Tag: #myww

The Gift and a Little Creativity

On By TerriIn Food, UncategorizedLeave a comment

The anticipation was growing.

I was waiting…..  excited…. Ready to burst! 

And then I heard the garage door open and in walked my husband and my son with bags.  Bags of food!

I was sooo excited!!!

And Anxious!!

Did they find any?  Were they successful??  Oh… just let me see!! 

You see, times are challenging right now.  Our country, the world, is experiencing a pandemic and it is causing panic across the country.  Add to that, neither my husband nor I can drive right now, and we both are moving a little slower than normal, he because of recent total Knee Replacement surgery and me because of a severe back injury.  So, we rely on our son to take us places.    

During this challenging time, stores have been out of my “go to” foods, at least later in the day when my husband could get to the store.  What??? 

It feels as if my world has turned upside down overnight.  (not just because of the lack of food choices currently available.)  And I am lost.  How am I going to stay on plan?  How am I going to make healthy eating a priority when all that is left in the stores are the foods I have avoided for years, foods that are way too high in fat or sugar, and the foods that were my go-to foods for dealing with emotions?? 

I just want my low point/low calorie bread, my extra lean ground turkey and ground beef, fresh fruits, fresh veggies and so much more…. But those are very hard to find.  Instead, on my husband’s previous trip to the store, there were a few cans of high calorie soup, some Velveeta mac & cheese, a loaf of high calorie (and therefore high point) bread, and not much in the way of fresh veggies….

I am not used to shopping this way.  I am not used to having to figure out my meals based on what I have available.  I am a planner.  I plan 2-weeks’ worth of dinners and then go shopping based on my planned dinners.  Oh, I don’t always stick to the plan, not strictly anyway.  But planning the meals helps me create my grocery list which in turn keeps me on track.  But now I am not able to do that.  The chances that those items I would need to make those meals, would actually be on the shelves in the stores was quite low.  And that had me feeling even more discombobulated….. more lost….. Ugh!

So here I was, a couple of weeks into the craziness in the stores and a month since my last trip to get groceries (our pantry and fridge were quite low since I only shop for 2 weeks at a time.) and I was waiting, anticipating what he would find this time….. 2 previous trips to the store had not garnered those much-desired items…. But maybe, just maybe, this time would!

Let me tell you, when he walked in with bags in hand, I was ready to explode!  And finally I was able to go through the bags, finding some high calorie things I would not normally eat, including brownie mixes, frostings, cookie and cake mixes… and THEN I found the gifts (insert childlike scream and huge grin!)

They FELT like GIFTS.  Those precious, precious gems!  I felt like a kid in a candy store or a kid opening a much desired gift on Christmas morning— my butter!!  Zucchini!!  Strawberries!!  Cucumbers!!  Tomatoes!! Yogurt!!  Flour!!  Yeast!!  Onions and Potatoes!!  An Avocado!! Apples!! Low fat buttermilk!!  Canned Chicken breast!!  Oh my!!  Yes!!  Score!!  We struck gold!!

NEVER in my wildest imagination would I have imagined that I would EVER be this excited about vegetables!  Or fruit!  Or Yogurt!  I was ecstatic.  I was that kid on Christmas morning who just opened that one present that was the only one I had wanted!  

For years I have enjoyed fresh fruits and veggies.  And I miss them when I don’t have them.  Now with the stores being so very crazy and running low on my favorites, I was really missing my foods, the foods I have relied on to keep me healthy, to keep me on plan and to fill me up.   

My husband just smiled and then laughed while he watched me. 

Now to figure a way to use these low point gifts, along with the higher calorie/higher point foods (that I hadn’t eaten in a really long time) to make meals that would help me eat healthy, stay in my points and keep me satisfied.  And I needed to get creative to make the meals that would keep me from gaining weight during this stressful and challenging time, when staying home is necessary and exercise wasn’t possible. 

Yes, this would be a challenge. 

But, I was ready to RISE UP to the challenge, get creative and put my health at the top of my priority list. 

All those years sitting in WW workshops and all the years I had worked for WW and stood in front of members, facilitating the workshop had prepared me for this challenge.  I had tools to help me.  The tips I had heard over and over in those workshops were the tools I needed now.

