Answers to Your Questions About Weight Watchers

On my way down the scale I have had several readers ask me some specific questions about my Weight Watchers experience and I thought I would take today’s post to address them. If you have a question about my WW experience just comment and I will answer and edit this post.

Are you doing the point system?

Yes I am. Currently Weight Watchers provides two separate plans to choose from. Either the Core Plan or the Points Plan. The Core plan has a limited amount of foods to choose from. Basically, if you only eat those foods then you will lose weight. I did not think I could handle that so I chose the Points Plan.

The Points Plan works by figuring out your daily “Points” amount according to weight, profession, sex, and age. Every food item has a point value. Some items do not but you can figure out the point value by taking a look at the nutrition label on food packages which we are all familiar with. Then each day you are to eat your allotted points for the day and you will lose weight. As you lose, you lose points so you will eat less as you lose more.

How many points to you have in a day?

I am going to leave this one alone and just say that because I am very overweight and a guy, I have a lot of points. I have found whenever I say how many points I have, people think “Oh well that is a bunch so you have it easy,” and frankly comparatively they are right. Except that what got me into this mess is that I was used to eating many more points then I do now so I can tell that I am eating less and less and more things that I would never had chosen in the past. I hope that is enough of an answer for you. Sorry L.

How much weight do you have to lose?

Yuck! This one reminds of the last one and my answer is about the same. I do not want to say. The reason? The comments like, “Well no wonder you are doing so well. It’s easier for people that have more to lose.” And yes, that is true except that WE WOULD NOT BE FAT IF WE HAD WILLPOWER and that is the bigger problem I think.

You have lost 30 pounds, how long has it taken you to lose that much?

On Saturday I also got to celebrate 16 weeks on the program. Being this committed for this long only keeps me coming back to the meetings each week and counting points each day. I am surprised that I have stuck with it this long. I attribute that to my wife, the 3 other friends that also go to meetings with us, and all of you bloggers and lurkers. The cheering section helps a great deal.

How does the mix of Weight Watchers and Diabetes work out for you?

A conversation last night with my Daughter on the way home from Disneyland brought forth a good look at how this program is affecting my diabetes. When I first thought about having to count carbs and now also points I figured that I would drown in a sea of numbers and calculations. It turns out that I have found that my numbers are much better since I started the WW. The carb count of my meals has dropped considerably since I am eating better. With that my ability to keep my BG in check has increase 10-fold. I was concerned that lows would screw me up but since you get an additional 35 points each week to use if you go over now and then, I have not found it to be a problem. Also, glucose tabs are 0 points J.

Has Weight Watchers affected your Insulin needs?

I have not needed to adjust my basal rates yet but I would figure those days are coming. I have found I use much less just because I am eating more foods without as many carbs as I used to.

Would you recommend it to other diabetics?

Definitely. I think about Weight Watchers and Diabetes and how the two have some similarities as far as limitations. I can still eat whatever I want. I have to make sure I know the carb count and the points value. I log my BG and my Points usage. If I exercise I help lower my BG and I get to earn extra Points. I must be conscious of portion sizes for proper carb and Points calculations. Low BG’s equals low A1C and less Points means less weight!

I hope that clears up some questions you may have had. If any new ones come up in these comments I will add them and let you know. In fact, I am feeling saucy. I get 38 points each day and I have about 70 pounds left to lose to get to my ideal body weight. I was over 100 pounds overweight which is why I joined. I knew I had lost all control.

You guys have a way of getting me to open up and tell you all kinds of stuff I never thought I would. I love that.

I Just Lost 30 Pounds...

I'm going to Disneyland!!!

Sorry, but this a short post. I will post a nice long meaty but low in points post tomorrow.

Weight Watchers - Update

Loss - 4.6 lbs.

Total Lost - 30.4 lbs.

BOOYAH!

I was not expecting that much so I was a happy camper. Will being 30 pounds lighter help me to make some good choices come Thanksgiving dinner? I hope so. Right now, I think so.

I am off for a round of Disc Golf.

Thanks for your support OC.

An Apology. A Survey. A Comment.

The very first thing I must do is apologize. My World Diabetes day post had a line that I must have deleted while editing. I am upset that I did not notice it and wanted to apologize. I hope that Allison and Sara will forgive me. I honestly had you guys in there right from the beginning of conception! (Kerri got a mention in a different category although she could have been in there too) The line has been added so I can sleep at night.

If you have not done it, please take the Why Diabetes Technology Matters survey. You can click on the image and let your voice be heard. It will only take a few minutes and for a scatterbrain like me, that is a good thing! Thanks for the getting the ball rolling on this Amy.

Did you guys read Bernard’s comment on yesterday’s post? I am going to paste it in here because I was LMAO this morning as I read it. This is about the Praying Mantis phenomenon occuring at my home. Bernard, you are so funny!

This is dialog believed to occur between the two insects. Enjoy

Mantis 1. "I was sitting on this car minding my own business. Next minute this really cool Ninja guy comes by, and guess what?"

Mantis 2. "What?" (In that tired voice, coz they hate answering guess what questions.)

Mantis 1. "He took a picture of me...and blogged about."

Mantis 2. "No way."

Mantis 1. "Way."

Mantis 2. "I don't believe you."

Mantis 1. "OK, you sit on his car yourself and see what happens. Go on. It's that dark blue SUV over there."

Mantis 2. "OK. But I'll bet nothing happens." (In that "I'm sure you're wrong, but just in case" tone of voice.)

This morning.

Mantis 2. "You'll never guess what happened."

Mantis 1. "What?" (In that tired voice his bro used the day before.)

Mantis 2. "That Ninja dude came by. And... And..."

Mantis 1. "He took your picture and blogged about it."

Mantis 2. "Dude."

Mantis 1. "Dude, told you so."

Mantis 2. "You're awesome."

Mantis 1. "I know."

Mantis 2. "Let's go tell the rest of the gang."

LOL That is so freaking funny.

And now I am back to counting points and carbs. I hope to goodness I have a loss of poundage this week. I have been extra crazy this week logging every little thing. Please keep your fingers crossed!

Correct Me If I'm Wrong

This morning as I was leaving for work I noticed a familiar sight on my tire. Except this time it was on my back tire.

You have guessed it. ANOTHER Praying Mantis! WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!??!!?!?

Now I need your help here. I am pretty sure that this is a DIFFERENT one. Please tell me if I am correct.

Here is the one from Sunday.

And this one from this morning.

It's different right!?!?!?

I wonder if my tire smell like yummy praying mantis food or something. I have asked several people around my home about it and most of them have never seen a live one before. I just think that is weird.

Do I need that many prayers?

I am just going to enjoy the uniqueness of it and be glad they are not Black Widows or Cougars.

:)