[Shaunie81]

I will be starting the core program tomorrow for the first time. Any good, but quick & portable lunch ideas?

[fergusonvt]

I usually have either a salad (sometimes with left over meat), leftovers from dinner the night before (meat, veggies, cous cous), yogurt with several pieces of fruit, canned soup (beef barley, onion, tomato, vegetable), homemade soup (WW recipes). If you like oatmeal you could always bring that for lunch with fruit also. I am lucky because where I work we have a cafeteria with a salad bar so I always have something to fall back on. I have done core since the 2nd week in Sept. and have lost 23 pounds. I think it is a great plan and what made it appeal to me is that I didn't have to count points (except for the 35 a week). Good luck and I admire you for joining at this difficult time of year!

Kathy

[Joanneg]

I am familiar with the point system - can someone explain CORE to me?

[fergusonvt]

The core program consists of a "core" group of foods from each category, Fat free dairy, meat, grains oils etc. Some of the foods are limited as in 2 teaspoons of heart healthy oil a day, potatoes only once, can't have potatoes or brown rice the same day. Cold cereal (non sugar kinds) only once a day and has to be with FF plain Yogurt or FF milk. Portion size is defined as "eating until you are satisfied" which doesn't mean eating until you are stuffed. You are advised to find your "comfort zone" for portions which is explained more in the WW materials you received or will receive at your first meeting. There are lots of core recipes on this board as well as links to barbos diet kitchen which has tons of core and WW recipes.

Kathy

[Joanneg]

Thanks Kathy! Is that what you follow?

[fergusonvt]

Yes I have been following core since the 2nd week of Sept. and have lost about 23 pounds. When I joined in Sept. I was going to do Flex because I had not heard about core. The thing I hated about Flex was counting points. With core I don't have to do that and I love it.

Kathy