Those tips came rushing back to me—

               –Wash and prep fresh produce BEFORE putting them in the fridge (I have not always been great at this, and many a fruit and vegetable have died a slow death in the vegetable bin of my refrigerator).  Done!  This fresh produce needed to be treated like diamonds, rubies, and other precious gems.

               –TRACK!  Track everything!  Even if I don’t know the points value, at least write it down.  Take a picture of the food if I can’t write it down.  Tracking, with or without the points keeps me aware of what I am eating.  And how often I am eating.  And whether or not I am really, truly physically hungry.  TRACK!

               –Portion Control!  Weigh and measure EVERYTHING!  Now, more than ever, this is important for me to do!  Paying attention to my portions keeps me mindful.  And mindful eating is important for me, an emotional eater.  The emotions I am feeling and trying to sort through threaten to sabotage my efforts to be healthy.  Portions help me to control the amount of points I consume while using he higher point value foods, taking the control from the food and putting it back in my hands.   

               –Have a Plan!  So important.  Just like a plan helps when we go to a party, potluck or out to eat, planning meals will keep me on track.  And planning how many points I want to use for a certain meal will help me navigate the higher point foods and meals I have in my kitchen right now.

I have discovered this past week that by watching the portion sizes and tracking everything, I CAN stay on plan and within my points, even with higher calorie/higher point foods.  I just eat a smaller portion. I decide ahead of time how many points I want to use and then portion it out to meet my planned points.  And I am satisfied. Planning Works!

–Try new recipes.  Mix it up.  Keep food from becoming boring– Instead of planning my meals and then getting the ingredients, I am now having to look in my pantry and my fridge/freezer and plan meals based on what I have on hand.  Some meal ideas come easier than others.  Grilled Chicken and frozen veggies.  Easy.  But those are limited items right now in my kitchen so I can’t do it every day.  I have to plan so that I can stretch those ingredients into more meals.  And that, along with the current choices in my kitchen (many things I would not and have not used in a long time) is making me get creative with my meals.  I look through my recipes and cookbooks as well as online for meal ideas and recipes that help me make a delicious, flavorful, and filling dinners.  And sometimes I just wing it, using what I have on hand to create a flavorful meal. 

I am using my leftovers more than I ever have.  NOTHING goes to waste! 

I am having fun creating.  I am excited about meals again.  It isn’t boring!  I am having a blast channeling my inner Chef.  I am loving pretending I am a participant on WW MasterChef! 

I am making homemade bread!  Buttermilk biscuits.  Brownies.  Hamburger Buns.  Donuts.  I am using high point meatballs in my spaghetti (just one.  It is all about the portions!) and using pasta because I haven’t had zucchini to spiralize.  I am grilling, sauteeing, and air-frying.  I am repurposing leftovers from dinner for breakfast and lunch the next day.  And I will be using canned pumpkin (I LOVE pumpkin spice EVERYTHING!) because that is what I have in the pantry.  Tonight, I am making my grilled Greek turkey burgers, with some substitutions, of course, and homemade hamburger buns.  And we are having a big salad too, thanks to the greens, tomato and cucumber my husband brought home.  The salad will save points so that I can enjoy the homemade hamburger bun and higher point ground turkey. 

So. Many. Ways. To. Be. Creative.

I am finding success during this challenging time.  I am playing with my food again, in a good way.  I am trying old favorites.  I am experimenting.  I am eating things that previously scared me because they were so high in points.  I am eating foods I avoided. 

And you know what?  I am in control.  I am enjoying my meals.  I am not feeling deprived! 

All the things I have learned, all the things I have heard, and all the tips shared in WW workshops, are helping me to find balance, to find my creativity and to stay calm during this time of uncertainty.  And I am finding success!

What are you doing to stay on track?  How are you getting creative in the kitchen?  How are you channeling your inner chef?  How are you staying mindful when it comes to your food choices?  What is your plan? 

Sharing our challenges, successes and tips will help us all to get through this challenging time.  Together.  Because we ARE better TOGETHER!!

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Surviving the “Eating Season”– The Holidays pt 3– PIE!

On By TerriIn Food, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Only two more days!

I am amazed at how fast the year has flown and how quickly Thanksgiving has arrived.  2 more days!

I love Thanksgiving!  It is a lot of food prep and work for me to cook the holiday meal for my family, though the past couple of years have been a bit easier….less food and less prep.  Tomorrow morning, I begin making pie.  And I love pie!

