Our new program: Taking Weight Watchers to the Next Level
Therefore, rather than provide yet more official love for this rocktacular new program, I thought I would use the time instead to reflect on the role I want it to play in my own life.
Background:
I'm still within five pounds of my goal weight, even after the debacle of Thanksgiving weekend. I think knowing that there was a new program launching on Monday gave me license to indulge. I swear I ate about 7 pounds of cashews and almonds. In additional full disclosure, I had leftovers every day of the long weekend.
Emerging from my holiday binge, I went to a meeting in Stamford, CT on Sunday morning to get the new Getting Started Session for the PointsPlus program launch. It was a big, busy meeting with about 20 more people than usual. It was amazing to watch the atmosphere in the room change over the course of 60 minutes, going from fear-stricken to excited and optimistic. For me personally, I've been involved with this new plan for close to four years in it's various incarnations of development. There wasn't anything new in the delivery for me, yet I wanted an official kick-off anyway.
Our Leaders and Receptionists have been doing the PointsPlus plan for the past two months. They have soldiered without the benefit of electronic tools, most notably eTools and the iPhone app. They are now new veterans of the plan. Was I right there with them? Errr. No. I just couldn't make myself track on paper.
Therefore, I am officially announcing that as of today, I am now doing PointsPlus all-in. I just tracked my breakfast and morning workout. I found out that I have an insane Daily Target of 43 (!) (it's a tall man thing). I am learning about the new values for all the things I normally eat.
So what do I hope to get out of the new program? Two big things:
1) A reconnection with Points
I have been "doing" Weight Watchers for over 10 years now. I was an early POINTS person. Yet, if I am being completely honest, I have not been regularly tracking for quite some time. These days, I only track POINTS when I'm sure that I am falling off the program in spectacular fashion. For the most part, I have been happily eye-balling foods and staying generally aware of their POINTS value, but I have been far from rigorous in actual tracking.
Is this a problem? It hasn't been a huge problem as I've been at or close to goal for over two years now. However, I cannot help but feel that I'm really starting the fudge my estimations and therefore my choices. Funny how my eye-balling seems to be perpetually favoring the lower end of the estimation range. It must be a special form of astigmatism. As a result, I have this feeling that some non-awesome habits have been creeping back into my daily routine.
2) Cleaning my diet and snacking habits
One of my long term objectives is to continue shifting my food choices toward more non-processed food and to increasingly cut out junk foods. As many of you know from my earlier posts, one of my ghostly habits is grazing. I almost always graze on foods like baked chips, dips, etc. I now do this with less caloric and lower fat versions of them, but I know intuitively that I would be better served if I replaced those choices with more use of fruits, vegetables and their derivative products.
For me, what I like about this new program is that it makes the following kinds of foods a great deal: vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, whole grains and low fat dairy. It makes high carb and high fat foods much less of a good deal. In my own case, I think knowing this will get me to start nudging my regular choices, particularly snacking, toward the foods which are a great deal. This will then result in more of my total caloric intake coming from foods that are loaded with nature-fed nutrition as being better at keeping me feeling full. That seems like a good outcome.
People who are extremely healthy and active often talk about "eating clean". They seem to use most of their calories on vegetables, fruit, fish, white meats, whole grains and low fat dairy. They seem to eat a lot of it, and they seem happier and healthier for it. Getting to this place is my aspiration. PointsPlus will be my path for getting there.
As I look over the coming months, I feel like I get to be a new member again. Of course, there is the nervousness of being a new member, but there is also the feeling of constant discovery as I learn this new plan. I'm already learning how to ball-park grams of carbs into PointsPlus Values. For me, this is the fun part of doing a new program. I am a Lifetime Member, so I want to make sure that I avoid falling into a rut. Therefore, bring on the new stuff!!
How will you use PointsPlus to take your own efforts to the next level?
Cheers,
dk
I agree that this plan will definitely help me to eat healthier...I calculated my usual lunch of a hummus sandwich and baked chips..a whopping 10 points for that alone. I will definitely consider switching that sandwich to a salad and those chips to an apple.
