Monday, December 6, 2010

Week one on PointsPlus: happy, full and in control. Maybe even a little taller.

I'm just wrapping up my first week on PointsPlus, which for me started in earnest last Monday.  I went to my GSS on Sunday, but really, start a new program on a Sunday?  I think not.

So how did it go?  In short, great! 

Here's what I have to work with:  43 PointsPlus value for my Daily Target Points (DTP) plus the standard 49 PointsPlus values for my Weekly Points Allowance (WPA).  All these acronyms almost make the whole process sound a bit like a public works project, but what better way to show off to your friends than dropping a few well timed in-the-know alphabet soup references.

For those who have not memorized my normal breakfast (roughly 6 billion people), my standard fare is:
  • Quaker regular oatmeal:  3 PointsPlus values
  • Fage 0% plain yogurt:  3 PointsPlus values
  • 1/8 cup Fiber One (mixed in w/ the yogurt):  1 PointsPlus value
  • Grapes:  0, baby
  • Banana:  0, baby
  • Blueberries:  0, baby

That's a lot of babies and only 7 PointsPlus values.

My lunch (or I should say my most typical lunch)...
  • Salad from Pump Energy Food that includes:  spinach, steamed sweet potatoes, balsamic marinated mushrooms, slow cooked turkey, shredded cheddar, fat free honey mustard dressing
+
  • A cup of fruit salad
The Pump is kind of enough to have a groovy nutrition calculator when you build your salad online.  The total nutritional make-up of my salad works out to:  32g carbs; 36g protein, 9f fat and 9g of fiber, which calculates to 8 PointsPlus values.  The fruit is 0.

Snack:  usually an apple (0) and/or another Fage 0% fat yogurt for 3 PointsPlus values.

Therefore, my typical pre-dinner day has worked out to 18 PointsPlus values leaving me another 25 left over to cover dinner.

For exercise, I'm getting the following:
  • Weight lifting (4X per week, 50 minutes per session):  + 5 Activity PointsPlus values (is that an APPV?)
  • 30 minutes of stationary bike (time permitting on lifting days) at a pretty hard pace:  + 7 Activity PointsPlus values
  • 50 minutes spinning on non-weight lifting days:  + 12 Activity PointsPlus values (nice!!!!!)
OK, so far all of this is great.  What about less pleasant surprises?  In a word, wine.  Holy Toledo.  The nectar of the gods has become a luxury in more ways than one.  In truth, the rampant inflation on the Weight Watchers price of wine is a useful reminder to me that one glass should suffice.  Aspirationally-speaking of course.

Dinners have also been fine save for the two flights to and from San Francisco.  When I tallied up the damage, I had blown 26 PointsPlus values on my flight from JFK to SFO.  My first day was a 52 PointsPlus day -- ouch!!!.  While I had enough AP's to cover it, it was still a bit of a wake-up.  I since made adjustments for the rest of the week, and I was able to comfortably stay within my range.

So my first impressions of being on the plan.  Fantastic (and I'm not just saying that because it's in my interest to do so).  Here is why this plan worked for me in week 1:
  • I already eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, so this part of the math works in my favor
  • Knowing the inflation on certain foods was definitely steering me toward better choices
  • I'm liking the more favorable math on activity points
  • Not once did I feel hungry or sad
  • In general, I really loved my week and I particularly loved the way I lived my week.  Feeling healthy just feels healthy.  If you know what I mean.  
I weighed on Saturday AM, and I am back to within 2 pounds of my goal weight.  And I never weigh in on Saturday (for obvious reasons).  I'm happy to be tracking again, and I am feeling much more in control.  Changing over from old Points to new PointsPlus values was not a big hassle, and I'm enjoying seeing the interplay of carbs, protein, fiber, and fat in the way the new values come out.  Then again, I'm a WW geek (and proud of it).

[For those asking how much weight I lost during the week:  I don't know.  I was too chicken to get weighed after Thanksgiving despite attending four meetings last week.  Sad and un-courageous.]

What else helped me with the transition?  For starters, seeing four different meetings from four fantastic Leaders across the country helped me get my head straight.  Having access to eTools was a godsend.  Finally, I worked the iPhone app hard, and it performed like a champ. I didn't have too much trouble getting my eTools favorites ported over.  My DSW has had an account for about 10 years, and she probably has well over 100 recipes and user-generated foods on the system.  She indicated that it was a bit of a hassle to move stuff over, but she didn't throw a dish at my head knowing that I'm to blame for many of these changes.  Which was good.

BTW, my general policy is not to comment on official company business on this blog -- it's all Dave all the time around these parts.  That said, for all of you loyal Google supporters out there, I will say this:  it has not passed our attention that Android is growing like a weed, particularly over the past 6 months.  Doing a full blown app for that platform is not an overnight job (multiple O/S versions and platforms), and our talented and over-worked tech team has been completely slammed getting the launch ready (it's hard to describe the amount of work that's been happening behind the scenes).  We also don't want to give you anything half-baked.  So with caveats entered, all I can say is that we're on it (!).  Good things come in Spring...

This is the part where I now ask you how your week 1 went.  Some of you are going to say it went GREAT.  To you I say:  rock on!  For those who had a not great week 1, I say:

  1. Please don't freak out.  It's a big change (there's a reason we haven't done this in 13 years)!  Give yourself time to get the hang of the new program and DO NOT BEAT YOURSELF (or me) UP!  
  2. Check the website and your meeting for comments and thoughts on potential transition challenges.  Some culprits can include: a) eating a mango grove all at once, b) mixing Points values from the old and new program (does not work), c) having someone secretly put their toe on the scale when you got weighed, etc.
  3. Ask your Leader for help if you go to meetings. 
  4. Consider going to a meeting so you have a Leader to ask for help
  5. Check the website.  There are a TON of resources around the site on helping people navigate the transition.  The message boards are also a good place to go for ideas.  
That said, how was week 1?

Cheers,

dk

120 comments:

  1. How about free etools or app for lifetimers @ goal with meeting weighins? Your tracking systems that are automated systems at meetings can link w the website so you know we are "legit". Also and more important... the pocket calculator is flimsily made. Fine. You fix that and make them more hardy then you will charge us even MORE. Please make sure we get our 6 bucks back in a trade-in. Thanks

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  2. David - I'm one of your leaders and I'm absolutely LOVING PointsPlus! The launch went great and I cannot wait to see my members this week. Kudos to you for sharing your success (and struggles) and for educating everyone! Of course, for being humorous during it all!

