My move to Weight Watchers

[jojo76]

So, as I posted last week I have come to the end of my Exante journey, but not the end of my weightloss! As suggested by a few people I am posting in this section as I don't want to leave the Exante board - this feels like home now

I had originally planned to re-feed for a few weeks but one of my friends told me she was re-joining today so last Friday night I ditched the packs and started on real food again. This gave me 5 days of normal eating to get the carb/water regain out of the way before taking the plunge with my first meeting this evening.

At my last Exante weigh in I was 13st 5.5lb, (a week ago last Sunday) and this morning I weighed myself and I was 13st 4lb so had a small loss which I was delighted with as I haven't avoided carbs at all since re introducing food. However, I was a 'first thing in the morning, after a wee, no clothes' weigher so expected it to be a bit more this evening at the WW class after a days worth of food and wearing clothes!. I weighed in tonight at 13st 7lb - and that is the weight I am starting from and I will be using the WW meetings as my weekly WI. I have updated my stats to reflect this.

So, I have done WW before, know the plan and have been following it since Friday (I do the old Discovery points, not pro points). It feels like an awful lot of food and so I am sticking with 18 points instead of my 22 point allowance at start with. I am going to try and up the points to 22 over the next week, it's just I am not used to eating again. After the meeting I told the leader I was doing the old points and she said it was fine as long as I don't advertise it. The reason I am sticking with those is I know that plan inside out, and I have all the gadgets for it. The kitchen scales are a godsend - I love being able to type in a food and weigh it out until I hit the points amount I am aiming for.

It's nice to feel normal again and I feel in control. I had a few drinks at the weekend which was lovely! I still used to go out when doing Exante and drink water, but I have to admit it felt nice to have a couple of beers in the pub and feel like I was really letting my hair down!

I am still having the odd Exante pack, but this is just to use them up as I had a lot left. I worked out the points values and often have a shake for breakfast as they are so quick and easy. I will also use some up if I know I am going to be having a 'bad night' at the weekend to save points during the day. But when they are gone, I won't be re-ordering - it really is a case of I have paid for them so I'm not going to waste them.

I am very surprised at how little hunger I feel. I suppose after 13 weeks my stomach has shrunk a bit!

I feel really motivated tonight after my first meeting. That intense feeling I got when I very first started Exante - the I WILL DO THIS feeling has returned. I'm feeling great, and loving how much more intensively I can exercise now I have calories inside me. It gives me such a buzz!

Anyway, I hope you all don't mind me sticking around on this forum now I am not doing Exante. It's just so friendly here, and I am so grateful for the boost Exante and all you gave me in giving my weight loss such a massive kick start.

Jo

xx

 

[Getslimquick]

This is really great, it was always a bit lonely on the Maintaining part of the site. So welcome from me, will join you in a week - just doing a last four week push.
Then back to my low carb, healthy eating plan

So good luck to you and welcome to Maintaining.

GSQ.

 

[jojo76]

Tonight I got my first WW weigh in over and done with and I was over the moon that I lost 4lb!!

I am getting in the swing of eating again, and am really enjoying cooking healthy food. I have been doing meal plans for the week and have dug out all my old WW recipe books. I haven't avoided carbs at all, which I was nervous about but I obviously didn't need to worry. It would have been harder if my body couldn't handle carbs as it's so quick, easy and cheap to make really good meals with rice or cous cous. They are so filling too.

I've been good in the week, and saving a couple of points a day, also doing plenty of exercise and have Saturday night off! Last Saturday we had a Chinese takeaway with some beers. I am definitely not eating anywhere near as much, and am able to enjoy a treat without stuffing myself until I can't move. It feels so much nicer.

So, for anyone worried about eating again - don't be. Just be sensible, plan ahead and it's all fine. You can even have the odd indulgence

 

[jojo76]

Oh, and I have just seen my BMI in my stats. I'm not obese anymore - YAY!

 

[HMurphy]

Thanks for the updates, I'm funding them really useful. I'm sticking with Exante until I reach my goal as its when U Ho on holiday too hopefully. However I'm very worried about maintaining as I failed in 2009 with LL even with completing their maintenance plan and the weight gradually crept back on.

 

[HMurphy]

Ooops pressed send too early....I hope I've learnt from my mistakes, one being rather to arrogant and being thin and thinking now I am thin I don't have to work at it. Apparently diet experts say if you can keep tye weight off for a year then you are more likely to keep it off...well done with the weight loss.

