ProPoints Decision

 Last Ten Pounds, ProPoints ~ PointsPlus, Thoughts on the Process  No Responses »
Jan 262011
 
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Well. Six days in I’ve decided to ditch Propoints and go back to Nutracheck.

Why? Well – let’s get started.

  • Temperament Induced Incompatibility

Does ProPoints work?  Of course it works.  If you follow it, it assures that you eat little enough to lose weight.  I signed up because I wanted to shake up my routine a bit and get back into a weight loss mindset.  Did that work?  No – because I’ll never be comfortable with anyone who says, “Trust me,  I’m a doctor.”

Eh?  What does that have to do with anything?  Weight Watchers just says, “Trust us – we’re the experts.”  Trust that a Point is a Point and you don’t have to know any more about it.  But I DO have to know more about it.  I have to know lots and lots and lots about it. ProPoints ™ is just a layer of non-information that I don’t appreciate.

And Activity Points are even more cloaked in mystery. I’ve never met anyone who has been confident that they’re recording the correct number of points for activity.  Mostly it doesn’t matter – they lose weight anyway – but I need a little transparency.

The result of this temperamental need for information was that I found myself, all week, running my food and activity through both Nutracheck and Calories per Hour to see how ProPoints stacked up.  It took only a couple of days to realise the idiocy of that exercise, so I cancelled.

Should this make other people not use Weight Watchers?  Of course not.  After almost 50 years on this earth, I know that not everyone shares my curiosity issue.

Tomorrow: Clunky Calculations

 Posted by Millie at 5:33 am  Tagged with: , ,

Counting the Cost

 Last Ten Pounds, ProPoints ~ PointsPlus, Thoughts on the Process  No Responses »
Jan 232011
 
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Last 10 Pounds ~ Daily Report

It’s good to see Paul Plakas back answering questions on his site.   The last question in December got me thinking.

Paul is answering a woman who wants to lose 20 pounds in three months.  His response:

My answer to you would be yes it is possible to lose 20lbs in 3 months. The question is are you willing to do everything to get there?

Let me repeat that last bit for my own benefit.

Are you willing to do everything to get there?

So many times I’ve started down the dieting path with a goal in mind but no clear idea of whether or not I’m prepared to pay the price to get there. Commercial programmes do all they can to make it appear as though there is no cost. (See every Weight Watchers ad ever created.)

The saner I’ve got about food and body, the more I tend to think about what I’m willing to commit to the process rather than where I want to be.  It’s no use at all saying that I want to weigh 125 pounds and have 20% body fat when I have no intention of putting in the work to get there.

So what am I willing to commit?

  • I’m happy to give up junky processed food including fat free and artificially sweetened.
  • I’m happy to go for a run at least 3 or maybe 4 times per week.
  • I’m happy to park in the furthest parking space and generally increase my daily movement as much as possible.
  • I’m happy to learn to eat small portions and enjoy feeding my physical hunger rather than my emotions.
  • I’m happy to blog through the issues.

What am I NOT willing to commit?

  • I won’t be giving up wine any time soon.
  • I won’t be terribly assertive while eating out or at friends’ houses.
  • I won’t let being a certain size or weight define who I am.

What have committed to in my head but not got around to implementing?

  • I know that I need to work more on my whole body by adding functional training.
  • I would like to stick to 14 units of alcohol per week.

After weighing less than 150 pounds for over a year, I now want to weigh less than 140 pounds.

Am I willing to do what it takes?

Today?  Yes.  Tomorrow? We’ll see.

 Posted by Millie at 2:11 am  Tagged with: , , , ,

Why Weight Watchers?

 Last Ten Pounds, ProPoints ~ PointsPlus, Thoughts on the Process  No Responses »
Jan 212011
 
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Last 10 Pounds ~ Daily Report

A couple of days ago,  I caught sight of myself in a full length mirror in a pub loo.  That’s different than seeing yourself in a changing room mirror or your bedroom mirror.  It’s somehow more “you”.

I look ok. I’m not fat.  But I saw a woman who was not quite where she wanted to be.

Then I heard the word, “wedding”.

Then I started to think about quick fixes and ended up researching the Dukan diet. I found this guy and read every single one of his posts about his weight loss journey – a whole evening of reading.  He lost a lot of weight quickly then he lost a lot more weight over the next 6 months. But reading day after day of chicken, beef, lettuce, beef, salmon, luncheon meat, etc etc etc cured me of all desire to go “no carb” even if it works quickly.  I don’t know if he managed to keep off the weight as there have been no recent updates – but the photo on his avatar shows a rather larger person than the “after” photo that he posted.

I knew I needed to do something slower and with more variety.  So I went back to Nutracheck which has worked so well for me.   But it was too familiar – like running the same 5 mile route and knowing exactly how you’re going to feel when you get to the mailbox by the park.

So I needed something that wasn’t too strange or too familiar.  (This is sounding like Goldilocks and the Three Bears for Dieters).  I needed something that was going to make me think differently but also give me flexibility.  DARN! Weight Watchers with its new and as-yet-untried-by-me plan. (That one week doesn’t count.)

