Picky Eater

[marinewife]

I'm just getting started with weight watchers and I'm extremely hungry at 20 target points. I'm so picky. I don't like any vegetables - except of course the starchy kind. I also find that I'm more hungry at night when I'm not so busy. Does anyone have suggestions on how to get low points for breakfast and lunch and save the bulk for dinner? I'm trying not to use the flexpoints because I feel like it will hurt my weight loss, but I haven't had big losses at all. The most I've lost is 2 lbs. at a time. Now I'm wondering if I should try to use more flex points in a day. I also have APs. I average 2-4 a day. Can someone please help with my low target points?

[pikamom]

Dear MW--I eat a lot of vegetables now, but started out the way you are talking. You need to be sure to eat whole grain things--bread, oatmeal--etc if you don't eat the vegetables. There are a lot of way to incorporate some in smaller amounts to get used to eating them though. I do romaine lettuce wraps for lunch all the time. Using a large leaf of romaine, I wrap turkey, cheese, bellpepper strips, bean sprouts etc and then dip the wrap in Lite Done Rite salad dressing.

Have you tried the 0 point vegetable soup yet? It is good and can stave off the hunger some. What about Boca burgers? I eat them all the time. I cook mine in Heinz 57 steak sauce--one of those with the roll and mustard is only 3 points.

Wish I had more info for you-buddies here have a million ideas and I am sure will share some with you. Love, Cinde graemlins/wave.gif

[crystallyn]

I wouldn't worry so much about the Flex. They are there precisely to help you from being hungry. If you are still feeling hungry at the end of the day, up your points target by just a couple of points each day, dipping a little into your flex points. I bet you would be pleasantly surprised. I know MANY buddies who use all their flex points and still lose every week. Especially if you are getting APs, you should eat them. If your body says you are hungry, you probably are.

Do you like fruit? Try to stock up on your favorite kinds. Eat an apple before each meal...will help stave off hunger and get needed fiber in.

Also make sure you are getting enough protein. Even small amounts of protein and fat can help you stay satiated. I can have an egg and an English muffin with a little peanut butter in the morning and that will easily keep me until dinner if I need it to, with maybe a small snack in between. If I had cereal, that wouldn't have been the case because the protein really helps to keep me full.

I usually have small breakfasts and lunches and save most for dinner. I try to have a little yogurt tube in the morning (get the kiddie kind...usually 1 point) with some coffee, and then I will have fruit at about 10AM to get me to lunch, then will have soup or a small sandwich, with another small fruit or nut snack in the afternoon, with the bulk of my points for dinner. Experiment with various things and figure out what fills you up.

Hope this is helpful!

[ashlee]

Personally, eating sufficient protein goes a long way to keeping me full and on program.
I could not imagine not eating veggies and fruits so learn to like them. lol

Ashlee

[lilbunnygirl]

I would advise using flex points. If your body thinks your starving it - the weightloss will slow down. You should probably eat your APs also - you earned them! smile.gif

As for the veggie thing...I found that I like more veggies raw than cooked. So try each veggie a different way - steaming is good too smile.gif The important thing is to keep trying new things - that way you never get bored or in a routine that becomes monotonous :D

GOOD LUCK!

[marinewife]

Thank you for all the great info. I do stay away from cereal in the morning. Everytime I've eaten cereal, I'm hungry about 30 min. after I ate it. Don't get me wrong too. I have tried different vegetables and I've grown to like greenbeans. I mostly stick with carrots, cucumbers, corn, and salads. This morning I had 2 slices low sodium low fat bacon and a slice of bread for breakfast. I'm going to start using more flexpoints and I'll see what happens next weigh in. Thanks again for all the great advice.

[DuneRaiderette]

dont worry about losing "only" 2 lbs per week!!! its actually perfect! more than that, and you are losing muscle mass and organ tissue!!! scary!

[deborahdarling]

My biggest challenge has always been to get in fruits and veggies. I have discovered Campbells "Gardennay" soup- Harvest Vegetable variety. It is wonderful- half a carton is the equivalent of 1.5 servings of veggies and it tastes wonderfully creamy- if I need to get a milk in I add some milk as I heat it up. I also buy the little snack size applesauce (with cinnamon) and some of the fruit and veggie bars to keep in my desk. I find that if I can get in a fruit and an applesauce along with a salad during the day then I can easily fit 2 veggies in with dinner (especially if 1 of them is soup). I will also toss some raisins or chopped prunes into oatmeal or yogurt. A banana sliced up into a bowl of milk and sprinkled with some Splenda or a touch of brown sugar is a yummy treat. Or add some frozen berries to milk in the blender, a tablespoon of instant pudding powder and zip it up for a great shake. Sneak stuff in wherever you can- it fills you up and is really good for you!

[p.c.]

Hey marinewife! I am a marine wife, too! My husband just got sent to Iraq last week graemlins/sobbing.gif . I have decided to spread out my flex points and use 5 a day so I hit 25 points a day and am losing slowly, but surely. I only have 6 pounds to go, so I am happy to be losing at this pace. If you make yourself starve, you will EXPLODE one day and have a food fest! Remember, even if it is slow, it is more than if you weren't trying at all. I'm in 29 Palms, where are you?

[marinewife]

Thanks everyone for keeping me motivated.

P.C. I was near you. We are currently in HI, We just moved from Yuma, AZ. I'll be thinking of your DH. My husband was in Afghanistan from Oct. 2002 until Oct. 2003. It was a long journey, but we made it through stronger. He is in a training squadron here, so he is getting to take it easy for a little while. I'm glad. I had too much stress being a single mom of two with no help. I praise women whom do it every day.

[KelBel]

Just wanted to mention, there is a really great recipe for roasted vegetables in the recipe threads. Had it for the first time last week and could not believe how good it was. I am actually looking forward to having it again this week! Good luck!

~ Kellie