Weight Watchers

[Kathleen Smith]

Hello Everyone! Started Weight Watchers last Wednesday so today is my first weigh-in! Keep your fingers crossed for me please.

I was just wondering if anyone here did weight watchers and has any snack or meal pointers for me. Are any of the weight watchers convienant foods gluten free??? I wanted to find some "emergency" , low point foods I can have when I forget to cook my lunch the night before or dont feel like cooking SO much.

I mainly eat eggs, meat, veggies, potatoe, rice, occassional gluten free waffle, gluten free pretzels and salsa.

Anyone know of any popcorn that is gluten-free?

Or maybe some kind quick and easy, on the go bar?

Any ideas are appreciated.

[texasred8211n]

I have been going to WW and with plenty of exercise, have been able to slowly lose weight. I use the popcorn by General Mills for munchies and use very few prepared gluten free products. Glad to know you are are. I need the support.

[Cessairskye]

YAY for you taking even more control of your life! I love weight watchers it is a great program. Are you doing the meeting program or the on-line program? I do both, my meetings keep me accountable but there is a plethora of information on the website that I like to use. I find it worth the $12.95 a month. A great thing is the recipe database, if you find something you like but want to change out something (say take out the whole wheat tortilla and add lettuce) it does the points calculations for you.

Some suggestions....

Once a week when you go to the grocery store get bulk snacks that you like (dried fruit, nuts, gluten free cereal) and make snack size ziplocks that you can grab on the go (make sure you note the points so you know where you stand).

Also if you have the time make a zero point soup to keep in the fridge or freezer in individual sizes, this way when your running late you can grab and go.

I have a few individual steamer tupperwares that I use. When I make dinner I often have left overs and will prep my lunch for the next day by putting together my left overs in the steamer saver.

They say that members that have the most success are those that have stuff pre-made in their fridge and cupboards ready to go.

A fave of mine is spaghetti squash, I make a big one and keep it in the fridge, it's basically zero points and is a great gluten free, grain free base to any veggies and protein. Very versitile squash, you can sweeten it up with a touch of honey and cinnamon or use it with it your fave pasta sauce.

Take note that the higher in fiber the item is the less points it uses, go fiber! Fiber comes in many forms other than grains look for those things to be the base of your meals (veggies, beans) and you get to eat more.

If you really look the base of a good meal with WW is very gluten free friendly. Just be careful with frozen meals as they often have hidden gluten (sauces can be loaded).

Good luck and if you have any questions just ask!

Skye

P.S. don't forget your water and your exercise!!

[Amy Gallagher]

I would suggest shirataki noodles instead of pasta. They are 1-2 points per bag and add up to 2-3 servings of cooked pasta. They taste funny if you don't rinse them thoroughly, but if you use a good sauce, you can't tell the difference in texture or taste!

[ciavyn]

I preportion everything, as I like to avoid processed foods. An apple, banana, bag of nuts, preportioned hummus and celery, etc. As soon as I get home from the grocery, I throw together my portions so I know: this is what I can have. And so far, it's been pretty easy.

[Guest dyscelia]

I'm so glad to find this forum! I did weight watchers 2 years ago (before I knew I had celiac) and lost a bunch of weight on it. Since going on the gluten free diet I have gained weight--mostly because everything is higher calorie than their gluten equivilences. I am planning on joining weight watchers on Monday to get my weight back under control, and I can use all the support I can find!! The diet was tricky for me even back when I could eat whatever I wanted.. but now I have to worry about the gluten too .

Anyone have any more snack, meal or recipie ideas for low point meals/snacks? 2 years ago I could only have 22 points, but I'm guessing it will be less now . I'm definitely going to try to pre portion things like you guys have suggested!! =)

[Hummingbird4]

I'm so glad to find this forum! I did weight watchers 2 years ago (before I knew I had celiac) and lost a bunch of weight on it. Since going on the gluten free diet I have gained weight--mostly because everything is higher calorie than their gluten equivilences. I am planning on joining weight watchers on Monday to get my weight back under control, and I can use all the support I can find!! The diet was tricky for me even back when I could eat whatever I wanted.. but now I have to worry about the gluten too .

Anyone have any more snack, meal or recipie ideas for low point meals/snacks? 2 years ago I could only have 22 points, but I'm guessing it will be less now . I'm definitely going to try to pre portion things like you guys have suggested!! =)

I've been on WW for the past month and have lost 9 lbs. Ideally, I'd like to lose 8 more. My favorite snacks are 94% fat-free microwave popcorn, or hot-air popped popcorn. Also veggies and hummus! And fruit like apples, clementines, bananas. All good snacks. I used to love trail mix and almonds, but it's too many points so I mostly avoid them now.