 

[jojo76]

Hope you get to your goal before your holiday. It's good that you feel like you have learned from your mistakes, I feel the same. I lost 5 stone a few years back and complacency really set in. I think I got a bit cocky thinking I could eat more and diet after if I started to gain - but I didn't when the weight started to creep back on.

I actually felt worse when I got back to my biggest than I did the first time around, and thought how stupid I was to throw it all away. The big thing for me is always to plan the week. Doing meal plans means I only shop for what I need and so spend less money too. I try to factor in a more relaxed day once a week too so I never feel deprived. I don't go completely mad on those days like I used to, but it helps me feel normal. I always know what day I am going to have a treat and a few drinks too, and so work a bit harder with the exercise prior to it too!

 

[slimsarah]

So so reassuring to see you can carry on losing after exante! xx

 

[jojo76]

Just had my weigh in at WW and have lost another 2.5lb!

I'm still loving the fact that I have managed to move from Exante to real food and get decent losses. I know it's early days so far but I was really expecting that it would go to 1/2lb losses per week. I think the amount of exercise I do helps, which I am loving and might be addicted to the buzz it gives me!

I did the same as last week and kept it strict in the week and had a relaxed day on Sunday when we went to the football.

Meal planning is still a big thing. I don't want to leave it until I am hungry in the evening before thinking 'hmmm, what shall I have for dinner?' as wrong choices are made then. So I make a plan of everyday, which really helps with the shopping too and stops me spending too much!

If I get 1lb off next week I'll be in the 12's and it must be over 10 years since I have seen that number on the scales

 

[HMurphy]

Well done, you must be very pleased, great results.

 

[parisbeach]

It nice to see you still having losses, that was my main corcern that when i come off exante and back to slimming class that the first few weeks i may pile it on . but you have shown that it does not need to happen. I will keep off the snacking between meals and as you have said have a bit of a treat at weekend, and hopefully i would have the same success as you. Good luck in seeing that new number on scales next week.

 

[Niennor]

Hi JoJo

Great to see how positive coming off exante has been for you! I must confess its a big fear of mine, I just had two weeks off on an all inclusive and very indulgent holiday, I went food mad!!! anyway I am back after my two weeks and a whole 14lbs heavier, however, I know this wasnt "normal" eating and in everyday circumstances would never consume so much food and alcohol every day!

Whats sort of meals are you cooking? I can remeber with WW but do you know the sort of calorie amount your eating? I thought about weight watchers when I get down to goal or Atkins, but I'm not sure with Atkins re the fat and calorie levels after doing such a VLC diet.

Anyway congrats on the success and good luck for this weeks weigh in!

 

[Fat Bird]

Hey jojo
How are u getting on with ww? I've lost 63 lbs with a combination of TS and WS on exante and would like to lose another 7-14lbs.... Planning to try and do it with weight watchers as I'm getting a bit bored now with the limited food and worried I'm gonna go off the rails if I don't get a plan in place soon....
How much exercise are u doing with ww an are u eating all your points allowed inc the weekly allowance?
Sorry for all the questions
FB xx

 

[Fat Bird]

Just re read your first post and realised u doing old ww points so ignore my question about the weekly allowance ;-) x

 

[jojo76]

Whats sort of meals are you cooking? I can remeber with WW but do you know the sort of calorie amount your eating? I thought about weight watchers when I get down to goal or Atkins, but I'm not sure with Atkins re the fat and calorie levels after doing such a VLC diet.

I follow the old Weightwatchers Discovery Points. I did re-join a class and was open with the leader that this was what I wanted to do and she was fine as long as I don't advertise it during the meetings.

I am not sure if you are familiar with the points, but I am allowed 22 per day. I tend to have around 19-20 per day, 6 days a week and then have Saturday night off. I also don't 'eat' any of my bonus exercise points. I have not been avoiding carbs at all, and I did have a small carb / water re-gain in my first week but I began eating normally 5 days before my first meeting to get that out of the way.

I have a lot of WW cookbooks and use those, or I make stuff up! I have always loved cooking and often create my own meals, or use recipes for ideas and then make them WW friendly. I will give ideas of my typical meals.

Breakfasts:

Smoothies made with frozen berries and muller light yogurts
Oats so simple porridge
Belvitas (when I am running late!)
2 eggs scrambled with no added fat or milk + 3 slices of WW bacon (most supermarkets do their own version, bacon medallions and each slice is 1/2 point each)

Lunches at work I tend to have soups. I mostly have tinned Baxters soups, but sometimes have fresh soups. Tesco do a lovely chilli bean one which is only about 4 points for the whole pack and is so filling. I also have some fruit, or muller light or pack of snack a jacks.

