News and Reviews – November 2022
- We are just shy of one week since the new Weight Watchers program rolled out and we will be chatting more in the second half to answer more Q&A’s and some things I’ve found!
- For those of you who swear by Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar, it is now available in capsule form! According to the Bragg website: Each daily serving provides 750mg of Acetic Acid which helps to reduce the absorption of carbohydrates, which in turn reduces blood sugar spikes.Resulting in many health benefits! Here is the link to their website so you can check it out: https://www.bragg.com/products/acv-supplement?variant=39436569346144
- Also, I will not be able to participate due to time constraints but there is another recipe collab with Joan’s Pointed Plate gang called Nutvember. The recipes will drop on Sunday, November 20th at 9am so we will chat more about that next week!
We spent the entire time together last week chatting about the new Weight Watchers Program and I have to say, I have heard nothing but rave reviews!
I highly recommend going back and watching (or listening to) last week’s chat again but I’m hearing comments like:
- “This new program is so easy I rejoined Weight Watchers!”
- “My partner and I can finally eat together again because we have the same zero points foods”
- “Even though some foods are no longer zero, my daily points allowance went up enough that I can still enjoy them!”
A quick review of last week:
What is gone?
- Adding back points with non-starchy veggies or water is gone. We still need to keep them front of mind, but the new program has those points allocated elsewhere
- Rice, pasta, potatoes, oats, and avocado as zero-point foods. You can still enjoy them, you just need to count them
- Different daily point allowances for each person
- The personal points engine / assessment to create a completely unique set of points and zero-point foods
What stays the same?
- Points value calculation method for non-zero-point foods will remain the same (fat, fiber, protein, carbs, calories)
- All non-starchy veggies are still zero points
- All foods are still ok!
- Weekly budgets will remain
- We can still earn points for activity
- Unused daily points will roll over to weekly points
- The Blue Dot Range will still be up to 8 below your daily and up to 10 over your daily to earn a blue dot
What will change?
- The name going forward will just be the Weight Watchers Plan. Effective 12/11/22 the Personal Points plan will no longer be available on your app.
- Those who are diabetic or pre-diabetic will have new exceptions to the zero point food list. You can still enjoy them, they just need to be counted to keep you “aware” of the sugar or carbs in that particular food
- There will be NINE CATEGORIES of Zero Point foods. The full list will be available on the app and I will go over it during next week’s chat but the NINE CATEGORIES ARE:
- Non-Starchy Veggies
- Fruit *
- Chicken and Turkey Breast
- Fish and Shellfish
- Eggs
- Tofu and Tempeh
- Fat Free Plain Yogurt and Fat Free Cottage Cheese *
- Beans, Peas and Lentils
- Corn and Air Popped Popcorn *
*categories marked with an asterisk will be different for diabetics or pre-diabetics
Your homework for last week was #WorkYourPlan. This week I want you to really try and embrace the new opportunity we’ve been presented this week and tell us ONE WAY you will work your plan. Just one. Maybe it’s checking out the app. Or you could share a recipe with someone on Connect without worrying they have different zero point foods than you. Pick ONE THING, just one…. and then type it, snap it, share it however you like, and then tag me for your next cool badge!
Let’s see how you did!
- Anita worked her plan by making sure she had point-friendly foods stocked in her pantry and fridge so she’s less tempted to eat higher point foods!
- Stacey was working her plan by trying things she never had like roasted beets. She was shocked by how much she enjoyed using them as a snack or on top of salads!
- Carol took this to the very basics and got acquainted with the zero point foods list and figured out ways to take advantage of them!
Bravo, you did it!
This Week’s Topic: Staying on Track While Eating Out!
Welp. Here we are. The holidays. US turkey day is Thursday and hot on it’s little heels are a plethora of festivities, holidays, get-togethers, and other reasons to consume food “out”
[insert YouTube link here]
You might think of traditional eating out as going to a restaurant, but anytime you are not eating at home or in your controlled space is “out.” Whether it’s at an office party or your mother-in-law’s endless buffet, here are a few ways to keep your sanity when you aren’t in control of the food choices.
Scenario #1: You know what’s on the menu
- Pre-track what you can if you know or can get ahold of the menu
- Save up some weeklies and/or roll over points
- Eat a low or zero point meal or snack ahead of time so you don’t go into the event hungry
Scenario #2: You’re going in blind
- Check out what is being served to see if you can find some zero point options to add to your plate before you dive in to the desserts or drinks
- Avoid descriptions like “creamy”, “buttery”, “smothered” and instead look for things like “grilled”, “broiled”, “lighter fare”
- See if you can get your hands on a smaller plate so it looks fuller and you aren’t tempted to fill up a giant dinner plate to the edges
Scenario #3: Curveballs. And how to dodge them.
