**I must preface this post by clearly stating I do not intend to offend anyone**
Of late, I've started posting on the Weight Watchers message boards again, mainly because I have recommited to losing the extra pounds I've gained. For the record, I loosely follow Weight Watchers program... but don't necessarily agree with the program in its entirety.
Back when I first started WW in 2001, these boards were a HUGE contribution to my success. They are jam packed with insightful ideas, motivation, tips etc. In addition, I "met" quite a few of you AMAZING ladies via this message board.
Each day warning flags are going off as I read the posts of girls who are upset because they "only lost a pound" gained weight because they wore jeans to WI. More warning bells sound when I look at the menus posted that are filled with 100 calorie packs, granola bars etc.
Yes, I was there once too.
What really got to me yesterday was when I posted about my oatmeal creation. Immdiately the responses were: Oh that's high in points. I was actually kind of baffled because, yes, its higher then a 2 point breakfast.... but ITS GOOD FOR YOU! I consider myself to be 'above average' in the activity department and my body NEEDS FUEL. And let me tell you, I have no problem giving it the fuel it needs.
Thats my beef with Weight Watchers. In my opinion, it dosn't provide atheletes the proper amount of nutrition. Eating 20 points a day (roughly 1000 calories) is putting your body into starvation mode. Yes, there are now 35 flex points... but so many people believe that eating them is dangerous. Weight Watchers also has 'activity points' which again, a lot of people feel they shouldn't eat. Then people wonder why they don't lose. Why? Again this is my opinion, because they are starving themselves.
Don't get me wrong, Weight Watchers is the main reason I lost the bulk of my weight. It is a good program. It taught me about portion control. It also created a border-line disorder. I was (and still kinda am) obsessed with food.
The point of this post? To indirectly tell a few people:
1) Please, don't be afraid to eat.
2) See beyond the POINTS, and think nutrition.
3) Food is good for you.
4) Don't beat yourself up for going over your points for eating an apple.
5) Full fat yogurt is not going to kill you.
6) Educate yourselves by reading more about nutrition
Ok, I feel a hell of a lot better getting this out.
Oh, one more thing: I didn't get fat eating oatmeal jam packed with healthy deliciousness.
23 comments:
I could not agree with you more!
I am struggling with that right now! At the meetings I see people presenting the newest TREAT they found that is only one point - and it is crap food - I am trying to change my lifestyle and get healthy. Loosing weight is just one component of the equation.
hang in there...you are an inspiration to many of us. thank you.
You got it! It is a good starting point for people with not idea of portion sizes or nutrition. Hopefully, it is just a starting point and people will take it further, like you have.
Amen.
♥
I totally agree with everything you just wrote. What is the point of eating empty foods when you should be eating filling, healthy foods?
That is the one thing I don't like about WW's either, a lot of people follow the program but really don't bother to educate themselves on proper nutrition.
100 cals, ff foods, sweetners etc...they just aren't the type of fuel your body needs or uses properly for that matter.
AWESOME post!
Very well said!
I think WW is great in the sense it is about learning to control portion sizes. I am actively following WW right now and I'm struggling with the food in concept to the w/o level. My work out level is going to increase here shortly and I will eat every single point allotted me because my body will need the fuel. It's simple, but the mentality of cutting back sticks with people, almost to the point of being seriously harmful to their health.
I'm with you and is a major reasong I stopped going to the boards ... also the fact that people can be just rude and huge bitches at times.
Also I hate seeing all the posts where people are eating all processed foods that are only 2pts or so ... gross!!!
I love this post.
I've been doing WW for the last 3 years and it's been in the last few months that I've started to make this shift myself. I'm beginning to focus on nourishing my body rather than spending my XX Points each day.
Once again, well written!!
here here! I am been on WW for quite a while and I am grossed out by the amount of fake sugars and low fat foods. I always want to scream, your body needs fat!! It is better just to learn balance and stop eating a whole bag of marshmallows ... that might just be my problem :)
Thanks Amy! I totally needed this today. I try and stay away from processed food and eat things that are good for me. I am having a hard time eating the extra points though. I think it is more of my mentality of trying to work through my food issues because I was so obese for so long. My WW leader today told me I should be eating more because I'm not fueling my body, like I should be doing.
WW is a great starting point and I have learned more about portions and food quality. However, it is all a learning process. Some people are at a more advanced place than others, when working on weight loss. It takes time.
Omg. I totally agree with you. I have mentioned before that ww totally gave me a borderline eating disorder when lost all my weight (a few years ago-I've since gained most of it back). I stopped posting because it can be a trigger for me and I can't handle the drama. I still go there from time to time but it's not a lot of fun.
Great post Amy! it is so true about meetings and people finding the newest snack.
I do go to meetings and follow the points but I'm not into the fake foods at all, yes I have 3pt yogurt, yes I have real sugar.
For myself I need the points to follow to help me lose weight, not that I stay within them all the time, but because I need to 1. write it down 2. have someone else weigh me in. Hope I'm not a hypocrit because I agree with you yet still follow the plan, lol.
I totally agree on WW's inability to feed the body when exercising a lot. Its hard to figure out how much is right for each different body and each different activity level.
Great read!
