Anyone doing Weight Watchers Points Plus & Spark?

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4/16/13 12:57 P

I started WW a couple of weeks ago and lost 11 lbs already. The calorie count is lower for points with WW it seems. I also track calories on sparkpeople and like the ease of it. I will continue with both for the next 3 months and see how it goes.I like Sparkpeople because there is support here and i don't go to meetings. I do it online. One complaint about WW.....the website is often unable to get into...very inconvienient for someone who is paying for access to it. For that amount of money you should not have to put up with that. Thank GOD spark can save the day for me!!!! Love sparkpeople...but will do both for a while and finally settle on one, eventually.
Diane

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4/14/13 3:32 P

I did WW online for three months (paid).
I continued it myself by tracking with SP.

As time progressed, I moved more away from WW, because I was tired of splitting the points between veggies and other things which were not 'free'.

Now, I just eat balanced, following the SP recommendations, which may not be that different than the WW; but there's not a big pain in separating foods according to points

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4/14/13 1:16 P

Hi. I havnt been on for quite a while. I will be joining a ww at work this next Thursday. Some of my co-workers are doing great so far and have lost a lot of weight. I think it will work we will support each other and be held more accountable. Looking forward to it and getting back into sp. Please join me on my journey.

current weight: 224.0

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3/2/13 9:34 P

i re-startedweight watchers in jan and have lost 16 lbs so far. about a week after i signed up (online) i found this place. ww is working for me but once i get to goal weight (29 lbs to go) i am thinking of switching to spark for maintenance

i hang out here a lot, theres more activity and not so much meanness/judging as there is on the canadaww online boards. (canadians are mean...crazy i know) lol

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2/28/13 2:50 P

I'm a WW Lifetime member trying to get back to goal. I changed WW groups and never connected with the new leader. During that time I came across SP and have found that I love it. I've been working the WW Points plan for so long, I just find it easier for tracking my food. But I love SP for workout and fitness tracking and ideas. I feel like the SP free website has so much more to offer than the WW etools site that you have to pay for. Would be great to be able to combine the best of both sites.

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2/28/13 1:18 P

Im doing both but mainly just attending the WW meetings for support and accountability. My workplace pays the WW fees as long as I attend at least twice a month so Im not as concerned about the fees since they're both "free" to me. I double tracked for a few weeks but have been using SP as my main "plan". I'm routinely 4 or 5 points under my allotment per day with WW (not even taking into account activity points or weekly points) but am right in my range on SP. So, I don't think WW plan would work overly well for me. :-)

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2/28/13 1:05 P

I have both ww online and sparkpeople. I like sparkpeople better. ww is not worth the 20 a month. They need moderators for their boards.

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2/28/13 12:50 P

I use both WW and SP--I track via WW, love my meetings and love the ease of the PPV system. I love SP for the friends I've made here!

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2/28/13 11:43 A

Hello. I am also a Weight Watcher and have been for the last three years. I am not as active on here as I would like to be because I cannot figure out how to keep track of my meals on the site since I am using the Points Plus. I was wondering if anyone else has run in to this and/or if there are any suggestions.

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7/14/12 1:40 P

That is a great way of looking at this challenge we all are having with regard to our individual weight loss goal. My goal is to lose 66lbs(59 now). Some may have 20 to lose others 100 or more. Thank you for your perspective:)

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7/14/12 1:36 P

I made a mistake in first post. I started SparksPeople and WW Online on June 9th not the 15th. Just don't like to mislead:)

Posts: 731
7/14/12 1:35 P

'I think part of the reason that I am not struggling with this as much as I have in the past is that I am finally determined that I've had enough of being uncomfortably overweight and that I am for the first time not expecting to lose it fast. If it takes me a year to lose it all I am ok with it. If I do nothing I will still be overweight this time nect year.'

I'm feeling this way, too. Perhaps it's that this message is often stated in WW meetings and I've come to accept it - from sheer force of repetition. Another message that has stuck with me is 'You are at someone else's target weight.' I never thought that way. I always thought I'm so far behind, I'll never get there. Sitting in a WW meeting, I know that there are lots of flesh-and-blood people trying to lose weight. I may be somewhere on that spectrum of overweight, but I don't know where - and my self-perception needed to change. Even if I was the fattest person in the room, the person who lost 70 pounds was once feeling that she was - or he was (there's a guy at meeting who lost that much).