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  3. I LOVE!!! Points Plus. I've been a member for years but started going to meetings in May of this year but have "played at" being on Weight Watchers. This past Monday seemed like a perfect time to start anew so I began in earnest and added 4 fruit a day (used to do none...yes I was one of those "I'm having my 2 point Lorna Doones instead of this 2 point banana") and I NEVER felt hungry AND I was in control of my carb addiction for the first time in a long time. I weighed on Monday at a meeting so I didn't get an OFFICIAL weigh in at my usual meeting this past Saturday but UNOFFICIALLY I was 8.6 pounds down the first week...WooHoo! Do I realize every week will not be like this...Yes. Am I thrilled...Yes! And did I eat last week...Yes! THANKS for the new program. I LOVE IT!!!

    My best,
    Rob

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  4. One very pointy dinner out, and two mornings where I was kindof afraid to eat, I felt overwhelmed trying to calculate for satisfaction and room for snacks. Enjoyed 2 guilt-free bananas, and 1 guilt-free honeycrisp apple among my veggies.

    One thing that is freaking me out.... holidays mean alcohol. Basic hard alcohols are in the tracker, and I know enough not to count citrus-infused vodka as a fruit. :) Wine is in the tracker. But there's never been any hard cider, in part because there is such a range... under the old plan, a few of my favorites were 2 points for a bottle, and some 4 or 5. We can't use the tracker for alcohol, meetings-people (I'm online only) tell me, and I can see the problem as Smirnoff Ice Light now comes up as 0, it used to be a solid point. But then we either need an alternative calculator or WW needs to put the light beers, light malt liquor drinks Mike's Light Hard Lemonade, etc. that make WWers feel included on social occasions without blowing the budget, port and beer alternatives in the tracker. A place to start would be the listings for each on BevMos site or something. It might be a CA store, but they are carrying the most common brands and imports to find nationwide. I don't want to "blow it" over my friends Woodchuck, Red Branch, Fox Barrel and Strongbow.

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  5. I haven't gone in for a meeting yet but so far so good. I have to say, as a 20 year member, the new tools are phenomenal. So intuitive and easy to use. The three ingredient search is genius. The interactive sites (sandwich building? Fabulous!) are super fun and educational. I know this is going to be the way to get back to my Lifetime goal!

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  6. I am a 4 month lifetime member having lost 194.6 pounds. My greatest desire is to be a leader so I attacked the new program with a vengeance knowing if I want to teach it I need to live it. I am on day 3 of my first week and LOVE it!! The things I am most excited about are similar to you; increased activity points and free fruit!! I can hardly believe I can eat a banana and not have it count as 2 or even 3 points. I feel that the amount and intensity of the exercise I am doing is finally recognized.

    As for the first post about etools for lifetime members, I understand the frustration. In my case it took me 15 years of continuous membership to get to lifetime. If you do the math (I don't want to)you will see I have easily paid one corporate employees salary. I NEVER imagined I would have to pay to continue my etools. Could I PLEASE have them back for free!! Here is one example of why it is necessary. I had a friend send me the link for the corrections on the new materials (I bought the deluxe kit) in points or serving sizes. I knew nothing about them without etools :( This was 8 pages of printed corrections on brand new material!!! OOPS.

    GREAT PROGRAM, minor glitches. I am still proud to say I lost my weight with Weight Watchers.

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  7. I absolutely love the new plan, but have to agree with the first commenter about the new tracker. I returned mine after realizing it didn't even do activity points and I was glad to be rid of it; it's an eyesore and feels cheap. (I have had a few members mention that others thought it was a birth control pill pack, and I thought the same thing!)

    That said, I am really glad to see the direction WW is moving in, and I can't wait to weigh in and see how I did!

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  8. Hi Dave,

    I too am one of your WW leaders. I have to say last week was such an great experience to watch the members sit on the edge of their seats to learn about PointsPlus. I realized after doing all my Getting Start Sessions what tweaks needed to be made. Tonight I had my first meeting of the week, over all my members had a great 1st week experience. I did have a few who over did the free fruit but I think we quickly got that under control.

    Thanks for developing such a great program that allows us to take helping our members to a whole new level of a liveable program.

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  9. i'm digging it. tracking is fun again. ;)

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  10. I think the new plan makes a lot of sense AND I lost 2.2 pounds last week. I now have less than 10 pounds to be back at my lifetime weigh in! Onward and downward!

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  11. I'm one of your leaders as well. I worked the old plan for 12 years - and hadn't had a banana in all that time. I hadn't had much fruit to speak of in all that time unless I was "off plan". The idea that I can eat fruit again was liberating to say the least. (I'm incredibly short and at goal and I didn't have a high target to begin with.) The new PointsPlus plan has been wonderful. Much more live-able and enjoyable then before! Thanks for sharing your weight management thoughts!

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  12. As a newly hired receptionist, I started Points Plus about 3 weeks before the official launch and I list 3.6lbs, which is HUGE, considering I was already at goal and not actually trying to lose weight.

    Today, I fit into a size 6 skirt (and wore it to work a meeting in Manhattan) for the first time in my life.

    I am so excited to be able to help others discover the best program Weight Watchers has ever had!

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  13. LOVE Points Plus!
    One word.....bologna.

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  14. Loving it. The fruit completely eliminates that panic about "getting treats." You get them and they're free! But I had some thoughts about why this new plan works. And why "work" is an important word for healthy lifestyle changes.
    http://doesthisblogmakeuslookfat.com/2010/12/06/work-and-your-health/

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  15. Can you explain something for me? What's the deal with fat-free, fruit yogurt? When I put the numbers into my calculator, it comes out 2, but when I look in the Pocket Guide, it's 3. I checked the ingredients and it does not appear to have any sugar alcohols, just sucralose, which is Splenda.

    After I saw this, I have to admit that I got suspicious about WW wanting to push a WW proprietary brand of yogurt, which I didn't even know existed, for fewer points. Lo and behold, I discovered that they do have their own WW brand for--you guessed it--two points! Is there a difference between WW and Dannon? I intend to find out.

    I'm going to try to find some WW yogurt and compare the ingredients and grams of protein, carb, fat, and fiber. I really hope I'm wrong about WW scoring a competitor's foods high because I need WW to be honest about the foods that compete with their proprietary foods, but for now, I'm counting my Dannon Light and Fit as two points.

    Otherwise, I like PointsPlus.

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  16. It was great having you in the meeting room last week. Thanks so much for your kind words and encouragement. I feel fortunate to be a part of this fabulous company as we lead the charge against obesity!

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  17. Forgot to thank you for adding a subscription - yay!

    And? I reviewed the new program today on my blog (http://Results-Not-Typical-Girl.com). Much snarkier and a few cuss words, but just as positive. :)

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  18. Results Not Typical Girl - loved your comments! Love your style!