ReplyDeleteI'm so close to lifetime--just hit goal last week, so I am definitely on board, but have a lot to learn about this new program!
I am so ready to be able to talk about PointsPlus to my members here in Canada. I was lucky enough this past weekend to be able to take a 'refresher' of BSL. The timing couldn't have been more perfect, with the new program launching here on Sunday!
ReplyDeleteI am really excited to be able to share with members the success that I have been having on the program, and to finally be able to address all the things they have been hearing as the changes have been announced around the world!
I myself am like you, I avoid tracking whenever possible, unless the scale shows me something I don't want to see too many weeks in a row! I was intimidated by the thought of having to track on paper when we were first introduced to PointsPlus, but I did it. I found that having to look up the new PointsPlus Values, and actually write them down on paper, really made me more aware of my choices than I would have been if I was just clicking something on the computer!
I have been at goal for 2.5 years, and I am happy to say that with PointsPlus, I have given away another 6lbs & I am now healthy & happy at a new all time low weight for my adult life!
Tracking on paper for the past two months has been so... PRIMITIVE! Which is why I started out great and then...sorta... fell off. But I'm with you! Points Plus All-In! I am so exciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiited about this plan. It's awesome.
ReplyDeleteThanks - I will say that not having had the tools (until now) will certainly help me empathize more with the members and their learning curve! But I am enjoying the plan. Maintaining for now, and with all the tools in hand, looking forward to dropping a few!!
ReplyDeleteSo do the leader & receptionists know the CEO of WW is there @ the meeting? I would have been mortified! Lol
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding!? I would love to have David at my meeting... I'd probably be terrified and stumble over my words... but I would love having him there!
ReplyDeleteIt's all about the fruit man. Love it. I just went and purchased a pear. I never do that! And for my money that little blue tracker is a rock star.
ReplyDeletehttp://bit.ly/elttT6
I've started today online though I won't be weighing in at a center until Thursday. Congrats on getting me back to WW after some time off. I have been eating clean and low-sugar since 2009, but just couldn't go back to the restriction of WW. Now I can have the best of both worlds! I gained 11 more points, not to mention the weekly points! That's crazy, but I did the math to estimate about how many calories it would be and it comes in the correct range for me to still lose weight. I'm lifetime and looking forward to getting back to goal!
ReplyDeleteI am now on Weight Watchers for my third and final time. I get it this time, I here not to get to a magic number on the scale. I am hear to change my life. I know now that once I get to my goal weight I will not magically be happy rather the journey of learning how to live a new life is what will make me happy.
ReplyDeleteMy previous attempts at happiness left short because of frustrations with plateaus and pregnancy. During my plateau I sought out additional help from a nutritionist. She wanted me to track carbs, calories, fiber, protein, sodium, color, texture, amount. At times I felt like I needed to include the chemical formula. It was too much! I have always struggled with tracking points, but then I was faced with having to track more than just points. UGH, did not happen so I gave up!
I quit! I let my plateau get the best of me. I am now grateful, excited, renewed to have all the science and suggestions of a nutritionist combined with a company I trust know and love. It is like you have taken all the best parts and wrapped it all into a little package! THANK YOU! The change has lit a fire under me to enjoy the new road and journey ahead!
We get our materials on Wednesday in our At Work meeting. I think everyone is our group is very excited about the new plan. I've been a member since Sept. 2009, and I've really plateaued. I think this will be a jumpstart for me. Years ago, a nurse practitioner helped me lose some weight. Her motto was "If God made it, eat it. If man made it, leave it alone." It sounds like this new program is going right along with that advice!
ReplyDeleteHope the GSS helped. The excitement was tremendous and I have to admit that I am one happy girl to get my e-tools back. Enjoy repeating six weeks of maintenance on PointsPlus and best of luck in achieving your winning outcome. As one of the members said leaving the meeting yesterday..."Fruit yes, carbs less." Sounds like words to live by...
ReplyDeleteI'm quite excited about the new program and the way it's keeping up with the science. It will definitely help people make better choices. I admit, I am a bit nervous about the extra daily and weekly PointsPlus values and how it will impact the scale. I feel for the leaders and staff that tracked on paper for the past two months. I was a paper tracker in previous Weight Watcher incarnations, but discovered the latest Weight Watcher online tools in September. I don't know what I would do without them. Best success!
