[veggiemama]

Hi there.

So my sis is thinking about joinging WW but when we went over her food journal, it looks like she is only taking in about 11 points a day! She lost about 20 lbs over 6 mo with just changing her eating habits but has now stopped losing for the last couple months. She wants to lose another 10-15 pounds but is afraid WW won't work for her because she is already eating so little.

I'm thinking she is not eating enough. Thoughts?

(she is 5 ft 3 in and 144 lb)

[traveling michele]

If she is truly only eating 11 points, her body will not operate properly. Each point is approximately 50 calories so 11 points is barely over 500 calories (this doesn't count any additional 0 point foods she may be eating). While it isn't true that your body goes into starvation mode if you don't eat enough, you do need proper nutrients in order for your metabolism to work properly, your organs to function, etc.

[veggiemama]

So the starvation mode thing is a myth?

It seems that she is mostly eating 0-2 point foods, i.e. fruits, veggies, yogurts, cereals/bars, etc.

She is afraid she will gain weight if she eats by the WW points system.

[traveling michele]

Yes, it truly is a myth. If you think about people in Ethiopia, etc. they starve to death. They don't lose a certain amount of weight and then stop losing.

She may be eating so many 0 point foods that they would really add up to more than 0. Remember, you count one serving as 0 but multiple servings you do count.

WW uses science to arrive at their calculations for what it takes to lose weight. Unless she has a major medical issue that causes her to gain weight, it would be nearly impossible to gain weight on the plan. I've never heard of it and I've been working for them for 2 years.

[veggiemama]

She thinks she would gain because she would be going from 11 points to low-20's, thus increasing her food intake and gaining.

She doesn't eat multiple servings, just not alot of food.