    To Dave, I LOVE the new program! I feel like I have so much freedom and flexibility that I didn't have on the older points programs (which I've been living with successfully for the past 10 years).

    Unfortunately I only got to try it on for a week because I just found out that I'll be expecting a little bundle of joy in August!

    In the meantime, I'll be looking forward to coming back to my meetings and following PointsPlus to lose the weight I'm certain to gain!

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  19. Week 1 was only partially tracked. And when I don't track, I REALLY don't track. I don't even think about points values and because of that, I take not tracking as an excuse to eat high-value foods while I have the opportunity to. Today I am tracking again and I am ready to join the world of WW and PointsPlus finally. Emotional eating has really been my friend but as life calms down, this will too settle.

    How have people been dealing with budgeting a higher dv? 4+ PointsPlus seems high to me because on my old dv of 20, it did. I'm still eating really, really low-value foods because it's hard to remember that 5/29 is much better than 5/20, especially when food is free! Is this just something I need to get used to?

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  20. Today was weigh in day after my first week on the new program. Down 4.2 lbs. I really embraced the new plan and it showed up on the scale. Don't know if you could call me a WW geek but I was a geek for a week. I read all of the material and poured over the web site and blogs.
    In our well attended meeting this morning the leader asked for a show of hands of those who lost weight on the new plan. All but 2 raised their hands. Now for week 2.....

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  21. I think this plan ROCKS!

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  22. I think it's been great so far! The fact that I can eat fruit and not use points for it is HUGE-I tend to get hungry at random times of day and having a fruit option is going to revolutionize the way I eat (needless to say I used to eat a lot of celery and it got really old really fast and wasn't satisfying). Being able to eat even more veggies for 0 is great as well. I too have to adjust to alcohol going up in points (beer-as a homebrewer this is gonna be hard). The most difficult part at this point is figuring out what is the "right" points plus count I should be aiming for at each meal. I knew, for example, that breakfast would be for me often 6-7 points, but now I'm trying to figure out what I should aim for with a new system. I imagine that will take some tweaking but it's still pretty cool.

    Random question: if I put a banana in a recipe-as in for my morning oatmeal-it counts as 3 points (but that itself only shows up in the total-it still lists as 0 in the recipe). Is that a glitch? It seems odd that a banana in a recipe would count for 3 points whereas if I just ate a banana and some oatmeal separately it would be 0. I know recipes are calculated differently but I dunno-maybe it's some crazy food chemistry? Just seemed odd.

    Overall: super excited-hurray for fruit!

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  23. Thank you for posting about the Android app. It has been very frustrating asking WW customer support about a potential app and getting no real answer.

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  24. All skepticism aside...I managed to lose 1.6 in week 1! So, I'm already starting to believe in the new Points Plus plan. It's getting my mom, who loathes change, to believe now. But she lost 1 pound the first week, so I think she'll come around if she continues to see results.

    As for me? I'm LOVING that fruit is free!!!

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  25. My first week - complete success! Back to tracking, and the Holiday creep that had started, completely reversed, and then some! It has been an adjustment - I had begun relying heavily on the pre-packaged snacks... my first few days - like you - I spent WAY more points than I wanted too.... but each day I got better at budgeting and figuring, and deciding what it was worth to spend points on, and what it wasn't. I'm hoping that starting the new program now will mean that I'll come out the other end of these holidays no worse for wear! :) Keep it up - the new programs makes a heck of a lot more nutritional sense, even if I am sad that my Fiber One bars doubled in points.

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  26. Anonymous, I had the same problem with a recipe yesterday. A recipe that should have totaled 4 points (3 cup onion, 1 medium winter squash, 1 cup corn) totaled instead to 23 points! How does that work?

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  27. I love it. Its real.food. and easy! Eat what is healthy and there is no worries!

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  28. Can we have free etools for lifetime members?? My leader loves to tell us that WW 'has always got our back' and will always support us, but I feel a little hung out to dry. Finally after ten years of on and off the program I have made Lifetime membership - and how does WW Congratulate me? with a keychain and a fee of $12.95 a month for etools. Just doesn't make sense...

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  29. Sorry to be a naysayer...not a fan of the new plan. I'm fairly disappointed by the lack of transition - I'm down 55 pounds, roughly 30 away from goal and have to learn a whole new program weeks before the holidays. eTools was a godsend for me and my success and it's been taken away from me. I'm happy for those who have had success on the new plan, but I'm frankly disappointed and feel like the rug has been pulled out from under me.

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  30. Still trying to get a grasp on it, in time i'll have it down. Im a lifetimer, ate 35 DP, all of my APs and half the WPA, lost 2 lbs. Will try to eat all of the WPA in addition to everything else this week.

    I also agree, LT members should get free etools!

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  31. My weight loss had stalled for 2 months. Week 1 on PointsPlus I lost 2.6. WW Rocks. Thanks
    61.4lbs lost.

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  32. Cyffermoon: there is no way that any recipe should go from 4 points to 23 on the new program unless it is served with a cheeseburger as a garnish. It sounds like there was either an error with the recipe builder or possible a missed quantity entry on one of the ingredients.

    To all: recipes that include non-powerfood ingredients cause all of the nutritional content of the ingredients to be included in the total calculation (i.e., including the fruits and vegetables). When I have oatmeal with a banana on top, I enter them as two different items into the tracker.

    Hope that helps!!!

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  33. I just attended my first meeting for the pointplus program and I am going to give it my all but have some concerns. I don't like that now etools seems to have "lost" all restaurants; therefore taking away some of my favorites.....I hope the database fills back up again soon. I can't help but get the feeling this is a more of a forced diet than before. The reason weight watchers has always worked for me is because I could work it into my life and not feel deprived. I will give it my best this week and be cautiously optimistic. I get the science behind it.....but it definitely makes me nervous. I have several examples but won't waste anyone's time by going into them here. I am hopeful the transition will be smooth and that the canadian etools database gets filled up again....I loved tracking online and now it's soooo much more work than before.

    Best of luck to all!

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  34. Beth: what happened to your eTools?

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  35. My first weigh-in is tomorrow night. I, too, am having difficulty figuring out "right" points plus. With fruits and veggies at 0 points, I am having to adjust my actual meals to get all my daily points in.

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  36. I am not so sure about the new program. I had all the points marked on my favorite recipes. Now when I went back to re figure for points plus they are more. I realize I get more points, however it is still difficult. I wish I didn't buy the food companions just a month ago when I began weight watchers, now they are basically obsolete. More money out my pocket. Will see how this all ends up, if weight doesn't come off, I will get discouraged.