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7/14/12 1:25 P

I've lost 7lbs in 5 weeks on the WW online program. 3lbs the first week and 1lb a week
the next 4 weeks. I have yet to add exercise. I expect I would be losing a bit faster if I did. Some days are difficult, others not so much. I think part of the reason that I am not struggling with this as much as I have in the past is that I am finally determined that I've had enough of being uncomfortably overweight and that I am for the first time not expecting to lose it fast. If it takes me a year to lose it all I am ok with it. If I do nothing I will still be overweight this time nect year. If I keep plugging along one pound at a time, this time next year I will have reached my goal:) The addition of so much fruit and vegetables has been really good for me [filling:)] I've noticed clearer skin(almost no blemishes) and great reduction of water retention. The fourth of July I blew it big time, even while keeping portions down/measured. I should have cooked/prepared foods myself. It is good to read about other peoples efforts with WW and SparksPeople.

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7/14/12 2:37 A

I joined W.W three weeks ago with a good friend of mine, the last time I was a member they were using the tracker system. At first the points plus was a bit confusing to me and especially having an "extra" 49 points on top of my 26 points a week. I thought, how am I going to be able to lose weight? I've always lost weight slowly and it's gotten even harder as I've gotten older of course. By my 3rd weigh in I'm only down 2.6 pounds but they say to expect between 1-3 pounds a week so................There times that by the end of the day I have points left over and am satisfied then others where I am out of points but am so hungry! And even though fresh fruit is supposedly 0 points and you are supposed to have all you want to eat it still has calories so you can eat too much of it. So tonight when I was looking up 0-2 points foods I came across spark people and thought I would check it out. I can use all the extra ideas and support I can use. I have a feeling it's going to be a long road ahead to lose this 20 pounds, I just don't want to get discouraged like I usually do and give up.

current weight: 157.0

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6/18/12 2:52 P

I am a former WW member who was contemplating rejoining until I found SparkPeople and decided to give that a whirl before I opened up my checkbook.
I can't bash WW because it did help me lose 50 pounds and reach my goal weight! That was on the old program. When the new PointsPlus program came out, I had a heck of a time staying near goal weight and I echo what someone said earlier about sweating and doing the "wrestling" diet to "make weight" for monthly weigh-ins, which is super unhealthy! Out of shame (for various reasons), I have not stepped foot in the meeting room since I put some of my weight back on.
I really should talk to my doctor about getting my goal weight re-evaluated. I naturally hovered around 150 lbs. I'm 5'6. When I was still losing, it took me FOREVER to push past the 150 mark and get down to 145. Needless to say, at several lifetime weigh ins, I was at 147! I think my body's happy place is 150!
I like SparkPeople because you do have that community atmosphere and the people are super friendly. I found that when you are a member of WW for so long that the meeting topics come around again and again and although it's nice to have that refresher, it also gets a bit frustrating. Also, when I first started WW, I had an outstanding leader. When I moved 2 years ago, I just didn't find the leaders at the meetings in my new location to have that same spark and we didn't connect. I know it can be done without a leader, but sometimes having that extra cheerleader in person makes all the difference!

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6/18/12 11:30 A

Hi, I joined SparksPeople on June 15,2012 in order to check out the site to see if I thought it would be a good match for me in my weight loss efforts. I found the site to be confusing and joined Weight Watchers. I also found the calorie range to be too risky for me. I'd rather have a more defined limit on what I should eat each day. I have since been back to SP and like very much what I am "hearing" about the people on it. There seems to be a nice group of like minded folks and I'd like to stick around. I am married, in my late 40's, am a stay at home mom to a beautiful 5 year old boy and, have a 22 old daughter(just graduated college!). I started at 186 lbs on Saturday,June,9, 2012 and Sat.16th's weigh in was 183! Of course,my husband lost 7lbs his first week which I guess is typical with men. He also joinded WW Online with me which helps us to do this together. The name I picked for a user name means Slender in Hebrew and the 12 represents the year that I am finally going to reclaim the body I am comfortable in. We are doing this to feel better,be healthier and stronger for ourselves, each other and most importantly, for our kids:)

Posts: 435
1/23/12 8:32 P

I've been doing WW since Oct and have lost 31 lbs so far. I'm at 26 pts also but I can use up to 29. They said you could go down to 26 pts if you weren't losing much. If you used the 29 pts you'd probably have over 1200 calories. Plus its all a matter of what you eat. If you eat alot of zero pt foods you probably won't be hungry. So as long as you aren't hungry and are losing weight I wouldn't worry too much about it.

