infuriated d.........

Take a break from tracking -- a short break. Then start with our tracker which is much more fun and interesting than the WW points tracker. Calories and nutrients are so much more informative. Also, you are not encouraged or discouraged from any particular food. Making your own decisions cuts down on the feeling of rebellion I used to get with WW. It did work for me the first time. I lost 72 pounds and learned a lot, so I have to say that I am not as heavy as I would be without it. But I don't do well with repetitive programs. I like the freedom I get to choose for myself here.
Get a fresh start.

thank you, everyone, for your great suggestions. I know that weighing and measuring would benefit me. I really want to, but I just can't find the motivation to make that effort to do it. I have tried using the "meal plan" option per SP, but I don't follow that either. I know that I will get to where I want to be, I just have to find the motivation that will keep me going with it. My nana, RIP, wasn't a skinny woman, but she lived a healthy life and did portion things out. I can do that. When I know that what i am making is supposed to be x # of servings, then I can make the effort to portion that out. I can start there. Been doing Zumba a couple of times a week, so i am focusing more on moving more rather than the food. I figure if i can get exercising to be a regular habit, then maybe the food will be easier to deal with.

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I wanted to add - I use the "Food Groupings" feature for my favourite meals. Then I don't have to hunt through the lists but can add with one click.

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I don't track every day, I track 2-3 x a week to get an idea that I'm in the right zone. But, I like to calorie cycle. i do one free day, then a few mid range days and a few light days.
this keeps my body guessing so it doesn't get used to the same amount of calories every day. I also fluctuate on my exercise. i do at least 20 minutes most days, but I might break it up, I might do 30 one day, i might do 10 on one day and then do 30 the next. always keeping my body guessing. i have found great success with this. and I find that one free day where I don't worry as much about calories or exercise, then I don't feel deprived and I feel like this is a liveable lifestyle change.

current weight: 235.0

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My husband & I have done weight watchers & still use some of their recipes, but the weight always came back as soon as we stopped "dieting". This time, I at least am out for a permanent lifestyle change, seeking better health. Spark is great about that! Our health has really turned around! Don't know about you, but my eyeball cheats - portions grow & grow unless I actually weigh &/or measure them. I've taken to serving many things in measuring bowls of appropriate sizes, cafeteria style - if we are allowed a one cup serving of fruit,rice or whatever, it comes in a 1 cup size bowl so all can see & track what they are getting. I track everything. Spark makes it comparatively easy - its recipe calculator makes my home cooking easy to compute, and my favorite recipes easy to store and find again. Give yourself time to figure out how everything works. Include fitness activity in your program - it makes a wonderful difference. God Bless your efforts!

current weight: 243.5

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Daphne, I could have written your post. I was exactly the same! I was so active I couldn't understand why I was still gaining weight until I started to weigh and measure everything. I couldn't believe the difference between an actual serving and what I had thought of as a serving.

I find tracking helpful, especially here where you can see the nutrients of the food and not just points, which I could never understand. But of course, everybody is different. You need to try different things to see what works for you.

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If you are just starting SP- you don't have to track right away... take baby steps set little goals... follow the program per stages--- once you are hooked you will track, you just will. But it is easy here- if need a break-- take a break but you must set limits. I am SLOW moving... been serious (with Tracking since January) and only down 10.4 pounds BUT down about 9 inches on my body all around. I am doing it slow- so I do not deprive myself of anything.

GOOD LUCK... stay positive!!

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I suffer from portion distortion. I have been eating healthy for years now. My problem was the fact that I would eat two to three times the recommended portion. And so I sat comfortably at 175lbs. for about 3 years. When I started getting serious about my weight loss because I ballooned up to 184, then I pulled out the measuring cups and spoons to measure everything. I make a post in the "secrets of success" section, "I eat my frozen vanilla yogurt right out the measuring cup". If I did not do this, I would reach for a cup or bowl and indulge in one of my favorite treats. I guess what I am saying is to give it a try. The portions of food recommended for your nutritional plan is a lot of food, but just what you need to meet your calories, fat, protein, and carbs requirements for the day.

Daphne

current weight: 152.5

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I know tracking foods really stinks - but it works I just started to track measure weigh every thing and this month I lost 5.4 pounds I'm amazed though I still can't stand the lugging out of the food scale You will get there when you can tolerate the measuring of all the foods I finally did almost 2 years it took me

Hang in there

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Must admit that WW does work for some but didn't for me. One thing that bothered me about WW was the weigh-in and then announcing and having people clap if there was a weight loss. After many years of trying to accept that, I finally realized it was not my thing as I did not want people to clap for me on weight loss. I decided to not focus on weight loss but try and focus on better eating and exercise. Thus, SP makes more sense to me.

I know tracking takes time and can be a bore but it certainly makes a difference - for the worse - to me if I let it slide. Guessing is just not good for me. Try and find the patience . . .

I had the same problem with gaining & losing the same weight over & over...actually gaining slightly more than lost each time...and resisted tracking my food. However when I committed to Spark People in January I also forced myself to start tracking & I have to say it has made all the difference in my weight loss.

Do what works for you but on this one I have to vote solidly for the food tracking.

current weight: 179.0

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right now i am on week 16 of the new weight watcher pointsplus program. I admit i am a slow learner of new ways of doing things, but i am getting sick and tired of losing and gaining the same 5 lbs over and over again. I have given up on weight watchers and will not pay for that program ever again (this makes my 7th attempt, i think, in 8 years). I know it is a good program and it works when followed as written. frankly, i don't like tracking my food, and i don't like measuring my portions. so, i have decided that I will have to eyeball smaller portions until i am ready to track and measure, if EVER that happens. and i will keep up with the 4 xs/week of exercising (not including walking my 2 dogs at least once every day).

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