Today was my first weigh-in day for Weight Watchers online. It was a very short time ago that I was a hard-core WW hater. But now I feel more or less converted. And isn’t just because I lost weight this week, though I did. And it isn’t because I lost weight eating three meals a day and drinking wine (almost) every night with dinner. It’s because that as soon as the third day, I just started to feel better. Like better first thing in the morning, generally healthier and more vibrant. I was never hungry and everything I ate was delicious (because I cooked it). I wanted to share the top 10 things I learned (or relearned) my first week doing Weight Watchers.
1. Salt is king. Seriously. You know what is actually incredibly delicious and filling? Two cups of hot, homemade chicken stock with a cubed, sauteed zucchini and brown rice stirred in. But only if it’s seasoned properly. This satisfying lunch has only 3 points, FYI.
2. I don’t really need as much oil on everything as I thought I did. Around here, we buy our olive oil in a gallon-size tub and I have always used it with abandon. This week, I broke out the half-teaspoon every time I cooked something. The above mentioned zucchini was browned in just 1/2 teaspoon in a nonstick skillet. I made a humongous batch of white chicken chili with a single teaspoon on oil. Who would’ve thunk?
3. Flavor-wise, in-season fruits and vegetables simple have no peers. The peaches I ate this week put all but the most exquisite restaurant desserts I’ve ever had to absolute shame. Ripe peaches in July have a meltingly soft sweet flesh balanced perfectly by the fruits natural acidity. Seriously, have you eaten a peach lately? One point each! The above pictured plums were grown on the back patio of Green Aisle Grocery and allowed to ripen before being picked. I mean like chocolate cake step aside. And you can add freshness, crunch and volume to almost anything you eat with a creatively sliced cucumber for zero points. I have been eating a ton of fruits and vegetables. No wonder I feel so good.
4. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. One fried egg with whole wheat toast and a cup of coffee contains the protein and fiber I need to start my day–for only 4 points. A bowl of oatmeal with raisins, chopped toasted nuts and buttermilk (5 points) is a close runner up. Pancakes, at 7 points for a lone one with a tablespoon of maple syrup, is not that great a value but a nice weekend indulgence. Now that I know how indulgent it is.
5. Husbands are annoying. Not only did Dan scowl at me once this week for foregoing butter on my toast, he had the nerve to lose 2 pounds by association, by osmosis! He wasn’t following a program.
6. You can easily adapt pretty much anything you cook at home to be WW compatible through reducing the fat/meat, shrinking the portion size and adding a salad. (I’ll report back again on this one after I complete an upcoming recipe development assignment that requires me to fry a zillion chicken wings and match them with a bunch of cream dips of my creation.)
7. Our beloved pizza ritual–which includes 6 ounces of cheese and a whole bottle of wine between us–is only 14 points. Doable once a week.
8. One ounce of full fat Greek yogurt mixed with crushed garlic and shredded cucumber makes a 1-point condiment that improves a wide variety of savory foods.
9. You do not, in spite of everything I thought to the contrary, have to eat a single pre-packaged or reduced fat thing to follow Weight Watchers.
10. Even when you think you know everything about how much you’re eating and drinking and why, and even when you think you are the world expert in weight loss, trying something else can open your eyes to a lot of things. Sometimes conventional wisdom became conventional for a reason.
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This is why I love Weight Watchers. I’m not on it right now, but I have been on it for months successfully before, and it’s fine if you’re all about the prepackaged Lean Cuisine or whatever, but it’s even better if you cook.
Quinoa with roasted cauliflower and caramelized onions — almost no points at all. Lentil soup with chard and smoked paprika — ditto. And if you want a glass of wine every night, or a hearty helping of pizza once a week, it accommodates that. You just plan, and enjoy.
Enjoy!
Great post. I like the yogurt condiment idea.
Just got back from vacation and you’ve inspired me to get back on track. Congratulations on a very successful week one!
Yay! I’m so glad it’s working well for you. (Can’t recall if I told you this, but my husband, who *did* join with me, has lost 30 pounds to my 18. THIRTY pounds! Jerk.)
I have done WW for about a year and a half, which I am often hesitant to admit because of the image of the weight loss industry. That being said, WW follows tried and true weight loss methods, like recording what you eat, managing portion size, reducing refined carbohydrates, and increasing vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Through WW, I learned how to make better food choices throughout the week and increase the amount of real, unprocessed foods into my daily life. I also reached a healthy goal weight and have maintained it for close to a year, which is a first in my adult life. I’m glad it’s also working well for you.
On another note, #5 is also true for me. My husband doesn’t follow the plan, but we buy the same groceries and he lost weight as well.
I’m inspired by your fresh take on the food and losing weight situation. Thank you. I’ve been at my weight loss/maintaining it project for about five years now, and you’re a shot in the arm. I saw your photo on your other blog, and you look cute. But, I know it’s important that you feel good, too, and that you think you look cute. So, hang in there. Good luck!!
By the way, I can’t send your web address to a friend I know would be very interested in your blog; it keeps bouncing back to me as spam. Is there something in your url that’s making things cranky?
Congrats! I think one of the biggest misunderstandings about WW is that it’s all about fake food. Yeah, they do seem to push it at meetings but if you look at their cookbooks and their online recipes, they’re good, solid recipes. There are a lot of people who “eat clean” and do WW at the same time. Really, it’s about portion control and movement.
Great post Joy. I was always a WW hater too, but I’ve changed my mind about it since my mom joined and lost all the weight she wanted too over the last few months, while eating real food. Glad to hear it’s working for you, and that you feel good!
I’m glad it’s going so well!
great post Joy. Keep those healthy real-food tips coming!
So glad it’s working out. It sounds pretty flexible, which is nice. If you can’t have pizza on Fridays then what’s the point?