This thread is exactly what I have been searching for on the WW message boards, but this has never been suggested. For those of us that are trying to ease back into the WW program and seeking motivation, the higher points idea seems so logical. It will allow me to be on program(my personal one) and even if weight loss is a little slower, that is just fine. Thank you for such an important idea. This has made my day.
Audrey

There's a book out that talks a lot about this idea of needing to eat more to lose weight. The book is called "Lean & Free, 2000 Plus" or something close to that, and it's by Dana Thornock. She quotes some rather interesting research in her book and it makes for some thought-provoking reading. I've incorporated several of her ideas into my own weight management program. Incidentally, she's a Covert Bailey fan, too!

I'm really intrigued by this concept. I have trouble (psychologically) eating much more than my minimum. I may try in next week after Wednesday’s weigh-in. I’d be interested to see if I still lose weight when I eat more. I’m not hungry now, but I don’t feel like I am eating enough to keep my body going. Maybe I need to start substituting back for some of the lighter versions of food that I eat now to increase my points. I just need to get over the “eat less lose more” mentality.

Mary Ellen

What a wonderful thread!! I began WW 2 week ago, for the 2nd time. I lost 63 initially, and now I have gained 25 lbs back. I am finding myself obsessed with the need to have more food. I just do not feel as though I am getting enough this time, and I have found myself bingeing on 4 occasions. Last time, I did not feel nearly as deprived as I do now. I have been telling myself to go with the old program, and I keep talking myself out of it. Well, if it worked before, it will work again. I am convinced. Thanks for all of your inputs. I am printing this thread out.

Tracey

I too have a psychological problem eating above my minimun points. It's all related to my all - or - nothing, perfectionist mentality. Which I am trying very hard to change.

I have found a way to trick myself. Instead of adding my bonus exercise points just to the high end of my range, I also add them to the minimum end of the range. (ie: If you have a range of 22-27 points per day and you earn +4 bonus exercise points, your new range for the day becomes 26 - 31 points.)

This simple change reminds me to eat more on days I exercise. I started doing this because I felt like I was not giving my body enough fuel to get through my workout.





[This message has been edited by gsc4 (edited 01-17-2001).]

I've been wondering about some of this myself. Some people have been not understanding to my need for more food. I exercise hard 5 days/week and I think I'm cheating myself out of exercise points some days but I want to be fair to the program and not over eat. My trainer says that your body will call for more food, especially if you exercise a lot and build muscle. I've gained a pound of muscle in the last 2 months even though I've lost 8.5 lbs in 2 months. Plus I nurse my 18 month old a few times/day (which will make you hungry).

I've had a hard time cutting away those 2 extra points and exercise only makes me want to eat more but I'm going to do it anyway.

This is an interesting topic.

I have been doing some modifying of the program myself.

Banking points always got me confused, how many I had, when I could used them etc. I also had a tendency to feel overwhelmed if I had a high points day and it could ruin me for a few days after, feeling I had failed and then not being able to stick with a low point day I had imposed on myself to make up the points. The other thing I have noticed is with exercising I seem to be less hungry on the days I get my best workouts.

I bought the new 12 week journal after Christmas and have been using it for 3 weeks. After the first week I added up each days totals and added up all the activity points I had earned. Some days I was right at the top of my range, a couple I was way over my maximum and on one day I was actually at my minimum (18).

If I were to eat every day at the maximum points I am allowed 161 points (23 x 7) for the week. The first week I tried this I had 184 points total, I took away 19 activity points and was left with a weekly total of 165 which averages to be 23.5 points per day. I lost a pound that week.

I did the math again last week and averaged 25 points per day through the week, and lost a pound again. After being on a 6 week plateau this was good news to me and took some of the stress of having "perfect" days away. I'm still journaling everyday, actually much more acurrately since I know if I have a high points day I need to balance it out later in the week.

I am getting close to my goal weight and want to see where I can find a good balance for me. The only problem I foresee is getting so used to eating low points for so long it's hard to even imagine being allowed to add points back in. Reading about eating 35 or so points per day and maintaining seems almost unreal. The key must be to make those points count for good foods for the most part, it seems if I give my body junk, it craves more and more.

Jill

This is a great topic. Rupertsmom, thank you for posting your success story; it is very similar to my approach. I too feel that WW point ranges are far too restrictive. I would starve if I followed them, although I do like the concept of the program - the freedom to choose whatever foods you want combined with portion control. I liked your idea of joining WW when you were ten pounds near your goal weight. I too will do that, just to become a lifetime member and have a support group to attend. My approach is that I'm following points, but not WW points. I am counting Calorie Points, a point system created by the American Dietetic Association years ago, long before WW ever came up with "their concept." Calorie points are probably the best kept secret in the diet industry - I've never seen any books written about it - the only thing I have is a booklet I ordered years ago after reading about the Calorie Point concept in Shape magazine about 15 years ago. The booklet is updated every few years and I order them every few years. It's basically a very simplified way of counting calories - much, much less complicated than WW points and it works for me. I combine it with WW exercise and nutritional principles, but I count calorie points and choose my foods from food exchange lists, which are great for breaking down calories in foods in an easy to understand manner. The least I could ever eat to lose weight is 1500 calories a day (20 calorie points), I also live a sedentary lifestyle...anything under that and I starve, hence WW lowered points is just starvation to me. Everyone must find their own way and I believe I've found mine. I hope the posting on this board keeps up...Rupertsmom you are such an inspiration. It's true that eating more is better than eating less! Cheeshead.