Dinners are normal foods made low fat. I use a lot of mince beef - the Extra Lean steak mince, not the normal lean mince. There is a big difference in fat content! I make chillis, spag bol, spicy mince and veg cous cous, spicy beef pitta breads.

With chicken I'll make salads, chicken curry made with onions, peppers, spices, bit of water and extra low fat philedelphia to make it creamy - it's yummy!
I use Old El Paso fajita mix (you can buy the spice mix separately) and make the chicken, peppers and veg mix with a little added water and cover while cooking to make a sauce and serve with rice and a small amount of low fat sour cream.

If I want a really low fat feast I make an omelette with 3 eggs, tomatoes, onion and wafer ham. Really filling and only 6 points.

I just try and cook normally but make it low fat, add lots of veg and don't use too much oil. I have an oil sprayer which minimises extra fat, and good quality non stick pans means sometimes I don't need any at all.

I snack on fruit, rice cakes, or sometimes if I want a taste of something just have a few slices of water thin ham!

Saturday nights I have off but try and be extra good in the day. I often make homemade Zero Point soups in the day, like roast red pepper soup. Then for my treat night I have a chinese takeaway and go to the pub!

As I have previously said, planning is the key. Do meal plans for the week and stick to it. Make your meal plans when you are not hungry as you make better choices. Have lots of low fat snack treats in the house. If you know you are going to have a particularly bad weekend, e.g. birthdays get some extra exercise in. Sometimes if I am not in the mood for exercise, I think to myself 'this is buying me beer and takeaway!!'.

Sorry if I have rambled on a bit, or not described my meals very well. It did help me that I knew the WW programme like the back of my hand so planning was easy for me.

Good luck xx

 

[jojo76]

Hey jojo
How are u getting on with ww? I've lost 63 lbs with a combination of TS and WS on exante and would like to lose another 7-14lbs.... Planning to try and do it with weight watchers as I'm getting a bit bored now with the limited food and worried I'm gonna go off the rails if I don't get a plan in place soon....
How much exercise are u doing with ww an are u eating all your points allowed inc the weekly allowance?
Sorry for all the questions
FB xx

I know what you mean about having a plan in place. I always intended to use Exante to kick start me then move to WW for the last part. It gets you used to eating food again in a healthy way and I'm always amazed how much you can eat when you make the right choices.

I exercise 5 days a week on my treadmill. I don't have very good knees or hips and the impact of running is too much so I do fast walking on a steep incline. I also have a heart rate monitor watch, which has a strap that goes round your chest for more accurate calories burned. I try to get to 3500 calories burned in a week as I read somewhere that's a pound of fat! I also make sure I walk more in general and only use the car when necessary.

I'm loving it now and still feel in control. I have had a couple of good losses but wouldn't have been upset with 1lb losses. I'm happy to take the slow and steady route now as even though I am not that near goal I feel so much better than I did at 17.5 stones! I don't feel FAT anymore, just a bit overweight and that's a big difference to me.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Jo
xx

 

[jojo76]

Another 1.5lb off tonight, that's 8lb in 3 weeks of WW which I am thrilled with

 

[slimsarah]

Absolutely brilliant! Well done xxxx

 

[jojo76]

Just got back from weight watchers and lost another 2.5lb. Soooo happy with that, as I went to my brothers for the weekend for his birthday and I ate out twice. I did make good choices though and did a lot of exercise to make up for it.

WW is really working for me so far - 10.5lb in four weeks which is only a few pounds less than what they say you lose with Exante. Obviously increasing the exercise helps with that, and it was one of the reasons I wanted to change so I could have some really good workout sessions.

I'm going to make dinner now and thought I would post the recipe as it's looks quite Exante friendly for a WS day. It's the perfect weather for a thai salad! I went to China Town after work to get stuff from the chinese supermarkets - MUCH cheaper and better than mainstream supermarkets. It's great for WW as apart from the meat and the sesame oil, the rest is zero points! I'm using turkey mince for it instead of chicken, which means I can have a nice big portion!

Thai minced chicken salad recipe - Recipes - BBC Good Food

 

[HMurphy]

Well done, I don't know how you do it, I've never lost that kind of weight on WW, keep it up. I'm a tiny bit jealous of you eating food but I'm hoping to start food in another 3/4 weeks. Are you eating tye points they recommend for your height/weight?