A question about the new PointsPlus
 

I'm sorry ~ I posted this question on another thread, but it kind of got buried amongst other stuff, and I never saw an answer. I was hoping that someone who had been to a meeting already might have heard an answer to this question. So, I thought I would try again here.

My meeting day is Wednesday, so I have not been to that yet under this new plan. I've been getting most of my information here and various other places on the web. I had read somewhere that the lowest amount of points was 29 and on the e-tools ~ when I went there yesterday morning, it had recalculated me to 29 points. On the old plan, as you lost weight you decreased your points. So, I am not understanding how on this new plan if you are already at the lowest number of allowable points, how do you adjust when you lose so you can keep losing?

Thank you for your help

i saw your other post, i just didnt know an answer :(

all i know is they gave me 45 points a day, which was 11 more than i was getting :O

hopefully someone will come along and help you, i just dont know

The message boards on WW are free,I suggest you go to the On the points plus plan board and ask your question.there are a lot of knowledgeable people there.

I think you may want to recalculate.

I get 29 points and I'm 147 lbs 5' 6" 31 years old.

We don't calculate our points anymore.They give it either at a meeting or if online it will do it there.We no longer have access to the formula. I am 5'8 182 and my points are also 29.

Okay, now I'm confused! How am I supposed to still be losing weight with 29 points then? I felt yesterday that it was a LOT more food (I used a lot of points on fruit in the past though). I even ADDED a glass of wine and pudding at dinner to reach my total...

I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

The points values for a lot of food are higher now where they are no longer based on calories fat and fiber. You aren't really eating tons of food.Everything I have been reading is that people are losing weight no problem.

It is just that it made sense to me before, but now I don't understand. I guess I don't know enough yet. I am just impatient ~ meeting is tomorrow ~ I can ask then. The not knowing is frustrating to me.

As far as asking on the Weight Watchers message boards ~ I don't think I am brave enough. I went there and here is the first topic I came to:

I have been so thankful to have these boards to learn about the new plan (my actual meeting isn't until tomorrow, but my etools already converted, so I needed to learn and quick!!). I don't get why some members are rude to others when asking questions about the new plan. I haven't noticed anything mean or stupid in their questions. The boards are packed full of questions right now, so if someone doesn't sit and read 100-200 posts to see if their question has been answered, why be rude to them? Just don't answer their question - isn't that better than being rude? I really don't think people are here to ruin your day or irritate you!

I've read about 10-12 posts today where people are saying such rude things when someone has just asked a question. And... for those that have often replied "if you don't want to bother reading your materials..." well some of us don't have them yet. I have searched on this site for answers to my questions and haven't found them. Due to that, I've come here to ask them. Seriously? Why can't people be respectful?

I have heard in the past that some of the people on other message boards were mean and rude. So, I stuck with 3 Fat Chicks because everyone was always nice and helpful here.

I will just wait and ask at my meeting tomorrow I guess. I don't want to go to that other site and have my head taken off.

Originally Posted by Shytowngal:
Okay, now I'm confused! How am I supposed to still be losing weight with 29 points then? I felt yesterday that it was a LOT more food (I used a lot of points on fruit in the past though). I even ADDED a glass of wine and pudding at dinner to reach my total...

I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

The way it was explained in my meeting today is that you need to disregard your former points allowance, because the new number can't be compared. It's not just the points formula that has changed, but the way they calculate how many points you get has changed, as well. So while the 29 seems like a lot (and especially scary for folks who had 18), you have to look at this like an entirely new plan. The numbers don't reference each other at all. So if you had just signed up for WW for the first time, you wouldn't think anything of the number 29. Does that make sense?

Thanks ladies, It makes sense that points on foods have changed, so I am not eating more. What doesn't make sense is that three of us posted that we have 29 points. We are at 3 different weights: 147, 182, 220. That is where I am getting confused. Does everyone have 49 "weekly" points too, or is that where the numbers change?

Sorry if this is obvious, I only do WW online - I should probably find a meeting!

Your question is a very good question, I am 30 , at 128 , 5,1' and I gettin the same 29 points as you .... let see what is going to happend.

Another question will be about maintence , how it will be.... i am on canada so it is coming on december 6 .... i can not wait.

