points.............so we each ate 3 salmon patties for only 1 point counted and the rest Core! ;)

I am finding many Leaders are either really in love with the Core ( me ;) ) or really not....too bad it shows in the way they discuss it because it isnt supposed to be like that......both plans are currently to be supported in the meeting rooms! Kinda reminds me of how I love my Grandchildren.........I love all 4..................... I feel the same about Flex & Core. The Core is a nice change and I am actually eating more healthfully than I did on Flex. I have lost 6.2 pounds in 4 weeks and am following it so I can honestly experience it like my members do.

We all have to pick what best suits us!

I certainly agree with shopping around for different meetings..because each is unique and each Leader is unique!

Have a great Day! ;)

Cin~

hey all,

I have been a member of WW and a Lifer since 1989, and the Quickstart Program. It seems like no matter where I go, no matter what meeting I end up joining, I end up being the class mascot. There maybe another guy or two, but I am always the youngest guy and they always flatte me alot.....not thsat I have a problem whith that at all :-)..
Our leader and our receptionist (who subs on occassion) fully support Core, although the leader still does Flex.

Hope your first WI went well Danny, and it looks like we started at the same point, and have the same goal....you keep on it boy

HAPPY LOSIN,

-nate

I lost 5.6 lbs, which was a little better than what I had predicted. My weight was so inflated when I started, though, that I think that this next week is a better test. Still, I am very pleased with it.

Hey, Katy - - maybe that was me at your meeting!


danny

I just started Core yesterday
 

desserts
 

Sugar free fat free pudding is a Core food............
lots of flavors!
Great dessert
Cin~ ;)

Hi guys!
My what a busy thread this is! Hard to keep up, but great info and fun!
I'm doing better and am so glad that I have been keeping my journal and really portion controlling my core. I'm back on a role again, I think and will hopefully do better at weigh in this coming week.
As for me disecting a recipe, I think I am good at that kind of thing. For example, if I made a lasagne, I would try very hard to substitute all core ingredients to make it work for me. I'd use whole wheat pasta, ff ricotta and mozarella, egg substitute, canned diced tomatoes or plain tomato sauce (with no fat) and add spinach, zucchini, mushrooms, etc. to make it interesting and healtheir. I would make the usual recipe into a core recipe and have a great time doing it! If I couldn't find whole weat lasagne noodles, I would use "normal" pasta and maybe only count the points for a serving of the pasta if everything else in it was core.
I guess some ww leaders are much more into the core thing than others, like everyone was mentioning. I was astounded at last night's meeting when one person (in a fairly decent sized group of people) raised their hands when the leader asked who was doing the core plan. But, everyone seemed excited that this one woman had lost 4 pounds in two weeks, so maybe more will try it this coming week? Will be interesting to see!
I found something that I totally enjoyed this past weekend that added a flex point to my omlet, by the way, so I have to share. I made an omlet using egg substitute and sauted red pepper to put in it. We were at a summer cottage and I didn't have my usual supplies on hand of ff cheeses and did have laughing cow lite wedges. These are one point, but my daughter on flex points has been eating them spread between two slices of lite bread toasted and so I had them along with me. I diced up the cheese wedge and added this to my omlet and it was so very good! The creamy swiss type of flavor combined with the peppers was totally worth spending that point!
Hey, Java Turtle, hope you try this, it is definately turtle friendly and easy to follow. Wtih flex points, I was always having to look up things and use my points finder. I have the basic core foods pretty much memorized and now can kind of move along on my own with much more freedom.
I am, however, journalling, I just need to keep control and watch myself. Being used to being on flexpoints, I am keeping very tight on my points allowance. I don't want to lose control of portions.
I did gain last week, but when we went away over the long weekend, I ate out four times. I was trying to be on core and it just wasn't working by the end of the weekend. I was starving and they brought the breadbasket to the table, it was warm and wonderful. Plus, what is it with resteraunts nowadays putting cheese on garden salads, I'm going to have to start asking about that now, three out of four places had cheese sprinkled on top. All, I am glad to say, had ff dressings, at least, and I got them on the side. My darling husband enticed me with chocolate and I was like an alcaholic going on a binge, after that. I take full responsibility. But, that could have happened on both core or flexpoints. In order to make any program successful, one must FOLLOW it! I am sure following it these last few days and we are not going away over the weekend, so I can be much more successful!
Take care everyone and Go Core!
Linda in NH