June 23, 2006 - I have kept it off! I work like crazy at the gym - eliptical strider level five for 20-30 minutes a day, weights on top of that three times a week, and walk the dog fast for 1/2 hour every day. I journal my points, and just will myself to eat less. I am at the top of my pound allowance, but as it's a fabulous summer, am back on for the balance. All that work is worth it! At 48, two doctors have told me how much younger I look. And, my medical numbers remain fabulous. Veggies grilled, veggies raw with salt - it's too hot to eat anyhow.

MAY 7, 2005. I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCK! The downside of the last time that I did this was that there was no good strategy for keeping this weight off without continuing to journal, and follow and add as many points as you can until you start gaining. Of course, I blew off weighing in once a month too. I did little things to keep going, more veggies, less ice cream, more Skinny Cows. Several other things too. At any rate, 2.5 years later, I have 19 pounds to lose. Okay. Things have changed! I get 22 points per day, and when I exercise and add points in, I can eat them or not THAT DAY. Points are basically the same, they sell a little different food, rates are the same (if you have become a lifetime member once, you don't have to pay the reinitiation fees! so, $12/week, I believe). You drink 6 glasses of water, 5 helpings of fruits/vegs, 2/3 glasses of skim milk, and the new thing is 2 tsp. of oil per day for your heart (an extra 2 mandatory points per day, I might add). Okay, so if I don't bank points for splurges, what do I do? You are automatically given 35 points per week you can use or not as you wish. All, none, three, doesn't matter.

That said, I lost five pounds in six days! Hooray! Face is less full, belt cinches two notches tighter. Thighs still rubbing together, ick. Gym work is hard, but worth it. I feel better, and some men started saying hi to me in the stores. Confidence better, but they are over 75 years old or "bag men." Goal: total of 20 pounds by mid-June.
My cholesterol, by the way, has gone from that sveldte 146 to 215. During this journal, I have to have it checked again, so will advise.

Hot V8 juice really wakes you up in the morning! I have a feeling I am just made to eat like this.

LAST UPDATE: January 23, 2003 Week 18. I lost another 1/4 pound, but that is a miracle! Ate all day Sunday - first at Bob Evans for brunch - drove with my mother 2 hours and then had lunch (she had roast duckling!!!! and I had a salad). Went to a baby shower where food flowed freely, including 3 layers of frosting and a cream cheese in a carrot cake you wouldn't believe! Came home and just started the diet again! I'm done with maintenance, and am going to keep dieting to lose just a few more pounds. I can still go to weigh in as I please...but must do so monthly. Received a little key for my chain I guess. Very nice.

January 16, 2003 Week 17. I did it! I've lost 25 pounds, and received a magnet for my fridge. This week, I lost 2.5 pounds. It's getting to be natural now - think before you eat. And, if you don't know but suspect fat/calories, eat half of the treat. And, always wash it down with water. And be honest about your level of exercise. And, drink your water. Today, I'm having a problem getting to the water - - it's 21 outside and I'm freezing anyway. I only like it cold, and that moves your molecules more, but I may have to put on a sweater to get it down. Anyway, I've decided to go five more pounds and not suffer situps. I can now see the problem areas (tummy and upper arms and hips). There is not a chance I'd ever be anorexic - I love food tooooo much! And I ate this week. Cooked duck with sauce, ate a strata that was mainly bread, a squash/buttery casserole....And, a bite of Belgian waffles with full maple syrup this morning. Now, to shiver down that water....

January 9, 2003 Week 16. Ate everything I wanted to Friday, Saturday and Sunday and then dieted like crazy eating only minimums and earning 2 exercise points for 2 days. Lost 1.5 of the 2.25 pounds I gained. I had on corduroys which may have added an extra half pound. Next week is the last of the program, and I stay on for one more for $12 to finish "maintenance." Then, am lifetime member I understand. When you do the diet, you can't cheat. It works, but you have to DO it.

January 2, 2003 - Week 15 - planning for it doesn't make it any easier. I gained another 1.25 pounds. Very brave of me to come in the exact day after New Year's! It is hard to get back to business after eating at will. But, hitting the gym, the vegetables and the water, plus the points is going to get me down 5 more pounds. Then, "reckless abandon" will have to go. Pretty much! Keeping veggies on hand is critical. Happy New Year.

