9 months on 9 months off?

[Carrie]

Nikki73 - the tool that allows you to enter 3 ingredients is on the tab "Food and recipes" on the website - I don't have the app so not sure where it would be on that.

I was inspired to rejoin weightwatchers 4 weeks ago after reading this thread (although for me it is more like 9 months on 18 years off....) 10lbs off so far.

For anyone not keen on running/gym attendance - I am doing a 4 week walking course with Joanna Hall who teaches active walking rather than power walking - you still walk at speed but engage the right muscles when doing so to help change your shape as well as lose weight. This weekend in the Telegraph there will be a free Joanna Hall exercise and diet booklet on Saturday and an exercise DVD on Sunday - which I think will give the basics of her technique - the only downside is that you have to buy the Telegraph to get it!

[eco79]

Does anybody enjoy their walking so much they be interested in heading out for a big[ish] one? I've done some 10 mile walks with my [large] baby in his sling at the weekend. Maybe not that extravagant in the week, but say 6-8 in an afternoon? That's a two hour walk = 8 activity points?

[nikki73]

Thanks Carrie. Found it!

[espelli]

eco79 I'd like to do some longer walks, but I don't think I'm able for 10 miles yet! I'm doing the 5km Buggy Push in Brockwell Park today to raise money for Bliss. I'll see how I do with that first. (and make sure I track the activity points!)

I've enjoyed my first week and have managed to keep up with the tracking - the app is great, it makes things very easy. I'm due to weigh in tomorrow and strangely I'm a bit nervous about it. I think it's because I don't feel like I have been "dieting" I have been more conscious of the grazing I got into the habit of doing, but I'm used to feeling deprived on a diet and I don't - which is making me worry that I'm not going to lose this week! Anyway - time for me to stop over-thinking and get my trainers on! I'm so glad it's a sunny morning, makes the idea of a walk in the park very enticing!

Have a great Saturday!

[Bellenden Belle]

Thanks to Pickle and Pebbles for their reassurance about losing weight in the first week.My eating habits this week suggest I don't need to worry about not eating enough.

Eco79 - I am a big walker - once did around 70 miles in a week in the Yorkshire Dales (in the rain I'd like to add) and whilst I am a little out of practice I could definitely be persuaded to give it a try. Whereabouts were you thinking? Locally or further afield?

I am having a terrible week this week. Weigh in day was Friday but then everything went wrong on Saturday (was at a work function); managed to be quite good yesterday; and now today two large glasses of wine, two weight watchers "treats" and a large handful of salted almonds have left me with only 3 weekly points remaining.

Better make sure I stay focused the rest of the week.....and get some exercise done quickly!

[pebbles]

BB - pls don't fret, just remember that you've continued counting. It's so easy when you have a blow out to just give up counting and then you don't know where you stand.

Just remember that you are allowed these points. Continue counting as normal for the rest of the week and I bet you will be pleasantly surprised

Fingers crossed and keep us informed.

[eco79]

Hello Bellenden Belle,

I met your lovely kids at the Wooden Circle with Audrey. I brought an apple cake and your eldest was so polite with her thank you-s.

Walking wise. It could be somewhere nice [i have some knowledge of the capital ring that has walks through greenest bits of south London], my husband and I do a bigger walk out of town at the weekends with friends which people could join, or even just deciding to walk the 4/5 miles in to town is better when there's good conversation.

[nunheadmum]

Oh for the days of walking in the Dales and the likes. Would SO love to do something like that again. But if anyone was up for a longer walk (I run 5k so walking it seems a little light.....8-10k would feel more like a effort) I'd love to join. Got some of the Time Out guides or lots of signs around this way for things like the Green Chain Walk etc.

[uptime]

I am a bit stuck having lost 6lbs. Ideally I'd like to lose another 6 at least I just can't motivate myself to stick to the points and really struggling to find time to go to the gym at lunchtimes. Maybe I just need the weather to properly cheer up and the threat of exposed flesh to kick start things again...

[nikki73]

ANother couple of questions sorry... I am doing quite a lot of guessing of values when I am not the one preparing the food.is that ok? Also, does anyone have any suggestion for healthy filling low point snacks. Banana, apples,rice cakes carrots are all nice but think I need a bit variety if I am to last it out.thanks

[nunheadmum]

Kallo Plain chocolate rice cakes are my keeping sane trick - 2 points for 1 or 3 points for 2 I think it is.....so usually have 2! Not as light as fruit or carrots but helps me feel less like I'm doing something worthy!

[pebbles]

Yes I think guessing is only way when someone else prepares. I always err on more than less

I'm a huge fan of roast butternut squash. Taste yummy hoy or cold. We normally cook 2 on a Sunday so I have snacks the whole week. I also make a weight watchers hummus to eat with veg - search weight watchers hummus and there are loads of recipes

There are also some yummy ww chocolate bars that r only 2 points each and are a great treat. You can buy from official weigh in or most supermarkets

I wasn't able to make official weigh in today so weighed in at home and lost 1.5 lbs which of course I'm happy with but do feel I should be losing more with all the running that I'm doing. It's heading the right way though.

