Newbie needs some input...

[Oct08Bride]

Hi all! I am going to start WW Dec 26, but am still teetering between whether Core or Points is right for me. For those of you on either plan:
1. What plan are you doing?
2. What is the biggest obstacle for you on that plan?
3. What made you choose that plan?
4. How much time do you devote to planning meals/counting points?
5. Any advice for me?

[cheri_j]

Welcome! You will find this is the best place for support, advice, and information! Everyone is absolutely wonderful here!

1. I'm on the flex plan!

2. The biggest obstacle for me is dining out. We only dine out about 2x a month, but it's still a challenge because I'm the only one on the plan and overweight.

3. I chose the flex plan because I can eat what my family does. I just have to plan ahead. I have been "dieting" all my life and what makes the flex plan successful for me is the fact that I don't have to deny myself anything! I can have that mindset that I can have something, like a piece of cake, as long as I plan ahead. Also, I am a habitual snacker. The flex plan still allows me to snack whenever I want, I just make healthier choices now.

4. I spend about 10 minutes each evening planning my next day's meals and calculating any changes I made to that day's journal. I journal in pencil, because there are so many days when things change. But if I bite it, I write it! Journaling is one of the keys to success. I also bring my points calculator where ever I go, especially grocery shopping. I want to make healthly choices when choosing new foods.

5. Advice? Embrace whatever plan you choose. This is not a diet, but a new way of life for you. Visit this forum often, participate in discussions, and don't be afraid of asking questions. There is no such thing as a dumb question. If you feel discouraged, tell us about it! You now have an army behind you, to support you - 24/7. We all know what you are going through! Also, attend meetings regularly. Set small goals. Remember that the weight is not going to come off overnight. Journal everything you eat. Exercise. I could go on and on, but then I wouldn't give anyone else a chance! I'm sure that more people have some great ideas!

Good Luck on your new journey!

[~Wendy~]

Welcome. Im a newbie to:bcb_happy

1. I do Flex
2. Dining out but I do save my WPA for it as we do go out at least once a week.
3. For me I choose it because I wanted to learn Portion Control. So I weigh and Measure everything
4. About 1/2 hour to 1 hour a week. I do a weekly meal plan and then do my grocery list from it. Spend most my time looking for good recipes to make as I like to try new things
5. Pick the one you think you will do best on. Attend the weekly meetings. Journal! and Drink lots of water.

[suzy-loozy]

I am a flexie as well......

I chose the flex plan, because I need structure, or at least I did in the beginning......and now it's what I'm used to. I like not denying myself anything and being able to go back through my journals and evaluate and stuff.....

Eating out isn't an obsticle for me and IS one of the reason's I chose flex. I am in outside sales, and get taken to lunch a lot, so flex allows me to do that, but I've also learned to make wise choices when dining out.....

I have found that I AM my only obsticle at times.....LOL

I will say this, I have a lot of freinds who are corbies and a lot who are flexies and we are both groups devoted to our plans and have learned to work them into our lives as a long term change....

Good luck!
:bcb_up

[Oct08Bride]

Thanks for the warm welcome! :bcb_grin I am already leaning more towards flex, but would still love to hear from some who are doing core so I can make the most informed decision. Any 'corbies' willing to input?

[laralosing4good]

I'm a Flex girl and I find that if you follow the plan to a T, you WILL LOSE! WHICH IS wonderful!!! GOOD LUCK!

[cheetara]

1. What plan are you doing? Flex, but I love both.
2. What is the biggest obstacle for you on that plan? For flex, not spending all of my pts on convenience foods - I'm a junk food junkie. For Core, getting enough calories in a day. I was always full!
3. What made you choose that plan? I'm doing flex because I have to take in a lot of calories right now (one of the "problems" of having a higher starting weight) - once I reach goal, I'll switch.
4. How much time do you devote to planning meals/counting points? Not a lot - the hardest part is finding your favorite foods and remembering how many points they all are, but that comes with time. I'm a spontaneous person, so I rarely plan but I have a general idea of what's in my fridge and lots of low pt foods for emergencies. I do spend much more time THINKING about food on flex.
5. Any advice for me? I think everyone should try both plans. Flex teaches you portion control and what foods you do and don't mind sacrificing and how to fit them into your lifestyle, and that is an essential tool. IMO, WW doesn't market core as well as it does flex (it's not all brown rice and chicken breasts). If eating mostly whole foods sounds good, then I'd say choose core - what I love is not having to count points for soy cheese or avocados or other things that I would never want to spend the points on while I'm on flex, and it gives me the ability to manage my junk food cravings more easily. You can find plenty of yummy things on core too! In the end, though, if you are the main cook and find your family can't hack one of the plans, I would go with the other.

[2 kute]

Welcome. Im a newbie to:bcb_happy

1. I do Flex
2. Dining out but I do save my WPA for it as we do go out at least once a week.
3. For me I choose it because I wanted to learn Portion Control. So I weigh and Measure everything
4. About 1/2 hour to 1 hour a week. I do a weekly meal plan and then do my grocery list from it. Spend most my time looking for good recipes to make as I like to try new things
5. Pick the one you think you will do best on. Attend the weekly meetings. Journal! and Drink lots of water.
I agree with Wendy. My biggest issue is portion control and eating until I'm stuffed, so the flex plan helps me to control portion sizes and be accountable for everything that I put into my mouth. My fear about the core plan is that I would overeat. Each one of us has our own issues and those issues help us decide what plan will work best for us.

[haleyj]

1. iam on the core plan and love it.
2. i really dont feel like i have faced any obstacles on the core plan, its a very satisfing plan.
3. i started ww in jan of 2006 the first night i went and the leader explained both plans i knew immediately i was going to chose core. why you ask? for me i knew i wasn't a person that could write down everything i put in my mouth, i knew if i had to do that i was headed for failure, don't get me wrong the flex plan is just as great a plan as the core, i know that because i've seen the results of the girls that are on flex and they are amazing. its just a person choice to do core for me and i love it , eating core is very satisfing. on core you also have to learn portion control and you don't have to deny yourself anything on core either because you can use your wpa for the things you really want that are not core. the core foods are all very healthy foods and very satisifing foods and i was out to get healthy.
4. i don't spend a lot of time planning my meals, i work long hours and i just don't have the time to do that, thats another great thing about core , lean meats, veggies, fruit, beans, it doesn't take a lot of time to put together a meal that is good and you can eat until you're satisfied.
5. both plans are great, just choose the one that suits your lifestyle best. drink lots of water, attend the meeting, the support is great. and remember how much you want this.
good luck you're in for the journey of your life and it will be great and you too will be a success.
SW-250
CW-154
WWGW-146














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