hi, all,
i really like all the info and support on this site--i can use all the support i can get. i'm doing the at-home ww points program and am wanting some feedback on the extra 35 points we're allowed per week. i've heard some say we should be using those every week, like one day go for chinese or mexican and use the points and then others say use extra points only when we have to. i'm afraid if i use all the extra points per week i'll never reach my goal weight, but am having trouble with cravings (i really miss my tangerine chicken!!). so, use them or not--what's working for you all?
thanks in advance for any help.
juliem

My question is to you is WHY WOULDN'T YOU USE THEM? They are part of the program yes an optional part but still a part. For the most part most people find the lose better(or at least more consistently) when they are used, the majority of people find after using them the program is much more liveable, and the more you use while losing the more you usually end up with during your maintenance.

I credit the fact that I get 34-35 daily points PLUS 3-5 activity points 6 days a week PLUS 35 Flex/Weekly points on maintenance by utilizing them all. during my weight loss efforts.

Finally do you really thing that W/W would give you something that would not let you lose or make you gain since they are in the business of weight loss? They want you to succeed.

W/W is based on a daily bare minimum called Target or Daily Points. On days you are more active it is your option to use or not use the Activity Points (but again most find they lose better using them) and it is also based on a maximum for the week called Flex or Weekly Points.

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO USE THEM!

thanks, kelly,
not using them?--because i'd been told not to use them unless i absolutely had to, but then heard the opposite from some others on the plan. you're right, it is hard to stay on track with just the daily points and rarely using the extra points. in fact, i went off the plan and gained back 9 pounds because of it. ouch. i now have my head back in the game and started the plan again saturday. i think giving myself permission to use the extra points will help me in the long run. i appreciate your input.

My leader recommend to save them for your weekend and enjoy them at social events

That's what I do, I eat really well, and sometimes I use the extra 35 and sometimes I dont. I if I do Use them It is usually on drinks for the weekend, or part to get a Gloria jeans mocha chiller, because I love those.... man I want one right now *sighs*

*jokingly considers skipping Dinner for one*

juliem, I went to my first meeting this morning after doing ww on my own for about 3 1/2 weeks. Many times at the end of the day I still have points left, and didn't want to put something into my mouth for the sole purpose of using up points, so I asked the leader about that and the bonus points. She said you should absolutely use all your daily allotted points, even if you have to look for something to eat. Or use them up on an extra glass of milk to get your dairy in for the day. She also said it's much better to use an extra point or two daily than to not meet your points minimum. As for the extras, use them to give yourself little treats here and there so that you don't feel deprived. Hope this helps!!

Reading this makes me feel better. I just started tuesday. I have 24 points a day, and spacing out my eating is still a little tricky (I student teach all day), but I make sure I'm not hungry when I go to bed. Yesterday and probably today, I used 3-4 extra points.
Can I still lose weight if I use a few of my "extra" points everyday?
By the way, I'm 25, 6 feet tall and 202 pounds. I use a really good pedometer and I do atleast 10,000 steps a day.

i agree with boaterswife. However, i will say that if you get to the end of the day and are 1 point under your daily alloted amount and are full and are going to go to bed within 1-2 hours that even the wieght watcher's book says that not eating more is okay ON RARE OCCASION. I think i've done this maybe 2 times in the 6-7 months i've been on weight watcher's. I would also say that if you get to that point, you might want to take a peek at your check boxes and see if you're missing anything and use a particularly inneficient (not very filling) thing to meet a need. This could be very useful if you're missing something like an oil. If you're only 1-2 point sunder and not hungry and are close to going to bed, you could always just down a teaspoon of olive oil like it's medecine (or toast some bread and spread it on with some italian herbs or something). If it's milk you could have 1/2 a slice or a slice of cheese or a sugar free pudding (it's only half a milk but it's tasty and it does have calcium and such).
As far as the weekly point, I almost always use every last one, but I know that I don't have to. When I started on the plan and had more daily points, I had less of a tendency to use all my weekly, but lately I use all of them plus a few activity points (but not all). I think that if you can save them, it's wonderful, but that you should not stress yourself out if you do not want to save them. Also, for another idea on how to use them, check out the "wendie plan" thread on the WW general forum

how do you tell the difference between a "really good pedometer" and a not so good one, other than price. Also, how accurate do the "good ones" tend to be and how innaccurate do the "bad ones" tend to be?

I don't always use the 35 points. I earn a lot of activity points during the week, and I cash them in every day for eating. I am at 24 points and have been maintaining (as a Lifetime member) for almost 2 years (!).

I would say it's OK to experiment. Eat some of the 35 flex points one week and see how it affects your weight. Also adding in the activity will really make a difference in how fast you get to goal.

Good luck.

Hi voodoo! I have an Omron hj-112 pedometer. I bought it only after I read about 50 reviews of the product on amazon.com and asking about it here on fatchicks. I paid only 20 bucks for it (yay ebay!) compared to 40 bucks or more at walgreen's, etc. So price didn't really determine whether it was "good" or not. It's accurate for a few reasons:
1) you calculate the length of your average stride and input it; the computer doesn't assume a stride length for you.
2) When you start walking, it only starts counting after the 10th step--taking three steps to the fridge does NOT count towards your total.
3) it does not count jiggling your leg while sitting, driving, or fidgeting.
I love this thing!!! Also, it keeps a running record of your daily steps for up to 7 days. It also calculates how many miles/km you've walked everyday, how many calories you've burned walking, and how many of those steps were aerobic (meaning you walked at a brisk pace for more than 10 minutes)
Sorry this reads like a commercial-it wasn't my intent! But this pedometer rocks hope this helps.