Hello everyone, I'm 2 weeks into WW after trying Atkins, Slim Fast, you name it. I have about 30lbs to lose, down 4.5 my first week, but a little nervous about this next weigh in. For the first time in 2 years I feel in control of what I'm doing. When I gave up carbs, that's all I wanted. When I did Slim Fast, all I wanted was more sweets. Now I can plan what I want, have fun getting the most for my points, and make sure I have a few extra points left at the end of the day for a fat free pudding, or some popcorn or other treat. I too use veggies to "bulk up" what I eat (yep, another person who needs to have a lot of food in front of me) and find that eating dry cereal (Kashi Go- Lean mostly)satisfies me more than eating a bowl of it with milk as I can pick at it during the morning and for what ever reason I feel more full. I'm trying so hard to look at this as the way I NEED to eat, not as any type of deprivation. Because truthfully, it isn't! My portion sizes were equal to my husband's, and I'm a person who either eats healthfully and exercises or eats terribly and doesn't. So 25lbs more and 2 sizes bigger one year later, I feel FINALLY like I am (mostly) in control. I throw some exercise in anywhere I can, found short bursts can work as well as longer ones. And something like Tae Bo punches (my own version of them) is great for stress reduction!!

Thanks so much everyone for all the input. This has really helped me. I re-joined WW Jan 1; and am doing pretty well. But, I know this has to be permanent changes. This time I really am trying to ask myself every day, every meal...is this something I can do for the rest of my life? I also think think that I need to stay away from (not eliminate)sugar and refined flour. Good luck to us all!

Rupertsmom--I think you could write a book or start your own commercial weight loss program. You're great! I think you could be a real success at it. Maybe we'll see you on Oprah some day !

Thanks, Wormtown! I'll consult Rupert the kitty (my dietary advisor) and see if he wants to take this gig public.

I'm so glad I was guided to these posts!! I've been doing what Rupertsmom has been doing and its been a total success. I eat 40 points a day ala WWer's. or about 2000 calories a day. My points are "healthy" ones.....not candy bars and I do yoga twice a day (Dixie Carter tape 20 min am/pm). I had to do something because of a health scare (bordline high sugar) and knew I couldn't go back to the "old" way. I worked for WW for 9 years and each the struggle was worse. I quit and gained back all!!! So for 6 years I ate whatever I wanted.....but that was hurting me. I'm satisfied, don't feel deprived or left out. Somedays I'm hungrier than others and I usually bank some points for a treat like dessert that isn't lowfat. I rarely eat non-fat substitutes, but have chosen low-fat....which still has some flavor. My hubby and I eat out A LOT and I'm still learning about choices..but I stick to simple things like salad, baked potatoes and a meat. Anyway, I'm so glad to see others finding out what I have....that lower calorie intake is not always the best.
I'm 56 yrs. old 5'8"....have lost 25 lbs in 20 weeks. I'm a lifetime mem. at WW. so can weigh/pay once a month. I don't go to meetings (heck everyone still knows me and I want to avoid that right now). My support comes from 3FC and Dotties web sites. I believe that WW will not advocate larger amounts because so many people want FAST results. I figure time passes anyway and if in 6 months I weigh less that I did I'm better off. I plan to stick to 40 points until it just levels off and I quit losing.
So glad I found the rest of you!!!!!!
Cheers!!!

Rupertsmom and 40 points-- you both make so much sense. Thanks! White Cat >^.^< (meow)

Hi, guys. Good thread. I remember reading a post of yours, Rupertsmom, WAAAAY back when I first started the program, about how you were generally eating higher than the prescribed points ranges. I was eating higher, too, and I was glad to hear that someone else was having success doing things that way.

My goal, too, has been to eat as MUCH as I can while still losing weight. I went through periods during my weight loss when I ate 40, 50, even 60 points a day with no ill effects. There were very few days that I ate in the low or mid 20s, although I had to throw some of those in every once in awhile to get things moving. I am now in the 18-25 range, but I would be starving myself if I ate there on a regular basis. Most days, I eat 18 points BEFORE dinner. I cannot imagine living on that little food.

I am glad to see that there are other kindred spirits out there who think it is important to feed our bodies a reasonable amount of healthy food. I, too, was uncomfortable in my WW meetings where people would talk about eating all their points in fudge, or eating ten cans of green beans and nothing else, or eating nothing except an entire box of 2-point bars for dinner, or whatever. My leader made it known that she liked to "drink" her points some days, if you know what I mean (barfly?).

I will also beat the exercise drum a little (as always). I can burn 1000 calories or more on a run, which REALLY lets me up my points. I would encourage anyone who wants to eat MORE to get involved in some kind of sport or exercise that allows you to mix shorter, intense workouts with longer, endurance-type workouts.

But everyone is different. I don't mean to imply that those who can ONLY lose at a lower points range are doing it "wrong." I know people who are unable to lose above about 23 points, and that's just a fact for them.

Well, good luck to everyone and way to go, all you losers.

--Diamonda
266/146/135

I could have used this thread 2 years ago when I reached Lifetime status and felt as if I'd been sent adrift. There were those that felt that because I was no longer paying, I had no right to ask for support from WW. Needless to say, I lost touch with WW and gained back all I lost + a little more.

I've rejoined knowing I can lose on this plan but now, after reading this thread, I know I can maintain once I reach goal. I agree that WW needs to address the maintenance aspect of the program more thoroughly but until then I know I have my 3FC buddies to help me through this particular life trial. Thanks for being here.

-Kristin