Pie is a staple of Thanksgiving!  Apple pie, Chocolate Cream Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie….. oh, there are so many pies to choose from! 

For years I made three types of pie every Thanksgiving—Pumpkin Pie (either one deep dish or 2 regular pies), Chocolate Cream Pie (with an Oreo crust) and Pecan Pie (for my husband, as I do not like Pecan pie).  I would have a slice of Pumpkin pie and Chocolate cream pie on Thanksgiving after dinner (from which I was over-stuffed and really had no room for pie).  And then as I watched a movie later at night I would have another slice of Pumpkin pie.  Breakfast the day after Thanksgiving was always easy for me—Chocolate Cream pie and Pumpkin pie. 

Pie all day long until it was gone.  And the size of the slice varied, depending on what meal and how many pies I was eating at that time. 

I really did not pay attention to portion sizes or what a true portion of pie looked like.  Why should I?  It was Thanksgiving Day….. weekend….. week…. And I was surprised when I would gain 10 or more pounds over the “eating season”?!  Maybe the excess pie had something to do with it (and the cookies in December, too!).

Then I joined Weight Watchers in March of 2006 for the 5th time.  That first Thanksgiving I went to the workshop and made a plan…kinda…. But not really.  But I did pay attention.  It was that workshop where my then leader showed us the plate and how we could use that plate to really see a true serving size of pie.  WOW!  THAT was a HUGE eye-opener!  Because, what she showed us was the same size as the small piece of pie I would cut when I was having both Pumpkin and Chocolate Cream pies…. I thought my 2 small pieces were less than or equal to one piece of pie.  Boy was I wrong!

It was not until Thanksgiving 2007 that I took that lesson to heart and really paid attention to my portions for Thanksgiving and for Pie.  My leader again showed us the plate demo for a pie slice and I again was amazed.  But this time I was serious and determined to reach my goal….I was so close and so I stuck to that serving size of pie—one slice. 

And I was satisfied with one slice…one true portion of pie!  Who knew?!  I did not need the excessive amount of pie.  I did not feel deprived eating a portion and sometimes even smaller.  And I could enjoy my pie.

Over the years I have adapted recipes and found ways to enjoy pie without the guilt…. Always paying attention to the serving size.  Last year I made a slow cooker Crustless Apple Pie from skinnytaste and it was delicious!  It is now a staple for my Thanksgiving and for other times of the year.  I still make the Chocolate Cream pie for my son and have a slice and that satisfies me.  I don’t make Pumpkin Pie because I am the only one who eats it and I don’t need the whole pie…instead I make a Pumpkin Spice truffle with Pumpkin Pie yogurt, crushed graham cracker and whipped topping.  Oh…it is good!  And this year I will be using Pizzelle cookies to make pie shells for the slow cooker apple pie filling and for the pumpkin yogurt…..very low in calories and smartpoints and delicious!  I can enjoy a treat or two or three and still feel in control. 

And when I have that one slice of Chocolate Cream Pie, I will have that true serving size based on this plate demo—this is what my leader showed us all those years ago and what I shared with those who attended the Weight Watcher workshops I led every year –

Take an 8-inch paper plate—This represents an 8 inch pie.

And fold that plat in half— No that is not a serving size of pie….. we may want it to be…but…..

Fold the plate in half again— okay, this looks like my kind of pie slice….but this is NOT a true serving size of pie, Not the size slice of pie that those smartpoints are based on…. So…..

Fold the plate in half again— Now THIS, THIS is a true portion of pie.  1/8 of an 8-inch pie is what the smartpoints are based on.  This right here is a true portion of pie…doesn’t look too small….until you place it in your hand or on a dessert plate…with the fork next to it.  And those Costco pies?  Well this is a pretty small slice of that pie!

This Thanksgiving enjoy your pie.  Eat it.   Savor it.  Before enjoying it, practice this plate demo…..Being aware of what a serving size of pie looks like, helps us with portions and helps us to not feel guilty! 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!

Surviving the “Eating Season”– the Holidays part 2

On By TerriIn Food, UncategorizedLeave a comment

The week before Thanksgiving.   Traditionally, at least in the past, this week before Thanksgiving meant the annual WW Great Plate Thanksgiving prep workshop.  I loved that week in Weight Watchers meeting rooms.  I looked forward to it every year.  That workshop gave me an opportunity to plan for the holiday meal, to learn tips and tricks for navigating a food laden holiday and one that could be stressful. 