Sigh.  It really did make me sigh out loud.  But I signed up for 3 months online and now I’m putting my head down and getting on with it – complete with blogging away my feelings and frustrations.

So is Weight Watchers “just right”?  Is there going to be a happy ending?  I don’t know.  I haven’t really worked at losing weight for ages and my weight has stayed quite stable.  It’s nice to be doing this because I want to and not because I hate my body or don’t have anything to wear.  I’m doing this because I need to shake things up a little – and I especially need to do something just for me without pressure from the outside world.

A little insight already -  and before breakfast.   Game on.

 Posted by Millie at 2:33 am  Tagged with: , , ,

ProPoints ~ PointsPlus Update

 Things to try, Thoughts on the Process  No Responses »
Nov 292010
 
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I was supposed to be updating my progress with ProPoints but I hit a wall and have been metaphorically collapsed on the pavement for the past week or more. I’m pretty good with hormones as long as they come alone.  But when they bring with them their other little gang members – like stress, worry or crappy life events, then I’m usually beaten to a pulp and left lying in the gutter till they go away.

The result is that I have NOT felt like counting points or restricting carbs to the level that the new Weight Watchers plan wishes us to.  Just the thought of it makes me feel cranky.

Thankfully, I didn’t turn into a bingeing mess because (hugely thankfully), bingeing is a very very rare event these days.  I just needed more than 29 points a day to maintain any form of sanity.  I also needed (oh dear – this isn’t going to sound great) a couple of glasses of wine.  So I didn’t lose any weight because I didn’t follow the plan.  This is not to say that the plan doesn’t work.  Of course it works: it’s a diet! And when I want to lose those last 6 pounds (count ‘em! :) ) , I will follow ProPoints to the letter and they will slip away.

Another “thankfully”: I’m finding it hard to adjust to the new plan – not because I like the old plan better – but because I’ve finally figured out how to maintain my weight loss on NO PLAN.  That’s a minor miracle for a woman who has been losing and gaining the same 30 pounds for 30 years.

Dare I say that I may have stumbled on my own secret to permanent weight loss?

  • Write and write and write for a minimum of three years till you can’t think of another thing to say.
  • Fall down and get up countless times but never, ever, ever give up.
  • Alternate losing with maintaining for a long slow journey.
  • Replace the dieting mentality with the “eating to live” mentality.  Enjoy food.

This isn’t a valedictory address of any kind, because I haven’t actually taken off the last of those 30 pounds, but I’m so changed from July 08 when I started this journey that I feel the need to talk about it. Trying to follow ProPoints has just highlighted those changes.   This probably needs a new post.

 Posted by Millie at 5:59 am  Tagged with: , ,

ProPoints for Americans – PointsPlus?

 Thoughts on the Process  4 Responses »
Nov 182010
 
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An American friend sent me a link to this article making an educated guess about the launch of the new Weight Watchers plan in the States.

Given all former programmes, it makes sense that the American ProPoints would be called something else.  It will be interesting to find out what other differences pop up.

 Posted by Millie at 1:34 am  Tagged with: , ,

ProPoints – science & calculations

 Things to try, Thoughts on the Process  No Responses »
Nov 152010
 
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One of the first things you’ll hear is that WW has finally made a plan which matches the “new” scientific thinking of the day.  I’m not sure how true that is but here’s a good clear explanation of what that means. It does seem to be new for WW if not the rest of the science of nutrition community.

I’ve tested that formula against the WW ProPoints paper calculator and get exactly the same results, so I’m guessing it’s the right one.  Not sure why WW hasn’t had it removed.  Maybe this information is actually in the public domain?  Anyway, it makes for a nice Excel spreadsheet diary with built in ProPoints calculator!

 Posted by Millie at 3:15 am  Tagged with:

Progress, Goals & a Little Bit of Planning

 Last Ten Pounds, Maintenance, Things to try, Thoughts on the Process  No Responses »
Oct 272010
 
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I’ve now weighed a hundred and forty-something pounds for more than year – a feat unheard of since I hit my 40′s.  It makes me think that I’ve actually learned something by writing my little heart out for the past 27 months.

Am I where I want to be?

No – but I’m close and so very very proud of myself for not giving up and gaining back what I’ve lost – and all this in years of grief, living in 2 countries, health worries and just getting older.

I’m chuffed.

I’m also thinking that it would be nice, one day, to write:  “I’ve now weighed less that 145 pounds for a whole year.”

I think that’s a sensible goal for my age, my level of commitment to activity and my level of commitment to wine. But it means losing at least another 7 pounds and I’m so so so so so sick of the process…….

I appear to be, once again, choosing what I want more:

  • to be free of “dieting”
  • to be free of 7 pounds

Good question.  Since losing the weight will also make me free of dieting, I guess that’s the sensible choice. I need to make this as easy as possible for me and those around me.

What 3 small changes could I make for maximum impact?