Are you joining online or meetings? I'm online only, but I think with meetings you can also sign up for E-Tools online, and have access to recipes and message boards there. They are very helpful. Good luck!

[Cessairskye]

If you do on-line meetings the recipe ideas are GREAT! Some really good easy to use gluten free stuff. WW really is geared towards lower carb eating so being gluten-free is not to rough in the plan. I am thinking of doing a WW support page on here for us to share ideas, recipes etc...what do you guys think?

Skye

[luvs2eat]

Also check out www.dwlz.com online. It's a site made by a lady named Dotti (dwlz = dottie's weight loss zone) who lost a bunch of weight on WW and it's got TONS of information about restaurant points and recipes and forums.

Gearing up for WW...

[positivenrgfairy]

did you guys do the core or the flex plan? I did the flex in college and lost a ton of weight. I gained it back, of course, plus some, and now I need to start again. I think with the gluten-free diet, it might be easier to do core this time.

what is best?

[positivenrgfairy]

If you do on-line meetings the recipe ideas are GREAT! Some really good easy to use gluten free stuff. WW really is geared towards lower carb eating so being gluten-free is not to rough in the plan. I am thinking of doing a WW support page on here for us to share ideas, recipes etc...what do you guys think?

Skye

I would love it! I'm not starting WW just yet, as I read in WW magazine that it's best to start a diet-life change when you're not going through a separate big life change. I'll be done with school in 2 months, and in 2 months, I will have been gluten-free for 6 months, so it seems like a logical time to start. but i would love a forum for it.

[Lynayah]

did you guys do the core or the flex plan? I did the flex in college and lost a ton of weight. I gained it back, of course, plus some, and now I need to start again. I think with the gluten-free diet, it might be easier to do core this time.

what is best?

Mostly Core Plan for me. I am a Lifetime member who lost well over 100 pounds and (with the exception of a very stubborn 15 that came on during my gluten challenge) have kept it off for many years -- 17 or 18 years at this point, I think.

The Core plan is such a wonderful, basic plan! Cut out the wheat grains and whole wheat pasta, watch the 35 weekly points allowance foods, and it is pretty much gluten-free, as long I watch condiments, etc.

Hmmmm . . . this thread has me thinking seriously about going back. Weight Watchers is a wonderful program, and I love the support I get from fellow members.

I've been toying with going back, but I keep having lower GI issues and keep telling myself I really need to get that under control first. It could be from low doses of cross contamination or possibly allergies to other foods -- still working on the doctor on this. Weight loss has been horribly difficult for me since the gluten challenge. I'm going for more tests this month, including another colonoscopy. In the meantime, thyroid came back okay, thank goodness.

So, the question I need to ask myself is: Is my saying I need to get things under control reality or an excuse to avoid going?

Thank you for this thread! It's a keeper!

[texasred8211n]

Mostly Core Plan for me. I am a Lifetime member who lost well over 100 pounds and (with the exception of a very stubborn 15 that came on during my gluten challenge) have kept it off for many years -- 17 or 18 years at this point, I think.

The Core plan is such a wonderful, basic plan! Cut out the wheat grains and whole wheat pasta, watch the 35 weekly points allowance foods, and it is pretty much gluten-free, as long I watch condiments, etc.

Hmmmm . . . this thread has me thinking seriously about going back. Weight Watchers is a wonderful program, and I love the support I get from fellow members.

I've been toying with going back, but I keep having lower GI issues and keep telling myself I really need to get that under control first. It could be from low doses of cross contamination or possibly allergies to other foods -- still working on the doctor on this. Weight loss has been horribly difficult for me since the gluten challenge. I'm going for more tests this month, including another colonoscopy. In the meantime, thyroid came back okay, thank goodness.

So, the question I need to ask myself is: Is my saying I need to get things under control reality or an excuse to avoid going?

Thank you for this thread! It's a keeper!

[texasred8211n]

Rereading this thread has convinced me to stick with WW. I had reached goal and then was diagnosed. Put on 30lbs. I have taken off 10 and have been struggling ever since. I would love thread on this subject.

[Lynayah]

Rereading this thread has convinced me to stick with WW. I had reached goal and then was diagnosed. Put on 30lbs. I have taken off 10 and have been struggling ever since. I would love thread on this subject.

Bravo! Thank you for your post!

The gluten challenge is what really did me in. It was 8 weeks of serious discomfort and hunger, hunger, hunger, bloat, bloat, bloat.

