Ask Roni: New vs Old WW, My Experience, Extra Skin, Veggie Haters, My Happy Weight.

26 Responses to Ask Roni: New vs Old WW, My Experience, Extra Skin, Veggie Haters, My Happy Weight.

1. Laura Jane @ Recovering Chocoholic says:

   June 10, 2011 at 7:53 am

   I like your perspective on the active lifestyle even without traditional gym-type exercise. I think it really is true that you burn decent calories and feel so much better if you don’t just sit all day. I really, really struggle because I have a desk job. I just feel icky and exhausted after sitting all day long. Not a ton I can do about that (I do walk at lunchtime), but I really try to work out pretty intensely in the evening to make up for the 10 hours of sitting.
   I totally relate to the “vegetable hater” in question 4! I could seriously could write a whole long post on this. I’m not a vegetable person either. Growing up we only ate green beans and corn. I’ve found a couple things that are important for me. One thing is like Roni said: to try new recipes that incorporate vegetables and new ways of cooking them. I’ve found some real winners that way. I make it a goal to try one new healthy recipe a week. Some things don’t turn out that great. Others I like. For instance, just last week I made cheddar broccoli potato soup and chopped up the celery and broccoli super tiny (in food processor) and cooked until it was super soft, and I hardly notice them. On the flip side there’s some vegetable incorporating recipes I’ve tried that I truly don’t like and that’s fine. I don’t beat myself up about not liking it. I just throw it away and move on. It’s important to make the trying new things as fun as possible.
   Also, for me, it’s super important not beat myself up about not liking vegetables and not to try to force myself to eat them all the time. For me, feeling compelled to frequently try and eat vegetables that I don’t care for is a recipe for disaster. That makes me equate losing weight with this awful forcing-celery-down-my-throat experience, which is not what the weight loss process needs to be about. It needs to be about finding food that I enjoy and eating that, not dreading meal time.
   Also, focus on the healthy foods you do enjoy.
2. Natalia says:

   June 10, 2011 at 8:50 am

   Hey Roni,
   Almost 2 weeks ago I abandoned the PP plan and went back to momentum. I threw away all my old books, but thankfully kept the weigh in book that had the point slider attached to it and the quiz to figure your points!

   I know that people might be able to find old WW’s program books etc on ebay.

   I have to say that while I LOVE WW, I don’t love the lack of support for the people that are struggling with the new program and the inability to choose which one works for you, on their site anyway. I have found lots of resources for people that want to go back to the old plan. I’d be happy to send you an email with the links.

   Thanks for sharing your experience! :)

   Natalia
3. Lisa says:

   June 10, 2011 at 9:21 am

   Natalia, I would love to have the links. I also struggle with the new plan. Having lost 130 lbs on the flex plan I find it really hard to just pick up the new plan and run with it. I would love to have the links! Would you email them to me?
4. Chari says:

   June 10, 2011 at 10:32 am

   Thanks so much for another great podcast! I started WW almost 2 weeks ago and already find myself struggling. For some reason I just don’t grasp it like I did with the old plan a few years ago. I actually found my old slider in some paperwork I was looking through a few days ago and was excited I found it but also frustrated because I already paid for 3 months of WW online! So I need to figure out what I’m going to do. But I do agree with you on why you like the old plan.

   I reviewed a Breeze Comfort sports bra last year on my blog and LOVED it! I was only a B-C (now I’m nursing so I’m much bigger!) and used both inserts for firmer support while running. It has been my favorite running bra because it breathes!! I stay much cooler when I wear it. Sadly I can’t wear it now but thought I would throw out the recommendation for anyone looking for a good sports bra that they don’t feel like the suffocate in ;-)
5. RG says:

   June 10, 2011 at 11:47 am

   FYI – the video konks out at 25:47 (on firefox) for me. I finished listening on audio. I can relate to the vegetable hater, also, even though I eat a lot of vegetables. I go through phases, where if I’ve had a lot of salad recently I won’t want another one for a week but then it’ll taste fabulous again. And days when I eat a lot of vegetables and regret it because I feel over full and bloated for hours. And while cooked vegetables seem lighter on the stomach, I find it pretty easy to mindlessly munch on raw vegetables if I just put them beside my work station. I don’t hate vegetables, but when I recently read how few vitamins are in eggplant, I’d never go out of my way to eat it again.
6. jessica says:

   June 10, 2011 at 11:47 am

   Thanks Roni! Really needed to hear some of your insights today! (totally made sense to me – thanks again)
7. Roz says:

   June 10, 2011 at 12:25 pm

   Great video. Thanks, have a good weekend!!!
8. Dr. G says:

   June 10, 2011 at 12:26 pm

   agreed. i made goal & maintained on the old points program. the fact that there is zero support for the old points program makes me not even want to attend meetings. i’m a monthly pass member still, even after making goal & lifetime, because in the process of studying for my boards, put on 15 lbs that I am working to lose to make goal, again. do you attend meetings & weigh in EVERY WEEK? because my battle is if i have a gain, i will skip weighing in until it’s a loss. i know it starts an unhealthy cycle of skipping meetings, but i’ve become lost and confused in the transition from old points to points plus so it’s hard for me to attend meetings and be positive about a program that i think is worse than the previous (for me, at least). they really should have given us the OPTION of choosing the plan that works for us, like the choice given between the old points and the unlimited amount of healthy foods, whatever that plan was called!
9. Patty says:

   June 10, 2011 at 4:38 pm

   “Give peas a chance!” LOL! I love that and I think I’m going to be using that from now on! Too cute! :)

   I love what you said about tracking down food regardless of what it is I’m eating. That’s my goal for this week and so far so good I’m keeping up with it on WW online. The whole journaling process is growing on me :)
10. Melissa says:

    June 10, 2011 at 5:18 pm

    Ha ha! Give peas a chance!! That was a good one, I love it! But I’m a corny mom too :) Roni, you made total sense to me in this podcast, in fact, I was listening to it on my Droid and had to get on the internet so I could comment and tell you that. Oh and by the way, I happen to like that you “babble.” Thanks for the great podcast/video, good info as always!
11. sherice says:

    June 11, 2011 at 1:46 am

    Wow enell looks awesome but wow are they are expensive.
12. Tami@nutmegnotebook says:

    June 11, 2011 at 10:42 am

    So glad you are doing podcasts again! I agree with your advice about just having an active lifestyle and focusing on healthy habits instead of weight. When I adopted that thought process instead of focusing on the weight, losing weight happened and I didn’t feel deprived.

    I too lost my weight on the old plan and I haven’t been able to completely embrace the new plan. Old habits die hard-I knew all the points values for the foods I eat and with the new plan it’s a new learning curve and time consuming to figure the points, the new points calculator is cumbersome and the plan no longer seems convenient to me. I gained back a few pounds and I am trying the new PP with more dedication and will see what happens.

    Thanks for the sports bra link, I don’t run, but I do a 3 mile fast walk and I am big busted so support is very important. I just wish the sports bras weren’t so darn expensive!
13. s says:

    June 11, 2011 at 12:31 pm

    thanks for the video post, i thought it made sense, haha. i feel like i can relate about a ‘happy weight’ as being in a body that doesn’t seem cumbersome. (also to RG who posted above, i’m running firefox also and i was able to watch the whole video…)
14. Theresa says:

    June 11, 2011 at 5:33 pm

    I just love Enell bras!!! They are the best! I recommend finding a way to buy one they hold up forever, really! I bought one full price on their website and when I needed a smaller size I found one on eBay for way way less.
    A question I have is how did you make the translation from losing weight to maintaining? I lost 110 pounds but have been struggling since reaching lifetime and the scale keeps creeping up. Granted I know that it has been a turbulent time (1st my tummy tuck in Nov then after eight weeks of recovery and just back into my workouts to a hurt back for the last 10 weeks which even just walking hurts it! Then add maybe a soon to be layoff for hubby and I! Ugh) in my life but jeez I know I can’t just wait for tomorrow for this or that to change!
    You can also add me to the not a big fan of the new plan. I have not thought about going back to the old plan until right now. Maybe that is what I need to do. Hmm…
    Thank you for sharing your life with us! It really does make sense to us who walk the same path! Your tummy tuck story really really helped me focus on my goal and inspired me to have mine!
15. Paige says:

    June 11, 2011 at 5:54 pm

    I just wanted to post a reply for I believe Kayla, the 20-y-o binge eater. I’ve also had a lot of problems with binge eating and I find the new plan really great for those tendencies. I’d made some progress already before starting Points Plus, and had come to a place where food and bingeing weren’t always on my mind, but it still happened fairly frequently. I found that having the free fruits and vegetables is incredibly helpful mentally for me. It keeps me from having that jittery, diety, “oh no I’m not allowed to eat anything else today but I’m still hungry I guess I’ll just binge” feeling. I definitely appreciate that it’s both fruits and veggies rather than just veggies because if I’m hungry, fruit can definitely hold me over until the end of the day. Your mileage may vary of course.
16. Kayla says:

    June 12, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    Paige, thank you for giving me that little insight and hope. I hope to someday soon finally conquer this battle once and for all. I know there will be rough days but hopefully I can get though it. Alot of people can not relate. Usually by 1 or 2 in the afternoon, I have most of my points used up. This week my goal is really to stick to 3 solid meals. Weigh in tomorrow! Hoping for the best! Your acknowledgment means alot though!
17. Paige says:

    June 13, 2011 at 12:10 am

    Oh Kayla, I totally feel you. It hasn’t gone away totally for me, but I no longer ever get that “must eat everything now” uncomfortable twitchy feeling, ever. I still sometimes struggle with the “I’ll just start Monday” mentality, but for me this is a huge step (and I’ve made huge strides toward defeating that one too). I wish you all the best!
18. Ana says:

    June 13, 2011 at 4:23 pm

    I agree with Paige completely about how helpful the new program has been for me to deal with binge eating. Of course its a slow process, but I do think that the new plan has help tremendously.

    Admittedly, I am a biased fan of the new program. I’ve been on and off WW for the past 10 years, and this plan has clicked for me. That said, if you have never tried WW before, I would suggest giving this plan a chance before using the other internet to dig up old resources. I sincerely hope it works for you as well. Good luck!
19. roni says:

    June 13, 2011 at 4:24 pm

    Hi Theresa!

    Maintenance is a big shift. Took me years to “get” it. This old post mas some great comments that may help.. http://ronisweigh.com/2008/11/for-weight-loss-maintainers-how-do-you-do-it.html
20. Lindsay R. says:

    June 13, 2011 at 7:00 pm

    Two things
    1- I totally am like you when I feel like I am the dorky mom. My son is only 2, but I just KNOW I am going to get the “aw mom” eyeroll all the time! ;) I have fun though!

    2- Completely understand the “feeling the weight.” I’m about 10-13 over my goal and when I’ve been at that weight I didn’t “feel” my weight. I know it’s not in our heads, and it’s so different for everyone.
21. erin says:

    June 14, 2011 at 1:10 pm

    I want to thank you for this video. Sometimes we just need to hear it from someone else to really sink in. I totally related to your comments about eating whatever you wanted and then coming home and sitting to watch tv.
22. Teagan says:

    June 14, 2011 at 10:09 pm

    a little late to the game here, but I wanted to chime in on the Enell bra. I’m a 34H and it is the only reason I can run. I LOVE Enell!!!
23. Lisa says:

    June 16, 2011 at 12:10 pm

    Roni, can you remove my comment above? It has my email in it. I am getting hit with lots of spam now. Guess I shouldn’t of left that on there. lol Thank you!
24. roni says:

    June 16, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    Your email is completely hidden on the site and is never shared. Not sure why you would be getting spam. Comments don’t work that way. Ohhh you listed it. I’ll remove it.
    Did you seem my post with the resources?
    http://ronisweigh.com/2011/06/5-old-weight-watchers-resources-not-pointsplus.html
25. naz says:

    January 26, 2012 at 10:55 am

    hi roni…i must say ur blog has really inspired and motivated me to do something about my baby weight..i was wondering if u would have the points list of food items from the old ww..i seem to have misplaced mine …..thanks again
26. roni says:

    January 26, 2012 at 3:55 pm

    Naz – I use this one online… http://quiddity.cc/rachel/diet/wwfoods.htm