WW (Weight Watchers) Chat #244: Let’s Get Sugar Savvy!

WW News October 2021:

Is it just me or did the logo change again on the desktop version? I swear it has said WW Wellness that Works or Weight Loss Reimagined….but now it says: “Weight Loss that Works. Wellness that Works.”

WW International President and CEO Mindy Grossman announced this month that she is stepping down from her role after the first quarter of 2022. Since 2017, Mindy has helped WW (formerly known as Weight Watchers rebrand, grow the membership base and report membership retention at an all time high…even during a pandemic. As soon as we hear who will be filling these exciting shoes I will let you know!
Historically, every other year we receive news of something sometimes not so affectionately known as “plan change November”. Following in that tradition, WW has clinical trials underway for a plan update that I expect will be released in November as usual. I don’t have any insider information, but because I am an observer of things I will give you my guesses as we continue to chat over the next few weeks

The month’s theme is “What Happens In Your Body When You Eat (and Drink!)” and is in my opinion another easter egg (clues hidden in plain sight) to the new program launching in November 2021. If you go to the desktop version of WW you will notice a new MyWW+ Personal Assessment on the homepage of ww.com. Please don’t wander off…I promise we will talk about my theories on the new program in the second half!

Last week during Chat #243: Getting to Know Your Eating Patterns, we discovered that eating patterns are unique to you and I believe will be one of the cornerstones of WW’s new plan rolling out next month

If you will start to notice and even record things that lead up to the next time you eat you can create a pattern that works or break a pattern that is disruptive to your weight loss and wellness efforts.

The graphics this week are SPOT ON! Please take a few minutes to log onto your WW account or check out the app. A picture (or in this case a graphic) is worth a thousand words!

Before you eat answer the following questions:

How long has it been since I last ate?
On a scale of 1 to 5 how hungry am I?
How do I feel right now? Put a name on it or even better check out the WW graphic and put an emoji to it!

Track and then eat your next meal:

On your WW app
In a planner or journal
On Connect or your favorite support group (like IYHAE!)

Set a timer for 30 minutes after you finish eating and then answer these questions:

Was the amount you just ate the amount you planned, more than you planned or less than you planned?
Now on a scale of 1 to 5 how hungry are you?
How fast did you eat?
How mindful were you of what you were eating?
Do you think you will eat something before your next planned meal?
What did you enjoy most at this meal?
Looking back at that WW graphic choose an emoji for how you feel now

Your homework for last week was #EmojiMyMeal. Pick a meal and an emoji and tell us:

1 – how you felt before you ate
2 – how much you ate
3 – how you felt after you ate

….and then type it, snap it, however you want to share it and then tag me for your next cool badge!

Let’s see how you did!

Lynn did take out from Chicken Express one day this week. She planned her meal of two chicken tenders (8 SP), 4 fried pickle slices (4 SP). She ate it leisurely and enjoyed each bite. A half hour later she felt satisfied with what she had eaten and did not eat a snack between now and her dinner!
The rest of you spent all your commenting energy talking about which zero point food you DON’T like…more about that later!

Bravo, you did it!

This Week’s Topic: What Happens in Your Body When You Eat & Drink – Let’s Get Sugar Savvy

My grandfather was what used to be called a brittle diabetic and I only remember rows of glass bottles in their fridge that we weren’t allowed to touch (or really even get close to). He was a fit man, exercised regularly by walking outside and hiking with my grandmother, and they didn’t really keep candy or anything sweet at their house. He passed away in his late 50’s.

His daughter (my mother) was also diagnosed with diabetes but she had been a lifetime smoker, was 120+ pounds overweight, didn’t exercise, and was a closet candy bar eater. She lived to be 81.

The difference? My grandfather bought into the “I have diabetes, I have to do what my doctor says and take shots the rest of my life” theory. My mom, on the other hand, said to heck with the diagnosis, went to the library and every seminar she could find, joined Weight Watchers where she lost 120 pounds, learned everything she could about sugar in food, added sugar and how this all (including exercise) affects your body. Sound familiar?

Today WW is more invested than ever in not only your weight loss success but your wellness victory. This week we are sticking a little tiny toe in the big big ocean of sugar information that my mom found through years of research and recording. This week’s WW Weekly hits the highlights that, diabetic or not, we all need to know!