Gayle,
I read that very post you quoted.The boards can be brutal but there are seasoned WW's who have a wealth of knowledge too.I think that there is a lot of tension over there right now.People complaining about the program before they even try it or those who rant about a subject they know nothing about.I have never had anyone be rude to me but I have never been aggressive like some people.Many times I have had to bite my tongue.
Yes everyone is is very nice,but I have found more info on the other boards. I am always looking for new recipes and that is the place to find them.
I do have 49 weekly points as does everyone.I went in today to get my materials I find my concentration is better when I have them in my hand. lol.I have been doing terrible for so long I am hoping this new plan will be the kick in the butt I need.

I wish I knew the answer to this as well, as far as so many people having 29 pts no matter how far apart in weight or height/age we are was explained at our meetings as they scientifically discovered that our bodies pretty much use food the same whether we are really overweight or close to goal so unless you have special needs (nursing or morbidly obese etc) most people ended up with 29 pts.. but I too wonder how that number will work as we lose weight and near our goals and our pts never adjust.. so if you find out an answer please share!!! :)

Originally Posted by fitbyforty:
We don't calculate our points anymore.They give it either at a meeting or if online it will do it there.We no longer have access to the formula. I am 5'8 182 and my points are also 29.

1st - we do have access, *if* we buy the calculator. Otherwise the leaders or the etools calculates for us.



2nd - 29 points is the minimum number of points required to get your required nutrition in. While I am over 100 pounds overweight and my number is 42, I would still trust all the people on 29 being accurate for pointsplus. I have heard again and again now from leaders who lost while on the new plan. They were trying to maintain.

My meeting the regional someone came to on Sunday, and I went on Monday and she was there too. She's been on the plan since January and was part of the development team. She and the other two leaders who I heard said the same things:

* satisfied
* healthier feeling
* stopped cravings for sweets and chips etc
* lost weight

I had 18 points before and lost just fine. Now I have 29 and it will continue. Just follow the program AS WRITTEN and you'll be fine. Maintenance begins with 35 points.

I had 25 before now I have 29. I can get used to it again, even though I had just gotten used to my 25

Originally Posted by QuilterInVA:
I had 18 points before and lost just fine. Now I have 29 and it will continue. Just follow the program AS WRITTEN and you'll be fine. Maintenance begins with 35 points.

35 point sound really good ... i hope this change will give the extra motivation , i need what i star .... so far so good , I will rejoin meetings on Wednesday.:carrot:

Gayle,
I asked your question on the boards.i got one response and it said no matter how much we lose we won't go below 29 points.Is it right I don't know,it doesn't seem so.If I get any more responses I will post back.

Fitbyforty ~ thank you for your help.

And everyone else as well for your input.

I am excited about the new program and looking forward to getting my materials tomorrow so I can learn it.

Just so you all know, I'm 55 and weigh 167ish (forget what they told me today, but I had a gain over Thanksgiving - so much to remember) and I'm 5'2" and also have 29 points.
I'm confused about the fact that if I lose and go down from the 160s into the 150s, that I do not lose a point like I would have before as well. One thing that worried me on the old plan was that every time I went below my 21 points to 20 points, I felt like I was starving myself and was "crazed" with hunger and so anxious all the time. Maintenance, upon reaching my goal weight of 140 would have been 18 points a day. Who could realistically survive on that and meet all the healthy eating guidelines? I felt is was something I could never acheive, and I have to admit that I was getting so very discouraged.
This 29 points seems like an out of control gift to me. Maybe we will all come to understand some other things about this plan. We must read, learn and be patient. Information will be forthcoming. It wouldn't surprise me to learn more once I have time to read through the tons of materials. There is so much to absorb. I will go through it all over the next couple of days and settle in. I'm very glad to have the food companion and the dining out companion thing too. I will hopefully eat out at a place that is listed in that booklet this weekend so I feel "safe". : )
Enjoy ladies! I'm heading off to correct my journal and add something I forgot but I still am grateful for this plan and think the enthusiasm is amazing - my leader and the people at the meeting today were joyful! Joyful is a good word when it comes to weight loss.

The 29 may equal the 1200 calories(or whatever number) that is "said" to be the lowest we shoulh go without messing up our insides.If person A who is 220 is on 29 points per day the only benefit I can see there is that person losing weight fast on the new program,telling people about it,AND being more encouraged to stay with the program...which means that WW makes more money in the end....It could also be that they want us to learn to eat at that level as it may be less confusing to keep on switching up the numbers as we lose every 10 pounds.....