I learned a lot in that one annual workshop.  The first time I attended and really absorbed the ideas of the Great Plate workshop was 2006, on my 5th journey with WW.  My then leader, gave us all paper plates and then we planned. 

This year and last year we did not do the Great Plate workshop and I miss it!  I miss the planning, the discussion of the point values of all our favorites, the ideas shared, the tips on how to navigate the day and the weeks that followed. I miss the recipes shared, and the tips on making a favorite recipe a little lighter, and lower in point values.  I miss the connection with others and sharing of challenges that the holidays presented and how we could get through those challenges. 

Workshops were then and still are where the magic happens!  And I have learned a lot over the past 13 years in those workshops from other members sitting in the chairs.  With Thanksgiving next week, I have been thinking a lot about what I learned for many years in the Thanksgiving Great Plate workshops and how I could use those lessons this year. 

How do I navigate the holiday?  What has helped me and will help me as I go through this years “eating season”?

Here are just a few of the things I have learned these past few years—

–-Know your budget—And build it!  Whether your budget is calories or points, know what it is and how to increase it.  With WW we all have a daily and weekly budget to spend on food.  Know what that is for yourself.  Save those extra weekly points for the day of your holiday meal.  Add in some fitpoints, earned through exercise and activity for the week leading up to the holiday.  Save some of those daily points and roll them over into the weekly to use for the holiday meal.  All of this builds a great budget for us to use and not feel guilty when we indulge in our favorite foods! 

–Plan your meal—This is what the Great Plate workshop did…. It helped us to plan our meal.  What are you going to have?  What are the special family foods that will be at the meal?  Write your meal on a paper plate so you can see what you will be eating on Thanksgiving.  Planning and visualizing the meal will help when the day finally arrives. 

–-Know the smartpoint values of the food—Once you plan your meal, check the point values of the foods you would like to eat, the ones you wrote on your plate.  Knowledge is power and knowing what the food will cost you, will help you to plan and to build your budget so you have plenty to spend on your holiday meal. Look up the smartpoints of your foods on the WW app and run your recipes through the recipe builder to get the smartpoint values.  And if you don’t have the app or recipe then estimate—look for similar foods.  Know before you go… Know before you eat!

–Lighten up Recipes—There are tons of recipes online (Skinnytaste, Emily Bites, Pound Dropper, WW) that are lighter versions of favorite Thanksgiving foods.  Try one or two.  Or find ways to substitute ingredients in recipes that will bring down the calories and ultimately lower the point values…try light butter, use phyllo dough for pie crust, use unsweetened applesauce in place of oil, use egg whites, etc.  Over the years I have made many changes in recipes, some were successful, and we still use them (Cauliflower Stuffing from Delish) and some didn’t work so well…. There are just some foods that we love as is, and that don’t work when we lighten them up.  The most important thing is to find a way to lighten up a recipe without losing the flavor—that is how we will feel satisfied and we won’t feel deprived!

–Choose Wisely—focus on the foods that are special for this holiday and skip the food you eat regularly.  Walk around the buffet table BEFORE dishing up your plate and pick what is really worth it to you.  What is worth it to you??  I only make my roll recipe for Thanksgiving and Christmas and attempts to lighten the recipe just didn’t work….it wasn’t the same, so those rolls are absolutely worth it to me and I will spend a chunk of my budget on those rolls.  Knowing and building your budget and planning how to spend that budget BEFORE Thanksgiving will help you to make decisions that work for you and that are worth it to you! 

–Skip the Stretch– wear tighter Clothing—Don’t wear loose fitting, stretchy clothes to Thanksgiving.  Why?  Well, have you ever eaten a big Thanksgiving meal and had to unbutton your pants or loosen your belt?  That is why we don’t wear loose fitting clothes.  Tighter pants will help us to stop eating sooner, keeping us from eating to the point of being over-stuffed and about to burst.  Skip the stretch this holiday season!

