Weight Watchers Anyone
#226639 - 11/22/05 09:06 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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My friend, her daughter, and I are all thinking of joining Weight Watchers. Shell told me several of you have tried it but it didn't work for you with the IBS Diet program. Anyone here have any experience with WW? I'd appreciate any advice or suggestions you have. While my friend and her daughter do not have IBS, I do, so this is a big issue for me.
Thanks,
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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I follow Weight Watchers, and did before IBS. I lost about 30 lbs. and have kept it off for 3 years now.
While IBS does make it a little trickier to get in all one's fruits and veggies, it is not impossible. As for artificial sweetners, just avoid them like you do anyway. As for dairy, well, just do soy or whatever your moo replacement of choice already is.
WW now has two different plans. There's the points system where you get so many per day based on your weight and the Core system. You do not count points on Core, but I don't know much about it beyond that. I lost all my weight with points and just kept with it since it works for me.
Oh, and you can "earn points" for exercising, which then means you can eat a bit more that day.
If you have more questions, fire away. I'd be happy to answer them. I think I'm one of the few people here who won't say "OH NO!" whenever WW is mentioned.  I know it does not work for everyone, but it HAS worked for me.  I'd be happy to answer any questions. 
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Thanks Snorkie!
#226648 - 11/22/05 09:19 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Good stuff here. Thanks a lot. Yes, I just might take you up on that kind offer of yours to "fire away" if we decide to join. I belonged to WW back in 1980 and got my gold key -- but that was before my IBS, so I have no idea how to combine the two programs now.
30 pounds, eh? Good for you! That's fantastic! I'd kill to lose 30 pounds! Which I might just have to do.....
By the way, did you buy any of their cookbooks? In 1980, I bought all the cookbooks they had at the time, and used each and every one of them; I still have them -- a moving box stuffed full! Any chance I can still use them, even though the program at the time was based on exchanges instead of points?
Thanks again,
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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(nb - i haven't been on weight watchers, but a co-worker was on it last year, and i read through her materials, so my memory of the details isn't perfect.)
i think the core plan is more where ibs becomes a problem. it's based around 'core' foods that you can eat as much as you want, or at least without counting - you're still instructed to not eat beyond fullness, to not binge. the core foods include a lot of IF foods - whole grains, vegetables - but also include other low-caloric-density foods like brothy soups. i don't remember how non-core foods are added, but i think it might be a points system, as well.
the points plan is tricky for ibs mostly in that SF foods, like white grain products and starchy vegetables, tend to be on the higher points end. (like the core plan, this still privileges whole grains & veggies, giving them much lower points values.) points are calculated based on fat, calories, and fiber - the low-fat part goes with ibs, but the high-fiber is often high-IF, which is rough. no pun intended.
so i do think it could work for ibs - the support system is supposed to be great, and the diet is healthy and sustainable - but it's not an easy fit.
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jaime
ibs-a (mostly d) // vegetarian
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Thanks Jaime!
#226653 - 11/22/05 09:25 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Actually, I don't do well with soluble fiber, believe it or not. I discovered -- the hard way -- that bread actually causes me to cramp up on occasion. I cut out all white bread and will usually opt for whole wheat, although I don't eat much of either.
My problems are fat and large portions; they always cause my attacks. I also have a problem with broccoli and cabbage; otherwise, I do pretty well with veggies and fruits.
Thanks for the input. Good stuff here.
I think I might give it a try. The "not an easy fit" part is a challenge that I kinda like. See how I am?
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Quote:
My problems are fat and large portions; they always cause my attacks. I also have a problem with broccoli and cabbage; otherwise, I do pretty well with veggies and fruits.
in that case, WW can probably work really well for you. if you're okay with whole grains and IF, it should be fine. the WW diets are low-fat, and they take care to help you re-learn good sense with hunger and portions.
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jaime
ibs-a (mostly d) // vegetarian
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It's 5 Ingredients & 15 Minutes or something like that. I ordered it 2003 and used it a fair amount before IBS and have modified a couple recipes since. I've also seen it in stores as a Cooking Light cookbook.