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  37. Just like anonymous earlier, I lost 2.2 and am about 8 and change from returning to my goal. It's giving me that swift kick in the booty I've needed for quite some time. It's also forcing me to stop and really think before I make my choices throughout the day. Do I really want to spend x points for a donut (for example) when I can have y for 0?

    Best part? Last night, most of the members at the meeting I normally go to said they lost weight too! Success! :)

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  38. I'm with the other lifetime members: PLEASE make etools free! I'm on program right now losing baby weight (from a baby who's now 4, but that's another story). Once I'm back at goal it'll drive me crazy to continue paying. Surely there's a way to log on with a lifetime membership number.

    As for week 1, I'm ok with it, but not in love. I was already eating mostly whole foods from my own recipes (which I suppose makes me unusual?), so in terms of food choices there's not much change. And like someone already said, counting fruits/vegs when they're in recipes is more than a little confusing. Figuring out what to make for dinner now involves multiple trips to the computer to try things out in the recipe builder!

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  39. I started WW 6 weeks ago and the POINTS plan was rocking my world in the best way (15lbs!!). So I was a bit hesistant to start something new since I was just getting a handle on the old plan. I was sad to go from 28 POINTS to only 29 PROPOINTS especially since the inflation was way high on a bunch of stuff. But I embraced the new plan this week and lost.......2.6lbs!!!! LOVE!!!

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  40. David - lol @ the cheeseburger - that's pretty much what I was thinking. I sent a note through the website. I can send them a screenshot if necessary.

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  41. I have been at lifetime since July, 2010. I love the new points system. That said, I TOTALLY agree with the comments that lifetimers should get free etools. I too miss them but that was also a goal of mine to reach lifetime, was not paying - it made me reach hard and deep some weeks. Then to find out, I still had to pay, made me sad. It took me 17 long, hard months to lose 46 pounds. I miss etools, but do not want to pay. I attend meetings, I weigh still every week, I buy WW products at meetings and in the stores. I want my free etools! Just a suggestion.

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  42. Also want to note that I too have been very satisfied. The extra weekly points make me a little nervous, but so far so good (down 2lbs last week). I love that the activity points are more significant.

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  43. Beth, I don't like it at all either. I am 8 pounds away from goal and am really disappointed. I am a very healthy eating vegetarian and am now being punished for eating whole grain carbs. If I had wanted this, I would have bought the South Beach book and added a little fruit in. And I would gladly count points for fruit to have not had whole wheat bread and tortillas double and triple in point value.

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  44. So far, so good. I've been doing it since it came online Monday, but don't go to a meeting until Saturday and this is the one thing I would have changed. I would have had us all go to a meeting before dealing with the online stuff as I think a lot of people got overwhelmed with not really knowing what the plan was, but trying to track online. Count me as on board! The WI will tell the tale...

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  45. So where are the answers to all these questions? It doesn't help me at all to read questions and concerns without any answers.

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  46. Haven't weighed in since I started the new plan and I'm getting used to it. The most frustrating thing is that I've asked several times in different venues why calories aren't a part of the points calculation. I never get an answer; I just get patted on the head, patronized and encouraged to try the new plan. I'm using the new plan - I just want to know why calories don't matter any more.

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  47. Yes. The big downside is wine. The upside is that perhaps the undercounting of it before (and a few other favorites) are why I wasn't losing much.
    E-tools are GREAT.. a couple of wonky things on the change over, though, (at least on my Ipad) like difficulty deleting from favorites, nothing saved in recently added, some things only allow listing by serving (vs. amount) so you have to remember what amount a serving of something was when you entered it in the calculator.

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  48. I love the new plan in many ways, particularly the zero points on fruit, but also because the higher allowances just seem to make everything mentally easier. I've been more faithful and accurate about tracking this past week, because I've actually got the points to be able to have the snacks I want without going over.

    I'm glad for the new calculator app on my Android phone, because I would feel annoyed if I were forced to buy the calculator gadget at my meeting, seeing as how I already pay a monthly membership fee. I'm also glad to hear that a full blown Android app is in the works for next year.

    What I'm not a fan of (and wasn't under the old system either) is how Activity Points are calculated. Simply estimating my rate of perceived exertion seems far to vague and subjective to me. For example, my normal 1 hour run could be 5 AP if I list it as moderate, but as many as 12 AP if I list it as high intensity. HUGE difference. I'm a math major, so correct numbers are important to me. Seems like computing AP could be far more accurate than they are, especially considering how scientific things are on the food side of things.

    For now, I plan on erring on the side of conservatism and continuing to use my heart rate monitor to determine calories burned. Under the old system, 100 calories burned = 1 AP, or so I always heard. I've seen several online comments from supposed Leaders that say it's now 80 cb to 1 AP, but nobody seems willing to confirm. Dividing by 100 is easier than 80 anyway, and at least this first week I didn't even touch my AP, so I'm going to see how this works out for me.

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  49. Judi, I am totally with you on the free e-tools or app for lifetime members. It is hard to switch to the new system as a lifetime member without all the tools on hand. I did buy a complete food companion but being a college student, its a little hard to carry around with me all day. An app for free for those of us who weigh in every month would make life much easier :)

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  50. FREE E-TOOLS FOR LIFERS! FREE E-TOOLS FOR LIFERS! FREE E-TOOLS FOR LIFERS! FREE E-TOOLS FOR LIFERS! FREE E-TOOLS FOR LIFERS! FREE E-TOOLS FOR LIFERS! FREE E-TOOLS FOR LIFERS!

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  51. Having a hard time eating all my points. I was already eating so much fruit and veggies that that was most of my points. Now I am having to figure out what to eat to add more points. Do not like the points calculator--it is hard to push the buttons--very flimsy. Found an app on my droid and am using it. I just made lifetime a couple of months ago and had dropped my etool because of finances. I am afraid this plan will be hard to follow without it. I may stick with the old plan for the time being just because I have it down better and don't have to have the etool for that.

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  52. Free e-tools for lifetime members would be really great! I don't feel like a should have to pay for something that in my mind I've "earned" by reaching my goal weight.

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  53. Great week. Lost 2.4 lbs. Love the free fruit. My biggest problem was we were eating more lagunes (red beans) to avoid eating red meats - now those points are so high, I'll probably change the menues more to avoid them again. Takes more planning, but so did points the first time we started. I use etools and track online, but will someday use a phone app.
    Thanks for moving the program forward.