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1/23/12 8:17 P

I am really hoping for some responses here. I started doing WW a few weeks ago, the PointsPlus Program. I have used SP on and off for a few years. I tried logging into both for a while to see. Well when I meet my 26 points/day for WW I am just under 1200 calories/day and that is well under the amount that SP says I should be having. So should I be eating more points than 26 or is SP wrong with my calorie range? I have read many times that you should not go under 1200 calories/day. I am having success, slow success but that's ok but wondering what is the right answer...............

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1/16/12 9:53 A

MUCH HAPPIER! I went back to WW on Tuesday so tomorrow I have my first weigh-in but my spirits are much better, so for me a combination of both is best!

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1/11/12 12:58 P

I just did a search and found this thread....I am thinking the same thing, WW and spark together will really keep me focused. I am going to rejoin on Friday, so if there is a WW/spark board lets converse there.

current weight: 168.0

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1/10/12 12:14 P

I have been off and on SP for almost a year now but did just join WW last week. I already had tons of information about points, but wanted to start physically attending meetings. It helps keep me accountable for everything and also I love the structure of being a part of something! Everyone is really helpful and I am looking forward to this week's weigh-in and meeting. I track in my booklet for WW and on here and it seems to help me really focus on everything twice as much. I love SP because of being able to keep track of so much. When I create my own new recipes or food groupings, it's easier for me to calculate my points because all the nutritional information is in one place. I am hoping that by using both I will be doubly sure to finally reach the goals I have set for myself! :)

current weight: 188.6

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1/10/12 10:00 A

Hi all ~ I'm new to both SP and WW! Went to my first WW meeting last week and started actually tracking my food on SP yesterday. Is there a way to track WW points on the nutrition tracker - or anywhere in SP? I'm trying to find a way to do both in one place because for me its not realistic to do it in 2 places! WW makes me pay monthly for their online etools so thought I'd see if I could make it work here. Plus the info and community here are wonderful!
Any guidance would be fantastic!
~she

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1/9/12 8:31 P

I now am wearing my fat clothes and I am desperate to lose this weight now, I am having a so ashamed feeling. Have to do wash cause only some things fit! Why did I do this again, scouting out WW classes i my area

Posts: 71
1/9/12 7:27 P

I've been back on WW for about 6 weeks now & have lost 13#. I too have joined several times & lost then stopped the program. I'm going to stick to it this time-looking for WW pt plus recipes. The program works for you if you follow it.

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1/9/12 11:24 A

I'm brand new to SP but have done WW a million times, problem is I need to do it again. I get a handle on this weight thing then I go off to another planet where calories don't count. Then I come back to earth and I realize I have gained weight! Why do I do what I don't want to do? and what I don't want to do I do?

so here I go again

Edited by: DAWN1750 at: 1/9/2012 (11:27)

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1/8/12 12:30 P

Dear All,

I am starting SP today in addition to WW. Have been doing WW for about a month and love it. Already lost about 15 Pounds.

The reason why I want to do both is, that my daily calorie intake on WW is about 1000 cal (although I eat all my points) and I think this is not enough. I am scared of the jojo effect and so I think keeping an eye on my calories cannot heard either. I also think I lose weight a little too fast. I want this to be a life change, not a diet.

Posts: 19
1/8/12 10:34 A

I went to my first-ever WW meeting yesterday and today is the first day I'm doing it. I'd love to join all of you in your journey too. I'm hoping that by attending meetings and posting on SP, I'll be able to stay motivated and on track.

Good luck to everyone here!

Steph

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1/6/12 11:13 P

I just started WW on Tuesday and so far, I love it! I use SP mostly for the message boards and the blog since I don't count calories. I didn't take the time to read all the replies here and don't know if there already is one, but it would be wonderful if there were a group for those of us doing both!

