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Feb. 9th, 2012 04:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jianantonicWeight Watchers is going really well for me, but I have some grumbles.
They update the program every year or so to reflect all the latest research. That's all fine and dandy, and certainly a good thing. And there's no doubt the program in its current state is working for me. I have lost weight consistently every week since I started going back, and I feel pretty great about myself right now, just a few pounds away from my goal weight. I like that there are tasty foods that I can eat whenever I want without taking anything out of my daily points budget -- on the old program, you were supposed to eat lots of fruits and veggies, but most of them had points, and I wanted to spend my points on something way more fun than an apple.
But the old system worked for me. It's possible that it worked better than this one. I lost weight much faster on that system (2+ pounds per week, whereas now I've been losing 1.2 to 1.4 pounds per week pretty consistently). Okay, I know that 2 pounds per week is the healthy maximum...but am I supposed to be disappointed that I lost 60 pounds in just a few months? Anyway. I shouldn't complain. I'm almost to my goal weight and I pretty much look the way I want to anyway, so it's no biggie if it takes a little longer this time. It's also possible that since I'm older, my metabolism just ain't what it used to be and I'd be losing weight slower following the old program, too.
At this point, though, the speed of the program doesn't matter to me. I miss carbs. The old program utilized a points system based on a formula of calories, fat, protein, and fiber. The new one doesn't count calories at all, and now uses a formula based on carbs, fat, protein, and fiber. All the foods I ate before were healthy, but high in carbs. I get it. If the best science says I should lay off carbs, it's just as well. But the sandwich I used to eat for 8 points is now 20. My daily points budget is 27. That's INSANE! I lost a ton of weight eating that sandwich every day. But now even the things that were my healthy staples before are splurges? The only pasta I eat anymore is the weight watchers brand stuff, because it's prepared specifically for the program. I'm not bitching -- it's actually quite yummy, and there's a good variety in the brand -- but my favorite meal at Noodles & Co, which used to be a three-times-a-week stop, is 29 points. The meal itself is only 800 calories. This should not be a plan-killer.
I know I could just keep going by the old program, since I know it works anyway, but knowing how many points those foods are now is too scary for me. There's a knee-jerk reaction that happens inside me, saying "I can't!" even though I really know I can...maybe...it's just not worth the risk. This program is based on highly tested research and it works. And I've stuck with it pretty well so far. And it's working for me. And I feel good. I just wish I had more options, because it's a fucking challenge to be a vegetarian on a low-carb diet. And it's not even a diet...it's an eating plan that I intend to follow indefinitely, so as not to have to keep fighting this battle. I just hope some new research comes out soon that says I should eat at Noodles & Co all the time. I miss that place.
Then there's my travel agenda...I didn't gain weight in Africa, which is awesome, because I definitely did some pigging out on that trip, and less than my usual amount of exercise (although the stuff I did was crazy intense). But Africa was just 10 days. I've just left home on the first of a series of trips that will keep me out of town through the end of March. I maintained my weight before on this schedule, but that was back when fast food (Subway, Quiznos, even Chipotle) was an option -- I have yet to find any fast food that is reasonable in the current system. This is going to be a challenge. It's important to me, so I know I will find a way to make it all work, but I just need to whine about how difficult it is for a moment. Thanks.
They update the program every year or so to reflect all the latest research. That's all fine and dandy, and certainly a good thing. And there's no doubt the program in its current state is working for me. I have lost weight consistently every week since I started going back, and I feel pretty great about myself right now, just a few pounds away from my goal weight. I like that there are tasty foods that I can eat whenever I want without taking anything out of my daily points budget -- on the old program, you were supposed to eat lots of fruits and veggies, but most of them had points, and I wanted to spend my points on something way more fun than an apple.
But the old system worked for me. It's possible that it worked better than this one. I lost weight much faster on that system (2+ pounds per week, whereas now I've been losing 1.2 to 1.4 pounds per week pretty consistently). Okay, I know that 2 pounds per week is the healthy maximum...but am I supposed to be disappointed that I lost 60 pounds in just a few months? Anyway. I shouldn't complain. I'm almost to my goal weight and I pretty much look the way I want to anyway, so it's no biggie if it takes a little longer this time. It's also possible that since I'm older, my metabolism just ain't what it used to be and I'd be losing weight slower following the old program, too.
At this point, though, the speed of the program doesn't matter to me. I miss carbs. The old program utilized a points system based on a formula of calories, fat, protein, and fiber. The new one doesn't count calories at all, and now uses a formula based on carbs, fat, protein, and fiber. All the foods I ate before were healthy, but high in carbs. I get it. If the best science says I should lay off carbs, it's just as well. But the sandwich I used to eat for 8 points is now 20. My daily points budget is 27. That's INSANE! I lost a ton of weight eating that sandwich every day. But now even the things that were my healthy staples before are splurges? The only pasta I eat anymore is the weight watchers brand stuff, because it's prepared specifically for the program. I'm not bitching -- it's actually quite yummy, and there's a good variety in the brand -- but my favorite meal at Noodles & Co, which used to be a three-times-a-week stop, is 29 points. The meal itself is only 800 calories. This should not be a plan-killer.
I know I could just keep going by the old program, since I know it works anyway, but knowing how many points those foods are now is too scary for me. There's a knee-jerk reaction that happens inside me, saying "I can't!" even though I really know I can...maybe...it's just not worth the risk. This program is based on highly tested research and it works. And I've stuck with it pretty well so far. And it's working for me. And I feel good. I just wish I had more options, because it's a fucking challenge to be a vegetarian on a low-carb diet. And it's not even a diet...it's an eating plan that I intend to follow indefinitely, so as not to have to keep fighting this battle. I just hope some new research comes out soon that says I should eat at Noodles & Co all the time. I miss that place.
Then there's my travel agenda...I didn't gain weight in Africa, which is awesome, because I definitely did some pigging out on that trip, and less than my usual amount of exercise (although the stuff I did was crazy intense). But Africa was just 10 days. I've just left home on the first of a series of trips that will keep me out of town through the end of March. I maintained my weight before on this schedule, but that was back when fast food (Subway, Quiznos, even Chipotle) was an option -- I have yet to find any fast food that is reasonable in the current system. This is going to be a challenge. It's important to me, so I know I will find a way to make it all work, but I just need to whine about how difficult it is for a moment. Thanks.