–Get in some activity—before, during and after Thanksgiving.  Go for a walk after the meal…..  Play some football…. Participate in a Turkey Trot…. Go for a hike…. Just move a little and maybe start a new family tradition.  My husband and I go for a long walk or a hike on Thanksgiving morning.  It helps me to feel like I have earned a little treat but more importantly that activity puts me in the right frame of mind to stay on track and not over-indulge too much.

–Pay attention to Portions—some serving utensils are also measuring utensils in disguise and you can use them to dish up your food without anyone knowing you are portioning out your serving.  You can also use your hand to estimate portions.  If measuring isn’t an option and you can’t remember the hand portion estimates you can always use the Island method—a method I shared with my members every year that I coached the Great Plate Workshop—Make Islands NOT continents or volcanoes on your plate with your food.  Making islands helps to control portion size and keeps us aware!

–Have an anchor—An anchor is the thing, thought, or visual that reminds you of your goal, your why.  You have set a holiday goal of where you would like to be on January 1st, now find an anchor that reminds you of your goal.  It can be something you can touch or a mantra you say or a photo or a picture in your mind.  Whatever your anchor is, use it to help you get through the Thanksgiving holiday. 

–Enjoy the day—focus on loved ones.  Focus on conversations and traditions.  Yes, Thanksgiving is a food holiday, but it is also a day to enjoy family and friends and to be thankful.  Have your plan but don’t stress about it…. control what you can and let go of the rest.  And Enjoy the day!

–Have a “Day after” plan—yes, pre-plan the day after.  Get rid of the leftovers so they aren’t tempting you.  Plan the healthy meals you will enjoy the day after Thanksgiving.  And plan the kind words you will say to yourself if you over-indulge and go off plan.  Plans are great, but sometimes we just take a detour.  If you have the “day after” plan ready it will make forgiving yourself easier and will help you to get right back on track. 

What is your plan for Thanksgiving?  How are you going to handle the day?  How will you build your budget?  What foods are worth it to you? 

Knowledge is power!  And planning is a powerful tool.  Use it to help you navigate the day so that you feel successful! 

And remember—Don’t Gobble ‘Til you Wobble!

It is a HoliDAY, NOT a HoliWEEK! 

(One more surviving the eating season blog post is coming—the next one will be on pies and pie servings with a visual on how to estimate what a true serving size is!)

Surviving the “Eating Season”– the Holidays (part 1)

On By TerriIn Food, Inspiration, Uncategorized1 Comment

We are smack-dab-in-the-middle of the “eating season”.   The season that kicks off on Halloween and ends with the New Year.  The Holiday Season.  The challenging season. 

I refer to this as the “eating season” because of all of the food that abounds during these two months… the parties, the celebrations, the gatherings and the holiday….. ALL centered around food!  And THAT is a challenge for me…. for anyone who struggles to lose weight and/or maintain their weight.

So how do we navigate the holidays?  How do we get through them without feeling like a failure? 

More importantly, how do we survive this “eating season” and feel successful?

First, we must define what success means to us through the holiday season.  What will make you feel successful when January 1, 2020 arrives?  For me success has looked different through the years.

Back in 2006, success through the holidays for me was to not gain more than 10 pounds.  In 2007, success meant I would lose weight, any amount would count, even .2 lbs.  In 2008, my first holiday season at goal and as a Lifetime member of Weight Watchers, success meant maintaining. 

Some years I didn’t think about it, didn’t think about setting a goal.  Some years I set goals based on what success looked like to me.  By defining what success meant on January 1st of the coming New Year, I took away the power that guilt held over me and gave myself the power to control my choices.  I was in control.  And defining what success meant to me, it gave me a focus, something to work toward and gave me flexibility.  My choices followed whatever my definition of success was. 

This year, success through the holidays looks like a loss at the scale.  It doesn’t matter to me the amount, just that it is an overall loss on January 1st. 

But how am I going to do that when there are so many temptations?  When there are so many challenges? 

That is where the second step comes in.  Once you decide on what success looks like to you, you can then set your goal based on that.  The holiday goal is what success looks like to you.  My holiday goal this year is to lose, at least a little.  To step on the scale that first week in January 2020 and see a loss from where I am today.  That is my goal.

Then once you set your holiday goal, ask what steps you need to take to get there.  What will help you to get to that goal?  What will help you to achieve success? 