ReplyDeletehttp://twocutes.wordpress.com/category/psychology-of-food/
My first meeting with the new PointsPlus system is on Saturday and I am very excited about it! It will be an adjustment but I am told by our great leader, one for the better! Looking forward to our next meeting even more so this weekend!
ReplyDeleteDavid you are awesome!
ReplyDeleteYour honesty and information about the plan has been wonderful.
I am absolutely crazy about the Pointsplus Plan. I'm on day 3 of it. For the first time in my life (I am 57 and having been doing Weight Watchers since I was 13), WW has given me a plan that meets my every need and is totally satisfying. I can't believe I'm "dieting", because I'm not going hungry!
I now have 50 pounds to lose. My goal is to become a leader and help others, once I have accomplished that. I try to be encouraging on the boards and be positive.
Cyberhugs to you and your staff for coming up with an eating plan that is no longer just another diet. I can't wait for my next weigh in! - Slim42011
Talk about excitement - the day the new plan was unveiled to us leaders felt like Christmas and my birthday all rolled into one. I've been a life member at goal for 4 years, but having (a) studied nutrition and (b) gotten into a total rut on the old plan, I was completely thrilled by the changes. And it really is the most "livable" plan ever - I feel like it has freed me to eat a wider variety of foods. Love it. Rocktacular, indeed.
ReplyDeleteHi David--this may not be a CEO level issue, but the main page of WW seems broken...
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the last 5 pounds :-) and thanks for blogging.
We will be starting the PointsPlus program in the next week or so. Am eager to see how it will change how I view a lifestyle change in eating habits as I have struggled in my program so I have not found the Points program as beneficial as others have.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the new PP program!!! BRAVO to YOU and the entire WW team for making such a BOLD and Brave move! I am a diamond leader and have lost 10 pounds total weight loss 129! I lost all of my weight 8 years ago and I struggled with being at goal ALL year I was 7 pounds over. Then all of a sudden PP launched. I have lost not just those 7 but 3 more. I am below goal and that has NOT happened for 2 years. I was always within those 2 grace pounds and it was always such a struggle. This now makes me Launch with excitement that I can't control. I had a bunch of Doc's and nurses at the Cleveland Clinic last night blowing their horn makers and throwing confetti! It was just SO GREAT! THank you David for keeping WW honest and pushing us to be better. Nazalee, leaders Terr 1189.
ReplyDeleteI am hopeful that the new WW program will be exactly what I need to recharge my life. I have the exercise down but the healthy eating is a bugger for me to tackle. I've lost 50+ pounds with WW in the past and kept it off for three years. I didn't stick with maintenance and of course I gained 30 lbs back. I am going at it full throttle this time and its for life. My only question is why do the US members seem to benefit more from membership savings that we Canadians? Like for example the 50% off your first month with Monthly Pass with the new Pro plan if you live in the US. This offer doesn't exist in Canada. At least I can't see it on the web site. Can you clarify whether that offer will be available to Canadians as well Mr. Kirchhoff? I want to join WW this week but don't want to miss this offer.
ReplyDeleteI just noted your comment about "Clean Eating". I am super pumped if the new Pro Plan is making this a priority. I am all over eating clean. Tosca Reno is my hero! It is my number one goal in health to be a clean eater for life. thx!
ReplyDeleteWe've had ProPoints (which seems to be the same thing essentially) in Germany for a year. I love it. I also embraced (not feared) the new program because after so many years of thinking in Points, I was happy to change it up a little, to make it interesting and new again. I absolutely agree on the snacking. I do still snack on junk food but am working on cutting it down.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I tried doing WW on my own (no meetings, no online) by using the books I bought at a meeting and I hated tracking on paper. I signed up for WW Online (is it called e-tools over there?) a year ago and haven't looked back. Though we still don't have an iPhone app in Germany which makes me sad (and wish I could sign up for the US version). I think once we get that app (supposed to happen in 2011) my life will be complete. Or something.