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1/6/12 8:19 A

I'm new to this SP thing, and I am joing weight watchers today... Very interesting comments and I can't wait to have all your support...

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12/1/11 7:16 A

No I just use Spark

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11/30/11 11:47 P

I lost my weight (about 120 lbs) on Weight Watchers. I've successfully kept it off by continuing to track, weigh (the food and myself) and measure. I still go to meetings once a month (since I'm free anyway!) and weigh in and stay for the meeting cause I never know if I'll be inspired by something or I'll be able to inspire and support someone else. I like Spark as I can track another way and see the nutritionals stack up and also get support between times. I prefer paper tracking but track on here now and then to "check things out" or to add a little variety to things...you know...keep it interesting rather than get bored or anything. It's fun for me to log in and see how well I play the "nutrition" game ...I win if I get all my calcium, iron, etc...in for the day! :) But the meetings are more concrete in a whole 'nuther way...I stand on a real scale and I see it recorded by another person and I'm talking to others about the newest ideas, etc...so I like to do BOTH!

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11/30/11 5:09 P

HAPPYMOMMY0403 you just might be on to something. I've been doing WW at work and when I first started we were under the old Points system and I lost about 7 lbs and then I tore my ACL and had to have surgery to repair it. We moved to the Points Plus program during that time and I would lose a pound then gain it back. Everyone kept telling me it was because of my knee injury that I wasn't seeing the results that I desired as if I went to therapy the day before weigh-in and my knee was swollen, my weight would be up. If I went to therapy either two days before or the day after, my weight would go down. As I never gained my initial weight back everyone kept telling me that the program was working. However, like you, I suspected that even though I was staying within my daily points allowance, I wasn't seeing results and therefore might be eating too many calories. Come back to SP and sure enough that was the problem.

They are starting a new session at work and I haven't decided if I'm going to return yet. On one hand I want to see what the new Points Plus 2012 program is about and on the other hand I think I need to cut my losses and just use the old program in conjunction with SP.

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11/15/11 2:43 P

I do both. Well I'm always doing WW, but SparkPeople is occasional. I like to see the reports, the total carbs, fat, calories, etc. Especially when I'm struggling. It's a lot of work tracking both. I love the accountability on WW and the meetings. I need it to help stay focused. I have success on WW especially when I follow the plan. Track my food, eat the good health guidelines, and exercise. It works! I've had success on several WW plans, pointsplus has been a little harder to lose but I just realize I can't really cheat.

current weight: 146.0

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11/15/11 1:07 P

I had done the "old" WW points and had great success with it. I had gained a bit of weight back and started with the Points Plus and just could not wrap my head around why I was gaining. I started logging here to see what might be going on. I was eating way too many calories while still being in my range.
I quit WW and really love SparkPeople. I like to see that I'm getting good nutrition, proper amounts of carbs/fat/protein. One thing I could not wrap my head around with the new Points Plus was the 0 point fruit. How is a banana 0 points and a piece of bread 3 points when the bread actually had less calories? Now everything counts, there's nothing free, there's no "working the system."
The best part is the great support on this board and it's all FREE!!

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11/15/11 12:37 P

I had in the past, mainly to get points information on a lot of the food I couldn't find on the WW site - plus, this site is compatible with my work compute whereas the WW page is not.

I had signed up for WW again this past summer, and noticed that with my points total for the day - I was barely allowed 1000 calories a day. No wonder people lost weight, you could barely eat anything!

I have had success with WW in the past (lost almost 20lbs.) and did great on the program, but I feel SP is easier to track things and I get more nutritious items out of what I eat. I still keep my calories in check, but don't stress all day about what I can and can't eat in order to stay under my points allowed (even with using some of the extra points allowed each week).

Both programs are good, and I think using both can be super helpful. Even if I am not losing weight, it's a nice way to track what I am eating - and that's what I like the most about SP (and it's free!!)

current weight: 136.8

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11/15/11 8:55 A

I am! I was using the Spark calculator for quite a while and just not losing weight. I had great success with Points Plus but love the community here so I'm doing both! I'm just not tracking food here.

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11/15/11 7:47 A

I was planning on doing both until I realized that when I was at my target points for the day, I was also within the Sparks guidelines. No use paying for something that Spark is giving me for free.

As for the meetings, I didn't find them very motivational or informative. But maybe the group/leader wasn't a good fit for me.