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  54. @Marcia...It's not that calories don't matter, it's that they're now using the actual components of calories instead of the total number. They're taking into account what the calories are made up of (protein, carbs, etc) instead of just using the total. 300 calories of sugary garbage used to be the same points as 300 calories of eggs, toast, and ham, but no more.

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  55. I have been on the new plan for one week and love it. We'll see what the scale says tomorrow night. I am also a lifetime member who is currently over goal and paying for weekly meetings. I think that lifetime members should have access to etools. We are some of your more dedicated members.

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  56. I was very skeptical at the beginning of the week. I actually weighed in on Wednesday, but didn't really start the new program until Thursday. I needed the day to wrap my head around all of the changes. Having said that, I had a good week, down 3.2 pounds. I did use all of my 49 extra points and some of my 32 activitiy points, but that's the point, right?! I'm excited to see how this week ends up and really feel like I may be able to become a lifetime member and not just a lifer of WW for the 1st time ever!

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  57. I have been a Weight Watcher employee for 10+ years as a receptionist. Loving the new plan! I firmly believe it was that welcome change that we all needed. I worked five meetings last week and this week and the response from everyone has been wonderful! The comment that I have heard the most is that this plan is steering them more towards fruits and vegetables for no PointsPlus instead of reaching for the higher point snack! I've seen lots of weight loss this week and that is awesome!

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  58. I love the PointsPlus -- I have been stuck for the past 3+ months and was actually down 2.4 lbs having only been on the new plan 4 days (and it was after Thanksgiving!) Does anyone know why my husband's points would be the same as mine. We are both at 29 points. He is small -- 5'7" and 145 lbs but extremely active. I have a sit down job - he is constantly on the go. He does add up his activity points -- Any thoughts?

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  59. Don't care for the cheap calculator. What you need is a calc that has all the pre-programmed foods/ points, like in the little guide book, so that with a touch of a button you can select the items you ate, change the portion size if necessary, and let's you go back and review what you ate for the day/ week/ etc.

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  60. Points Plus rocks! I have been a Lifetime Member for a year and a half, and go to meetings every week at my WW @ Work program. I've been a faithful tracker, but was needing a tweak in the motivation department. Points Plus provided the change-up I needed to really get back on track. Wow! All the fruits and veggies I love! I've left 13 Points Plus Allowance on the table and I didn't spend my 17 activity points. Okay, the fact that WW yogurt and WW Latte Bars are now 3 points is a little scary. So I might sub some fat-free cottage cheese smothered in blueberries for a latte bar. I can live with that! And the wine... well, I had already limited my self to wine only on weekends -- and only one glass. So, my goal for the holidays is no gain. I think Points Plus will help me achieve that goal!

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  61. Woman who totally loves WWDecember 8, 2010 at 3:55 PM

    Started the new plan last week was really worried seemed I was eating so much more food, I couldn't beleive I could lose weight eating this much. This past Saturday at my meeting I lost 3.2 lbs. was very exited not so worried about it anymore. Thanks WW you have helped me lose over 50 lbs I'm just 7 lbs away of getting back to my goal weight.

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  62. David, I am with you about the wine! OH BOY! What a major disappointment, but yes, a reminder that it's not a basic food group, LOL! I LOVE the new plan, and had already started losing weight this week until I blew it today with some over the top birthday celebrating. That's okay - I already know the new plan works and even though the scale likely won't be my friend at weigh in this week, I know that the new plan IS my friend, and next week will be awesome without my unusual temptations. Good job on helping us figure out that eating food mostly from the outer perimeter of the grocery store (not mostly the processed foods on the aisles) is the way to go. It does force you to make better choices for success, which is what I needed. This is my umpteenth time as a WW in my life, but have never been this close to goal - about 15 lbs to go - 44 lost so far. I've also learned to forgive myself for the occasional bad week (like this one) and move on! You guys rock - best plan yet!

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  63. As a lifetime member of 5 years My husband and I were excited about the new program. It made a lot of sense and I have always felt that fruit should not be counted. We had been getting a little lax on the points program and had gained back a few pounds we were trying unsuccessfully to get back on. I threw away all the old materials, calculated the new points plus for all our favorite recipes. We meticulously counted every day and every meal. I stayed the
    same and my husband gained 1.5 LBS. I am not very encouraged by these results. We plan on sticking with it and hoping that this week was just a fluke. Hoping next week will be better.

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  64. Embraced the change for the first week, but bottom line for me is this: It takes too much time to key in all the new things to figure out points. I like to cook without lot's of rules like measuring, looking at each ingredient, keying in four different things for each ingredient - weighing my food - sheesh! I have three kids!

    If I rotated the same meals every week, it would eventually become easier - but I really like to change up meals a lot.

    I think the new pointsplus is fantastic for people who need to be taught how to eat healthy. But for those of us who already make healthy choices, good ol' eyeballing and calorie counting might save us lots of time. I stopped doing WW this week and have already lost a pound.

    That said, WW has made some incredible changes that encourage people to make healthier choices consistently. I hope lot's of people benefit from it. For me though - the change was enough to make me quit WW for now and spend all that time that I was looking up values with my kiddos instead!

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  65. Thanks for sharing David. I like the new Points Plus. I have been on WW for a year and lost 32 and 1/2 lbs. I have Thyroid Disease and so it's really slow. The 32 actually came off fast (roughly in about 4 months), but then I got stuck. The scale is moving again, thanks to PP! I do tend to choose more fruits and steer away from the higher points foods! It's working. Also, I agree about the Points Plus calculator. It's hard to get it to open and you have to press just right and really hard to get the numbers to work.

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  66. I agree with many previous posters, I am loving points plus - it just feels healthier and I lost 2.8 this week on points plus, really only tracking the 2nd half of the week. I am reaching for fruits where before I would have grabbed a granola bar or other packaged snack.

    I also agree with other posters on etools for life time members. I am a life time member (not currently at goal weight so paying) but when at goal, it would still be nice to use etools without the monthly cost. Even if it can't be free, perhaps a heavily discounted rate? I am struggling with what I will do once I am back at goal because I rely heavily on the tracker on my phone. I'm not good at tracking with paper - but LOVE the iphone app.

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  67. I am losing on the points plus and am liking the program. You mention that its helpful to know what foods are inflated in value, like wine.

    Are there other things you can point out?

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  68. Love the new points plus, and SO glad to hear an Android app is on the way! Have a great day.

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  69. Point's plus is more complicated. It is more difficult to track acuratley. My old points calculator no longer works. None of the material that I have purchased and used in the past is helpful either. Are the smart ones going to have new points printed on the box?

