Eat your 35 flex points!
 

I just noticed that a lot of posts lately have people asking why they are not losing weight, and they describe what they are doing, and it turns out they are not eating the 35 flex points each week.

I guess it's because the WW program makes it seem like those are "bonus" or "cheat" points, so people feel like they are being especially good if they don't eat them.

I did the same thing for a couple of weeks, and I plateauxed, and my leader stressed the importance of eating them to provide my body with the energy it needed to stay out of "starvation" mode. The program is set up to encourage us to eat enough every day, without being bound to eating the same amount every day.

So, I just want to encourage everyone to eat your flex points!!!!

I'll ditto her sentiments! There are a few who truly cannot eat them however the most of us can. Many times people get scared after a week of eating them all because they show a low or no loss and then they quit. Really you need to eat them and usually from the first week you will show a loss but if you don't do that don't run from them....keep trying for a minimum of 3-4 weeks so your body can adjust. Many times we have confused our metabolism so bad with fad and/or ultra low calorie diets that we shock it when we give it enough to eat.

For me, I've just never been able to eat that much. I was never a huge eater even when overweight.

My friend just went on WW and gets 28 points a day and I can't even believe how much food that is.

To eat my 20 plus AP's (I don't use those either) plus WAP's. 30+ points a day? Can't even comprehend that.

What I don't get if your body goes into starvation mode if you eat less points, how come like anorexics get so skinny?

For me, eating less and exercising more has always resulted in better weight loss. I know that's not the norm, but it's how it works for me.

I for one just can't eat more than 1/2 or I don't lose. It is definately a personal thing for everyone and how their body reacts.

I envy all of you that can eat all 35 - it would be great but believe me I have tried it and It doesn't work for me

Cindy

i have no probs whatsoever eating them. in fact im on core and i wouldnt survive w/o them. i actually even eat more than 35

I just wanted to stress that the flex points are 35 per week not per day. That would mean 5 extra points per day. That won't be quite so hard to do.

Excellent post!!! Great topic. I had issues with this in the past as well. I am now (well I just started WW again) eating all of the points. I am supposed to eat 24 points a day but I try to eat between 25 and 29 each day. Hopefully it will make a difference. I am sure it will help that is for sure!

When WW had the winning points program you ate between a range of points each day. (I have that info. here some where but I can't remember where it is lol) I cannot remember how exactly that plan went, but I think it was a pretty good plan. Many stayed in the upper point levels then I beleive. And they lost.

I am not sure how many different (1, 2, 3 success, winning points, and flex/turn around) programs WW has had... but they seem to be good plans. I personlly like the flex plan though. It seems to make you make healthier choices then the older plans. :)

I totally understand and agree with eating all, or the majority of your Flexpoints.
Here's my question, though-is it bad to spend them on something not so healthy, like say, an ice cream sundae? I usually feel really guilty when I use my FPs on a big splurge, I feel like I should use them for more healthier choices. What do you guys think? What do YOU eat with your FPs?

Take care!
Molly

Healthy choices are always better choices! Instead of ice cream (for example) I enjoy a half of a cup of sugar free jello with 2 tablespoons of lite cool whip. That is all 0 points actually! I like kroger brand wheat crackers..... 5 are 1 point.


It takes time to learn healthy choices.... it feels like it takes forever sometimes! But it is worth it. :)

I know that my leader had one meeting just around giving in to your cravings within reason and to use your flex pts for that purpose b/c if you don't and deprive yourself then you will lose control..gosh knows I would. I think as long as you are getting in your veggies, fruits, dairy, etc. on a regular basis then an occasional use of flex pts on a splurge is not bad. Of course some say that is a trigger for them to continue to eat badly...so I guess it is up to you. It is all trial and error for each individual person. I personally use them some days to just have a little more food or on some days to have something not great for me, but yummy!

Marcie,

Well said! I am the same way. And I do feel if you deprive yourself you will fall off of the wagon. Some take a while to get back on too. I like the way WW handles things like that. And the flex points gives you the freedom to choose. Which helps a lot too. :)

Then you slowed your metabolism down already by not eating enough for what it needed.

28 TPs is really not that much food and if it is quantity that you don't want you make those points but using real foods and not diet or low cal/low fat.

