Spryng, thanks for your encouragement and ideas to help. When I weighed in this morning I actually showed a l lb. loss. So I am encouraged. It is wierd how that 24 hours can make a difference in the scale! Guess that's why ww do it on a weekly basis, huh?

I don't use my WPAs for desserts or junk food. Except the occasional C-2 coke (only 1 this week and that was actually yesterday) I used to be hooked on Cokes and I still enjoy that jolt when you take that first drink. C-2 is only 1 pt. though and I seldom finish the entire can. It is mostly 1 pt. bread for toast in the morning (love toast with my oatmeal) and an occasional cornbread or tortilla. But since I did show a loss after stayin the same last week I guess it isn't hurting me that much. I actually used 19 WPAs this week--a record for me. I guess I have a slight hang-up about WPAs because I feel like you eat them only when you mess up and don't stay with the program. Like they are a safety net to keep you from just giving up and going hog-wild. I know this isn't true, (so don't jump on me anyone) but it's hard to change mind-sets sometimes. There is so much to eat on CORE that you shouldn't need to use them but really some meals just don't feel "complete" without things they didn't include in CORE--like toast with breakfast or a tortilla with fajitas or bread with a sandwich--well, I guess it wouldn't be a sandwich without bread but you know what I mean :dizzy:

I am still going to increase my exercise this week. I am just getting back into it after not exercising for almost a year due to a hip injury. I used the treadmill one night last week and I felt the pain again that night so I'm thinking I may not be able to use it anymore. That means I have to walk outside and that is hard to do during the week when I have to be at work at 8:00. But I have a few exercise tapes so I will start using them again.

I guess I could limit my milk to 8 oz at each sitting (drink a little more most days)but I also find that drinking the milk with meals makes me feel full sooner than with water. That means I eat less at meals. I also eat yogurt and cottage cheese at least once each week. I do get in my water though--I take a bottle with me everyday and have it is gone most morning by 11:00 a.m. Sometimes I drink a second bottle in the afternoon/evening. I don't like meat so eating too much protein and not enough veggies has never been a problem with me but sometimes that backfires because the protein and fat are essential for weight loss too.

I am going to try to use the recipe file this week and try some different foods.

Well, I talked enough. A lot to think about. Again, thanks for your encouragement. I will not give up!

I just looked at my 12 oz tub of FF cream cheese and the whole tub would be only 6pts. So in the amounts I use (usually on a rice cake for a snack) isn't anything to worry too much about. I can't imagine binging on the whole tub, the stuff is kinda gummy..LOL :lol:

Janette! Congrats on the lb gone!!! That is fantastic, and yes it strange how are bodies flucuate day to day. But you will be at your goal before you know it!
I feel like you do about the WPA's... ask me what I use mine on, lol... it IS my security net, lol. I hope you can find an exercise that doesn't bother your hip, have you tried pilates or something to that nature? I'm thinking about buying a video for a stability ball. I have a ball from the birth of my last child (used it during labor) and my tailbone gives me trouble so alot of exercises that require me to lie on the floor and such kills my tailbone so I heard the ball would be great for me since you can do just about everything on the ball and it supports you, hence no tailbone pain. I just haven't got around to looking into any. But I hope you find something. :) I wouldn't encourage you to limit your milk, I mean you lost weight this week so I'm sure the milk helped with that and I agree it helps me get satisfied quicker and when I have milk with a meal I usually have food left on my plate versus drinking water with my meal.
I think trying new meals is a great idea though! I'm always trying new stuff because variety is what keeps me OP... all my other diets failed because I would get bored with what I was eating, let me tell you, ww has turned me into a chef!! LOL! and now Core, which requires more prep or planning has really enhanced my cooking abilities. I used to be the box dinner queen, lol.. and now people rave about my home cooked meals and my in-laws always tell people I cook rich people stuff (not sure what they mean since it's only fresh foods and such I use now and fresh herbs and no more mac and cheese from a box, lol... I guess I understand what they mean, lol) either way it's a compliment and I'll take it! LOL... so yes, try a few new recipes this week and let me know how it goes ok?

This diet is very similar to Dr. Phil's diet, AND to the South Beach diet. I can see why they limit certain foods. I don't see why they allow certain others. Maybe they decided that we had to have certain "outlets", so they allowed something like SF/FF pudding (although it also serves a secondary purpose, providing calcium.) Some of the things left off the list seem arbitrary to me-- others I understand (or I think I do.)

My biggest gripe is the sense I have that this Plan is a "work in progress" and that they basically just tested it briefly, then rushed to get it out there. I predict many changes ("clarifications") will be made to this Plan as they fine-tune it. IMHO, they are doing what Microsoft does when they release a new version of Windows-- they test it some, but then just release it, get millions of people to use it, then let all those people essentially debug it for them. All Microsoft has to do is keep track of the reported problems, then come out with the inevitable "Service Pack" that corrects them all. I think WW is doing the same thing-- we are ALL "beta-testing" this Plan, and once WW compiles enough data about the problems people have on it, they'll set about changing it.

They tested this for over a year and a half which is usually longer than they test most plans. Also most plans have clarifications every year (each year with points they adjusted it based on concerns, questions and research).

I remember when they limited the amount you could "count" fiber in figuring Points, but other than that, and some tweaking of the Points ranges and the introduction of the Flexpoints idea, the Points system hasn't changed all that much. Okay, we used to have a 7-Point range, then it was 5 Points, then it was just a goal number plus Flexpoints. But the basic Points formula hasn't changed since they limited the fiber.

I forsee this Core plan being changed a LOT as time goes on-- some foods will be added to the Core list, and some will be removed. AND, if the Core Plan takes off, expect a reformulation of most or all of the WW frozen entrees to suddenly be "Core". WW is not about to lose the millions of dollars it gets from the frozen entrees by leaving them non-Core and making people who want to eat them waste valuable Flexpoints on them. I think it'll be a savvy move, too, because ONLY the WW entrees would have the "magic checkmark" on them, whereas anybody can calculate Points values (though they can't put them on the package without paying WW.)

But if the idea of Core foods is that they are basic, unrefined, healthy, non-processed foods, how will they justify offering "Core" frozen entrees (or even desserts!)? It should be interesting... :)

Actually they have already done a few changes to the CFC. Core was brought in to try to bring back many who left for other programs such as Atkins, SBD, etc.

I can see frozen entrees becoming Core easily (it really isn't that hard) by using whole wheat pastas, brown rice, veggies and plain meats. I don't forsee much in the way of the desserts though.