Man this isn't much food

Yup, it's a fairly normal perception when first starting out. I think we had no idea just how much
overeating we had done in the past - which we thought was normal. Yet if it really was normal, would
you/we really have had to visit ww'ers? <grin> The funniest ones I have had were a girlfriend who
emailed me at 10AM telling me she had already consumer he entire weeks worth of points, now what
should she do. And the best ... the guy that told me he was on two diets, because he didn't think he
got enough food on one. LOL!

First ... it might help you if you posted what you have eaten today and yesterday. Quantities, times
(such as lunch, snack, bfast, etc.) as well as the point value. We would be more than happy to take
a look at it and offer suggestions where you could have reduced those points which would result in
giving you extra points for later in the day. We've all been there, had to make those minor and
major adjustments along the way. It would also help to know what point range you are in, and what
your goal is. But I do understand if you are uncomfortable giving that information so soon. OH! And
if you are following the US program or one from another country.

To get the most out of your points, you really need to fill up on veggies, lean protein (in small
quantities), fruits - healthy items. Skip the mayos, skip the butters, skip the fats and nasty stuff
(that you probably love as much as all of us). I am allowed roughly 25 points per day to maintain my
weight. If I want to lose, I need to drop to 20 points. Most days I have trouble reaching 25 points!
Breakfast is usually fruit, english muffin or toast, - which accounts for 2 or 3 points. Add 1/2 a
cup of eggbeaters (equivalent to 2 eggs) with veggies, tomatoes, salsa and it is quite a filling and
large breakfast for only 3 or 4 points. Lunch varies depending on if I have dinner leftovers, but
rarely goes over 5 points. I can make a great sandwich for 2.5 points, add veggies or salad on the
side and another piece of fruit. Or even a can of low point/high fiber soup for another 2 or 3
points if I'm really hungry. Dinner is my big meal, usually around 10 points .. potatoes, lean
protein (we do a lot of chicken, lean pork, and fish) lots of veggies, salads,etc. As you can see
that leaves me quite a bit to play with for snacking if I feel it is needed.

If you only have 3 points left for the entire day, you are going to have problems finding anything
*substantial* to get you through. Even the freebie zero point veggies are only 0 points in 1 cup
portions. Go over than and you should count the points. The best you can do is to eat those
veggies/soups and fruits, count up the points and move on to tomorrow ... and get away from the
fridge/kitchen, get your mind on things other than food. <g> Always remember that tomorrow is
another day, you can get right back on track!

Joyce WW starting weight: 228.8 - 2/5/02 current weight: 129.5 total loss: 99.3 Lifetime: 4/4/03

(Amanda) said:

Hey everyone,

Checking out weightwatchers.com, joined the free one week online program trial.

On day 2 - and it's 1 p.m. and I have 3 points left for today.

Everything I've eaten today has been a smaller portion (about half) of what I'd normall eat.

I'm not hungry, but it's 1 p.m. and I have 3 points left!

No offense, but I'm suspicious that this level of calorie restriction would put my body into a
place where, if I had to stop or lost control, I'd put MORE weight on and balloon/bounceback to 10
or more pounds over where I am now. I just don't see how eating this little every day is going to
lead to a pound a week weight loss, it seems like it would be way more dramatic than that for me.

Is this a normal newcomer perception? Is there something I can eat for 3 points for the rest of
today that's in any way substantial?

Thanks, dietphobic

<<<Checking out weightwatchers.com, joined the free one week online program trial.

On day 2 - and it's 1 p.m. and I have 3 points left for today.

Everything I've eaten today has been a smaller portion (about half) of what I'd normall eat.>>>

You say that you ate half what you normally do. If you only have 3 points left then you need to be
eating different food. There is a sandwich at Schlotzsky's that I used to LOVE, but now that I'm on
WW I don't eat it because it's 67 points! That's more than 3 days of my target points. See, it's
not about just eating less...It's about eating BETTER. If you have only 3 points left today, go
into your flex points and spend some time looking for lower points alternatives. Did you have 2
eggs for breakfast (4 points)? Tomorrow have the equivalent in egg beaters (1 point). No less food,
just better food. How about 2 pieces of toast on regular bread (3 points or more)? Have 2 pieces of
light toast (1 point). Once again, no less food, just better food. For lunch you can go to Burger
King and have the Whopper w/cheese combo (30.5 points, medium size) or you can have the
VeggieWhopper without mayo, w/optional side salad instead of fries and a bottled water instead of
soft drink for a total of 5.5 points. You can have the Chicken Jr. Whopper without mayo for the
same points. Yes, you can eat the regular Whopper with cheese combo still, but not everyday. That's
what I love about WW...NOTHING is off-limits! You can't have everything everday, but you can work
it into the points you have and eat it from time to time and if you need more points then you add
more exercise. Some people don't add their activity points, but it's fine if you want to. I use
activity points as an incentive to have a 'goodie'. Like I'll make a deal with myself that if I go
on a walk (2.23 miles with a VERY strong dog) then I can have an icecream treat (Smart Ones or
comparable at 2 points each).