Thanks for all your hard work, David. You and the team at WW ROCK! I am back after a 1.5 yr absence. I lost 70lbs with WW (and have maintained it). I was starting to get disillusioned with the program when everyone was so focused on low point foods that had no nutritional value. People couldn't figure out why there were hungry. The more I studied, the more I learned. We need more protein and healthy fats. We need more "food from the earth" and less packaging. So after being gone, I am happy to say I'M BACK!!! This new program has me excited. The science behind it is exciting. I'll personally skip the fat free/low fat version of most things in favor of the regular version (usually ff/lf is filled with extra sugars and junk to make it palatable). But the beautiful thing is I can do that and still work the pointsplus program. So thanks to you and your team. I was one of those crazy people stalking the UK message boards for the last 3 weeks and ran to the meeting last Sunday to get my new materials. Now if only I had an Android app like the iPhone app, not just a calculator, my world would be complete. (wink wink, nudge nudge)
ReplyDeleteI think the plan is great. I just wish some of the confusion and tech glitches will be addressed soon. It's making my transition to the new plan more difficult.
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredibly candid and insightful blog! It's nice to know that the CEO of WW not only is on program but also attends regular meetings! Kudos to you! This week has been a mess for me -- my regular meeting is on Saturday (the last day of a WW week) so I have not been introduced to the new program. Unfortunately, my iPhone app and WW Online has and so I have been unable to track anything yet. I wish I had known so I could have grabbed a paper tracker last week but I think I'll be OK. I am looking forward to the new program -- only two more days to go before we make each other's acquaintances!
ReplyDeleteThe re-vamp is my reboot. I've been gaining and losing the same 15 pounds since I rejoined, and now I want to get LOSING again! I feel like a newbie again, and I love it! I get an insane 49 points PER DAY (who says being fat doesn't have its perks! *LOL*) and I think today is the first day I will reach that... been under the last 2 days! This new plan is forcing me out of guess-timation mode and into actually CALCULATING! I love the android app!
ReplyDeleteI joined WeightWatchers on Monday..First time ever. Love it so far!
ReplyDeleteI was one of the terrified... then after the meeting I was really revved up. I love the fresh start of exploring the program like I did at my very first meeting (fat and fiber days). Thean, again, when the points plan started and I was working at a WW center.
ReplyDeleteThis time I'm adding in some other "new" habits "while I'm at it". I'm filling out my tracker ahead and following it instead of it following me. I find I crave less because I know what's coming up in my day and am truly excited about it... I've already broken free of my ennui induced plateau after only a few days I feel great about the plan.
It's fun to start fresh as a group!
Colleen - there is a droid app! I found in the market on my phone and it is updated as a points tracker and points plus calculator.
ReplyDeleteAs one who has had GREAT success on Weight Watchers (I have lost 17 pounds in 2 months and I am within 3 pounds of my goal), I am a little nervous about Points Plus as I've NEVER snacked on junk food or empty calories. SO, given the extra points and the extra latitude with zero point fruit, I am a bit anxious. However, as I said to the naysayers on Facebook on Monday, Weight Watchers has never steered us wrong before, and I believe in my heart they will not now! So, good luck, everyone. Eat healthy and be happy!
I am a fairly new member, week 5! I have lost 9lbs with the program so far and a total of 26 lbs since August. I joined the plan to help me lost the rest of the weight and to help me learn to maintain as I have always yo-yo'd my adult life. The new plan both excites me and makes me nervous. I get 29 points per day which seems like a lot to me. But I am hopeful that I will lose and most of all maintain. I found this blog helpful so thank you and thanks to all who commented. I find encouragement and excitement in your words.
ReplyDeleteI joined WW in september 2010. This is my 3rd try and hopefully my last one. I had 2 babies, and when I started WW I had 40lbs to lose.
ReplyDeleteToday I already lost 25lbs, and I can say that it was really easy, like fingers in the nose.
But it started to get tough 3weeks ago, because I started to get really bored. I wasn't tracking anymore, I already knew the point value of everything. But when you don't track you can miss the hidden points.