For me, having a loss over the holidays does not mean that I HAVE to deprive myself.  It does not mean that I won’t get to enjoy the holidays…all the events….all the gatherings….all the celebrations.  And it does not mean that I won’t be able to enjoy my favorite foods and treats.  Because, if I deprive myself….if I don’t enjoy the holidays…..if I stress about the celebrations and parties and holiday gatherings because I tell myself I CAN’T have this or that…..if I deny myself my favorites….. I am doomed!  I am setting myself up for failure.  I am setting myself up for a big slip down that slippery slope.

So, how do I enjoy the holidays without over-indulging?  How do I enjoy the holidays and all that they bring and STILL reach success as I have defined it for myself? 

I do it by setting my holiday goal, and by figuring out what will help me to achieve that success! 

I know that eating mindfully is important for me, especially during challenging times.  And mindful eating means that I am tracking.  Tracking gives me awareness of how much I am eating, and what I am eating.  And mindful eating and tracking also means I am paying attention to portions.  So, tracking and portion control will help me to reach success.  But I need more to help me as well.  Moving will help.  Exercise will help.  And movement and exercise are two different things.  Exercise for me is intentional.  It gets my heart rate up.  It works my muscles to exhaustion.  So, exercise in the form of my bike, strength-training, and walking (fast) will help me to get closer to that holiday goal.  But I need to do more than a workout.  I need to move during the day.  I need to not sit so much.  Moving in the form of parking farther away, cleaning house, getting out in my garden, going for a leisurely walk after dinner, dancing around the house to my favorite holiday music, and making sure I get up out of my chair every hour will help me move closer to my holiday goal and help me to reach success.  And going to workshops will help me.  I need to step on the scale.  I need the accountability and I need the inspiration and support of others traveling this road we are on. 

Once we are aware of what we need to do, of the tools that will help us to achieve our success, then we can set small, weekly goals to help us get to that bigger holiday goal…. One-step-at-a-time!  Each week, ask yourself, what can I do this week that will move me a little closer to my holiday goal?  What one thing can I do this week that will help me reach my success?  And set that smaller weekly goal.  Just one thing. 

For me, this week, tracking will be key.  Tracking every day.  Tracking every food I eat.  Tracking the portions.  Tracking my exercise.   Tracking will give me the awareness I need about my food and exercise habits.  And tracking will give me the information I need to make adjustments next week… adjustments that will help me reach success!

How do we navigate and survive this “eating season”?  By defining success as it pertains to each of us.  Then setting our holiday goal based on what success means to us.  Once the goal is set, coming up with the actions that will help us to reach that goal will give us a focus.  And then we ask what we CAN do this week that will move us closer to our holiday goal.  Once we answer that question, we set a smaller weekly goal to get us moving in the direction of success.  This is how we survive the holidays.  This is how we reach success; whatever success means to each of us.

And then one final question—after asking what you can do, and setting the smaller goal ask yourself–WILL you do it?  Because we all CAN do it, but the real question is Will we do it!  And that is where the commitment and power lie!

What does success this “eating season” of holidays look like to you?  What will make you feel successful when January 1, 2020 arrives?

This Change Gives Me Control

On By TerriIn Food, MindsetLeave a comment

I love that WW (formerly Weight Watchers) is now giving us a choice….making this the most personalized program I have seen in my many years as a member of WW. 

This week, WW is launching the new program—My WW.  And I am excited.  Why?  Because there is choice!  Weight loss, weight maintenance and healthy living have never been a one-size-fits-all way of life.  Every person is different.  And what works for one may not work for another.  So, we find what works for us.  Any food/exercise/health plan needs to fit into our lives so that it is livable.  If the food plan is not livable will we be successful….maybe in the short run but not for the long run.  And the long run is what makes us healthier for life! 

WW realized this and implemented the new program this week, offering a choice of three food plans so that members can choose the one that will work for them in their life.  Every couple of years WW changes the program, and the changes are always backed up by science.  And as you probably know, science changes, we learn new things and adjust.  In the past, the program changes meant getting rid of the old, even if it worked for members and moving everyone to the new plan.  There was never an option to stay with the previous plan, the tools all supported the new plan.  There was no choice.

Not this year!  Not this change!  With the introduction of My WW and the offer of 3 food plans to choose from, WW is also providing the tools for each plan.  We get to choose what works for us, which makes much more sense to me, because the only person who really knows what works for me is me!  And now I have the support of WW and the tools to go along with my choice. 

