My TPs are 22. I'm having a hard time not going over in points. I do okay for breakfast, then lunch happens and everything in my fridge is WAY too many points. Then along comes dinner and it just ruins the hard work I've put in. I've only managed 5 minutes of exercise the first day (Total Gym--wish my dh would bring my treadmill in the house already) and 10 minutes today. So, on both days, I've gotten 1 extra point for 'high intensity', but I still go over 2 points and have to use them for flex points. I'm trying to save my flex points for Friday Pizza Nights. I was proud of myself however, for getting McDonald's for my mom and sister and not purchasing anything (other than a Diet Coke) for myself. Watching them eat their double cheeseburgers and fries sucked, but I shifted my focus and tried to ignore how good it smelled.

Anyone else have a hard time the first few days? My minimum points (TPs) is only 22 (I weigh 162 lbs) and I feel like that amount isn't enough to satisfy me. Between meals, I become VERY hungry and I'm only satisfied for 1-2 hours after I've eaten. Previously, I wouldn't eat breakfast or lunch because I simply wasn't hungry and I'd just have a big dinner. Now that I am eating more meals, I feel ravenous. I don't know if it's psychological or if by consuming more often, my body constantly wants to be fed now. I imagine my body as that big Venus Fly Trap yelling "Feed me! Feed me!".

My sisters work at Applebee's and I inquired about their Weight Watchers menu. I knew their prices would be high, but both sisters say that the Tango Chicken is WAY too spicy (they are required to taste the food so they can tell the customers what it's like), that the bun tastes like stale bread and that the chicken is teeny tiny, itty bitty. Anyway, my sister is going to give me the recipe. I'm going to see if I can't make it taste to my liking.

HERE'S THE THING: My sister said that the Weight Watchers representative came in to go over all the food and really detailed it. She said that the WW lady said that removing an item (let's say a tomato), would affect the points...like they would go up. She was very clear on this and I just don't understand it. How could /removing/ food cause the points to go /up/? My sis said that the lady said that x item cancels out something else. I've never heard of this and it doesn't make sense at all. If you remove, say, cheese, how does that make the points go /up/?? And this was from the representative, mind you. I wish I liked shrimp or steak. They have a few WW meals with that. The only item that got me interested was the Tango Chicken, but I've only heard 'very gross' on that item. See, I still know all the people at this particular Applebee's (I used to work there) and they all have the same opinion.

I have one more question(and probably even more in future postings). The point range says 22-27. Now, is anything over 22 pts a day part of my flex points or can I safely eat all 27 points? Anyway, responses appreciated.
Jaclyn

Don't worry about the first few days. Get used to tracking your points and adding in exercise. You do not have to be perfect - just keep making adjustments. Keep making healthy choices.

As for Mc Donalds - I go there and get the apple and grape Salad ( I hate Walnuts, so I don't eat them.) I also get the apple dippers (I rarely eat the carmel dip.) There is no way I could not eat something if I was a hungry as you say you have been the last two days.

If you are hungry, it may be because all you think about is points and food and what choices you are going to make in the beginning. After you get the program down, you will think about food less. It does get easier.

As for taking away a tomato and having higher points I am unsure. I am guessing that any recipe you change will have different calories, fat, and fiber. I bet that if you removed all the items with fiber from a recipe the points could go up. Just as if you removed all the fat, the points could go down. All our cooking/eating is based on the point system that includes calories, fat and fiber in the consideration of the point value.

As for how many points to eat each day, my opinion is to eat what you are hungry for. Maybe Monday is a 23 point hunger day and Tuesday is a 27 point hunger day.

Don't forget to eat zero point foods during the day. I eat both veggie soup and raw veggies all day long. I even eat soup 30 minutes before our weekly free pizza lunch at work. Why? So I won't be as hungry when the pizza arrives.

Keep trying. WW is a great program. Give yourself and your body time to adjust.

Plan, plan, plan. Plan out your meals for the day including your dinner. You need to do this at first. I still plan my day around what I am having for dinner and I have been doing this since 1998.