The plan is very flexible. Find what works best for you.

Cecelia

Your daily points goal MAY be too low for you. I found that the recommended 20 points was too low
for me (which caused me to binge) SO I added in some flexpoints and made a new goal: 24 points. I
have lost about 30 pounds doing this -- without exercising.

Also, the number of points is not the only consideration -- the quality of the food is, too. I eat
mainly very low-fat, high-fiber, high-calcium foods, whole grains, lots of vegetables, fruits, a
little lean protein -- with some splurges on sweets or cheese or wine, etc. of course!

I'd say increase the QUALITY of your food, add healthy 0 and 1-pt foods, and try adding another mini-
meal or snack to your day -- then see if you still need points to keep hunger under control, then
increase points, if necessary.

Ultimately, you'll need to experiment to see what is right for you -- WW is definitely a learning
process and not a "regimen."

If you keep working at it, you WILL lose weight! Best of luck!

Anita B.
171/141.6/140 or lower?

[email hidden] (Amanda) wrote in message news:<20031123141724.14088.00000940@mb-
m15.aol.com>...

Quoted message said:

Hey everyone,

Checking out weightwatchers.com, joined the free one week online program trial.

On day 2 - and it's 1 p.m. and I have 3 points left for today.

Everything I've eaten today has been a smaller portion (about half) of what I'd normall eat.

I'm not hungry, but it's 1 p.m. and I have 3 points left!

No offense, but I'm suspicious that this level of calorie restriction would put my body into a
place where, if I had to stop or lost control, I'd put MORE weight on and balloon/bounceback to 10
or more pounds over where I am now. I just don't see how eating this little every day is going to
lead to a pound a week weight loss, it seems like it would be way more dramatic than that for me.

Is this a normal newcomer perception? Is there something I can eat for 3 points for the rest of
today that's in any way substantial?

Thanks, dietphobic

Hi Amanda. Welcome aboard. It takes a while to get the program under control so that you don't eat
all your points early in the day. You also have to find lower calories food to eat. I use a 1 point
bread & lots of chicken, fish & vegetables. I keep away from the sweets as they are empty calories.
It is a shock when you first start with WW's as it can look like a starvation diet but it definitely
is not. It is a healthy plan that follows the governments recommended portions & will keep you
losses to with the 1 to 2 pounds that is the amount recommended by all dieticians & doctors. Of
course the first couple of weeks, you will lose more than that as a lot of it will be water. The
first week I was very hungry, but after that I adjusted & have been fine. Wish you luck. Elaine K
331.4/215.6/179

Amanda said:

Hey everyone,

Checking out weightwatchers.com, joined the free one week online program trial.

On day 2 - and it's 1 p.m. and I have 3 points left for today.

Everything I've eaten today has been a smaller portion (about half) of what I'd normall eat.

I'm not hungry, but it's 1 p.m. and I have 3 points left!

No offense, but I'm suspicious that this level of calorie restriction would put my body into a
place where, if I had to stop or lost control, I'd put MORE weight on and balloon/bounceback to 10
or more pounds over where I am now. I just don't see how eating this little every day is going to
lead to a pound a week weight loss, it seems like it would be way more dramatic than that for me.

Is this a normal newcomer perception? Is there something I can eat for 3 points for the rest of
today that's in any way substantial?

Thanks, dietphobic

It is like that when you start out. In a couple of days, this won't seem like starvation, especially
as you start to make better choices for ways to spend your points. Even now, though, sometimes I
have lunch that I think is pretty good, then have dinner, then sit down to put my points into the
online Points tracker and discover that my lunch was a lot higher in points than I realized, and
that I've gone over. That's what's great about Flex points. I haven't ruined the whole diet by a
stupid mistake.

Now there are ways to satisfy your appetite, and I see that others have offered good advice. Now
I'll add my two cents' worth.