December 26 - Week Fourteen. I literally ate with reckless abandon for almost the entire week. BUT, I drank water, didn't eat between meals, and exercised my buttocks off inbetween. I gained one pound, and that in itself is a miracle. I'm still 3 pounds below my goal weight, so I know that I'll be okay. Weighing in the day after the holiday is just awful. My own goal is still to lose 3 pounds, and it shouldn't go up this week. But, it's the holidays - you have to be on guard.

DECEMBER 18 - WEEK THIRTEEN Another pound gone! I have lost 24 pounds, and a friend told me to go shopping for new pants - things are really bagging around me. I made Christmas cookies last week, and had a huge piece of prime rib and a baked potato with EVERYTHING on it Saturday night. The holidays are hard. My goal is to just maintain, but I know I'll be really sticking to it between parties and dinners. It feels SOOOOOO good.

WEEK TWELVE - HOOORAY! I have reached the WW lifetime goal for me - and I've lost 23 pounds in 12 weeks! I have to say that exercising for 2 points a day (it may actually be 2.5 to 3) and drinking the 6 glasses of water a day helps. I also ate the minimums. Saturday was a huge and bingeful dinner at Lone Star Steakhouse - I gave it 38 points but only had 28 to spend. So I really stuck to diet for 4 days, plus my period was over at the same time. That helps!
My personal goal is to lose 3 more pounds. But for WW, I go on "maintenance" for 6 weeks. Then, I can be a lifetimer for as long as whatever. The holidays are hard, so I'm happy to have room to play.

WEEK ELEVEN - Whew! I made it through Thanksgiving breaking even! For brunch I had 1.5 popovers with butter, 2 eggs scrambled in butter, and one large piece of country ham. For dinner, my mom and I decided "heck with it," and ate as we pleased. I didn't gorge, but I did help myself to a reasonable portion of most things offered. Pie was a 3 point recipe with FF Cool Whip. Saturday went to the new Bond movie and ate 1/2 a bag of popcorn, no butter, then out to dinner where I ate half a piece of veggie lasagna! Yum! So, 6 pounds still to go, and my 45th birthday is Saturday. Stay tuned!


WEEK TEN I lost 3 1/2 pounds again! I am one point from WW goal for me, and 6 from my goal for myself. I have pumped up the exercise to 25 minutes of Elliptical Strider at the YMCA followed by 10 minutes (or ten items) of weights at the heaviest I can do them. I may have to relax this, as time becomes more precious. We'll see. I can always increase the strider's intensity. Anyhow, those 6 glasses of water must be pretty crucial too. Have banked about 22 points for Turkey Day, with a plan to only eat that which I don't have all year long - stuffing, gravy, turkey, creamed onion, and yams. And, pie with fat free Cool Whip. Hooray!

NINE WEEKS NOVEMBER 20 - maintained the loss and lost/gained nothing. Very interesting. Ate in restaurants for 4 meals, and though I never ate more than half (with one exception), I still didn't lose. Eating at home is best for this diet.

EIGHT WEEKS - NOVEMBER 13: 17 pounds lost, have attained 10% body weight goal. My secret? No points between meals, eat the minimums and bank for better foods! Do drink the water, do eat the veggies, and do drink the dairy/soy. Need at least 9 more pounds to go. Feeling less hungry during the day. Physical revealed cholesterol down to 147 from 190. Reducing daily dosage of hypertension medicine. All good things.

SIX WEEKS LOST ZERO POUNDS. Gorged on Sunday and worked just to take that off for 3 days! So, really it's my fault. Learned about importance of exercising to earn about 2 points a day. BLT's are Bights, Licks and Tastes. Do you count them? Drink your water. Bought the big version of the food point book for $8, and 2 point bars with a little yogurt on them. YUM!

FIVE WEEKS - I lost 2 1/4 pounds this week, and that's with a family dinner of nibbling on cashews, shrimp/sauce, and veggies, plus a dinner at BD's Mongolian Barbecue in Detroit (fill your bowl they stir fry it). I had a beer, three helpings of food (laying light on sauces), and more veggies than meat. You need to drink the water, and exercise.

END OF FOUR WEEKS, I'VE LOST EXACTLY 8 POUNDS. DRINKING WATER IS CRUCIAL.

Almost five years ago, I used the Nicoderm CQ patch to quit smoking (first attempt ever) after 24 years. I was 40. Since the age of 16, my metabolism was controlled by nicotine. So, I continued my normal eating habits and gained about 25 pounds.