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  70. Everyone I think our CEO makes himself known to us and shares with us but he can't possibly answer all your questions. Please talk to your leaders, call the 800 number or go to WW.com and post a message on the boards and a moderator can often post the answer. Its unfair to expect him to answer all these questions. I know he sought our thoughts by posting this blog but he also said we have a TON of resources to answer all our questions. Sorry But I just had to put that out there for the posting "I see all these questions but see no answers." Cheers

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  71. Well.....I was 3.4 lbs.from goal, with 18 Points and went to 29 PointsPlus. I already eat really healthy foods, so most of my foods did NOT go up in Point value, coupling that with free fruit and veggies....it's way too much food for me. I was uncomfortably stuffed.....and...I had my first ever GAIN of .4 lbs. So, I was NOT a happy camper. I've decided to listen to my body and stop eating when I'm satisfied, so have been under 29 the last bunch of days and it feels right for me.

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  72. Love the new program but loath that horrid calculator. Other programs require expensive tools and prepackaged meals.... offer a better calculator and I'll buy it... the current one is NOT acceptable.

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  73. I also agree that lifetime members should get e-tools @ no charge. We worked hard to get to goal and deserve e-tools at no charge.
    Also had a problem with the recipe builder doubling the points at the end.
    Otherwise loving the 0 points for fruits & veggies.

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  74. A few months ago the scale was on sale, I bought one, now its point counts are obsolete. Can WW give us a break on a new one?

    I agree with the others who posted regarding free etools for lifetimers. I'm close to goal once again now, on a fixed income, looking forward to not paying. But etools are even more essential, now that slide rules don't rule any longer;-)

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  75. Dave, you said this about the issue of a glitch in the recipe builder:
    "To all: recipes that include non-powerfood ingredients cause all of the nutritional content of the ingredients to be included in the total calculation (i.e., including the fruits and vegetables). When I have oatmeal with a banana on top, I enter them as two different items into the tracker."
    First of all, that TOTALLY DEFEATS THE PURPOSE of using the recipe builder! I cook a lot, and use the recipe builder to avoid the hassle of putting in dozens of ingredients each day (1 tsp of this, etc.).
    Furthermore, the fact that according to your logic, 2 apples are 0 points outside the recipe builder and yet 4 points in the recipe builder seems ridiculous. I sent WW a screen shot of a recipe I had started building, in which I had ONLY added 2 apples, and it came up with 4 points. With only the one ingredient. That seems like a big glitch.
    Or it seems to encourage us cooks to cheat by listing ingredients one by one.
    Can this be further addressed? Because although I like the new program, this is a definite concern.

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  76. Lost 5 lbs. first week. Love the new program.

    Agree with the others about the calculator. It is cheaply made and does not seem like it will last long. Would have been nice to see "Made in USA" on bottom - not China.

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  77. Dave, thanks for the great blog. I am a "lifetimer" for 26 years. I have had a few missteps, those happened when I DID NOT do my monthly weigh-in.

    I am below goal, quite a bit, and have been to meetings for the past 2 weeks. The new program is interesting, and I have seen them all. It's going to take some adjustments, I still track. Converting recipes is a HUGE challenge and yes, I agree, etools for lifetimers @ goal should be a given.

    The new calculator is not so good.

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  78. Week one has been a challenge, but so far, so good. I've been working hard at making sure I've done the mental transfer from the old system to the PointsPlus system. I've got to admit, there's part of me that misses some things- like my 1 point Fudge bars that are now 3 points, but otherwise, I'm noticing a trend to healthier eating overall. I love it!

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  79. Week one for me was easy enough to eat fruits and veggies and track - BUT I GAINED. WTH? About one third of my meeting group gained as well. I polled my receptionists and they noticed that those with less weight to lose did in fact gain, but encouraged us to keep going. I weighed myself the day after my regular meeting (at home) and I was down what I was up on my meeting day. So was it a fluke? Possibly. But I'm persistent and if it can help me get the last 15 pounds off, so be it. I'm a devoted member and won't ever quit, even if I feel like it from time to time.

    I would like to see some statistics or information on who gained their first week, and why? Was it because of tracking? Was it because of the points adjustment and they don't have as much to lose?

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  80. I started PointsPlus on launch day and said goodbye to 3.6 points. I am loving this new plan. I have seen that I am tracking better, making better decisions on what to eat (I put my daughter on notice that she is going to have to share the fruit), and listening to my hunger signals better than on the old plan. I am looking forward to Saturday to see how week 2 went.

    On a side note, I may not be lifetime yet but I do agree with the other posters concerning Free E-Tools as a benefit for making lifetime. I hear that a lot at the meetings I attend.

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  81. I think the buttons on the new Calculator are too small. I liked my old one! but thank you for the tool I can take shopping with me!

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  82. So how much taller? But seriously, I just made Lifetime in October and didn't like the idea of a program change. After all, I had lost the weight on the other program. But I really like it. I went from only having 18 points to having 29 and bananas are free. How great is that?

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  83. I am just trying to get back into Weight Watchers and I am very disappointed! From what I can see you will HAVE to have etools at ALLLLLL times now, as no one is telling you how to calculate how many points you have! Also, etools for iPhone and Blackberry's are not available for those of us in Canada, let alone an Android app!!! If etools is going to be so important, it's time to start putting out North American products rather than Canadian and American! We pay even more (with exchange) then Americans, yet we do not reap the same benefits!!!! By not providing us with the information that we need to calculate our points as we lose weight, we will always have to pay out of pocket! Well WW isn’t cheap to begin with, so once you get the feel of it and want to continue on your own, you are S*&^ outta luck! I feel this was a bad move on WW part! It doesn’t allow people to partake in a program that is proven to work without having to fork out more money! Everything that I bought previously is obsolete! BYE BYE $100+!!! Obesity rates are on the rise, yet everything to help you get it under control is rising even faster! Also, from the above comments, if regular items are pointed out higher to encourage people to buy WW brands, they also need to bring more of those to Canada! It’s great reading the WW magazine and seeing these wonderful ideas, then go to the grocery store and find out they aren’t available in Canada! Not cool! I am going to try this new program, but have a funny feeling that most of my fears are going to come true!

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  84. I'm loving the new PointsPlus program. I lost 4 lbs the first week, and i"m finding that I'm much more careful with my choices since the protein and carbs count now.

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  85. I love this new program. I have always thought WW was the healthiest way to lose weight, but it is now even healthier. It guides you gently to good choices and yet, lets you chose the way to get there.

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  86. What about a full fledged app for BlackBerry? I an very unhappy that everyone caters to iPhone. What's up with that? I love my BlackBerry.