Love this post!!
OK, I agree with you 100%, I too have found great success with WW for the past two years. I lost 120 lbs now I need to start worrying about nutrition if I am going to loose the rest of my weight and live skinny and healty for the rest of my days. If I want to get there I really don't think processed food is going to get me there.
I find WW great for beginners but lacks in advance information.
I am really struggling right now and it's hard for me to learn all this by myself.
You are an inspiration to me and I just nodded the whole time I was reading this... AMEN SISTA!!! LOL
Fantastic post. I couldn't agree with you more!
Very well stated!
I totally completely agree! WW is a really great tool but it does have some pretty big faults especially with the points system.
I find that people really focus WAY too much on sticking to points rather than eating wholesome, nutrient rich foods. I once heard Dr. Oz say you should never count calories, only nutrients. It really rung true to me. It also really bother me when I see people get so upset if they "only lost less than a pound". Good doctors reccomend losing half a pound a week..
WW was way better before the points system was introduced.
That is my issue with WW, it was great right after I had The Boy and got that last 20 off but it became a game of how to beat the system rather than making healthy choices. Definitely not a good thing for the obsessives ... like me. I find now even with activity points that it's not enough to keep the engine going.
(If I only have 2 point at bf, by 3 p.m. I am having a 10 points to quell the hunger. (On average I used to do between 5 and 6 point at bf.)
OMG LOVE THIS POST. I was once on WW too and I think you summed up, right here, one of the main reasons I quit. I did lose weight, a lot, but after a while, the meetings and the people I knew that were on it, were way more into sort of scamming the system. Finding all the low cal/low point crap they could eat, JUST SO THEY COULD EAT. How does that solve anything. I mean, I would starve myself all day just so I could have my favorite mcd. meal that was like, seriously all but 4 of my alloted points. It was ridiclous. You raise some very very good points with this post. THANK YOU. I look forward to following your blog!
perfect!!
i joined WW, after talking with ang, and having made very little progress months after having our son...and i think what works for me is the accountability. sure i do some 100 cal snacks, but i've definately reduced those since joining too.
but i've never done the boards really cause there appeared to be so much drama, and hostility, etc there.
anyways...
WELL SAID!
A-FRIGGIN-MEN SISTER!!!!!!!!!
Woooot!!!
Those words have come directly out of my mouth many many many times!
I abandonned the WW boards such a long time ago and I tried awhile back to get back into them and I just couldn't because I got nothing out of them other than frustration and rolling my eyes!
I appreciate everything I learned (and the fabulous ladies I've met :-D) while I was there and it all helped me lose a ton of weight just like you, but I'm with you 100% on everything you said.
My buddy Brooke who's here with me right now is a prime example too. She was starving herself!
My body went into starvation mode on WW because I didn't adequately exercise (part was out of my control, and part was). Either way, now I'm trying to fix it!
Read Intuitive Eating if you get the chance. It opened my eyes to ALOT of things!
I COMPLETELY agree!!!
I switched to counting calories last summer because I was just get frustrated with my "weight watchers state of mind". I would choose a hershey stick as a snack because it was one point, and neglect my huge apple that was 2 points...so yeah, when I switched to calories I would pick the apple, because it was only a few calories more...and I found I would eat oatmeal and full fat yogurt because I could balance my calories and fat better - I hated how if you ate something high fat it would take up all your points because the fat knocks the points up.
Whereas with calories (and just good nutrition) you can work it into you day and actually balance it out and not look like you "broke the bank"...it feels a lot more like "real life"...
Oh, and I hear ya on the food obsession...
Amen Amy :)
Thank you...this is EXACTLY what I say..I would rather eat something higher in pts, that is good for me as opposed to something chemically produced, etc. that's small and really won't do my body the good I'm trying to do.
This is why I love you ;) So wise :)
Amen! I agree with all your points. Especially that last one!
I was just on the GDT and someone posted how they divy up their daily 20 points. I'm heavier so I get 30 points. I couldn't imagine being on 20 pts! I'm hungry just thinking about it.
It must be difficult for an athlete to fuel their body on 20 points. You definitely do need good, nutritious foods in that case or you'd die!
Great post!
Hi Amy:)
I was one of the ones that said the breakfast you showed was high in points.
I, myself, eat at least 7 pts for breakfast with whole grains, milk and fat. I am very nutrition driven and eat all my activity points and flex points. I know the post wasn't dirrected towards me, but I felt like i had to say something.
YEs I agree that it's scary to see a lot of people eating those 100 cal snack packs in order to just fit to points and I dissagree with them on choosing those foods. However, like you said, we did this at the beginning too.
I don't think I know ANYONE who started eating RIGHT at the beginning of their WW journey.
We learn as we go.
Yes ww is a great tool to kick start your weightloss and adopt healthy living tools. I think it just takes time for people to stop and realise that they need to look at their nutrition and not just a number.
I don't care if I go over one point because of an apple. lol if I'm hungry, that's what I will opt for, not a 1 pt bar.
Going back to the breakfast though, lol, for me, I couldn't fit that breakfast in my meal plan because of the amount of pts I use on my lunch and snack (high healthy fats)
Anyways, you rock:)
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