Because at first your metabolism slows down, then shuts down then your body turns to eating itself (internal organs, muscle tissue, etc) to have energy to live. This is why they become so skinny.

My (and this is only my way of doing it) is to spend my TargetPoints on my nutritional requirements, spend my ActivityPoints on additional dairy and/or protein and the spend my FlexPoints on what I want. Normally it is a healthy treat (fruit or whole grain items) but I also use it for ice cream (real stuff like Cold Stone) or another high fat/calorie treat.

I've never eaten a ton of food, even when I was overweight. So if it's my metabolism, I was born that way. Why would I eat more if I wasn't hungry?

I don't eat very many diet foods. My main staples are oatmeal, home made soups, sandwiches, shrimp, and fruits and veggies, things like that. All very low point and healthy too.

For me, what I eat is more than enough food. I'm not hungry and I'm really healthy and I'm maintaining at a comfortable weight. I don't feel deprived at all. I don't really have any desire to spend 10 points on a small cup of ice cream. It doesn't appeal to me in the least. I would only be eating it just to eat it and what's the point of that?

That's the neat thing about WW is how all of us can do the same program but so differently. What works for one doesn't always work for another.

Here are the Points Pies that can help you if you say that you can't get to your minimum (and this is not specifically directed to anyone but put out for general info):

Balanced (under 250 pounds)

Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 8-9 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 6-7 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 0-3 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 2-3 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day

20-28 points a day

Higher Protein (under 250 pounds)

Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 5-6 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 9-11 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 0-1 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 2-4 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day

20-28 points a day

Higher Carb (under 250 pounds)

Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 9-10 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 5-7 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 1-3 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 1-2 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day

20-28 points a day

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Balanced (over 250 pounds)

Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 11 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 10 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 3-4 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 2-3 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day

30-34 points a day

Higher Protein (over 250 pounds)

Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 8 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 12 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 2-3 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 4-5 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day

30-34 points a day

Higher Carb (over 250 pounds)

Complex Carbs/Grain Based Foods – 13 points a day
Protein-rich Foods – 8 points a day
Fruits and Veggies – 2-4 points a day
Fats, added sugars – 3 points a day
Milk and Milk Products – 4-6 points a day

30-34 points a day

No one said you had to. In no way shape or form was I trying to indicate that. My point was many of us think we get much more food now but in fact we may in quantity but it is also better quality. Before we started our caloric intake had to be higher than it is now even though quantity-wise it may have been less food.

[quote-Multi116]I don't eat very many diet foods. My main staples are oatmeal, home made soups, sandwiches, shrimp, and fruits and veggies, things like that. All very low point and healthy too.[/quote] That is great however many do not and this was not specifically directed at you (but I used your post to indicate what I was responding to) but more of general information.

You don't to 'waste' (for lack of a better term) on something like that nor do you have to use the option but usually beneficial FlexPoints/WeeklyPointsAllowance. As long as you hit hour bare minimum caloric intake needs (based on basal metabolic rate - TargetPoints) that is all you really need however many of us cannot survive (if you look at the points pies the bare minimum of 20 a day doesn't even include any fruit points) on that lowest for sound nutrition.

Someone asked what I use my flex points for:

Answer: it depends on the week. If I know I have a wedding or a banquet, or thanksgiving dinner, or something like that, I save those points to enjoy the special event. Other weeks, I might use 5 in a day for an extra snack, which might range from chips, cheese and crackers, fruit with pudding, peaut butter on toast, or whatever. So really, there's no particular one thing that I use them for. It's part of the realistic way of eating that I had to get used to.

I used to think that I had a slow metabolism, and thought that was just the way I was, so I have been overweight most of my adult life, in part because I didn't think I could change this. Now, with better eating and exercise, I have noticed a definite change in how my body handles food. The strength-training workouts made the biggest difference. This change has taken months, though. I also know that I will have to keep up these good habits in order to maintain the higher metabolic rate throughout my life. Now, I am one who enjoys eating, in part because I love cooking as a hobby, so adjusting my metabolism has been key in helping me do what I love without jeopardizing my health! I also know I will have to adjust what I eat once I reach goal, so that I don't lose too much weight.