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  87. I also agree about e-tools for lifetime members. Some sort of discount should be given. It is almost impossible to use the new system if you dont have the calculator of e-tools of aps. I have non of those except the calculator, Too expensive.

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  88. I LOVE the new plan and lost 2 lbs my first week on it. The fruits are a huge help in keeping me full without using points. My only concern is the points value of wine. I seem to be doing well on my dailys, so I guess I can use my 49 extras for the wine if I'm "celebrating."

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  89. I'm with Judi - the calculator is flimsy - very hard to get the keys to respond on the first press. Also - with the changes being a successful lifetime member isn't as free as it was. At least give us discounted e-tools and app. We are your best ambassadors, and there will always be new members coming in behind us. Julie, CT

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  90. Chiming in -- i trust WW and their science. Time will tell. But, seriously BAD call on the points calculator -- it is flimsy, and non-responsive (I have to push buttons at least two or three times to get a number to register.). I found an unofficial points counter (no e-tool connection needed) online, but hate that I have to find back channel ways to make this new program work!

    I will hold off recommended WW to anyone until some time has passed on the new program. Usually, I am a walking, talking advertisement for WW, glad to talk to anyone about this healthy approach to eating, let alone weight loss.

    But, everytime I have done a WW program (5 times during my life, *I am finally LT*, starting in 1974 after the freshman 15 ste in), it has only improved.

    Best wishes, and work at a better quality points calculator, please. AND, free etools for LT members. It makes us stay connected, and we are your best marketing tool!!

    Fitting into my LBD for New Years this year,

    Shawna

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  91. I agree e-tools should be free for Lifetimers like myself. We come to meetings to show that we can keep the weight off as a support for those still losing and we still have to pay for e-tools. Ridiculous.

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  92. I really like the change. Ironically I just decided to get back on the "wagon" and restart online, and voila a new program. I'm 1 week in and 2.5 pounds down. I do like the free fruits, and I am very careful. I was proud to pass up the christmas cookies at work the other day and have my 1/2 grapefruit - just cause I could! Thank you!

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  93. We should have been able to have turned in the old calculator ( which I just bought a few weeks ago!) and received a new calculator. AND this NEW calculator is cheaply made! I am very upset about buying so much last month that WW knew would not be able to be used after Nov. 28th. and not being informed about the future obsolete items I was buying in good faith. I feel very cheated!!!! No wonder people are obese...when the expense of losing weight is so high ever way we turn..fresh food, lower fat foods, whole grains, and now Weight Watchers too.

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  94. I am sticking with the Momentum Program. I have lost 66.2 lbs. and I will use it to get the next 41.8 off to goal.
    This new program is nothing but a money making machine - new calculators, new books, etc. If the Momentum Program was good enough for 10 years, then leave good enough alone.
    I am not helping WW become richer than it is now.

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  95. It looks like a lot of people on there are losing about 2-3 pounds on the first week, and I congratulate each of you. I did not switch over yet but will soon.

    The only thing I don't like so far about the plan is how they are nickel and dimming everyone now on the new plan. $6 (for now $12 after December) for a new points calculator or you can use the E-Tools when you pay $10 a month (but you cant take it to the store with you, I know there are apps for the phones as well).

    Someone brought up that the Points calculator (which looks like a woman's compact or a birth control pack, I know WW is mostly women but men DO use the plan) does not even calculate your Action points (exercise) you NEED either the E-Tools or Phone apps to figure this out...

    How do you make a TON of money really fast? Change the plan and charge the people $6 each for something you used to get for free.. (one million people on the plan an instant $6 million dollars in one month). We were told that a "Free" slider was not able to be created and since they had to produce an electronic version they are selling them at cost ($6) but after the month of December they will be $12. What does the $40 a month we pay for go to? I thought it covered the "Tools" we needed to do this diet?

    I know the plan works (have lost over 26 lbs in the last 11 weeks)I just think its crappy that with the new plan we get charged for the tools when they were given to us for free.

    Thanks for reading my rant....

    -Ira Locke

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  96. I am a true believer in the Weight Watcher's Momentum program and have lost over 60 lbs. I have different feelings about my program being booted away and am choosing to not switch to a different one, because "if it's not broken, it doesn't need fixin."
    David, I have the upmost respect for you, cause ww has totally changed my life forever, but I feel that the change over was not handled right, and we should have been given a choice of what program to continue with. Our tools that we purchased on the momentum are now void, and some of us are not happy with how it went down. With the economy, some of us cannot go and purchase new tools. I signed up unemployed, before I got my job 7 months ago.
    All I ask is, please think next time before you switch so drastically. Your momentum program is awesome and I have learned so much from the set points to filling foods.
    Thank you for reading my post and I personally want to thank you for changing my life.

    Melody B
    melody1961@msn.com

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  97. Instead of a slider, were they not able to figure out how to do a low-tech points counter for all four aspects (carbs, protein, etc.) in a circle? Set each round of the circle to the appropriate number and get a point total? Seems like something logical that an engineer should be able to figure out. I use my phone app, but it doesn't seem right that there isn't a free method of calculating out points, especially for existing members.

    That being said, this was the first week in years that I've done WW that I didn't feel like I was obsessively starving myself. 19 points a day was pretty rough on even the most healthy-eating girl, once you calculated in a couple of pieces of fruit and a glass of milk. 29 points seems almost decadent.

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  98. Where can I find the corrections list for the mistake on the books, I am a life time member and do not have access to E-tool, One item I have find out is the 94% pop corn in the 2 books I have (I have bought the de luxe kit) it is marqued 1 point,if I calculate it it is 3 points. I love the new program I have lost 1.6 pound last week. I have sent an e-mail asking the question to WW and I was told to call, they should have told me where to get the corrections,

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  99. WW has been a great program for me. I loved using e-tools as I lost my weight over the past year. Please consider giving Liftimers e-tools for free along with the monthly check-in.

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  100. WI is today !! Yeah !! I started the new program 3 days earlier than my meeting date (etools were available and I took in an extra meeting) and lost 4.8# that week (and it was Thanksgiving week). I love the new program because he steers me into making better choices. On the old plan I would rationalize with myself that 2 points for Lorna Doone cookies were the same as 2 points of fruit. I am feeling fuller and I'm pretty much not snacking at night !!

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  101. Hey, it's nice posting comments and questions, but it would be super nice if somebody responded here or somewhere. I do WW online, have questions/concerns (like, I gained on the first week)....and have nobody official to talk to. Maybe the online folks could have a mentor in WW they can contact?