Well, I posed the question to my leader at the meeting today and she assured me that you could be at the lowest allowable points, lose weight and without dropping points like we did before still continue to lose. It made sense to me before ~ I still don't really understand this new approach, but I trust her. So ~ onward and downward :D

It's all based on nutrition ... research over the past decade has shown that foods with higher fiber and protein take longer to digest, are more satisfying and are figured into the calculation now. You can still figure your own points but you need to do it with e-tools or the new calculator (on sale for 5.95 at the centers right now). Your old "sliders" will no longer work. Foods with higher fat and carb contents are now more points. For example your 2 pt glass of wine is now 4 pts. The old 1 pt light bagel is now 2 or 3. Any WW foods you buy in the store will not have the new points yet. For example, today I had a Lean Cuisine frozen meal for lunch -- used to be 5 points (which is on the package) but with new calculations it's now 7. I think it's exciting. The old plan was based on a calorie being a calorie and now it's encouraging more healthy eating and acknowledging that our bodies do different things with different foods. They say by having the fruits and most non-starch veggies being 0 points that it will encourage people to eat more of them. I like the new program a lot!!

I'm considering re-joining, and I found this online that kind of sheds some light on how the new points are calculated (but not on personal point allowance).

http://www.diet-blog.com/06/weight_w...top_secret.php

I think we have to trust that they do know what they are doing. This is only my second day on new program but I can tell you that I am very satified and do not feel hungry. This is really a great change and I am glad that they did so.

Originally Posted by cuteazz1:
The 29 may equal the 1200 calories(or whatever number) that is "said" to be the lowest we shoulh go without messing up our insides.If person A who is 220 is on 29 points per day the only benefit I can see there is that person losing weight fast on the new program,telling people about it,AND being more encouraged to stay with the program...which means that WW makes more money in the end....It could also be that they want us to learn to eat at that level as it may be less confusing to keep on switching up the numbers as we lose every 10 pounds.....

I may be naive - or misunderstanding the new program as I haven't been to my weekly meeting since the switch (going Friday) and have just been reading and following along on the WW site - BUT, I do not think it is a question of losing weight fast.

I am at 29 points, and my friend who also does the program but weighs 30lbs less than me is also at 29 points. But since most fruit and vegetables are 'free', I can supplement my daily food intake with F&V to satisfy any additional hunger/nutritional needs I may have over my leaner friend. So theoretically, while we have the same number of points, I am taking in more calories than my friend. As I lose weight, I will probably eat less while still maintaining the recommended amount of F&V per guidelines.

Also, and I may be wrong on this but I seem to recall reading on the WW site that while 29 is the goal, it is not necessary to eat all of the daily points like we did on the old plan. So, just because you have them, doesn't mean you need to eat them, if you are not hungry and have met nutritional guidelines.

With all that said, this is one of the things I will be getting clarification on from my meeting leader on Friday!

I think I'm in the minority on this issue, but I actually like that your daily points do not decrease as you lose weight. I get used to eating certain things and I wouldn't necessarily want to give things up just because I weigh less.

I did Nutrisystem about 5 years ago and lost over 20 points. That program never decreases the amount of food you get and I continued to lose weight at the same pace the whole time.

I am confident that WW knows what they are doing and it will all work out. :smug:

Chubby Mommy, I think I might not have been clear as I also like that my points will not decrease. I just couldn't seem to exist on what I was eating.
I found myself hungry a few minutes ago and had enough grapes to satisfy me. I probably had a "handful" (8? 10?) and I wasn't freaking out and writing it down immediately. I used to have only 3 grapes as those were 0 points in the past and felt still hungry and would find myself climbing the walls, hungry.
I'm not so worried and I feel more confident that I can be a success. Zero point fruit makes tons of difference. : )
I love fruit and have really been concern about it and wistfully wanted it, but wouldn't allow as much. This is nice, truly nice.

Chubby mommy ~ when I origianlly posted the question ~ I was not disliking that the points didn't drop as you lost weight, I was just worrying that because they did not drop I would not lose weight. My leader assures me that we will still continue to lose.

Like you ~ I am glad that I can keep eating the things I am used to and like (the things that are working).