So Point plus is for me like a new beginning. It's new and because I don't know the point plus value of food, I have to track again. It really feels like a new beginning for me, I am discovering it everyday and I can say for sure that I will reach my target weight.
I love the new program Point plus because it's really fair. Since I started WW in september, I was already doing healthy choices. I knew that having 4 points of healthy food wasn't the same that 4 points of french fries. I love that the new program encourage people eating healthy, it's like a reward, you eat healthy, you save points. So let's keep rolling !
I am now on my fourth day of following the PointsPlus program. As I sit here today in my office in the mid-afternoon, I am terrified...
ReplyDeleteI am NOT hungry! Not only am I not hungry, I'm completely satisfied!
I don't recall/know this feeling, and it is rather strange! I don't have a craving for the chocolate that is in my co-worker's office right next to mine. I don't even need the fresh vegetables that I packed away for my snack today. And to think that the only change I made was I started eating more fruit, vegetables, and whole foods for snacks and meals rather than all of the other processed stuff I used to eat. Although I'm still nervous about this change (change is hard for everyone), I am already noticing a difference, and I can't wait to see what results show up on the scale next week!
Why didn't the US members get the cardboard pointsplus "wheel" the UK members got? I'm very disappointed in WW for charging me $40 month for the pass+etools and then making me pay an EXTRA $5 +tax to get a calculator to figure out foods on my own.
ReplyDeleteThat just doesn't seem right, David. I know WW is for-profit organization, but that seems downright stingy. As a member since 1990, my faith in WW is truly shaken with this mercenary move.
What's the deal?
I totally related to one woman in my meeting yesterday who asked "Well I don't really eat fruits so how is this plan going to work for me?"
ReplyDeleteMy reason for not eating fruit is pure laziness - guess it is time to start buying, bringing to work, and preparing those fruits and veggies- they are worth it!
I love, love, love the new droid app too! I wish the e-tools would allow you to go back to yesterday and add the food you ate. Sometimes when I get home I'm too tired or forget to add it. Then my whole weeks stats are incorrect. I don't think it would be hard to allow that and would make our lives easier.
ReplyDeletesorry my coworker just showed me that we can do that. my apologies. Did i mention i love the droid app!
ReplyDeleteDavid: I would like to know how we can eat fruit (ex: an apple 100 cal 15 grams of carb) and not have to account for it while I now have to count 1 point for my sugar free blueberry jam which has 5 grams of carb and 10 calories. It does not make sense t me and no one will give me an answer.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Moxie. I think it is unfair to make people buy now food companion books when there is a major change such as this. We should be able to exchange them (no pun intended) for a short period of time. There is no way that we can use the old books anymore, and that is not really fair.
I have been doing it for a few days now. It definitely does make sense to me. However...
ReplyDeleteIt is a little complicated. Until I have memorized some of my favorites I feel like I am groping around in the dark. I could easily estimate points before, and now I am clueless without my calculator, books, or computer. Eating shouldnt have to be this difficult.
I guess time will tell. I bet there will be some "tweaks" before too long.
I LOVE this new plan! I had my meeting tonight, but I've been doing it since Monday via my eTools information. I love that it's geared toward healthy eating and lifestyle versus just weight loss! I joined WW on 5/27/10 and since I have lost 80.2 lbs.
ReplyDeleteI say good going WW! You are the best!
I love that you struggle like everyone else and that you can easily admit it. Makes me feel less like there is something wrong with me - I also overendulged knowing I was going to be starting the new program.
ReplyDeleteI got my new materials today and I am excited about the changes. I love that WW now emphasizes healthy choices over empty calories.
Droid App? What are you all talking about? There is a Droid calculator by WW. I guess you could call that a baby app, but it's not the full blown version that iPhone has with a tracker, etc. If I'm wrong, someone please tell me where the mystery full blow Droid app is, please! Please please please! The mobile is ok, by it's not smooth like an app and it requires you to have good internet/wifi/3g access that an app would not unless you are updating live. Thanks anyone who may know.
ReplyDeleteMy Partner and I recently rejoined WW. We were really excited to start the new Point Plus Program. Our main challenge is relearning the point values of foods. Our minds were so programs with food values. Now we need to erase our previous knowledge and learn the new point values. I am looking forward to the weight loss with the new program.
