sarasuzy

I'm on day 3 of WW and I am REALLY liking it. I haven't been too hungry or cranky about not eating as much yet, but there are definitely times during the day when I would kill to just go eat a bunch of chips or something. (Which I didn't even do before, but for some reason I have that desire now).

Anyway, I would love to hear anyone's favorite snacks, recipes, or tips about the program. I'm on the FLEX plan, so point values are appreciated! I'm just not a person that can eat baby carrots for a snack, so I need some creative ideas (not complicated...just different).

And dinner recipes, too...DH has loved the couple of WW ones I've tried so far, but I'd love to hear your easy, yummy dinner ideas.

And for FLEX people...do you really use your weekly points? I am leary of using them all b/c I feel like I won't lose weight that way. But maybe it's designed so you still will use even if you use up every last point?

Sorry if this is too much WW talk for a Mommy board, but I tried to navigate the freaking WW boards and it is a zoo over there! Yikes!

mommy23ms

Ask away Sara because I am very interested in this. I'm contemplating joining on-line if it gives meal planning advice and recipes. That is my problem. I want DH and I to eat healthier but I need to have it laid out for me. If not, I'll just continue to make the same foods we eat now.

Is the website good for that?

sarasuzy

Jennifer--There are TONS of recipes on the site and I have seen some meal planning stuff, too. You sort of have to have an idea and search for recipes for the most part it seems to me (you know, I'm an expert after my 3 days).

I had some salmon in the freezer, did a search and found a FANTASTIC salmon recipe that was really easy and healthy. I have a bunch in my "favorites" to try, too.

I haven't found a great way to just browse to see if anything strikes you at this point. Maybe some of the others have some links or something for that.

KBtotheBB

Yeah, I don't like the WW boards at all. I posted twice in the year I've had access.

When I did flex, I very rarely used my weekly points. I thought I was doing myself good by not using them, but it got to the point where my leader instructed me too, because I wasn't losing. I guess I wasn't eating enough. My advice is to use the points. Don't use them toward sugary things, but use them. I lost more weight when I used them than when I didn't.

I have to run, but I will post some more and post some recipes as well!!

symesa

I have a sheet of high fiber/high protein snacks that I'll dig up. It has the point values on it.

And, I know this isn't Flex...but I loved this site for Core recipes:
Heather's Recipe Site | Recipes & Tips

JenR

I would definitely use all your points (although I don't always count my exercise points). I know several people who didn't use them and stopped losing, odd as it may sound. They are geared toward your losing weight and will go down as you lose weight. Hummus is a good snack - filling and low points if you make it yourself. Stay away from a lot of bread, pretzels and crackers - other than say table water crackers - the points add up really fast! Dried fruit also adds a lot of points, so just use in moderation. I think 94% FF popcorn is a great snack and 6 cups is 1 point. I use that as my late night snack when I have the munchies and don't want to do any damage. Apples with a tsp of pnut butter is a filling one. Also, the WW snack bars are good in a pinch - they're 2 points. I also eat yogurt as a snack - the little cups are 1 or 2 points.

Vanesa

Sara I'm in my 3th day too!.
I was thinking in posting something like this, because so many talked so well aboout WW.
I'm doing Core. I need to go to the store but I don't have a car so I'm struggling at snack time and beakfast. And I don't have any fresh fruit or veggies so I'm getting crancky.
I'm proud to say that I survived 3 days without bread and cookies. That would be my main "food" last week.

JenR

Good for you Vanesa! It's hard! But it does get easier pretty quickly to not eat those things - you'll be surprised.

Sparqi

What are you craving?

For salty: I
lowfat popcorn...kettle or plain. usually 1 or 2 points for a half or whole bag depending on the brand you buy.
Carrots, snap peas and cornichon pickles. I love them dipped in plain greek yogurt (nonfat is like 1 pt for a half cup and the greek stuff is so creamy you would think it's sour cream). I mix in salsa to the yogurt which is zero points.
Rice wine vinegar is zero, as is balsamic glaze (as long as you don't use too much)...that is also good on veggies or salad.
Soup is awesome. There is a Garden Soup recipe on WW that is zero points. I am loving the 2 point TJs Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato (I add tobasco). Costco just had some Hot and Sour soup in the prepared food section that was 2 pts per cup. It was so flavorful.

For sweet:
TJ very very chocolate mereingues. 13 little cookies are only 2 pts. It's hard to eat 13 since they are so sweet.
TJs Fair Trade cocoa is just 1 pt per cup. I mix it in coffee. The sipping cocoa is also good in coffee or with water and is just 1 pt, too. (Do you see a chocolate trend here?)
I also love a banana with peanut butter. Love peanut butter.


I am curious to see what others eat.

My weekly points get eaten on date night. I usually don't eat my activity points (not yet, anyway...still have those lovely BFing pts!)

KBtotheBB

This is a good point. When I was on WW and at my "peak", I was exercising 2hrs. a day, 4-5 days a week. So, I was doing all that on just my daily points allowance, and not only did I stop losing, but I started gaining. Even though I thought I was doing what I was supposed to, my body was hoarding every calorie I ate, because I wasn't eating enough for my activity level. Now, after 3 (minor) gains in a row, I talked to my leader. THAT is important. Talk to your meetings leader if you're having problems (or come here ... I distinctly remember the weekly WW thread at MSBB). She spent a good 20 minutes with me after the meeting trying to figure out where I was going wrong. She told me to start using my weekly points and we'd go from there. As soon as I relaxed about using the "bonus" points, I started losing again. I strongly urge you to use your weekly points.

For snacks, I ate a LOT of carrots and celery sticks. BUT, I really like carrots and celery. If you know you won't stick to eating carrots and celery, have alternates. I also snacked on almonds. (1/4c is 3 points.)

For sweet things, I had the low-sugar pudding snack packs. I also bought plain yogurt and chopped up fruit to mix in. I also pureed in-season fruits to make popsicles.

I have a ton of recipes to type up for you. I have ones that aren't necessarily WW recipes, but I put them in the WW recipe builder and got points values for them. I will work on them tonight and post them in the Recipes section.