Kirsty
I am on ww and do a lot of exercise. I started last halloween and from then until now my loss averages about 2.5-3lbs a week. And that is over a long period so covers xmas, easter etc. So most weeks I lose about 3lbs.
In my experience, if you exercise a lot you do lose it faster, though from Starlights post I guess everyone is different. I never eat my exercise points. But as Starlight says - not eating enough points over the week is setting yourself up for failure - your body will panic and hold on to the fat, besides if you let yourself get hungry you won't stick at it. I don't always eat my full points but thats because I am shocking for nibbling at my hubby/kids food so I like to leave a point or 2 to cover that. This is working for me but everyone is different, and if I plateaued for a few weeks I would definitely look at eating some of my exercise points to see if it helped. I think if you eat way under your points you tend to gain as soon as you eat a little more. For example I was ill last December and lost 8lbs that week. The following week I was really good and thats when I joined the gym, yet I gained 3lbs. Loads of the weight I lost the week before came back on as I lost it through not eating.
I do at least 3 spin classes each week plus 1 or 2 sessions in the gym. I also walk the dog every day, jog a couple of times a week and run after my 2 small children every day.
I absolutely love exercise and believe I will continue it longterm. However, I return to my office job in Sept after a year of maternity leave, so for 3 days a week will be much less active than I am now - this worries me a lot!!!!
Anyway, I just want to say in my opinion theres no restrictions on what you can lose each week, and in my experience ww can really deliver good results. Like you, I didn't fancy meal replacement diets, I need my treats lol - which is why ww works so well for me.
I wish you huge amounts of luck
Nicola xx