If your old recipe books list the calories, total fat content, fiber content, you can still use them with points. Heck, even if they aren't listed, you can guestimate after awhile.
If you use WW online services (which is a separate fee from meetings), you can use their Recipe Builder to find out points for any recipe. I understand it's a little quirky, though. I've never used it.
Oh yeah, the message boards on WW are no charge. It's some of the other stuff that has a fee like the recipe swap and recipe builder.
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That sounds right about the Core plan.
To be honest, when I was unstable, I sort of ignored the points with rice especially because the IBS was causing me to lose weight I didn't want to.
In a away, adjusting to the IBS diet wasn't terribly difficult because I'd been following WW for a couple years already and tracking what I ate. So, I think the reverse can also be true.
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This last spring I spent over $300 on WW and suffered and starved for 12 weeks and didn't lose a darn pound. I exercised faithfully, and everything. It was the most frustrating experience of my life. Mind you, I was on medication (Antidepressants) which make it brutally hard to lose weight. If not impossible.
With that said, here goes.
Anything that is good for us (ie. soluble fibre) is VERY high in points (usually 4 or more per serving) and is practically nonexistent on the core plan. There are maybe 2 or 3 choices on the core plan and you're restricted to how many times a day you can eat them. You'll probably be eating about 22 points a day. With that said, by the time you get in soluble fibre say 4 times a day, that's 16 points. Yikes! Doesn't leave much left for anything else.
Also, they rely heavily on FF dairy products. All my soy alternatives are high in sugar and have more fat so they're high in points as well. Yikes!
I literally lived off turkey sandwiches with WW bread, FFturkey, FF mayo and lettuce and mustard. 2 points.
Then I snacked on sugar free applesauce (I think 1 cup was 1 point).
They also have a tally at the end of the day where you're supposed to have eaten so many servings of fruits and veggies, so many of dairy and so many fats. With the high points of the SF I just simply couldn't do it. I was starving all the time! First they would suggest snacking on an apple or some raw carrots or a salad with FF italian dressing or their 0 point veggy soup. I couldn't tolerate any of them.
Don't want to discourage you - you might be successful, but I just wanted you to know my experience - the truth and nothing but. 
Ask Shell or Laurel (Retrograde) about the BMR way of counting calories. It allows for more caloric intake with the idea that the calories rev up your metabolism. The WW way, according to the BMR people is that it's just too few calories and your bod goes into starvation mode. Hope I'm not putting words in your mouth, S and L. Please correct me if I'm wrong!
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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Thanks Alicia!
#226681 - 11/22/05 11:02 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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I appreciate your input. This is what I want to know -- the good AND the bad. I'm still researching it, so don't know for sure yet whether or not I'll join, but this is all good stuff for me to consider.
I'm printing out your post and I'll read it over a few more times.
Thanks again!
Bevvy
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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Non-Dairy & WW
#226683 - 11/22/05 11:10 AM
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Snorkie
Reged: 02/15/05
Posts: 1999
Loc: Northern Illinois, USA
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The soy milk products I've used are all 1 or 2 points.
IE, Silk and regular 8th Continent are 2 pts a cup and have the calcium. 8th Continent Lite is 1 pt a cup and still has the calcium.
Galaxy veggie cheese slices also have the calcium and have 1 or 2 pts. (I'd have to double check.) The Tofutti slices taste icky (to me) and don't have the calcium.
Soy yogurt is going to be about 3pts a cup (well, Silk anyway). Stoneyfield Farms is 2 pts for the little 1/2 cup portions w/ 15% RDA calcium. I believe for it to count as a calcium serving, it has to have either 20 or 30% of the RDA.
OMG. I sound like a commercial.  I'll stop now.
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No, no, no, you don't sound like a commercial. This is GREAT stuff! I'm printing out your post.