  • Eating fruit and veg between meals has become part of my “diet” mentality and I need to shift it back into my “everyday eating” mentality.  So there’s a start. Will commit to reaching first for fruit or veg when needing a snack or just something to crunch on.
  • I also tend to be so all or nothing about exercise and I hate both states.  So why don’t I just commit to exercise 3 times a week and see how it goes?  And why is that so difficult to do? Really, why?  But I will take at least 3 walks per week and, if they turn into runs, so much the better.
  • I’ve fallen back into the 5 o’clock glass of wine to signal the end of the working day.  I will commit to having a 5 o’clock glass (or two) of mineral water and then have the glass of wine.  I will consider it a very good day indeed when the first glass of wine coincides with the meal.

OK.  Those are the three things I’m going to do for a week.  If I haven’t lost a pound by next Tuesday Wednesday, I will get back to journalling.  At least, that’s the plan from here.

 Posted by Millie at 3:50 am  Tagged with: ,

Learn Something New….

 Food, Thoughts on the Process  1 Response »
Oct 222010
 
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Yesterday something happened that made me realise I had a new weapon against obesity:  food snobbery.

I found myself craving chocolate in that “nothing else will do – to hell with everything” way.  I was walking to meet friends and knew I could get some at the store along the way.  The only fair trade fruit and nut was the store brand so I decided to try it.

I left the store, tore open the very (very) large bar and broke off a good chunk.  It was repulsive – tasteless and unsatisfying.  I ate a bit and then…..get this…….threw the whole thing in the bin.  The whole thing!

That’s when I realised that food snobbery is a blessing.  I am no longer satisfied by cheap chocolate.  Or cheap potato chips or cheap ice cream or commercial baked goods.   A little of the best is far far more satisfying that a lot of the worst, or even the middling.

I have no idea when this crept up on me but I like it.  It makes me much more thoughtful about what I really crave and what will satisfy that craving.  Maybe it’s the thinking about food rather than the snobbery that’s the real weapon.

Note to self:  This doesn’t mean you’re “cured” of anything.  Don’t go near the crap if you don’t want to eat it.

 Posted by Millie at 4:33 am  Tagged with:

Happily Not “Average”

 Body Image, Thoughts on the Process  No Responses »
Oct 142010
 
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The average UK woman is 5′ 3″ and 11 stone (154 pounds). At 2 inches shorter and 7 pounds heavier than me, I guess this would explain the fact that all tops now resemble materinity wear.

But it doesn’t explain why I’m still a size Large. What are really large people wearing?

But that’s not really what I was going to blog about today.

What I really wanted to say is that I’ve found that I can stick to a weight between 147 and 149 without being obsessive.  That’s progress because my “set-point” (for lack of a better term) used to be about 10 pounds higher.

If I can get that down 5 more pounds without a super struggle, I’ll be very happy.  However, I went shopping yesterday and dressing room mirrors told me in no uncertain terms that I can’t lose anymore inches off my hips.  “STOP!”, they shouted, then added, “But please do something about the top half.”

Time to start with those weights.

 Posted by Millie at 2:26 am

Unexpected Inspiration

 Health, Keeping Going, Thoughts on the Process  2 Responses »
Oct 042010
 
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Just when the motivation is waning to the point of invisibility, we step over the threshold of our friends’ home and are greeted with a vision of two svelte men who, at our last meeting, were both on the chubby side.  They look great!

The husband and I were both, 1) jealous and 2) inspired to do something about our own chubby situations.

When I got home, I was doing a little wandering through the internet and came across some research on waist circumference and mortality.  It’s summarised in this CBC web article.

The words that grabbed me by the throat were:

Oddly, the strongest link — 25 per cent — was in women with normal BMI. People with bigger waists had a higher risk of death from causes including respiratory illnesses, heart disease and cancer.

I have fussed and fumed in previous posts about where exactly this measurement should be taken but this research seems to have encouraged a definitive answer.  This is the best description I’ve found yet – from that same CBC report.

Waist circumference is measured at a point halfway between the hip bone and lowest rib — about five centimetres above the belly button.

Many people think the hip bone they feel toward the front of the body is the top of their hips but it’s not. By following this spot upward and back toward the sides of your body you should be able to find the true top of the hip bones.

Wrap the tape measure around you in a circle, making sure it is level all the way around. The tape shouldn’t push in or indent the skin. Relax, take two normal breaths, exhale, and then take the measurement. It’s best to take the measurement on bare skin. If you wear clothes, measure it the same way each time.

A waist circumference of more than 102 centimetres (40 inches) for men and more than 88 centimetres (35 inches) for women is associated with increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease and hypertension.

A healthy waistline is 94 centimetres (37 inches) for most men and 80 centimetres (31.5 inches) for women. Health Canada recommends measuring waist circumferences for adults with a BMI between 18.5 and 34.9 to prevent and manage obesity.

So – at a “healthy” BMI of 24.6, I still have a 35.5 inch abdomen – 4 inches larger than ideal.  I’m not sure I’d be able to get that low but I’d settle for half way there – say around 33 inches.

The main point is that vanity size 8 Gap jeans with their Lycra forgiveability may still fit beautifully but I have blubber inside my body that is wrapping itself around my organs and increasing my risk of an early death.

Guess it’s not yet time to give up the fight.

 Posted by Millie at 3:17 am  Tagged with: ,
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