You can fill up on water and celery, but it doesn't take too long before your stomach learns that
trick and starts to complain immediately that it wants some dang FOOD. However...

Make the most of your protein and fats. Have a pint of water before you sit down to a meal, or drink
it with your meal. Have a cup of carrots or a cup of celery or both, steamed broccoli or cabbage, an
apple or other fruit of your choice, and a small serving of something with some fat and protein.

The water and the zero/low points foods will help pad out what you're used to filling up on (your
chicken or tuna or roast beef or whatever), leaving you feeling nice and full. And your stomach will
know that you've had chicken or tuna or roast beef or whatever and it will be happy with that. The
fats and proteins will help your body switch off the "hungry" signals and keep them off for a while,
so don't deprive yourself of them, but pad them out with the other stuff.

And drink your 64 ounces of water every day!

Good luck!

Stan

(Amanda) said:

Hey everyone,

Checking out weightwatchers.com, joined the free one week online program trial.

On day 2 - and it's 1 p.m. and I have 3 points left for today.

Everything I've eaten today has been a smaller portion (about half) of what I'd normall eat.

I'm not hungry, but it's 1 p.m. and I have 3 points left!

No offense, but I'm suspicious that this level of calorie restriction would put my body into a
place where, if I had to stop or lost control, I'd put MORE weight on and balloon/bounceback to 10
or more pounds over where I am now. I just don't see how eating this little every day is going to
lead to a pound a week weight loss, it seems like it would be way more dramatic than that for me.

Is this a normal newcomer perception? Is there something I can eat for 3 points for the rest of
today that's in any way substantial?

Thanks, dietphobic

It's all about *quality* not *quantity*. If you're just eating less than what you used to eat, then
you probably are still not eating the right things. Bulk out meals with lots of vegies. Reduced fat
foods are your friends. Perhaps post a sample day's food here and we'll see what we can do
🙂

--
Julie.
93.5/73.2/74 (WW)/72 (Personal) kg
93.5/74./162.8 (WW)/158 (Personal) lb

"Amanda" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:20031123141724.14088.00000940@mb-
m15.aol.com...

Quoted message said:

Hey everyone,

Checking out weightwatchers.com, joined the free one week online program

trial.

Quoted message said:

On day 2 - and it's 1 p.m. and I have 3 points left for today.

Everything I've eaten today has been a smaller portion (about half) of

what I'd

Quoted message said:

normall eat.

I'm not hungry, but it's 1 p.m. and I have 3 points left!

No offense, but I'm suspicious that this level of calorie restriction

would put

Quoted message said:

my body into a place where, if I had to stop or lost control, I'd put MORE weight on and
balloon/bounceback to 10 or more pounds over where I am now.

I

Quoted message said:

just don't see how eating this little every day is going to lead to a

pound a

Quoted message said:

week weight loss, it seems like it would be way more dramatic than that

for me.

Quoted message said:

Is this a normal newcomer perception? Is there something I can eat for 3 points for the rest of
today that's in any way substantial?

Thanks, dietphobic

You have to adjust either portion sizes or quality of food. I like to use a mental image for 20
points worth of food. 20 apples would be a lot of food. 10 bananas would still be a lot. 4 donuts
would not be much. Most vegetables are zero points, try eating them with a small amount of dip. You
can eat a wheelbarrow full of vegetables and still be within points.
--
SuzyQ Weight 124 WW Lifetime Membership Feb 03

"Amanda" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:20031123141724.14088.00000940@mb-
m15.aol.com...

Quoted message said:

Hey everyone,

Checking out weightwatchers.com, joined the free one week online program

trial.

Quoted message said:

On day 2 - and it's 1 p.m. and I have 3 points left for today.

Everything I've eaten today has been a smaller portion (about half) of

what I'd

Quoted message said:

normall eat.

I'm not hungry, but it's 1 p.m. and I have 3 points left!

No offense, but I'm suspicious that this level of calorie restriction

would put

Quoted message said:

my body into a place where, if I had to stop or lost control, I'd put MORE weight on and
balloon/bounceback to 10 or more pounds over where I am now.

I

Quoted message said:

just don't see how eating this little every day is going to lead to a

pound a

Quoted message said:

week weight loss, it seems like it would be way more dramatic than that

for me.

Quoted message said:

Is this a normal newcomer perception? Is there something I can eat for 3 points for the rest of
today that's in any way substantial?