Do you following the 8 Great Health Guidelines as well as a Points Pie. Eating more substaintial foods and less 'diet' or 'junky' foods will help you stay fuller longer. Remember to get in your 2 dairy servings a day as well as your 2 healthy oils. People always say I don't want to waste points on those 2 things but they are 2 things that you really need and they do help you stay fuller longer.

I have many of the W/W Applebee's items and the sandwich is not too small. Those who say that are so used to the huge portions that they have no sense of the right size. I liked the Tango Chicken Sandwich and it wasn't spice at all. Now the Sizzling Chicken Skillet is spice.

Try the sandwich for yourself. Many people say that wheat bread tastes stale but if that is what you are already eating it probably won't be to you. Additionally taking off a 0 point veggie such as tomato will not make the points go up. Taking of the cheese will definatelynot make the points go up but it may not make the points go down either. There isn't that much cheese and it is a reduced fat cheese. Adding things will make the points change.

If you eat 27 points it will be take from your FlexPoints unless you have earned some ActivityPoints which can only be used the day earned.

All I can say is PLAN, PLAN, PLAN! and then Plan some more until you are comfortable winging it if you ever get that comfortable.

If you are comfortable listening to your body you may want to consider Core where there are not points to count except for those items that are not considered Core foods (breads, real cheese, etc). My body cannot tell me accurately when I am satisified (which is not necessarily full and definately not stuffed) so I do mainly those items designated as Core Foods but watch portions and points.

Points Pies

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

-----

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

For meeting goers, e-toolers, and at-homers you can find it starting on page 34 of your Week 1 Booklet.

For onliners you can...

You may visit the Web site and read 8 Great Health Guidelines. After you log in, it can be found in the Select a Resource dropdown menu located in the Shortcuts toolbar on the left hand side of the page. Click on Weight Loss Topics of the Week in the My Plan section of the dropdown menu. On the next page you will see the View Topics Archive link in the box on the upper right side of the page. Click the link to be brought to the topics archive. 8 Great Health Guidelines is the first first link on the archive list.

or

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/a...1&art_id=21901

Hey there!

You've gotten some fabulous advice!! Fill your day with 0 point foods. Follow the eight healthy guidlines. Make sure the foods you are choosing are the best ones. We can eat cake and fit it in our points but we're not going to feel as satisfied as we would of if we had eaten a nice turkey sandwhich on some hearty whole wheat bread with mustard, low fat cheese, lettuce and tomatoes with a side of baby carrots and cucumbers for the same number of points.

Recently I have started eating dinner first. I start my points at 5 pm. I eat what I want for dinner (within reason, being points conscious and meeting my 8 healthy guidlines). Then with the remaining balance the next day I fit in breakfast and lunch. I don't really care about breakfast and lunch, not like I do dinner. If I am able to eat a nice balanced dinner and feel satisfied then I feel great all around and not at all unsatisfied. If it's pizza night I get a medium with just cheese and mushrroms and I can a couple peices. I just eat a lower point lunch the next day. But now I am not worrying all day what I am eating for lunch so I can save points for dinner and to be able to eat that pizza. Planning IS helpful. But for me I just can't always know at 8 am what I will eat for dinner. So now I have dinner out of the way first.

WW may not approve this and there is probably some scientific reason why not to, but I know some people do it and I've found it's working for me.

Also, maybe the core program would fit you needs better. There is no counting you eat until you are satisfied. You just eat from a list of approved foods. I actually eat ALOT of core foods. You get more out of them than more processed stuff. They are to me more "worth" the points. If you think of points as cash I try to get the best deal.

As far as exercise start slow. Also gauge your intensity. It's pretty difficult to reach high intensity. We've had some good threads about this recently. WW compares high intensity to competative running and competative swimming. I was a swimmer so I know I am NOT even close to putting out the effort that I would have in the 200 freestyle when I am treadmilling, even when I am sweating my butt off. Kelly suggested to me to go between moderate and high and I think that is a good idea.

But the key is start slow. It's ok if all you can do is 10 minutes. Do 10 minutes for a week and move to 15 the next, build up.