ReplyDeleteI'm not usually negative but I think that you need to hear both sides of what people are thinking since this is your blog. I was very happy with the old plan and was consistently losing weight. It was easy to track and count points. I don't like the new Points Plus because you've made it too complicated to calculate even using the iPhone app. Too many things to enter and carbs are counting way too high in the scheme. It shouldn't have to be this hard. Why change a plan that was working? It seems to me that this is a marketing plan to win over those people who are using other eating plans like South Beach, Zone, Atkins and also a way to sell more products. I might as well change back to the other plan and save the money counting and adding up points....something to think about.
ReplyDeleteOn second thought, why not give us a choice of point systems since we are your customers?
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this - it makes you seem like one of us. Yes, I knew you were, but... it didn't seem real. MY favorite lines were, "However, I cannot help but feel that I'm really starting the fudge my estimations and therefore my choices. Funny how my eye-balling seems to be perpetually favoring the lower end of the estimation range. It must be a special form of astigmatism. As a result, I have this feeling that some non-awesome habits have been creeping back into my daily routine."
ReplyDeleteI know that feeling, it's why I am a returned Lifetime Member.
Honestly, I'm not sure if I like the new points plus program. I was successful on the other program and consistently loosing weight because I made healthy choices even then. Because I now have 10 more points a day, it seems to me that at the end of the day, I'm eating more calories! I'm going to give it a try but if I'm not loosing the same amount of weight per week, I'm sticking with the old plan.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised how much we have in common! :) I could have used the exact same words... Not having tracked for a while, eye-balling going off, etc. I agree with Anonymous above that at first I was scared that 29 points was too much, but then discovered that most of the foods I ate went up in points plus, too! So, unless I substitute with more veggies and fruits, 29/day isn't enough. So, I'm making better choices for the long run. Thank you, Weight Watchers, for not being afraid of change and for always being committed to excellence!
ReplyDeleteJust started, lost over 1 lb in one day.. was scared I'd get messed up, my daughter and I was doing great as it was on WW.. but Now I'm getting the hang of it, and I like it, especially being recently diagnosed with diabetes, now I will definitely try eating fruit and not 1 pt or 2 pt bars, that are now 2 and 3 points.. I'm glad I changed now.. Pretty exciting.. was shocked I lost.. so I am into it now.. Thanks.. Sandi
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this. I can so relate to your actions because I am the same way. I too declared to clean up my act and start tracking and stop crazing. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteWanda
I joined WW in July and did e-tools but didn't lose a thing. I then started to go to meetings where I had to be accountable to someone other than myself and then started to lose. As I live in Canada the iphone app is not available and you can't buy it from the US itunes website either. It is not the same to paper track. Plus it is quicker and discreet. Please let us Canadians know when it will be available or allow itunes to let us cross-border shop. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteI had my doubts Monday morning when I realized so many of my standard foods had gone up in points, but I'm all about results. This morning's weigh-in has made a believer out of me. Since Monday's launch, I've not only lost all the Thanksgiving weight I'd gained (because I too ate leftovers right through Sunday!), but an additional pound. At 34 lbs weight loss since restarting WW in June, I'm a little shy of being halfway to my goal weight, but suddenly I can see myself achieving that goal in time for my 50th birthday in May. What a fantastic way to celebrate 50...and the new plan is forcing me to take a healthier approach to that weight loss. It's less about finding what chemical-laden, artificially enhanced foods will be the fewest points, and much more about making what I eat really count from a nutritional and health standpoint. I had my doubts...but the numbers speak for themselves, and I too am now 'all-in'!
ReplyDeleteDave, PLEASE get us a full Droid app, not just the calculator! I am already distressed that I very recently purchased the electronic scale that is now obsolete, so feel we need a little more for our money! The Droid market is growing rapidly and WW needs to deal with whatever issue is preventing a full app being brought forth.
ReplyDeleteThis is a workable plan for me because I generally fill up on fruits and vegetables anyway (one of the perks of working on a farmstand). Before I felt like I was being punished for eating bananas, now I see them as my mid-afternoon go-to saviors.