I'm not real crazy about soy cheese. The only kind I like is Veggie Slices, and even then it has to be in a casserole or on top of a ground dead cow, barbecued over charcoal. "Soy Dream" vanilla "milk" isn't bad, but again, I could never drink it straight.
Hmmmm.... don't know if this gonna work for me. But hey, if you can do it, so can I, right? RIGHT????
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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I rarely drink soy milk straight. It's usually what I cook my oatmeal in. As for soy cheese, yeah, I usually eat it on some sort of sandwich.
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Silk brand Chocolate Soy milk is something like 3 points for a 3/4 cup serving. 
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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Core or Flex?
#226707 - 11/22/05 01:19 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Which plan did you ladies like best, and why? It sounds like not counting would be easier, but is it really?
Also, did you do it online or at meetings? I like the online program, but then where's the support?
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Re: Core Flex?
#226722 - 11/22/05 02:00 PM
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Snorkie
Reged: 02/15/05
Posts: 1999
Loc: Northern Illinois, USA
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I follow Winning Points, which is what they had before Flex, so I'll say Flex. They are very similar.
I did meetings. I liked the support and the accountibility.
I say "did meetings" because since I'm "lifetime" I just weigh in once a month and rarely stay for meetings.
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It's working great for me! My weigh-in today was 3 pounds down. So far I haven't found it too tricky. I drink low fat soy milk instead of the regular soy milk which brings the points down a little. I also have a few favorite Amy's frozen dinners that I found to be pretty good on points. You have to be more creative but you can make it work. I don't know how the core plan would work with it because I haven't tried core with ibs yet, but the flex plan has been working great for me. You could even ask your weight watchers leader for some tips. If you talk to them about your special diet, they may be able to help you work it in with the weight watchers program.
You will notice that some will say that it won't work because they make you eat alot of insoluble fiber. But you don't have to follow EXACTLY what wieght watchers says. They are just guidlines. As long as you eat ibs friendly foods and try to keep them within your points range (if you are on flex plan) then you should be fine.
I've been on weight watchers for just over a year now and am 30 pounds down in total. I was diagnosed with IBS only a short time ago (a month or two ago I think).
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Cheers!
Sher
IBS-A
Edited by sgebhardt (11/22/05 02:15 PM)
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Hi Bevvy!
#226753 - 11/22/05 04:14 PM
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Stephie
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 2696
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
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As always, it is lovely to see your face around!
BTW -- I wanted to ask you, do you hear at all from LauraSue? I miss her! She used to be quite the regular on this board!
Anyway, back to WW! I have personally never been on BUT I thought about it and decided against it because my mom was on it and I looked at her material and thought it wasn't for me.
My mom (5'2-5'3, I guess... 140 lbs) only gets to eat the equivalent of about 1200 calories a day. From everything that I have read anything below 1200 calories is "starvation mode" and I discovered that a lot of my weight gain came from not eating enough calories.
MY other problem with it was what others have mentioned -- how difficult it is to eat SF foods. I don't eat very much bread, but I found anything like rice or potatoes or pasta would up my points super high.
I personally cannot tolerate ANY raw vegetables and have a hard time with about 80% of cooked vegetables, so I was never eating even close to what I should have been.
If these aren't problems for you, though, you might be totally fine! I would say that you know your body enough not to starve yourself.. eat if you feel hungry, even if you are almost out of points. If you exercise, make sure you eat enough to input enough calories to fuel your body.
I think one thing about WW that some people really enjoy is having the accountability of going to the meetings and weighing in and having that support.
Good luck, and let us know how it goes!
**hughugs**
--Steph
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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stephie!
#226759 - 11/22/05 04:51 PM
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jaime g
Reged: 07/27/05
Posts: 961
Loc: new york city
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speaking of lovely faces great to see around, it's been a while since i've seen you around here. how've you been?
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jaime
ibs-a (mostly d) // vegetarian
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Well...I know if I ate some of the things my mother eats (major IF), I'd be in pain/D city.
