Hello, I'm new to this board and sort of new to WW (I've tried it but never stuck to it). I'm 35 and I have never been good about watching what I ate for an extended period of time. Nows the time to be less self indulgent since my weight went up to 162lbs (I'm 5'5"). I've worked out consistently in the past, but not in about 2 years now. I walk alot but need to step up the pace/time spent walking. So wish me luck!

Where I get hung up is allocating the right amount of points for each meal, while getting the right amount of veggies/protein and staying with my points range. Tomorrow here is my plan - but I'm over points:

Breakfast 8am - 1 vitatop (1pt)
Breakfast 10 am- instant oatmeal w/banana (5pts)
Lunch - Lean Cuisine (5pts)
Snack - 1 apple/1 ww string cheese (2pts)
Dinner - Fish w/veggies (dinner function... selected this option from menu- Let's say 11pts?)

That's 24 pts! My points are supposed to be at 21... any suggestions?

Hello and welcome! I'm new too. And I'm about the same height and weight as you.

I think there is a thread about points allocating that is helpful. You'll see that everyone does them differently.

Lots of people split their points and do half for dinner and snacks and half for breakfast and lunch. I personally like to leave a large amount of points for my dinner meal, as that is the time I really like to eat

There are also the flex points that you can use if needed.

Good luck! You can do it!

That looks fine to me. Just subtract 3 from your weekly points. That is what they are there for. I feel that I do better if I don't eat the exact same amount of points for each meal every day and my daily amount of points varies.

I highly recommend substituting the lean cuisine with something natural that will be both more filling and contain fewer points. For example, you could have 1/2 cup of black beans, no fat cheese with veggies in a 2 point tortilla - 3 points and so much more satisfying! And are you sure about your dinner? It seems you're budgeting a little high...

Good luck! WW is GREAT, but it does take a little time to figure out and personalize.

Breakfast 8am - 1 vitatop (1pt)
Breakfast 10 am- instant oatmeal w/banana (5pts)
Lunch - Lean Cuisine (5pts)
Snack - 1 apple/1 ww string cheese (2pts)
Dinner - Fish w/veggies (dinner function... selected this option from menu- Let's say 11pts?)

That's 24 pts! My points are supposed to be at 21... any suggestions?[/QUOTE]
I've been doing WW for a while and, IMHO, you need more protein at breakfast. I always eat about 4-5 pts at breakfast and include egg, Canadian Bacon. It always fills me up longer and seems to keep me from being so hungry the rest of the day. Hope this helps.

Eat more fruit and veggies and 0/1 point foods.
I think ll points is too much for dinner. Maybe you could eat more for lunch (I find lean cuisine doesn't fill me up), and a bit more for breakfast even as Hilly4118 has pointed out.
Are you getting your water in?

My suggestions to knock off points:

Instant oatmeal and banana- I buy the lower sugar oatmeal, and it is just barely two points. I add a little bit of cinnamon to it, and it's just as good!

Dinner- 11 points seems pretty high as an estimate! You can have a lean protein for anywhere from 3-5 points, three red potatoes for three points and veggies (brocoli, green beans, cauliflower, spinach, etc.) for zero. That is only 8 points. Looks like you have enough left over for wine! You could also ditch the potatoes and have corn or no starch at all.

For dinner, you might also want to try whole wheat pasta and veggies. I use the low sodium V8 as a little bit of "sauce" to coat the noodles, and saute whatever veggies I can find in a teaspoon of olive oil and OF COURSE garlic. With three points for the pasta, one for the oil and two for a little bit of parmesan, it is extremely filling and just 6 points. I also add edamame sometimes for a complete protein, which is another 1 or 2 points.

Also, if I get my act together in time, I make a big pan of this so that I can split it up and bring it to work with me for lunches. I used to bring SmartOnes or Lean Cuisines a lot more, but this is much cheaper, and has far less sodium.

Hope this helps!