ReplyDeleteBecause the new plans seems more "forgiving" to me, I'm much more likely to keep up with my points accurately (no more low-range guesstimates), as well as wander around other spots on the WW sites.
I feel like I'm more of a member now; who knows, I might even attend a meeting!
Dave, I'm a UK member and you SO make me laugh!! The new points plan is great, my cousin who has lost over 80 pounds with WW gave me the best advice, she said 'Forget the old plan, just forget it. You are starting a new way of eating from today. You will learn all the values of the stuff you like eating and make better choices, pretend the old plan just never was'. So I did, I lost 5 in two weeks and my blood sugar is stabilising. I've ditched most of the junk but allow myself dark cholcolate, a nice glass of pinot noir or even a bag of crisps if I want them. I loved the astigmatism comment, you should visit the UK - your sense of humour would go down a storm! Here's to the new plan and a new me!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, forgot to add - in the UK they have given us conversion rates for the last few recipe books and stickers so we can work out the new points for the old books. Also conversion booklet for all WW products like crisps, pizzas, desserts etc..yes its a hassle buying the new calculator but the online calculator is free. My UK leader couldn't have been more helpful (Glynis in Greenfield if you want to give her a heads up!) and yes, we have our fair share of naysayers but those who have embraced the new are losing cheerfully!
ReplyDeleteWould be even better with a Droid Mobile complete app, NOT just a calcutlator!
ReplyDeleteMr. Kirchhoff, I have been a Weight Watcher since Valentine's Day 2009 and have said goodbye to 55 pounds so far. When the PointsPlus plan was to be unveiled, I could not wait for my regular meeting and attended the Sunday morning meeting in my area. I have been working with the new plan since that day and have already seen changes with listening to my hunger signals more, leaning more towards fruit than fiber bars or chips for snacking, and even tracking better. I have a feeling that this is just what I needed to get back on the road towards goal and beyond. Thank you to your and your teams for making this change.
ReplyDeleteThey also have a droid app in the UK full blown like the iphone one here.
ReplyDeletePlease we need a droid app a real one like the iphone in the USA
Mr Kirchoff read the bulletin boards your members are dying for it
efrem
I have been a lifetime member since 1985. I got back to goal 3 years ago and loved the points program. I have used the etools for 4 years and didn't appreciate finding out that if I wanted using etools I would have to switch to pointsplus. Using WW online has been very good for me. I have stayed in goal range for 3 years. Why would I want to switch? Now I have to. I just feel like we should have had a choice- because like you, I don't want to have to track on paper again!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your insight. I am praying I can stay at goal with this new plan.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI'm from Brazil and we haven't started the new program yet. They say it will be a while until we get it. Is it true that we can eat fruits and vegetables as much as we want?
I like your blog and I'll be following you in order to get to know the new program better.
Have a nice weekend!
david...(or dave) can i just say after reading your post you are truly an inspiration!!! you are a 'real' person!!! you don't always 'track' on paper .... you mentally keep track!!! you are just maybe more 'my' inspiration!!!! i became a lifetime member back when i was 23 yrs old and only needing to lose 30lbs.....i can't tell you how many times i've restarted ww since then.....i'm now a little bit older (like 30 yrs) and a lot over that 30lbs!! and i'm excited about this new points+ program!!! plus....i live on kirchhoff st....how ironic is that????
ReplyDeleteI love your blogs and writing style, keep them coming. I am also loving the new points plus system! I definately find myself eating more fruit. I noticed you mentioned the iPhone app. There are many of us Android users that are pretty frustrated by the lack of response from customer service on whether there is an Android application in the works, and when we can expect to see it. Can you shed some light on the subject? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for keeping it real! As for me and my recovering chunky butt, I'm very much liking the new plan. It seems like a lot more food, so I hope the scale likes it too.
