Last updated November 7, 2003
I am a true believer in the online community. I believe the online community has helped and encouraged so many people in trying to lose weight and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Online, people feel anonymous and safe enough to share their greatest joys, their deepest frustrations, their daily struggles and their innermost fears. Through my website and so many others, people can rest assured that weight loss and healthy living are indeed a possibility. The Weight Watchers Forum Family started when Weight Watchers was kind enough to develop an extensive website with chatrooms and forums designed for motivation and support. The Me I WANT to Be thread on the Cooking Light board came about with several women who not only like to eat well, but struggle with losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. There are some forum members who have been successfully working the program for years and others who are just starting out and looking for a helping hand. Whether you are an old timer or a newbie, we hope all feel welcome. Please remember that as with any online communication, words can hold many meanings for different people. Please help keep the online forums a supportive and open environment.
2.1)...What counts for our daily water intake?
A..In my humble opinion, only water counts for water intake! We as overweight individuals trying to lose weight should be drinking MORE than 8 glasses of water per day in order to accommodate size and flush out our systems. There are two other schools of thought: 1)That 4 of the 8 glasses of water can be noncaffenated beverages ie. caffeine free diet cola, tea, Crystal Light etc.. and 2)That any of the 8 glasses can be noncaffenated beverages. I personally have never heard a counselor say #2. However, make a decision based on what works for you after checking with your leader. You may want to try various methods to see which aids with weight loss while keeping you comfortable. I have also heard people complain about too many trips to the bathroom. 1)Think of all that fat being flushed away! and 2)Your body does adjust over a short amount of time to the water intake. In other words, hang in there and soon you won't have to go every five minutes!
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2.2)...How many points for my weight range?
A..The following is a list of point ranges for the Weight Watcher Winning Points Program as of January 2002:
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2.3)...How should I set my weight goals?
A..Weight Watchers sets goals at 10% and then final goal. Depending on your area, they also reward either five or ten pound increments as well as 25 pound increments. For many of us, once we hit our 10%, there is still a long road before getting to our final goal. Goals should be set in small increments..something you feel comfortable with. You can choose to go to the next 10% or just by 5 pound increments. Make sure you reward yourself as well when achieving those milestones! Because my loss is slower now, I've gone to rewarding myself once a month...a reward for hanging in there one more month!
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2.4)...When I reach 10%, do I have to choose a final goal weight?
A..According to my old leader, a final goal doesn't have to be decided until you are 5 pounds from your highest weight number in your weight range. You can also pick a higher weight that Weight Watchers will accept with a doctor's note. Most people who have more than 100 pounds to lose wait until closer to goal to pick a final goal as we haven't been at those low numbers in awhile and we don't know what we will look like or how we will feel!
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2.5...Does my goal weight have to be within Weight Watchers range?
A..No...you may get a doctor's note indicating that another weight is fine and healthy for you and WW will accept that. However, if you have aspirations of becoming a WW leader, some locations insist that you be within their established ranges for your height.
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2.6...What are Weight Watchers rewards for weight loss?
A..There are many Weight Watchers Locations with different rewards systems. To my knowledge, all WW locations reward the 10% keychain, a goal weight charm and a lifetime charm once you have achieved maintenance. Some locations give you a bookmark at 5 lbs lost and a gold star at 5 lb increments to place onto the bookmark. Other locations give out a ribbon with stars to affix to the ribbon. There are some locations that also give out activity rewards, but my location did not and I was jealous!
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2.7...What are some personal reward ideas?
A..Rewards can be as big or as small as you want them to be. Some ideas include: manicure, pedicure, new clothing, make-up, magazines, cd/cassette/video, trip to the mall, afternoon without the kids, weekend getaway with loved ones, new book & time to read it in peace, exercise equipment, professional photos taken, personal enrichment class, etc.. Just don't have it be food! If you want food as a reward, then you are depriving yourself on this program! Work the program so that you can be satisfied emotionally and physically with a variety of all kinds of food.
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3.1)...What can I expect for my rate of weight loss on WW?
A..Like many things, there are so many variables that come into play and effect the rate of which one loses weight so...YMMV which means Your Mileage May Vary. Common trends are a greater loss in the first couple of weeks with a tapering down of anything between .5 to 2 lbs a week which is what Weight Watchers recommends for a healthy and permanent weight loss rate. Variables such as age, hereditary, monthly fluctuations (women) and exercise will alter the rate of weight loss. The best advice is to figure out how best to work the program and the program will work the best for you! Whether it's Weight Watchers, Atkins, Body for Life, Escape your Shape, or the Grapefruit diet, that principle applies. Also please please PLEASE do not count on the scale for your ultimate measure of success. I went through a period where I lost 10 lbs over the last five MONTHS (May-September, 02)...this is PAINSTAKINGLY slow for me and yes it drives me insane. However, in less than 2 months, I lost 7 entire inches from my body! This means that 1)I'm doing something right and 2)I'm building muscle. I strongly encourage everyone to take pictures and take measurements along the way. When the scale slows down, reach into your empowering beliefs and find where your strength is coming from. You deserve to do this for yourself! Also consider the alternative. Will you really maintain if you give up? If you work the program, the scale will eventually follow and more importantly you will continue to feel better about yourself. Stick with it...you have everything to gain by taking care of #1 and that's YOU!
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3.2)...Will I have excess skin during/after weight loss?
