Hey all I'm not a newbie to the 3fc boards, but it's been a long time since I've posted. I've decided to give WW a try, for the very first time. I headed to a meeting a couple months ago, but as I got there, my evil step-aunt was getting out of her car and I just left! LOL! Thankfully, there are other meeting times/places in the area.

My question is,... with this new thing of flex points, what would be my points for 275#? I've got old material that my neighbor had given me awhile back, but things definitely seem to have changed since then. I spent some time at Dotti's website, and just got more confused.

I'm hoping to start this Wednesday, but may have to wait a couple more weeks because of the $$ for the meetings. If someone could give me a heads-up on allowable points for my weight, I'd appreciate it immensely. It would help to start putting together a grocery list, and menus. I've gotten the go-ahead from my doctor to look in to this program. I'd also like to meet with the nutritionist at the clinic in my area to start learning more about nutritional content, etc.

Thanks!!!

If you have your old materials look at the range and to the bottom of the range add 2 points. For example my range used to be 20-27(1-2-3 Success) or 20-25 (Winning Points) so my Target Point is 22 a day. Then you have 35 Flex Points (which all they really are is the Banked Points) to use each week as you see fit (all, some, none) and you can use Activity Points but only on the day earned. Here is some more info:

Winning Points - 1-2-3 Success - Flex Points are all the exact same program the only difference is what they call different sets of points. And you don't have fewer total points.

1) you still have a minimum point to reach but now it is called target

2) you still have banked points but now they are called FlexPoints -- the only major difference is you get them up front instead of having to put them in the bank yourself

3) you still have a maximum for the week (Target + Flex)

4) you can still have a range for the day like with Winning and 1-2-3 but dividing your points by 7 and then putting back what you don't use between Target and the added FP

5) you still have the option of using your Activity Points but now it has gone back to 1-2-3 where you need to use them on the days you are more active --- common sense you use more calories your body needs more calories -- you also use them before FPs so your bank stays up

6) There are a total number of points for the week exactly the same as both 1-2-3 and Winning --- the only difference is with Winning you were SUPPOSED to be earning and using a minimum of 2 points a day in activity this was to encourage you to earn those 2 that the 'supposedly' took away from 1-2-3 with exercise but it backfired so they gave them back

MAJOR CHANGE - you no longer are required to limit use of banked points to 10 points a day but you could if you choose to use all 35 FPs at one time but once they are gone they are gone

Kippy2002 posted this on 11/23/2003 at 9:53:32 AM

Your target points are the lowest possible points you can eat on a daily basis and still be healthy for your current weight, while allowing your body to release fat.

They are not a requirement. If you dip into your flex points and go over your target you have not failed, done something wrong, or bad.

While some people find they have to stick strictly to their target in order to lose (mostly the people at the lower end and who have only a few pounds to lose), MOST people find they lose best by using their flex points, and many active people find they lose best by using both activity points AND flex points.

If you only eat to target, you are effectively training your body to go on sufficiently less food that when you get to goal, you will have to spend the rest of your life eating 22 or 24 points a day. Is that really what you want?

Don't be afraid of flex points. Use them in a way that works with your lifestyle! That is what they are there for!!

invenanet replied with on 11/23/2003 at 9:55:24 AM

Amen!

I *hate* that WW has called them "Target" points. If you just eat those every single day, you will slow down or even stop your weight loss. Vary your points from day to day so your body doesn't get used to one amount of food. Don't be afraid to eat some or all of your Flex Points. Chances are you will SPEED UP your weight loss!

Good luck!

And I added right at the same time

Ditto what Kippy said (well written too may I add) but remember

1) W/W wouldn't give us something that we couldn't use and still lose because they are in the business of weight loss. If we don't lose we quit and if we quit they lose money

2) W/W did sound research on the basal metatoblic rate (BMI for short) and that is how they designed the program with a certain set amount of calories a day/week for your body to lose

3) Remember your body is an engine and for it to run smoothly and what it is supposed to do you need to give it fuel because if you don't give it enough fuel it will stall or die.

4) 99% or more of the people who say they can't use their FlexPoints is because they have slowed their metabolism down because of the way they ate before (be it binge/starve, fad diet, low cal diet, etc) and if they would deal with some slight gains or maintains for 1-3 weeks by 1) eating more and 2) exercise they'd be able to use their points (This is proven in many research studies).

Thanks for the great advice! There is a range for 250-274#, and then a range for 275-299#. Do you go with the higher one?? And move down as you lose the weight?? I'm still trying to figure out my allowable points, though. If you could help with that, I'd be thrilled. My sister joined the online WW, which I would do if I didn't think I could get to the meetings, but I'd like to at least try the meeting first and go from there.