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11/15/11 7:26 A

The last time I did WW, over 10 years ago, I had that sliding paper scale, which was really convenient. It was a bit of a disappointment to find out that I had to use that calculator thing. I bet they could have made something similar to the paper slide, but it makes them more money to have the calculator.

I didn't go to my meeting yesterday. The past week has been so stressful with family and family members in the hospital that I didn't watch my food most of the week. I keep saying I'm going to get on track but it's been hard. I planned on going to the meeting but got busy and time got away from me and then I figured I really wasn't getting anything out of it, so I wasn't missing much. I know that's a bad attitude to have!! I have to try other meeting times and leaders and find a better fit so I stick with this.

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11/14/11 12:12 P

I just found the new points plus difficult to track consistently and always needed to have my WW calculator around to make sure I had the points accurate. SP is so much easier to just count and track calories and seems much more realistic when you're including fruits and vegetables. With either plan, you definitely need to eat the rights kinds of things - complex carbs and mostly during breakfast and lunch, good protein sources, fruit rather than fruit juice, limited sweets, the right kinds of fats.

Posts: 141
11/14/11 11:58 A

I've been doing WW since May, and have managed to lose about 8.2 pounds. Can;t seem to get pass this number, i gain and lose the same 2 pounds. Starting today I am doing Spark as well, see if i can get some better results. I agree with other users, not counting Fruits and Veggies could be what i need to see in the tracker. I attend meetings every Saturday, i also find the meetings to be Motivational and to hear ideas, and tips from other people going through the same journey..

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11/10/11 5:33 P

AS64, I'm doing ok today, how about you? I haven't tracked my food and haven't been weighing and measuring this afternoon. I didn't track yesterday afternoon either. That's a warning signal for me!! I'm back to writing it all down tomorrow before I stray too far. I know as far as WW is concerned, I'd still be in their range, but too high for any scale action.

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11/10/11 5:31 P

Ari, I agree, I like this website more too. Maybe if you planned to go to the old meetings once a month it would be enough to keep you going!!

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11/10/11 10:02 A

How's everyone else doing out there today? I'm still trying to fight the good fight, log my WW points, track on Spark People, and trying to just go with the flow.

Any news out there? Tips? Suggestions?

As far as getting a note from my Dr. oh yes. When I go in January, I'm going to ask for one stating that a healthy weight for me would be 145. Hopefully, they will back me.

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11/10/11 7:53 A

I'm doing both. I was attending meetings in the city I used to work in, but I'm now working closer to home and that meeting is 45 minutes away. I am bummed because that leader was phenomenal. She was energetic, funny and very motivating. I was also going with friends who lived in the area, so I have no desire to find a meeting around home. So, I rejoined Spark for the online support and boards (prefer this website to WW website). I had great success with the old WW plan (lost 80ish lbs) and honestly I never counted fruit on that plan - so the new Points Plus is working just as well for me (I started it at around 215-220 lbs). I stalled out for a bit and regained some, and that happened right when I stopped going to meetings with friends. Hoping rejoining Spark (while following WW plan too) will help get me back on track. Happy to see others following both plans =)

current weight: 198.0

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11/10/11 7:05 A

DId, you lost 50 pounds in a month?!?! That's so fast!! Wow! I've been trying to stay under points, because I know my body and it's way too much for me. If I ate all they gave me, I'd gain, or at the best maintain.

Angelic, that sounds horrible!! I'd question if it was worth it! Like others said, see if a dr's note would be good, that sounds terrible to fight your body like that when you're basically at goal. They should give you a bigger buffer.

Brit, that's a fair trade off, do the paid program or pay higher premiums, but I understand it's annoying if you don't want to lose weight.

I was down 1.6 for my first week. This week the scale hasn't given anything up yet, but I'm still plugging.

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11/7/11 12:06 P

I do both. I don't really follow the points plan, because I don't follow the standard american diet. I am always way under on points, but my calorie counts according to SP are right on target. i like going to the meetings for the inspiration, tools and challenges they come up with. I really like my leader. She can be hilarious at times, but knows enough to reign it in on more serious topics.

i use the scale and inspiration at WW. I am so close to my 50 pound charm, that I am holding out for that.

