[CHANGES] WW Schedule "Free Days" and More

[Sandra K. Ahten]

Friends,
This message contains:

I          Weight Watcher schedule for this week
II         Request for your help with a solution
III        Information on the "Changes" Mailing List
IV        Do you need a "free day" from the WW program?

I     Weight Watchers will be closed on Thursday, but I am on schedule this
week with all of my regular meeting times at the Champaign Center at the
Shoppes of Knollwood.  Here is my schedule:
Tuesday 5:15 pm; Wednesday 9:30am, Noon, 5:15pm, Friday 7:30am, 10am, Noon

II  I am compiling a "Chocolate Fix" list.  Please email me and let me know
what you eat when you want / need chocolate.

III Please feel free to forward any of my email. If you are receiving this
as a forwarded email from someone else -- just drop me a line and I'll add
you to the list so that you can receive it directly.  If you are going to be
changing e-addresses, please send me an email with your new address so that
you can keep receiving the email.  Everyone is welcome, you do not have to
be a member/ student/ etc.

IV   Following is an exchange that I read on the www.weightwatcher.com "Food
Talk" message board.  I though you might find it helpful. Some abbreviations
used:
****  = some other diet program as explained; WI  = Weigh in; OP  = On
Program

DANA ASKS:
A year ago I did ****.  A weight lifting, aerobics, and
eating-the-right-thing plan. I'm sure you've all heard of it. It's great,
but very hard to stay on. In that program he says that 1 day of the week
should be your free day. Eat all you want of everything you want. Then you
don't feel so deprived, and you have something to look forward to. It's easy
to be good when you know you can still eat some of the things you like once
in a while. I did this and really did good the rest of the week. Does
anybody think this is a good thing? Maybe it keeps you craving things you
shouldn't have. What do you think?

JULIE REPLIES:
My opinion does not really count here. This is my third time back! So much
for my opinion.  I do however sort of agree with you!! By banking some
points this time I will be doing the same thing. Today is my FIRST WI since
I came back. Saturday was my so called Free Day. If I lose I will continue
to Bank and have that so called Free DAY by banking. It sure is really
something to look forward too.

PATTY REPLIES:
How badly do you want to lose weight? If you can have your "free day" remain
only one day, then try it. For myself, that one day always stretched longer
than one and I found it difficult to get back on track. Eventually, it
wrecked my program. If you save up your points and stay within them, you'll
be in better shape. Just remember that if you have a 50-60 or more point
day, then you'll spend the rest of the week catching up. Personally, I'd
rather skip the treats and get the weight off faster.

OP -- this time -- since 4/22/02 ... Hey, this program works if you work
it -- who knew?

KAY REPLIES:
Remember, though - WW doesn't tell us to deprive ourselves of anything.
There is no "bad food".  It's the portions that do us in. So when a craving
sets in, figure it into your daily points - but do it in moderation. There
was a man in my group who lost over 100 pounds. He always said "the last
bite tastes the same as the first bite - so just eat two bites, and make
them your first and last bites." He ate what he wanted to - just fit it into
his points plan - and he lost a lot of weight.

Something else that's worked for me is: try at least one new thing each
week - a new recipe, new product, etc. You'll be surprised at how you can
reset your "cravings" - now I have some favorite low fat recipes that I find
myself  "craving".   One day at a time

WILLOW REPLIES:

I did **** too. At first I thought the free day was great but as time went
on I found it to be very counter productive. WW helps you find a healthy
lifestyle that you can also maintain. I occasionally will go off the program
and pig out on my favorite food (pizza) but get right back on the program
the next meal. This has not hampered my weight loss efforts and helped me
satisfy my cravings.

IVENANET REPLIES:
I occasionally go over points, but I always still journal them. That helps
me keep from going hog wild and ruining a whole week of being good. The
different between WW and **** is that the WW program is flexible enough so
you can handle your cravings without "cheating." That's a much healthier way
to approach food. By banking points ahead of time, we can eat the things we
want. I can really image using what WW has taught me for the rest of my
life. **** is just a diet.

PECAN31 REPLIES:
I always give myself Saturday as a free day (unless I have a wedding or
party on another day of the week). I find that I'm able to go right back on
the following day. I've been losing 1/2 - 1 lb per week consistently. I'm
sure that if I didn't give myself that free day, I may have better weight
loss, but this is fine for me. It's really all trial and error. this may not
work for someone else. Experiment...... I truly believe that a free day is
necessary to be able to enjoy those extra treats.

Good luck!  There are so many things in life that we can't control. One
thing we can control is our weight...Don't give up on yourself - you CAN do
this!!!

MELISSA REPLIES:
Can an alcoholic have a free day? I don't think so. I am learning how to eat
like a normal person. If I tell myself I can go wild one day a week I would
be in trouble in a hurry. Eat sensibly and do it consistently . Have a treat
now and then, in moderation, work it into your point plan. This plan gives
you the flexibility. Remember that WW is a new way of life, you are
re-training yourself. Don't fall into the trap that you can diet for a few
days and then go back to eating whatever and whenever you want. That is what
gets us to this point in the first place. Stay on track, slow and steady
will win this race, for a lifetime! I don't mean to preach, but I have done
that whole game of I-will-be-good-today-and-then-I-can-be-bad-later. Learn
moderation.

**********
Hope this "food for thought" is helpful and hope to see you soon!

Sandra
PS. Did you see the article about my art classes in the local News Gazette
this Sunday? If anyone could bring me in a copy I would appreciate it.
Thanks.

© 2002 by Sandra Ahten