I started Weight Watchers and as with the smoking cessation, I have to WANT to lose weight. As they say, "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels."

The general idea is you are given a set point value to eat each day and guidelines as to how to healthily change your habits and lose weight as you go! Okay! Several veggies are 0 points and you can eat those all day long every day (unless you reach a plateau and aren't losing, and then they might say, cut them out). One needs to acquire a taste for plain veggies or with Mrs. Dash or dipping in tomato salsa if not used to the taste. Salt will keep fluids in - not good.

Any how, they also give you a point determinor to use on prepackaged foods. Used it on Slimfast - 2 points. But all that sugar!

I love the cheese and tomato sandwiches, that I can eat 1/4 of a cantelope, and have even tried a new veggie (to me) jicama.

At the meetings weigh-ins are private. They sell nutritious bars that have point values, and they have cookbooks and fastfood restaurant guides. The meetings are fine. To begin with, it's nice to hear other things that are no points besides in the book (sugar-free jello for example). It's great to get a bookmark when you lose five pounds and a fridge magnet for 10 or whatever.

My mom and I looked around and actually felt like we weren't so bad looking at some of these poor people!

Any how, I have no desire to cheat - and I can "bank" points to use for a special occasion. For example, I've known for a week that my husband will take me to dinner tonight for our 15th wedding anniversary. I banked 15 points and saved 12 from today. 37 points! I can have the berry cobbler with cream they are famous for! Yippee!

I do find I eat veggies all day and celery is as satisfying for its crunch as potato chips were a few weeks ago. Wrap two pieces of sliced turkey around them, and it's only one point! YUM!

It depends on what you want and who you want to be. People are nicer and more inclusive of thin or at least medium people. That's life. And my poor size 10 wardrobe (I only went up one size) is waiting my return.

They want me to do 10% of my weight in 12 weeks. Then, we'll figure out the last 10 pounds. Cool.

The Smart Ones meals are good for lunches. I can still use the foods my family eats - just watch my portions. And, they give you hints to eyeball quantity with your hands (eg, a fist is a cup.)

They have desserts I've not tried, but the store has fat-free sour cream, and we treat that as a treat!

In all, this program seems to be fine - I lost 3 pounds the first week and 2 the second. First week was water loss I'm certain.

When I can slide off my rings with no problem, we'll know we've done something.

Points can also be added for exercise. That is introduced the 4th week to give you time to acclimate to the plan first. Your veggie department will see you as a frequent visitor.

HOW IT WORKS:

Given your weight and height, you are allowed to eat so many points per day - me 25 max, 20 min. And eating the min. is critical to your health. You are to drink 6 glasses of water (if you wouldn't do your laundry in it, it "ain't" water), and eat 5 servings of fruit and veggies, as well as at least 2 servings of dairy. Every food has been assigned points. Some have no points - for example, celery, pea pods, green beans, tomatoes, jicama, broccoli, cauliflower...no, you may not have dip. But you can sprinkle a wee bit of salt on if you are not hypertensive.
Again, you can eat these all day long.

1 point would be an ounce of roast turkey around celery. 2 plain rice cakes. They give you a little list.

2 points - a small bagel no butter.

3 points a fat-free cheese slice on fat-free bread with a tomato slice, either in toaster oven or in pan with Pam spray.

4 points - Smart Ones entree (chicken - not bad)

and the list goes on and on.

You eat your points and you are done. You can save them for special occasions, but at least eat the min. They provide you with an entire booklet of food-point values, and recipe ideas. Website has more ideas.

You can work in the high fat foods. You better drink the water. 6 glasses isn't as bad as 8. Take a multi-vite and of course, gals, your calcium. Exercise! If it's a walk in the park, the neighborhood, even up and down those stairs. I am looking into yoga to supplement my gym/walking time. Weights also prevent bone loss and help hypertension.


In all this diet is well rounded. 12 weeks for $149 in northern Indiana.

What can it hurt?

UPDATE END OF WEEK 3 - Lost another 2 1/4 pounds for a total of 7 1/4 pounds. This is 25% of my total goal and almost half of my 10% body weight goal. Given book on exercise and its point value. The point is NOT to exercise so you can eat more, just burn off points. Walked 2 miles in 30 minutes for 2 points. They give you a sliding indicator to determine your exercise points. Yay!

Recommended: Yes

Approximate Monthly Cost (US$) 48
Food Variety Restrictions You eat any food you want
Restrictiveness of Portions Satisfying