As far as Applebees is concerned... I had the Chicken sandwhich and found it to be just fine. It's not as big as some of the gigantic burgers with two patties and four peices of cheese, but it's a NORMAL portion. I thought it tasted good. I'm not a big spicey persona dn I found it to be just fine. As far as the points changing taking off the tomato may in theory lower the fiber, higher fiber = lowers points. So by removing it it may raise the points. But I like Kelly don't think it'd make a difference. WW is a bussiness, they are liable for thier image and thier information. They want to make sure consumers know that if you change stuff it MAY alter the points. Subway has the same disclaimer on their 6 under 6. They want to make sure people know that the points are for only an "as is" sandwhich and if you alter it it may not be what it originally was points wise. It's not a big deal they are just covering their butts.

Hi! Congrats on starting this thing! I agree that you shouldn't expect the first few days to be a piece of cake. (oops, did I say cake) I would guess that your food choices might be part of the hunger problems. I’m a volume eater. I would rather have 40 pieces of popcorn that 1 cookie. And, it takes me a lot longer to eat a bowl of popcorn, than to inhale a cookie! Also, it could be head hunger. Meaning, you just think you should be hungry or are thinking about food. Sometimes drinking a glass of water will satisfy you, because thirst can be mistaken for hunger.

As for the Tango Chicken Sandwich, I liked it and commented that I would probably order it again. The only problem was that the kitchen was very busy that night and basically ran out of fruit so I just got a bad piece of pineapple. As for spice, I’m not a big fan – so, this was a touch too spicy for me, but not so much that it would scare me off. It had a good flavor besides the hotness.

I echo all the points previously said....the number one key for me is to find the best choices to eat. I'm a volume girl also. Give me lc whole wheat bread and I'll have 2 sandwiches vs 1 sandwich with plain ol' white bread. As for Applebee's?....I have had almost everything on their menu and I have to disagree....I love them!! The quesedilla is great, the tillapia is wonderful, onion soup? love that too....the shrimp skwewers, love them!! I guess it all is a matter of what you want. I could oh and awe over chicken wings but why bother when I know its a bad choice for me. Have you tried the 'zero' points veggie soup? I make that almost every week. IMO, I would eat more veggies/fruits (0-2pts) and eat more in the upper range of your points rather than the lowest pt figure. You can do this....come on!!!

Thank you guys for all the responses. It has been really helpful. I did really well on day 3 and was able to eat 4 slices of pizza (it was SOO GOOD) and not dip into my flex points for that. Day four (today), I didn't do as good, but I still did okay. I'm definitely going to start at night with the points because that really is the only meal that I worry about and look forward to. DH is putting the treadmill in as we speak (yay! as well as cleaning and sorting the garage. He's so awesome. Sorry, just had to gush a little there. On a related gushing note, my daughter called me 'mama' for the first time today (she's 7 1/2 months). My heart absolutely melted.

I will definitely try to take the advice of more fruits and veggies (I really do need more in my diet anyway) and take advantage of 'free' foods. My muscles are still a little sore from exercise, which I like because it means it's working. I did, however, take today as a day of rest from exercise. Oh, I also peeked at the scale and it says I am down 3 lbs. I just came off my TOM, so that is probably why, but it was so nice to see the scale drop below 160 lbs. for a change. Not being able to resist, I also peeked just before bedtime (the first peek was when I first woke up) to compare. The weight was up (as it usually is for me at night), but it still showed a 3 lb. difference than normal.

Anyways, I just want to say that you guys on this board are great and thank you for your helpful responses.
Jaclyn

Jaclyn-That is great about your daughter!!!!! Those moments are so wonderful! I am also glad to hear things are going well for you! You'll get a lot of great support here. Feel free to PM me or I also use yahoo if you have any question or anything. I also belong to the Slimmin' Sistas unde rthe WW otehr groups and clubs forum. Feel free to join us there. I know being a new mom makes things hetcic. I have two kids (2 1/2 and 18 months) plus I provide child care for two more! I really like starting my points at dinner it's working well for me.

Have a great weekend!