Whining - or maybe, Wining
November 30, 2010I have to be honest with you guys...
I AM NOT COPING WELL AT ALL WITH THE NEW WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTSPLUS PROGRAM!
Wow... shouting that out loud actually really helped. Now deep breaths.
So, I warned you I wasn't a fan of change, and I will admit my head wasn't in the best place coming in to this, but I promised to give it a chance.... I mean I don't have alot of other choices other than gaining all my weight back, and that isn't going to happen... EVER! I am still giving it it's chance. If I would have written this yesterday - just couldn't bring myself to - it would have sounded even more whiny, but luckily 24 hours have passed and I've finally finished overhyperventilating (that cannot possibly be a word) about the following things:
- Wine is 4 points for a serving. It used to be 2. Excuse me? As I posted on my facebook status yesterday: "The person that decided that is on my list... and not the list where I send you a Christmas gift." I like wine. I really do. So does my sister, remember? Maybe it runs in the family? Although, I'm pretty sure my dad drank Coors Light, and my mom is a Bloody Mary person for sure! Sorry mom, I guess that's on the Internet now too. So, I'm not sure why wine is now double the points, but I still don't like it any more than I did yesterday. I am dealing much better now with it though after a couple of glasses.
- My Thomas Bagel Thin - formerly 1 point, and 1 Tbsp of peanut butter (formerly 2 points) breakfast is now 6 points! Cry, whine, sad, sucks, boo hiss. 'Nuff said.
- There does not appear to be 1/2 points. Do you super-type "A" Weight Watchers trackers know what I mean? Oh... no one raised their hand... guess I'm secretly the only one. Well... in case you don't, eTools used to let you sometimes do 1/2 points. For instance 1/4 cup of shredded cheese was 3 points on the old plan, if you did 1/8 cup it was 1.5 points, its now 2 on the new plan. Everything seems to round up (maybe not true, but that is how it seems to me right now).
- My new daily points target according to eTools is 29. So I do get 6 more points a day than I used to, but I don't get double (as everything seems to be)!
- Fruit is all 0 points, even bananas. People in the Weight Watchers world seem to be going crazy happy about this. I find that funny. I mean I love bananas as much as the next person, but seriously, did you see the points value of wine? That is what we should focus on people. New strategy... if I want more than 1 glass of wine a day I must eat only bananas for breakfast and lunch.
- Fruit is 0 points, but 1 cup of peas is 3 points? That was a bad dinner mistake. Too bad peas are the only vegetable my husband and child will actually eat.
- On the bright side of things, the weekly points allowance is 49 - up from 35, and it seems that activity points are sometimes higher. For instance 25 minutes of running used to earn me 3 activity points, now its 5. I see more wine in my future.
- Points are no longer figured using calories as a guide. They are figured with some super secret formula that top secret scientists, obviously much smarter than myself, and most definitely non-drinkers came up with using: total carbs, fiber, fat, and protein NOT calories.
I KNOW I will be OK on this plan. Let me say that again, so I can start to talk myself into believing it. I KNOW I will be OK on this plan. I know that it is a good plan. I do trust Weight Watchers. All that said, it is going to definitely take some getting used to, that's for sure. I am not crazy about the timing. So many things coming up during the holidays that I don't even feel I can estimate the points for. I feel like I'm in my first week again, knowing nothing.
The worst part is that I am scared to eat. Yes I am. I don't automatically know the points value of a food, and I'm fearful of eating it and finding out some crazy number- like the wine and the peas. Guess I'll be eating lots of fruit for awhile (good luck finding anything good in Minnesota this time of year).
Anyone else out there try the new PointsPlus plan already? What do you think?
8 comments
Love the cheekiness of this post! Keep drinking that wine! It has other benefits too I am sure...anti-oxidants or something.
ReplyDeleteAny reason you can't stick to the old plan if you find this one doesn't work for you? You were successful with the old version, so it should continue to work for you.
But I applaud you for giving it a shot. I'd say give it three weeks -- if it isn't your dish, go back to what worked for you before.
And I like bananas as much as the next girl, but shit, let's be honest. I don't care if I can have six bananas a day for zero points -- I want to know how much that peanut butter I put on top of it will cost me.
This post had me rolling with laughter!
ReplyDeleteWell done you for giving the new points system a try.
Like you I'm kinda freaked out about these changes and lamenting their decision to dump this on us during the holiday season. What were they thinking?!?!
I haven't done the weightwatchers plan in about a year; after maintenance, I started doing intuitive eating (although I didn't know it was called that at the time), really watched what I ate, and exercised all the time....which is still pretty much what I do. I will count calories when I'm up a pound or two, but that's about it. But that's me. As for you, I think you have every right to freak out. It's like someone yanking your security blanket - one that has completely transformed you - and handing you a brand new blanket, telling you the new one is better. Sarah, just remember that it all comes back to you. YOU lost the weight; WW was only a tool that helped you, but you still did it. You will find a way to make this work, I just know it. Seeing your progress gives me 100% faith in you that you'll find an answer you're comfortable with.
ReplyDeleteI'm just finishing my first full day of the new program. I can't say whether I like it or not because I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the whole thing. I used to be able to just look at a food and be able to pretty accurately guess the points...now, I just don't know.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I do like (and I think we differ on this one), is I'm glad the half points are gone. Too much math for me!
Thanks for the preview... I think;-) I am not looking forward to my meeting on Saturday.. In a way it may keep all of us that have been on the plan for a while on our toes.. Good luck this week!
ReplyDeleteSuusa
I too trust Weight Watchers but am hyperventilating along with you. I believe that this is well researched and is definitely for the best ... their program improvements are always for the best ... but just signing on to e-Tools is stress producing. I hate that I can't just enter my food because all of my "favorites" now have to be edited. But in time it will all be good. I plow through each day and so far I've had enough points ... even for wine. ;)
ReplyDeletecoffeegirl37 - I've been told the timing is intentional. Wanting to get people doing this BEFORE the holidays. Which is a good thing I guess in a way. I'm sure its somewhat financially motivated by WWers too, since the holidays are their slow time.
ReplyDeletefatgirlwearingthin - you are so right. This is about me. Weight Watchers was/is just a tool. I am still in control. I hope to be doing like you do someday but I'm not ready for that yet that's for sure.
Sue Z - I'm still working on converting all my recipes as well. yikes!
I just started the Points Plus program. I have had only limited experience with the old WW program. I can see how the new way of tracking can bring anxiety. It, in some ways, defies the logic of basic calorie counting.
ReplyDeleteThis week I tracked every point and have lost weight. My scale is a little off but it is about 3.5 pounds. :)
I think this change is good! The new program takes into account other areas of health (not just weight loss) and encourages people to think outside the box of processed eating (as a main part of ones' diet)...
I DO wish there were an easier way to track foods without a label but I am enjoying learning about my patterns and making better choices. :)
What the new program implements are similar things that intuitive eaters and clean eaters do. It gives a good (start) to moving away from internally unhealthy processed foods and eating in a way that one can stick to!
Blessings to all!
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