ReplyDelete- Kirsten (http://Results-Not-Typical-Girl.com)
I agree about the tracking on paper being a pain, but if you have an Android phone it is also a pain. Even worse if you get a weak or no signal. Come on WW, wake up and realize that there are more Android system users out there than any other system and give us the same app as the iphone. If you can't do that, how about explaining why you can't.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear that you also didn't follow P+ because you couldn't track on paper. I'm staff and have known about the Plan, but I needed my eTools to track. They made tracking easy for me.
ReplyDeleteSo I've now completed my first full week tracking on PP. I think it's a great Plan and I look forward to how it will help with my maintenance, and even lose a few pounds!
David, I adore your blog and I really hope that I get to meet you someday :) As a leader in St. John's, NL, PointsPlus was revealed to us 10 weeks ago, and I have run the gamut of emotions on the subject. I was excited at first, then I didn't have a great week, make that 2, gained both weeks, and next I felt defeated, stressed, overwhelmed, and on top of it all: fat. Which of course is all in my head, seeing as I am a solid size 6. But the brain is, as you mentioned: unruly.
ReplyDeleteMy third week I lost what I had gained, and 10 weeks later I'm sitting back where I started when I started PPlus.
I found it so hard to look things up using just the booklets, because I was used to my e-tools. I do all my tracking in my 3-mo journal, but e-tools is where its at for recipe building and an easy to use calculator (also for brand name foods!!!).
I can without a doubt say that I pretty much half-assed it all the way to launch. Please don't fire me.
Which brings me to today: launch! My meeting room staff and I were the very first in Canada to launch PointsPlus! Pretty exciting stuff. And to top it all off: one of my receptionists has lost 14 lbs on it already!
So we launched, sold TONS of product, had an amazing meeting, and celebrated the start of what I'm sure is an amazing program. I just wasn't ready to commit to it until today.
Although I have never been one, I liken it to telling a smoker that they have to give up their puffs. Unless they are ready to do it themselves, it will never happen. I wanted to do PPlus, but at the same time, I still wanted to eat chips when I wanted, and stick to my maintenance points. Know what I mean?
I think that for me, part of it was stress (first leader in Canada to release the program, MANY staff members have been telling me for weeks that they would be in attendance to my first meeting, I'm also one of a handful of media ambassadors selected by WW to be interviewed and possibly on tv, and to top it all off, I'm planning my wedding!!!)
Today I feel like the stress has lifted, and was replaced by adrenaline of being in that room with at least 67 members, 3 staff, and the PPlus Getting Started books flyin'!!!
My members make me feel motivated to succeed every week, but this week they did something even more special - they made me feel like doing the program. Their excitement was contagious :) Not a negative comment in the bunch! I was a bit surprised. And impressed :)
Overall, I feel like your team prepared us well for the launch. And many staff in our team here have lost 5, 6, 7, 26 lbs already! But for me I was stuck in 2 worlds, and today I'm crossing the threshold into PointsPlus...and it feels real.
Come to Newfoundland when you get a chance, we'd love to cook you up a scoff and have a screech-in and a scuff! You have to come here to find out what that means though!
Dave, The POINTS PLUS plan is a revolution, with all the benefits and none of the pain; with all the outcomes, but none of the casualties. Prediction: it will revolutionize weight loss. And, boy do we need it.
ReplyDeletePOINTS PLUS has Weight Watchers' EMPHASIS ON SCIENCE all over it. As I experience the discovery, the excitement and the details of the program this week, I can't help but see all your teams' names on the various parts of the new plan.
Beyond brilliant.
Cheers!
Ann
Now that points plus is here I've made the complete online transition - something I didn't do my first 6 months in the program. It's showing me just how much "underestimating" I've been doing for the past couple months. I'm inspired by the new program and keeping myself honest by using e-tools. I'm also telling all my guy friends about how I'm finally able to loose weight - painlessly! Joel
ReplyDeleteMy first week of PP and I lost 3.4lbs!!!!! I am very excited. I needed a change in the program. I have been lifetime since 1973. Not at goal weight all that time but a returnee back in 2008.
ReplyDeleteI am most happy that the bottom line has been raised to 29 daily points. I could not imagine myself surviving on 18 pts a day and that was not helping me on the weeks that I did not do well.
I jumped into this new program completely and I am very pleased at my first week's results.