I did the "at home" WW a long time ago. I know that I chose the day that I would weigh in and just used my home scale.

I too wish that the insurance companies as well as WW and even SP would take the build of the person into account. Over the past 1 months I have lost 40 inches all over and almost 50 pounds. I don't look my weight or at least that is what others are telling me.

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11/7/11 11:34 A

As far as I can remember when I used to do WW, they will always take a doctor's evaluation of a member's needs over their own numbers. Check with your leader, and if s/he doesn't know, get in touch with the main office. Even though WW is a large company, they do try to do what is needed...most of the time.

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11/7/11 9:29 A

Fruits and Veggies..I eat all the veggies I want but I do limit the fruit to 2 servings per day most days. However, if I am really wanting something else to eat I will sometimes eat another piece of fruit, especially an apple or orange.

Angelicsoul..I totally agree about WW not taking into account the "build" of a person. I think they are just going by those old insurance ranges. My husband (who doesn't do WW) weighs 165 pounds but that is considered overweight. He is muscular. There is no flab, he just has a job that helps him stay muscular. When he goes for his annual phsyical the doctor always notes that he is NOT overweight.

Is 142 the top of the WW scale for your height? If so, would your doctor write a note saying 145 (or whatever is more appropriate for your build) should be your new goal? Will WW change a lifetime goal weight after a member has met the original goal?

Posts: 6,645
11/7/11 9:22 A

I'm glad to meet this thread! My work's insurance is REQUIRING WW (I wonder who bought stock in the company) for any employees who are overweight. Or we can pay $420 more a year for insurance. They ARE paying for WW, won't count SP, and I'm really skeeved.

Is it confusing to do both? I'm hoping to do WW online b/c the meetings are impossible with my schedule, and that's ok with the company (how the weigh-ins work, I don't know).

The 'fruits and vegies free' thing worries me--too easy to leave them out of nutritional consideration (and the calories DO add up, as a poster on another thread pointed out).

Oh, well, time will tell--I don't have to sign up till January.

Pounds lost: 18.0

0 14 28 42

56

SparkPoints: (11,611)
Fitness Minutes: (24,597)
Posts: 118
11/7/11 8:59 A

Wow, I just posted a message stating how frustrated I am that my scale is not showing my hard work. Although, it did during the summer time! Now that it's cooler out, it seems my body is holding onto extra water.....

I also expressed that WW doesn't seem to take muscle into consideration when they give you your "goal" weight.

I've honselty been running my butt off no less than 5 days per week. Exercise everyday and once in awhile, take a day off.... and usually on that day, I walk 3 miles on my lunch. I haven't taken a whole day off in a long time!!

I usually stay within my 29 weight watcher points, although I'm allowed to go to 34 for liftetime member. I do every now and again, use the 49 extra points.

Mind you, I also get extra points for exercising... which is 5.2 miles in 44 minutes, and based on whatever else I do .....

On Tuesdays, I put myself through the ringer to get myself down to within 2 lbs of my WW goal weight. Basically, I use wrestler tactics to get my last chance workout in and my weight down to under 142. Thank God I only have to weigh in once a month.

I find myself wondering if it's worth killing myself to weigh under 142 for a few hours.. or until I weigh in.. after I weigh in, I drink water and well, we know that causes weight gain... so, anyway, I've been frustrated

I find that following sparkpeople is great, and try to tie them both together.

Well, I'll stop rambling. Just wanted to basically say to the person who feels that they don't see their hard work coming though on the scale, I feel ya!

If anyone knows what to do here, by all means, fill me in! I don't want to give up on lifetime membership at weight watchers... and I want to do the right things.... think I'm having carb issues... eating low carb and then eating carbs and my body hoarding all the carbs.

Any input would help!

current weight: 153.0

168 162.25 156.5 150.75

145

Posts: 2,936
11/7/11 8:40 A

I have been using Sparkpeople and WW only since September. However, I joined WW back in 2007 and lost about 145 pounds. The last couple of years have been rough but I have been able to maintain that loss by sticking with WW. When I follow the plan, I am successful. When I "sort of" follow the plan, I "sort of" lose weight. So I guess I can say I have "sort of" been following the plan for a couple of years. I am fairly close to being back on the program 100%.