A..Again, excess skin is really an individual thing. There are too many variables that come into play that affect skin elasticity -- age, heredity, amount of exercise during weight loss (exercising does help!), speed of weight loss, whether you spent a lot of time in the sun, whether you smoke, past dieting history, etc. You will just have to wait and see whether you have a lot of skin left over when your weight is gone. There is a lot of information on excess skin on http://www.getting2goal.com so surf away! So far, I am proud to say that my skin is pulling back pretty nicely and I totally believe the gym is a key factor in helping with that. I exercise regularly, I moisturize and I drink plenty of water. Right now I have some loose skin on the "apron" (lower belly) and on the upper innermost part of my thigh. I still have a ways to go so time will tell! I have also heard that once getting to goal to wait 6 mos to a year and there is a good chance with healthy living, your skin will bounce back...amazing! I can say that after losing over 140 lbs, that a little excess skin would be a very small sacrifice to pay for the rewards I am reaping by being healthy and fit. Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels...very true. Also please consider the old adage "you are what you eat". We are. The outside is a mirror of what's inside. With Weight Watchers, there are a lot of ways to "cheat" the system and still lose weight for a time. However, the real loss is not properly providing for your body. Beware of food items that seem too good to be true..they often are.
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3.3)...I've done everything right and I have gained weight!
A..Everything in this world is cyclical and as much as we want our bodies to be perfect machines, they are not! It is not always as simple as "calories in, energy out". Women especially have hormone fluctuations which in many cases will result in a slight gain every 3-4 weeks...this is normal! Sodium intake, water retention, exercise, food before weigh-in and our famous ALIEN INVASION THEORY are all contributors to a periodic gain. Do not worry! Stay on your program and the body/weight will eventually follow :)
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3.4)...How many pounds to a dress size?
A..Again, unfortunately, this is another YMMV - or your mileage may vary. The larger sizes cover a greater amount of weight sometimes up to 25 pounds per size. The lower sizes are often 10 pounds per size. Sizes also vary depending on height and where individuals carry their weight. We also tend to lose in different areas at different times so you may be one size on top and one on the bottom. Every designer has a different concept of sizes as well so a gap 14 is not a lane bryant 14 is not a jc penny 14! It can be incredibly frustrating to shop! The good news is as you get smaller, at least you have more to choose from :)
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3.5)...When will it start being noticeable to others?
A..It is proven fact that people are not the greatest "eye witnesses"...most people you work with would not even know your eye color if you asked them with their eyes closed! People see what they want to see and often times will see someone who is overweight as just that - over weight. They do not see the 5 pounds here or the 10 pounds there at a large size. Most common is around 40 - 50 pounds where people will notice a change enough to say something. People started noticing at around 65 lbs for me. People with less to lose will take less to lose to be noticeable. Make sure to take pictures so that you will see the change on the way down as well as feel the change in your energy level, in your physical body and in your clothing! Also, do not take people not saying anything as not noticing. Some people don't feel comfortable saying anything as you and I both know that weight is such a touchy subject. Also, people noticing is a mixed blessing. Along with the compliments come unwanted opinions, unwanted advice, and the dreaded food police. Just do your thing and believe me...people will notice!
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3.6)...Do I *have* to exercise?
A..If you ask me, I answer with a resounding YES! Seriously folks...I suppose you don't have to exercise to be successful at weight loss. However there are two things to take into consideration. 1)Most studies prove that successful maintenance is most prevalent with people who engage in some form of regular activity. 2)Exercise helps you look better, feel better, sleep better. It makes you strong. It helps you tap into your body. It helps stabalize emotional swings and curbs appetite. As a very over weight individual, I was *so NOT* connected to my body. Because I was constantly eating to the point of being stuffed and because there was no real regular activity...I had no idea what my body really needed or wanted. Now despite still having some weight to lose, I am pretty connected to my body. I know what foods make me feel good, and what foods fuel me for longer periods of time. I know my body likes to be physically pushed and mentally I enjoy the feeling of power and strength as I develop muscle mass and cardiovasculuar endurance. You do not have to go from couch potato to gym bunny in one fail swoop. What you do have to do is find something...anything..that you like to do and start doing it. The more you do it, the more you will go back to it....I gar-on-tee!
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6.1)...What is Trader Joes?
A..Trader Joe's is a natural food grocery store. There are many delicious low point foods to be found. Please visit http://www.traderjoes.com to see if there is a location near you.
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6.2)...What is Pirate's Booty?
A..Pirate's booty is a puffed corn & rice with cheddar cheese topping. Kinda like smart food tasting cheese doodles. They are very good but no longer a low point find. They are made by robgourmet who makes all sorts of other snacks...beware as not all are low point! Please visit robgourmet at http://www.robscape.com/rag/index.cfm Unfortunately so many "miracle low point finds" are indeed too good to be true. Buyer beware. I completely endorse real food in moderation and this is a totally perfect reason why.
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6.3)...What are Skinny Cows?
A..Skinny cows are ice cream sandwiches made by a company called Silhouette. They are two large chocolate cookies filled with soft low fat ice cream. But the ice cream tastes like the real thing, and they are HUGE!! In my area they only come in chocolate and vanilla, but I hear about caramel, mint and peanut butter. Most of them are just 2 points, but some are 3 points. Silhouette has a web site where you can see if they are available in your area. Please visit them at http://www.skinnycow.com
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6.4)...What are No Pudge Brownies?
A..No Pudge Brownies are delicious guilt free, low point brownies! Please visit them at http://www.nopudge.com Again I personally endorse real food in moderation.
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7.1)...Where can I get the journaling tool for palm pilot?
A..The Journaling tool for Palm Pilot can be downloaded at http://www.whiteoaks.com
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Copyright© 2003 GreysAngel Productions
Last Updated: November 7, 2003
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