Before I get into the changes and the choices I want to talk about what is staying the same— the things I loved about Freestyle—freedom and flexibility.  That comes from the weekly extra points budget and roll overs.  Those are NOT changing.  I love that the rollovers are staying.  Those rollovers give me a lot of flexibility.  The option to save some of my daily budget for holidays, weekends, my birthday or anytime I need a little extra.  And that provides me with less guilt.  I can enjoy an indulgence without the guilt because I have planned and saved for those indulgences.  Those weekly extra budget points also allow me to enjoy going out to eat with family and friends and they will give me the freedom to enjoy a piece of pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving. 

There is also no change in how food points are calculated.  The points are still smartpoints and take into consideration calories, saturated fat, sugar and protein in assigning point values to food.  No change there!  And, no change in how we figure our daily smartpoint budget—it is still based on age, height, weight and gender. 

Fitpoints earned for activity and exercise is not changing either.  And the ability to choose whether or not you swap those Fitpoints for smartpoints is not changing—we still get to decide whether or not to swap and that helps us to personalize our plan.  I love to earn Fitpoints, but I don’t like to swap them.  My choice.  And one that works for me! 

So, then what is changing?

We now have the choice of 3 food plans—Green, Blue, and Purple!

Green is equivalent to the old smartpoints, Beyond the Scale plan…the plan before Freestyle.  On green you get a higher daily smartpoint budget (the minimum is 30 daily points) and there are fewer 0 smartpoint foods.  Fruit that is fresh, frozen or canned in its own juice is 0 smartpoints and most vegetables are 0 smartpoints (starchy veggies are NOT 0 sp—think potatoes, corn, peas, legumes, etc).  If you need more parameters—tracking, portions, points—then Green is for you. 

Blue is equivalent to the current Freestyle plan.  On blue you get less daily smartpoints for your budget (23 daily points is the minimum) and there are 200+ foods that have 0 smartpoints.  Blue means less tracking for those who don’t want to track everything.  If Freestyle worked for you and you loved it, then Blue is for you!  You do not have to change anything!

Purple is, in my opinion, very close to the old Simply Filling or Core programs.  On Purple you have the least amount of daily smartpoints for your budget (16 is the minimum daily points) and there are 300+ foods that are 0 smartpoints.  There is less tracking to do which gives some that sense of freedom.  If you like that freedom and can eat to satisfaction and stop, then Purple is for you!

All three plans still allow rollovers and give you your weekly extra smartpoint budget.  With all three food plans you only “have to” track the foods with points but can track everything if you want to.  These plans all give us freedom and flexibility so that we can live our lives, our way and still lose weight, maintain and get healthy.  Which one you choose is completely up to you!

I am sure you can guess after my last blog post which plan I am going with— Green.  Why?  Because the parameters of points and portions gives me control.  I don’t have the ability within me to cut-off food, to know when I am satisfied vs stuffed.  Less tracking and less foods with points means I could eat as much as I wanted of those because they were 0 points and then eat my daily points too and most weeks my weeklies.  That didn’t work for me.  I need guidance.  I need the safety net of portions and points.  I need to know that ALL foods count!  So, for me it is Green.  That is not to say that one day I may be in a place with my relationship with food that I could try blue or purple….. and let me tell you purple appeals to me because Potatoes are 0 smartpoints!  I almost chose purple for those “free” potatoes.  But that would be dangerous for me!  Right now, where I am at currently in my relationship with food, “free” foods are like kryptonite!  So, I am going Green!  Because 0 smartpoint foods ARE NOT “free”!!  And until I change that mindset I need to count points for most foods! 

Mindset plays a huge part in my choice.  I know me.  I know where I trip up.  I know what tempts me and sends me down the hole…… I am choosing Green today because the parameters of points and the accountability of tracking along with portioning all foods takes the control from the food and gives it back to me!  I am back in control!

I am really excited for this new plan.  My WW is the most personalized plan I have ever seen.  I am excited for where this is going to take me, and I am excited to see where others go with this new choice in food plans!  Whether you choose Green, Blue or Purple, make sure you choose the one that is right for you, not the one that is right for someone else!  Only you know what is right for you!

Let’s take this perfectly imperfect journey together—-after all, whether we are Green, Blue or Purple, we are in this together and we are better together!