Also, I know in order for it to be successful it is necessary to weigh/measure and journal/log. That's my mother's greatest weakness or the root of her lack of progress for oh, a decade.
It's a "points" system versus calorie counting. Ultimately calories versus points are more accurate in "energy accountability." It has the bonus of group support via meetings.
From what I've witnessed, it has a higher "failure" or drop-out rate versus success rate.
Kate.
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Yo, Steph!
#226785 - 11/22/05 07:05 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Thanks, Pretty Lady,
You hit the nail on the head when you said, "having the accountability of going to the meetings and weighing in and having that support." Ain't all that crazy about the weighing-in part, but I do remember the support was absolutely phenomenal. (I joined in 1980, lost all my weight, got my gold key, then moved on.)
Hubby says, "You don't need WW; you know what you gotta do." Well, that may be true, but there's nothing that can replace that support.....
Thanks!
Bevvy
P.S.: Nope, haven't heard a peep from LS, unfortunately. Last I heard, she was on a fibro support board. Lucky them.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Just curious--is this stuff safe? Not the wholewheat, of course, but the white? I find that it's difficult to find a safe bread I might be able to chew with my obscenely crappy teeth AND I'm dying to put my organic crap-free jam on something! I miss pickle sandwiches, too.
Hmmm...I suppose I could make fatfree biscuits/drop scones.
I just miss toast & jam. And pickle sandwiches/cucumber sandwiches, too.
Kate.
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Wow! 30 pounds! Good for you! Flex plan, eh? They allow you to have things like Amy's frozen dinners? So you don't count points, then what DO you count?
Good suggestion to talk with the leader for tips about my IBS issue. Hopefully she'll know something about IBS.
While you say "they are just guidelines," I'm obsessive compulsive. I gotta follow it to the LETTER, or else I end up throwing in the towel and ultimately giving up. See how I am?
Thanks for the excellent tips. I just might give it a try! Meanwhile, you keep up the excellent work! How much more do you have to go? (ooops, am I not supposed to ask that question? I am SOOOO politically incorrect!) 
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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You know, I have no idea how many calories I eat a day. Some time before I joined Weight Watchers, I recall trying to just count calories, and I had a heck of a time. However, I fully admit that may just be because I have a heck of a time losing weight all by my lonesome. I'm also a research junkie. I LOVE looking stuff up. Looking up points in the book and using the little slide calculator was loads of fun when it was all new (and I still like it).
I was the child who looked stuff up in the encyclopedia for fun. I am STILL that child in my 30s.
Counting points was easier for me, at any rate.
By the way, 100 calories roughly equals 1 point.
Finally, just like with the IBS diet, you can't think of WW as a diet, as a temporary thing that you can drop as soon as you get to where you want to be...because if you go back to your old ways, you'll eventually go back to your "old weigh." As a point of comparison, with IBS, sure, some of us can have a piece of cheese now and then, but if we did it everyday, we'd be back to the big D and having Pepto for breakfast daily. It is learning what is the right diet for a healthy lifestyle, as in the right way to eat. Besides the fruits and veggies and water, it's learning portion control but also not to deprive yourself. Moderation in all things, in a phrase. 
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Thanks Snorkie
#226794 - 11/22/05 07:26 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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I think my biggest concern is how to look up points in the book and use the little slide calculator on each and every item in a recipe. I love to cook, but I like trying different recipes -- a LOT. Last time I joined WW, I bought all their books, so it was a lot easier; I didn't have to calculate exchanges, they were already calculated for me. But with my own recipes, how the heck do I look up each ingredient's points? Oy..... I'm determined not to buy another moving box full of cookbooks!
Yes, you're absolutely right about not thinking of WW as a diet or temporary thing. Since I lost all my weight in 1980, I've gained it all back -- and MORE -- in the past 25 years. Had I stuck with WW, that wouldn't have happened, at least not all of it.
Thanks again Snorkie!
Bevvy
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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And newsletters!
They have loads of recipes so even if you don't have the cookbook, you'll still be able to find recipes!