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  102. I am a lifetimer....and I too believe that E-Tools should be a free perk for lifetimers. We are WW sellers, telling everyone HOW we did it. I hear a lot of people talk how they believe we got screwed with having to BUY a points calculator! And the calculator doesn't always respond to touch! What the hell?? Cheap stuff. Why could'nt a slide or circle device have worked? Is it ALL ABOUT THE MONEY? I think so! The new program is just that.....something "new" to get people into thinking this IS THE PROGRAM THAT WILL DO IT!!! Change is what we look for to break habits. And the mark-up on the products is 100%....did you know that???? Its a money-making outfit just like everything else. In these terrible economic times, think carefully about this undertaking.

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  103. Hi Dave! I love reading your blog! As a staff member my week 1 was insane! Not so good for me but mainly good for members! Had a couple comments for previous posters ( if you are still reading ). eTools is awesome and we know it! But I can tell you that it can be done without them. Use your meeting team as a resource... Many of us did PointsPlus for several weeks with only a pocket guide, calculator, and complete food companion. My calculator was a little fussy too. I just bought a second one to have on hand and the keys are much more responsive. It's great! I love pointsplus!

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  104. Hello David,

    I've been on the program for four years (60 lbs lost) and during that time I've seen you guys roll out four 'new' programs.

    I can't say I'm terribly happy with the new program.. while some of the previous changes I've witnessed have proven to make the program simpler to follow, this one seems only to complicate matters. Worse though, is that it renders almost all the previous materials completely irrelevant. This is unfair to long-time members who have put their faith and money into past programs.

    I could go on, but I've pretty much summed up my view here:

    http://andiegoddessofpickles.blogspot.com/2010/12/wwwednesday-corporation-is-corporation.html

    I encourage you to take a look. This is one member whose faith is shaken.

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  105. I used to pay $13 a week to attend weight watchers meetings and get to my goal weight.

    Paying 12.95 a month to keep my etools doesn't seem to bad to me.

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  106. Two questions to a relatively new follower:
    1. GSS = getting started session?
    2. Why should it be obvious that you don't weigh in on Saturdays?

    We just started having a Saturday mtg here in Podunk, OK and I love it! It's at 8:30 in the morning and I can go in my workout clothes (read: light-weight) and before I've had breakfast for a truer weight. I'm a Monday-thru-Friday corporate drone. There are no other AM meetings I can get to. So, I aim for Saturdays!

    Jennifer (with no URL and no other way to post my name)

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  107. Hey Dave !! Love your blog !!

    I've been on the Points Plus program 1½ weeks and have lost 6.4 lbs.

    I was skeptical when I first started snooping on the UK site, but I truly love it !!

    I think this time around I will certainly have a healthy relationship with food.

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  108. I agree!!! Lifetimers should get "free" etools!!! I have been for 7 years and we seem to get shoved under the rug!! I attend meetings weekly and like the new calculator. Don't know if I will use it to track, however.

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  109. Lucky you if you pay $6 for the calculator. We paid $10 in Arizona and they told us that was discounted from the regular $16.

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  110. $12.95/ month for E-tools is really reasonable. How many of us were buying double cheesburgers at $4.35 that only lasted 2-3 minutes.

    If you want free e-tools become a Weight Watcher staff member. I was happy to pay the $12.95 until I became a leader and it became free.

    When I am no longer a leader I will glady pay for E-tools as I use the site daily.

    Best wishes to all.

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  111. I feel like the only person who didn't lose any weight since the new program launched??!! I wish there had been a transition week to give us time to prepare (shop, ask questions, calculate existing foods, etc) before having to jump right in. I'll keep trying though....hopefully will lose instead of gaining this week.

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  112. Some of you are saying that the new calculator is $6 now and at cost is $12? Here where I live they are charging $15.95 for the calculator and $55 for the deluxe kit. How can there be such a big difference in price?

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  113. I do WW online, but went to a meeting to buy a calculator and they charged me $15.00. I have to press the "On" button like 4 times before it will go on....sigh...

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  114. I love the new program. Down 1.5 pounds this week and I feel I have to force myself to eat all my 29 points because I am so full. I am eating more veggies, instead of grabbing for a 1 point serving of fat free Pringles! I do have to whine about the wine, though! Four PointsPlus for each glass--ouch!

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  115. I'm loving the new program! Sure, there's a bit of a learning curve because now I have to calculate the new PointsPlus value for everything I'm eating. In the past, I knew the Points value for all my staple foods by heart. I know it will only be a matter of time until I'm that way with the PointsPlus value for things.

    The biggest thing I love about the new plan is the free fruit. I've been hoping for this one for a long time! Not only do I love not having to give up part of my Daily Target Points for it, but I've also found that I'm not craving sweets as much. I can only assume it's due to the fact that I'm eating more fruit now, so I'm getting more natural sugars (fructose) which is satisfying my sweet tooth. Whatever it is, I love it because I'm far less tempted these days!

    Melissa
    http://www.melgetsfit.com
    @MelGetsFit

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  116. I really need the Android APP!!!!! I wouldn't have purchased a calculator if I knew that the only thing the current android app would do is the same thing the calculator does. Very disappointing but I am very glad to hear that you are on it. However, just so you know the Android platform is twice as used as Apple so not liking the weed comment all that much. I'm very excited for this program though. I lost 101 pounds and have gained 40 back. My own fault for not staying on program. So as of today the cliche New Year's resolution of losing weight will be a reality and lose the 40 and then the 50 I have to go after that. When a leader didn't show up one day a few years ago, I subbed and had a fantastic time. That is something I REALLY want to do. So there I have said it. I want to lead a weight loss support group.

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  117. It's no big deal to pay for eTools, even for Lifetime members. Hey! you'll save that much on not buying junk food. It Costs Money to develop a great application like eTools and mobile eTools. The computer guys that work on these apps charge by the hour, and they are expensive.

    You don't want Weight Watchers to start losing money and go out of business, do you? I know I don't. It's the only program that worked for me to lose weight and get healthier.

    Geez! $13 bucks a month for eTools - No Problem!!!

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  118. Is it too late to comment? I hate it. I lost 50 pounds on the points program and I've kept it off for 3 months. I hate learning the new points and losing all my foods that I've put in over the last 3 years. I'm completely annoyed that microwave popcorn is 3 points now!!!! I will say I do feel I'm finally getting the appropriate activity points for all I do (it's quite easy to get to 28 pts now).

    It was too stressful and hectic to do this and my job and my family all in December. So guess what didn't get done?

    I did start Jan 1 with SF (less tracking and less focus on points). So far so good. And I can have popcorn again...

    Thanks for keeping it fresh and in tune with recent research though. I'll get there.

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  119. Okay, Mr. Kirchoff, it's now SPRING. Where's the Android App?!

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