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.
Saturday, December 1, 2007 at 8:35AM 