So, I need points on the new system for 275#..... LOL! Because I'm having a brain cramp here.... LOL!

Hi Sakk,
If I were you, i'd go with the 250-275# points. You are correct, you move your "target" points down with your weight and since you are only 1 lb more than the next level, you should use the 250-275, In my opinion. Good luck...go to the meetings they're really enjoyable and weighing in helps keep you on track. You'll make new friends and learn lots of kewl stuff, not to mention recipes......Good luck and email me if you like. I just started last Thursday and buddies are always a great way to get support etc.

I'm kinda in the same boat with you... I started WW this week (Sunday to be exact) on my own... just using the books and all. These web sites have made it a little easier to understand... I don't have the $$ for meetings right now either.. I'm hoping to find some encouragement online to help me keep it up... If you ever need to chat email me! I'll be more than happy to buddy up with someone else in this!

Thanks both of you! I would love to email I've found out quite a bit this morning on various boards. I've gotten some good charts from an ezboard message board. Clears things up quite a bit with Kel's post. I feel like I'm finally able to put it together. I would like to get to the meetings, but it'll probably be a few weeks before I'll really be able to get involved in things. I'm a bit nervous about going... just fear of the unexpected. Right now I'm looking at putting together a grocery list, looking at things I already have, and I'm drinking water!!! Woohoo! I've already found a couple really yummy-sounding recipes.

My email addy is: [email protected]. I'd love to email people, get some buddies going... Exchange ideas, recipes, etc.!!!

I found a good recipe the other day off of Food TV - Its called Warm Chicken Salad... I'm not sure how to calculate WW points for it but all it has is sauteed chicken in lemon juice, olive oil, with salt&pepper, dill, and you throw in asparagus and tomatos... then just throw it over greens of any sort.. if that sounds good I'll get you the recipe.. we had it for dinner last night and I'm having it agian for lunch.. the only thing that had points is the chicken.. so its filling and pretty good!

That'd be great! Thanks I really am going to need to find things that will be easy for me when I'm home during the day, too. My kids are in school, and husband is at work. He'll eat just about anything I cook, which is nice. He loves it when I try new things, and is please as punch if I try new things out that are GOOD for us

I figured I might as well post here as well. I rejoined WW back in October, and just recently came looking for my old home here, which was down at the time due to the crash. I see my old friend Brenda still plugging away as the moderator here on the WW boards, so it's nice to see a familiar face around here still!

My name is Elaine and I live in Boston. I was originally part of the 3fc board many years ago in an area known as the Nightowls. I do a lot of surfing around the web and figured I might as well surf myself in here, since one can never get too much support while on the journey downwards.

Glad to meet you all and looking forward to chatting here again.

elaine from boston

I just read your post on the Valentine's Day thread, too. I look forward to chatting with you as I learn more about the WW program. I am doing GREAT with my first day. I had tried Atkins last summer, and my body went in to a horrible reaction from the get-go. My husband lost quite a bit of weight while on it, but it became difficult to stick with. He's thought about jumping back on the bandwagon with Atkins. My doctor has forbidden the plan for me, though. I wouldn't do it again regardless. I've been having fun surfing the web today reading up on things, finding new recipes, etc. I'm feeling really good about this.

How's it going, Sandi?

Even though I've been on the program again since October, the one thing I hadn't got my head wrapped around is that horrid (for me, anyway!) "e" word.

Yup. Exercise!

But this week I made the commitment to actually dust off the ol' healthrider in the living room and get back on the wagon, so to speak. Or the bike seat, to be exact! lol! And man, does my butt hurt! But I'm doing it.

We'll see what happens next week at weigh in, but I figured it was high time I got my act in gear and really started doing all components of the program.

How's the recipe search going? I have to admit, I don't do a lot of cooking, because when I do, it's not to a recipe and I just make it up as I go along. But I'm always looking for good ideas and what works for someone else in case I might want to try it as well.

So let us know!

elaine

Definitely a problem here, too, but today I enjoyed a 1-hour hike through the snowy forest at an area park. My daughter's class (4th graders) were on an all-day field trip to their outdoor classroom. The kids went cc-skiing & hiking, had sled races, etc. So I got some exercise in today. I've been cold all night, though! LOL! It was a beautiful day, and the kids had a blast. It's not my cup of tea for a field trip, but I hate to miss field trips for the kiddos Her teacher had two cancellations for parent helpers, and really needed the extra help.

As for recipes... I'm not much of a cook, but every once in awhile I have a stab at glory!! LOL! I've got to start simple til I figure things out a little bit better. My husband does a modified-Atkins, so meals are a little weird around here!