[Candicej]

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!

[derrydaughter]

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

[fiftieslady]

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!

[derrydaughter]

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 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!

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!
Linda in muggy NH

[spryng]

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.

[CIN]

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

[Sweater Girl]

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

[derrydaughter]

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

[missqt]

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.

[Sheila53]

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.

[derrydaughter]

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

[microminime]

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)

[Sheila53]

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!

[Katpo]

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!!!

[microminime]

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