A great leader is important but don't let that keep you from following the program. I can't go to meetings anymore so I don't even have a leader but I can be successful.

What works for me? Weighing and measuring my food. I don't even give it a second thought, It's like putting toothpaste on the toothbrush, I just do it without thinking. Also, getting in the Good Health Guidelines. Third, the accountability..I cannot count the number of times I started to make a bad food decision but didn't because I was close to a weigh in.

SparkPoints: (57,821)
Fitness Minutes: (28,105)
Posts: 12,080
11/6/11 1:40 P

That's what I need, an inspirational leader!! I've been on a diet most of my adult life, so I know a lot about how to lose weight, I didn't learn anything. It's sticking with it longterm - when the scale doesn't reflect my hard work, that's when I need help! I think I may try a different time/different leader to see how a different person is. This one was very nice, just not motivational at all.

I noticed the points went up a lot, and there's also those extra points too. Do you all use it all up?? I didn't use the extras this week. I was comparing it to calories and if I ate as much as they say, I would maintain or gain.

Also, fruits and veggies aren't free, are they? Isn't it just fruit?? That seems a bit off kilter, because fruit cals can add up... but I see their reasoning for that. It would make more sense to me to have all veggies free though, not fruit.

Pounds lost: 2.5

0 1.5 3 4.5

6

SparkPoints: (301)
Fitness Minutes: (72)
Posts: 37
11/6/11 12:36 P

I'm doing both :)
The WW meetings can be very helpful if you find a meeting leader who isnpires you!
WW is a solid plan, but I'm looking for the daily interaction/ tracking here to keep me focused.
Good luck!

current weight: 128.0

128 123.25 118.5 113.75

109

Posts: 731
11/6/11 11:42 A

I do both. All I can say is: if the meetings aren't working for you, give it time. The thing is, the meetings don't MAKE you lose weight. They do offer support, and great information, and answer questions if I have them, but mainly, they keep me 'on track.' If I'm missing meetings, I'm off track. I get distracted by other things in my life and diet goes on the back burner. To make it prominent in my life, I spend a short time every week at the meeting, reminding myself that a diet takes time, weight loss takes time, and everyone has that same experience. There are successes, there are stalls, there are people who gain weight ('up' that week, but still logging food, still staying on track, still going forward...)

The Points Plus is a little harder but lots more flexible because of the free fruits and vegetables. It's harder because it seems like every dish has gone up - just a point - but still up in points plus, compared to what it used to be with Points. I noticed this when I counted all the Points Plus in a Weight Watchers cookbook I have (something that has really quick meals with few ingredients). Almost all the dishes had just one more point. Not a big deal, really, but it still adds up. Since you get a nice allowance of points to 'splurge' on a restaurant meal or get-together, or just for wiggle room over the week, it's not difficult to use the old WW recipes. Their cookbooks have just gotten better and better. Every week, they give you a pamphlet at the meeting that contains at least one recipe. It's a pretty flexible diet and the recipes do taste good.

SparkPoints: (57,821)
Fitness Minutes: (28,105)
Posts: 12,080
11/6/11 5:54 A

How did you guys like your meetings? Or did you sign up online? The last time I did WW, I did the "at home" kit, so I didn't go to meetings. This time I did go, but it honestly wasn't very great. I watched the clock the entire time.

Pounds lost: 2.5

0 1.5 3 4.5

6

SparkPoints: (38,759)
Fitness Minutes: (35,119)
Posts: 1,614
11/5/11 10:06 P

I just started doing both, as well so I have the same question.

SparkPoints: (57,821)
Fitness Minutes: (28,105)
Posts: 12,080
11/5/11 6:05 P

How long have you been doing WW? I did it 12 years ago, got to goal, and now restarted, it's totally different now though. How have your results been? I will complete week 1 on Monday.

Pounds lost: 2.5

0 1.5 3 4.5

6

Posts: 2,936
11/5/11 11:15 A

I do both. I do WW online because there is only one meeting in my town and it isn't at a time I can go. I love Sparkpeople.

SparkPoints: (57,821)
Fitness Minutes: (28,105)
Posts: 12,080
11/5/11 11:08 A

I started WW last week, looking for others who use both WW & Spark. I saw a few teams, but they're not active.

Pounds lost: 2.5

0 1.5 3 4.5

6