I thought that once I went gluten-free my old metabolism would return and the weight would start to come off again. NOT. My gliadin remains high, and the whole return-to-"normal" process takes more patience that I thought it would.

This week I am feeling better than I have in a while. I'm doing Core and using my weekly-points-allowance for glass of red wine with dinner, and I am experimenting with whole goat's milk in my coffee to see if I can tolorate it.

I have also eliminated soy, dairy and eggs. I have not been tested for sensitivity to these foods, but it seems I do better without them. Later, when I have had some time off of them, I'll reintroduce one at a time to see how I do, but for now, no.

I am trying to buy organic as much as possible, too. I am eating more legumes instead of meat.

I just found a local farmer who stocks organic grass-fed ground beef. $3.99 a pound -- for me, that's four 4-oz servings. Affordable!

COSTCO here also sells organic ground beef for about the same price, but I am not sure if the beef is grass-fed. I'm going to check on it.

Anyway, this personal version of the Core plan seems to be working for me better than anything else has in a while.

For those of you who are new to Weight Watchers: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO EAT THIS WAY in order to follow the program! There are many, many choices that you have, including eating anything you want as long as you count the POINTS (Flex Plan). Of course, if you have food sensitivities you just need to make sure you're choosing foods that are good for you.

The beauty of Weight Watchers is that it works for everyone -- with or without food allergies, with or without diabetes, etc. Because there are no forbidden foods, each individual can pick and chose the way that works best for them.

You also do not have to eat organic. Again, this is my choice.

Also, the Core Plan (a whole foods plan with limited non-whole foods allowed on the side, if wanted) allows for many more foods that I am allowing myself to eat right now.

Smithk6: Snacks: It looks as though you're not into a lot of processed sweets, but for those days when you might be (or for others here who are): Try this one: Any time you're craving something sweet, tell yourself you can have it, but only after eating a 1 POINT piece of fruit first.

Seriously, this works like a charm! You'll want the chocolate or the gluten-free brownie (which of course you can have as long as you count it), but you can have it only as a reward for eating a piece of fruit first.

It is amazing how often you won't want the processed sweet treat any more -- for me it is about 75% of the time! Try it!

[Kathleen Smith]

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to give an update. I am in week 5 of Weight Watchers (going into week 6) and I have lost 9 pounds (plus I get weighed today).

It is going well. Its a rough start in the begining but it really feels great to not be so obsessed with food. I think I became a little obsessed once I was diagnosed with Celiac last April. Someone said to me on this sight that because, in the begining, you think there is so much you cannot eat, you eat so much of what you can eat. That made sense to me. You think, if it says Gluten Free on it, I'm eating it, even if the calories are high, etc, etc.....

I am thinking of Weight Watchers as part II of my gluten free eating. It is helping me kind of put it all together: the gluten free part and then the portion part.

I do get a little jealous sitting in the meetings and they talk about their super low point, super convienant fiber 1 bar!

I want to up my fiber in the morning, so any suggestions are welcomed.

I do eat beans, veggies, an apple daily but doesnt seem like th 30 grams I should be getting daily.

Any gluten free cereals high in fiber????

Thanks everyone!

[Lynayah]

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to give an update. I am in week 5 of Weight Watchers (going into week 6) and I have lost 9 pounds (plus I get weighed today).

It is going well. Its a rough start in the begining but it really feels great to not be so obsessed with food. I think I became a little obsessed once I w as diagnosed with Celiac last April. Someone said to me on this sight that because, in the begining, you think there is so much you cannot eat, you eat so much of what you can eat. That made sense to me. You think, if it says Gluten Free on it, I'm eating it, even if the calories are high, etc, etc.....

I am thinking of Weight Watchers as part II of my gluten free eating. It is helping me kind of put it all together: the gluten free part and then the portion part.

I do get a little jealous sitting in the meetings and they talk about their super low point, super convienant fiber 1 bar!

I want to up my fiber in the morning, so any suggestions are welcomed.

I do eat beans, veggies, an apple daily but doesnt seem like th 30 grams I should be getting daily.

Any gluten free cereals high in fiber????

Thanks everyone!

How much are you willing to spend?

One of the best investments I EVER made (and this was long before I was gluten-free) is a Vita-Mix blender - vitamix.com

I juice whole fruits in the morning for a high fiber smoothie. I also makes high fiber soups with a little gluten-free broth and whatever fresh veggies I have lying around (you can use canned, too, but it isn't as good for you).

I know that blending fresh foods might not be the answer to high fiber convenience foods, but oh my gosh, it is SO WORTH IT . . . and it only takes a few minutes to prepare.

Best are the digestive enzymes you get when you blend raw foods.