How's everyone else's weigh ins gone.

[Pickle]

First week of maintenance for me and I lost half a pound, although technically I wasn't following the maintenance plan as I didn't increase my daily points at all. Instead I ate all of my weekly points, which when combined with the 40 a day I already have makes for a lot of food!

My plan is to keep doing this for the next few weeks, which may result in me losing a small amount more. I dont want to increase my daily points to then lose them again once I start my baby on solids in 3 weeks time (at which point half of my extra points for breastfeeding will be cut).

Well done to those who have lost this week.

[nikki73]

Week 1 and I've put on 1.5kg!! Very disappointed. Stayed within points, made it to gym once... oh well, at least my diet is more healthy.

[pebbles]

Nikki - please don't lose heart i promise it will happen.

One question - did u eat enough points? the weeks that i haven't eaten enough are the weeks that i haven't lost and put on.

Don't give up. If it helps write your points here for Pickle (who's an absolutely superstar and my motivator) to check over - sorry Pickle- hope you don't mind me offering your services

Good luck

[nikki73]

Thanks Pebbles. Your post made me laugh. used all my points but had to do some guessing work, always rounded up not down. Hoping it's the previous weeks intake showing up now. Going to stock up on chocolate rice cakes and chocolate ww nibbles to keep my spirits up:)

[Pickle]

That is unusual Nikki - if you don't get a better result next week please do let me have a look at your food diary. Here's to a good result next week.

[nikki73]

Thanks Pickle that's very sweet of you. Could be my scales. Weighed myself again this morning and I am 2kg lighter than yesterday! I am going to put them away for a week, stick to the plan, buy kitchen scales and a pedometer. I will make this work! Fed up wearing baggy clothes.

[nunheadmum]

If you're not already doing it, try to weigh yourself the same time of day - my weight varies a lot depending on when I weigh myself. I sneakily stick to when I know I'll be lightest!!

[HOMum]

So is it the consensus that whatever your daily points are definitely use them all up and feel free to use weekly's too - as this is when people have lost the lb's?

Week 2 weigh in yesterday and have lost 6lbs so far, I havent touched the weekly allowances though - although I wouldnt mind a glass of vino now and again! :-)

[Pickle]

Yes, definitely use all of your daily points. I used at least half of my weeklies every week, generally on a Saturday night for s tskeaway and wine. That's what they are there for, makes it possible to live life and lose weight.

[Bellenden Belle]

So week two and despite feeling I'd totally fallen off the wagon I lost two pounds! Thrilled since by the end of day three I'd used every single weekly as well as my daily points. But I guess it did force me to keep counting and keep being good.

But does anyone know if you can change your goal weight once you've hit goal? I put down 11lbs to lose which was my pre pregnancy size but was a lot less to lose than WW recommended weight for me, or what I would like in an ideal world.

Also, just seen Buggies post - there's tons more info including plans and recipes on the actual website rather than the app.

[nunheadmum]

Once you hit one goal weight, you can certainly adjust the goal to keep going. Not sure about adjusting it mid-term.

Maybe keep going till you hit your current goal so you've something to feel good about and them reassess what seems right. A bit like with the kids...keep giving rewards for small bits and before you know it, they've done the big thing. (Or at least, it's how it's meant to work..not always the case in our house!)

[Pickle]

BB, brilliant result! Well done for having the willpower to stay on track for the remainder of the week.

Your goal weight is completely up to you, especially if you are signed up to WW online rather than attending meetings. The main difference is that an online member, despite reaching goal weight, does not become a "gold" member due to your losses not being verified. In meetings, once you become a gold member you no longer have to pay to attend, so a lot of people set their target to the top of their healthy weight range. Although as a leader I found this approach sometimes led people to struggle to lose more as not having to pay made them slack off.

I've had a good week so far food-wise, but exercise has been sorely lacking which is unlike me. Lots of rehearsals in the evenings at the moment so I'm tired, but a run planned with Pebbles tomorrow so no excuses!

[buggie]

Having initially been a bit confused & worried I'd signed up for something too confusing to follow, I'm actually really getting into it - in first 9 days (signed up on a Sunday but doing Wed weigh-ins) I lost 5lb despite a 3-course Sunday lunch!

Am hooked on point counting & sussing out that if I'm going to use treat points then it should be for something really nice (1/2 slice of millionaires shortbread in The Dish & the Spoon yesterday - yum!!) & walking the 2.5 miles into work this am while pushing the buggy (inc going up Dog Kennel Hill!) has def boosted my activity points!!

Roll on Wednesday so I can weigh myself again :)