Cheers,
--Steph
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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Re: stephie!
#226803 - 11/22/05 08:11 PM
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Stephie
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 2696
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
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Hey Jaime!
Thanks for asking, I'm doing alright! I haven't been posting on here lately 'cause I just haven't been keeping proper track of my food. I know I am not eating enough calories, so I am struggling with my weight a lot. If I can manage to get back on track, I'll try to get back on reporting in too!
IBS wise, I am doing pretty poorly at the moment. I had to leave work today half way through 'cause I was so ill, so that sucked.
Otherwise, things are a little confusing (see my LR post for details) but I am doing pretty well. I am happy for the most part, my job is a good job with really good benefits, Adrian is switching shifts soon so we can spend more time together.. So yeah, grey skies are gonna clear up 
How are YOU doing??
Thanks again for asking!
**hugs**
Cheers,
--Steph
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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aw, stephie. i'm sorry the ibs is flaring up. hope that calms down soon!
i've been doing well - after a rough patch a couple of weeks ago i stopped doing the hardcore calorie counting, and i'm feeling much better for it. less stress, but still being careful. much healthier for the psyche. i'm losing weight slowly, but losing, which feels great. and life is good, otherwise - the new job i started a few months ago is really great.
the grey-sky-clearing sounds good. hope it all keeps going well and getting better.
it's good seeing you around again. maybe i should frequent the LR - when people leave the eating & fitness boards they seem to still be there. more time to waste at work...
**hugs**
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jaime
ibs-a (mostly d) // vegetarian
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Website?
#226843 - 11/23/05 08:47 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Steph, I went online and checked it out. It's not free, and in fact it's kinda expensive. Also, is there a support board like this one? I think the support is crucial.
Did your mom do the online program?
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Re: Website?
#226849 - 11/23/05 09:15 AM
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Snorkie
Reged: 02/15/05
Posts: 1999
Loc: Northern Illinois, USA
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http://www.weightwatchers.com/index.aspx is the main page.
Click on "Community" for the message boards.
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-- I have gone onto the website. My question pertained to the support issue. The cost of the online program might be worth it, provided there's a support board like we have here.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Some of the Community boards are more social in nature, but all can be supportive environments. What are you looking for specifically? There are boards on WW by age, by amount to lose, boards for fitness, and of course various boards for food. There's also boards for online members and those who use e-tools. Those are all similar to the support we have on this site, at least in my mind.
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Bevvy - I tried the online program before I tried the regular program. The boards are OK, but they're nothing compared to here - here we have a close knit bunch, ya know? It seemed kinda foreign to me - I didn't know anyone there. That doesn't mean they weren't supportive. They were great. There's tons of different boards - for age, for newbies, for lots of different weight categories, etc. You should be able to find one that suits you.
One thing that is a MUSt as far as I'm concerned is a NEW and accurately calibrated scale. My scale weighs 10 lbs less than the WW ones at the meetings. YIKES! Of course, I preferred to believe the one at home....
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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Thanks Alicia!
#226913 - 11/23/05 02:10 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Good info here.
I have a doctor's scale. I hate it. It weighs me as much as the one in my doctor's office.
Don't know if I'll do the online thing. These Boards here are exceptional; I can't expect to find it elsewhere. Besides, I think I'm ready for some "in-person" support. I'm also good at giving it; I remember what it was like when I joined in 1980. It's nice to have people around you who like you even with all your faults, no matter how gargantuous you are!
Ya know, today isn't really the day I should be in the Fitness Board. I'm busy baking punkin pie and cranberry apple crisp. What the hell am I doin' here??
Happy Turkey Day!
Bevvy
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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I don't think I would have done as well on WW if I hadn't gone to meetings. I use their boards more for social reasons than weightloss, to be honest.
I know you didn't ask for my input on this one, but I wasn't real clear on what you were looking for when I first directed you to their website and pointed out the community area.
Anyway, meetings = good. Boards=supplemental. IMHO.
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