- The “Well Meaning Aunt” – we all have that family member or friend who feels the need to make sure we are eating. Ways to avoid her are: making sure you have a drink in your hand or empty plate with a napkin on top in your hand, oooohing and aaaahing over how delicious everything is even if you didn’t eat it, rubbing your tummy and tugging at your waistband so she thinks you are stuffed.
- The “But It’s A Party” Buddy – you are likely to experience between 2 and 10 other “parties” this season so perhaps corner that person before this one begins and explain you need their support and not an excuse to feel guilty later.
- The “I Love You With Food Friend” – I had this friend and it was bad. Her literal love language was making you food and then watching you eat every…single…bite. After pleading with her for years to stop (and making her cry a few times), I finally found a way to break the cycle. When a special occasion was coming up (or it had just been too long in between) I would find a point-friendly, completely normal human looking recipe, print it out, bring it to her and beg with pleading eyes that she would make it for us. Goodbye food pusher, hello friend again!
This Week’s Homework: #BackOnTheMenu
Your homework for this week is #BackOnTheMenu. This week I want you to tell us something that is “back on the menu” for you with this new Weight Watchers Program. For me it’s fish. I hadn’t been including fish as a zero point food because I just ate too much chicken and turkey. I’ve already had tuna 4 times this week because it’s back on the menu. Find something that is back on the menu for you …. and then type it, snap it, share it however you like, and then tag me for your next cool badge!
Don’t forget to do your homework #BackOnTheMenu and tag me when you share on social media!
- Tag @ifyouhaveanegg on Instagram
- Tag @ifyouhaveanegg on our Facebook Page
- Tag @Kelly Green Milligan in our Facebook Group
- Tag @ifyouhaveanegg on WW Connect
Extra Credit: More New Weight Watchers Plan Q&A’s
We are a day shy of spending one week on the New Weight Watchers plan and I’m here to tell you the questions have been so on point and so much more productive than the last plan change! Last week I answered lots of questions, here are a few more from this week…keep them coming if you have them!
Next week we will get back to a normal schedule and will likely have our kitchen safety chat. I have heard from soooo many of you who are missing bits and pieces of fingers, knuckles, etc… that I think it’s important we cover some of these items.
But for now let’s finish getting the new plan under our belts!
[insert YouTube video here]
Q: How many zero point foods are on this list?
A: There are over 200 foods on this program…TWO HUNDRED!
Q: Do I have to track zero point foods?
A: Part of the beauty of this plan is you do not need to weigh, measure, or even track your zero point foods if you choose not to.
Q: If you don’t have to, why would anyone track their zero point foods?
A: You do not need to track your zero point foods. But, some people will still track to see trends in weight loss, hunger, changing things up, or just to make sure they are getting enough non-starchy veggies for example.
Q: Do I have to update my app?
A: Your app should be up to date now and most of the minor glitches seem to be taken care of although I have found a few pointing errors on foods I’ve scanned (more about that later). If you are still having problems seeing the latest information and zero points lists try uninstalling and reinstalling your app (make sure you know your user name and password)
Q: What if I forgot my password?
A: Using the device you registered on click “forgot password”, enter the email address you used to sign up, and they will email you a 7 digit code to get back in.
Q: Does activity automatically add points or can I turn that off?
A: Points earned through activity will automatically add to your availability. Currently the only way to prevent this from happening if you do not want to track those earned points is to turn off syncing with your fitness device
Q: How many points will I get a day?
A: Points are calculated based on your age, height, weight, and sex assigned at birth—which make up your individual metabolic rate—your Budget is personalized to your and designed to help you lose weight at a healthy rate.
Q: What is the lowest number of points a person would get per day?
A: I believe it’s 14 but I am still trying to verify this.
Q: Why do some foods have higher / lower points values?
A: Foods that are higher in fiber, protein, and unsaturated fats will have lower points values that foods that are higher in calories, added sugars, and saturated fats.
Q: Why did my zero points food list still say oats the first few days?
A: Like all new rollouts of a computer program with that many data variations there is almost no way to account for every single anomaly and still roll out to the public at one time. I saw a few that still had things like oats or avocado as zero. I saw even more that did not include fish as zero the first few days. I believe all of those are updated, anyone else still having issues?
Q: You mentioned some point errors earlier, what does that mean?
A: Even though thousands of programming hours go into a rollout like this there are millions of food items that have to be individually updated! I have found several brands of beans for example (most of them store brand) that are scanning as points instead of zero. I just made sure there were no funny things like meat or added ingredients and then saved them as a new food. If we have time, let me show you how to add a new food to your app. If not, be on the lookout for a short video tutorial on YouTube tomorrow!
Comment below with your favorite thing about the new Weight Watchers Program, I love hearing from you! And please remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel and share with a friend – most of our new group members got here because someone took a few minutes to share this with them 🙂
Quick Links:
Don’t forget to celebrate your Bravos with our downloadable stickers!
Need to know where to get something I mentioned? Check out the recommendations section to get all my favorite goodies.