Thanks, dietphobic

Amanda said:

Hey everyone,

Checking out weightwatchers.com, joined the free one week online program trial.

On day 2 - and it's 1 p.m. and I have 3 points left for today.

Everything I've eaten today has been a smaller portion (about half) of what I'd normall eat.

I'm not hungry, but it's 1 p.m. and I have 3 points left!

No offense, but I'm suspicious that this level of calorie restriction would put my body into a
place where, if I had to stop or lost control, I'd put MORE weight on and balloon/bounceback to 10
or more pounds over where I am now. I just don't see how eating this little every day is going to
lead to a pound a week weight loss, it seems like it would be way more dramatic than that for me.

Is this a normal newcomer perception? Is there something I can eat for 3 points for the rest of
today that's in any way substantial?

Thanks, dietphobic

What's your TOTAL points for a day? Quarter it: use 3 of those portions of points for each of the
three meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), and bulk them out with no point veggies. That leaves you a
quarter of your daily allowance for snacks. Bulk them out with zero rated veggies too. I find that
the butternut zero rated soup, the vegetable zero rated soup, and others that are zero to low points
are great for days when I have very few spare points in the system and I'm hungry! You can fudge the
meals a bit to suit you...

For example, I'm on 22 points per day, without bonus exercise points. Theoretically, this gives me
5.5 points per meal, plus 5.5 to play with... In reality, I tend to use 3 for breakfast (2
Wheetabix, a little milk, half a teaspoon of sugar is normal), 5 or 6 for lunch (a 4 point sandwich
and a yoghurt, for example), and about 7.5 for dinner... Potatoes (3), a chicken breast (2.5),
veggies (0), and another yoghurt
(1.5), adding up to 6.5, followed by a banana (1) for 7.5. I can add my
2.5 snacks in at any time, like a mid morning snack bar with my coffee, and some more fruit in the
afternoon, or a mug of hot chocolate before bedtime. If I get the mad nibbles, I try to keep to
raw veggies: these are great as they fill you up, and the fibre makes them slower to digest, so
they stay with you longer.

Another trick is to use the WW cookbooks! I already had over 100 cookbooks, BUT these new ones I
have are full of nice, pre-pointed recipes, AND there are plenty of recipes for one or two servings!
If you have the discipline to cook double and freeze for later, fair enough, but cooking only just
enough for the one meal at a time can also be a good strategy to follow. No leftovers in the fridge
= nowt to pick at after the evening meal is a distant memory!

Also, are you drinking as much water as you should? if you are used to going about in a slightly
dehydrated state (common with us teachers!), then this can fool the body into thinking it's hungry,
when actually it's thirsty!

As for your 3 points left, well... How about a curry made of zero point veggies, served with a 3
point portion of rice? A spray of oil is all you need for frying the veggies, and you can use
whatever you like from the points free veggies lists for the 'body'. Spices cost no points, and
neither does a can of chopped tomatoes. Or a pot of zero point soup served with a couple of slices
of bread, or a bagel (plain ones are about 3 points each).

Oh, and keep out of the kitchen until it's time to cook the next meal! 😉
--

fridge!) Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons diceyhome.free-diceyhome.free-Open ↗
online.co.uk Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

welcome, it takes a bit to get used to what you can eat if you are a large
eater. I would suggest a bunch of zero point vegetables. I can't really
help other than that as there days when I struggle to eat all of my allotted
points, and so you know I am close to the 80 pound loss so it does work if
you give it an honest try and take the time to learn the system, Good Luck,
Lee
Amanda <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hey everyone,

Checking out weightwatchers.com, joined the free one week online program

trial.

Quoted message said:

On day 2 - and it's 1 p.m. and I have 3 points left for today.

Everything I've eaten today has been a smaller portion (about half) of

what I'd

Quoted message said:

normall eat.

I'm not hungry, but it's 1 p.m. and I have 3 points left!

No offense, but I'm suspicious that this level of calorie restriction

would put

Quoted message said:

my body into a place where, if I had to stop or lost control, I'd put MORE weight on and
balloon/bounceback to 10 or more pounds over where I am now.

I

Quoted message said:

just don't see how eating this little every day is going to lead to a

pound a

Quoted message said:

week weight loss, it seems like it would be way more dramatic than that

for me.

Quoted message said:

Is this a normal newcomer perception? Is there something I can eat for 3 points for the rest of
today that's in any way substantial?

Thanks, dietphobic