"extra" points?

  • I just started weight watchers last week. I was counting calories but was unable to use the software on the computer during the day and found it tedious to try and remember all that I ate at the end of the day. Anyways, I was just wondering what you all do with your extra points (the 35 that you get every week?)? I have a friend that uses hers just one night a week and splurges on whatever she wants. I have been using mine every other day or so when I have a day when I am really hungry. Can I still lose weight doing that? I am pretty active and sometimes feel ravenous at the end of the day. Just wondering what everyone else does with these... Thanks guys!
  • Whether or not you can lose weight while using them depends on you, I can't really say. When I use them, I lose less weight. I try not to use mine at all, but occasionally will use 5-10 of them if there's a special occasion in the week and I want something special. Otherwise I stick to my daily points and accrue activity points.
  • Same- I try not to use them.. instead I use my activity points I earn and eat those.. so I still get extra points but I have to earn them.. and when i do this I def loose quite a bit... so i dont use my weekly 35 but i DO use my activity points that I earn
  • I'm one of the ones that will not lose if I eat my 35 extra points...I can maintain on them though. Activity points that I earn I usually can get away with eating about half of them & still lose though

    So knowing that I rarely use the 35 weekly. If I can not fit a splurge into my daily points then I try to decide if I wouldn't mind maintaining or if I want to lose....and go from there!
  • I eat all of my extra points every week. Some weeks I eat a few of them every day and other weeks I eat them all in one day. I usually lose the same amount of weight either way. I've also tried not eating the extra points and I still end up losing about the same amount.

    I think everybody is different and you'll just have to experiment a little and see what works for you.
  • I split mine up and add 5 points to each day, giving myself a 5 point range to eat to, ie 20-25 points per day. I'll eat at least 20 points and try not to go over 25. It gives me some extra flexibility. I never eat my activity points though. Some days i'm at the bottom of the range, some days at the top.

    I haven't noticed a difference in my rate of weight loss (~5 lbs/month), but I sure feel like I'm able to eat "normally" at this range whereas eating to the bottom of my points range daily would negate all flexibility and spontaneity, the things that make WW liveable. YMMV
  • Hi there! I LOVE to go out for dinner, just once a week, or breakfast, or just ONE meal a week because I usually need a break from all the cooking, weighing, measuring, and so on. So I choose carefully, and count all the 35 points towards the meal. Even if it isn't 35 points, I count them as used. That way, any unintended overages (1/2 point here, 1/2 point there) are covered.
    Kira
  • Thanks a bunch! I'm only on week 1 and have used 20 of the 35 points and have still lost 3 pounds. I'll see how week 2 is for me and if I can get away with using them and still losing I will, otherwise I won't. I've been doing what many of you have with using activity points and trying to stay away from the 35. Some days I haven't been sure of the exact point value of my meals so I take extra points away just to be safe. Thanks again!
  • See, I am the opposite. I don't count any of my AP points, but will use any or all of my 35 through the week as I need them. I typically save the up for Friday and Saturday or like this weekend, the 4th of July. I think it's really up to you and how you feel. I mean they are there to use, so why not??
  • I've been on WW for about 12 weeks now and I think you just have to find what works for you and helps YOU to succeed! We're all very different with different bodies, metabolisms, lives, activity levels, etc. One of the best aspects of WW is that you can make it work for you. I was "dieting" when I first started the program and though I lost weight the first few weeks I burned out very quickly. I've found that I can eat out about once a week for "free" and then everything else I track. When I eat that one splurge meal though I am very careful and listen to my body so I don't gorge myself. I've also stopped "dieting". I eat waffles and bacon and chili dogs and all kinds of foods but they are healthier than they used to be. We can all do this as long as we find out what works best for us!

    Hugs All!!!

    DJ