Natural Versus Added Sugars:

Sugar (or carbs) that are naturally occurring in dairy, fruits and vegetables is “natural” sugar and can be part of a healthy eating pattern
Added sugars are ones that are well just that…sugar (and usually overly processed sugar at that) that is manually added to a food or beverage
My mom added another category and that was “hidden” sugars. You expect to find added sugar in things like candy, syrups, etc but what about your favorite yogurt, flavored instant oatmeal, light bread, healthy protein bars??

What to do:

Check the label. Whole foods don’t have labels and guess what else they don’t have? Added sugar. If it came in a box, a bag, a jug or a jar…check the label for added sugar
If your favorite convenience food has given you sugar shock after checking the label make your own. Use non fat plain greek yogurt and add berries for sweetness. Use quick cook oats and add your own low-cal sweetener and some cinnamon. Chopped Air Fryer Baked Apples in your oats will make you forget all about that sugar!
Look for lower sugar substitutes in your peanut butter, coffee creamer, and favorite flavorings. Jordan’s Skinny Syrups are a great way to add some flavor to coffee, yogurt and more without adding sugar!

This Week’s Homework: #SkinnySugar

Your homework for this week is #SkinnySugar. Find one of your favorite convenience foods, check the sugar and tell us how you will skinny it up. (If it’s at Starbucks or Dunkin be sure and share how the barista helped you so we can order the same thing next time!) ….and then type it, snap it, however you want to share it and then tag me for your next cool badge!

Don’t forget to do your homework #SkinnySugar and tag me when you share on social media!

Instagram tag @ifyouhaveanegg
Facebook Page tag @ifyouhaveanegg
Facebook Group tag @Kelly Green Milligan
WW Connect tag @ifyouhaveanegg

Extra Credit: Why You Should Choose Green

We’ve spent the last couple of weeks talking about the current WW plan colors and why you might choose them. My gut still tells me you need to do this little bit of soul searching in order to get ready for whatever the new plan is coming in November!

Just like last week, I also think it makes sense to talk about the elephant in the room….and that’s the impending plan change. Every two years at this time WW makes either a minor or in a handful of cases major change to the plan. First, just like I told you two years ago and two ears before that – BREATHE. It’s just a change. If you try it you might like it and if you don’t you’ve already got some skills to fall back on. Plus, it’s not here yet! The rumors flying around are just that, rumors at this point. Anyone who works for or with WW has signed a confidentiality agreement that could cost them their job if they spill the beans. WW is serious about testing, trying, and working as many bugs out as possible for us before they release a new plan or changes to a current plan. Please just BREATHE and we will get the facts when the facts are ready.

But…I do have some theories just like I did last time. They are unknown, I haven’t asked anyone to verify (nor would they), and I haven’t seen, heard or been divulged to anything to verify or even entertain them. From the topics we’ve shared the last few months, the new groups I’ve seen form on Connect and the sudden presence of a new MyWW+ Personal Assessment on the homepage of ww.com my theories this week are this:

Theory #1 – Even more personalized plans. When WW switched to Blue, Green, and Purple the plan was for the first time ever personalized to the way you eat today, and you could change it up for how you may eat tomorrow
Theory #2 – What you WILL eat versus what you SHOULD eat. I’m not sure how that will play out, but I believe the new plan will somehow work around meal preppers and eater-outers, as well as veggie lovers and picky eaters
Theory #3 – The point values will be calculated differently. I don’t know how, I don’t know why, but my gut tells me there is a change coming
Theory #4 (even though I usually like things in 3’s hahaha) – Health and wellness will be an even bigger focus

So based on my gut feelings I decided to spend a few weeks chatting about our current plan. You may think “Kelly, that’s a waste of time…I heard Blue, Green, and Purple are going away” or “that avocados and nuts are going to be zero now” or “if I’m diabetic / vegetarian / high blood pressure / fill in the blank I’ll be on a completely different plan than you.” But I think we will be asked to think about what we eat, when we eat it and how we get to the point of eating it in a way that only makes sense that we review what we know so we can give an educated opinion when asked later. OK? Still with me?

WW My Way Green the old Smart Points Beyond the Scale plan and was the first time we really talked about healthier eating as opposed to just weight loss. I find this ironic because WW My Way Green has the least number of Zero Point Foods and the points system really encourages more processed and convenience foods in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong, I got to goal on the really old now Points Plus plan eating most everything out of a box and into a microwave. Sure I lost weight, but based on my family’s health history is that really how I want to “live”? Anyway, back to Green.

Click here to download this printable guide

Why is Green different?

Nothing is “free”. Zero points versus “free” makes my brain process what I’m doing differently. Free = eat until you want to puke / Zero Points = eat a serving at a time
Over 100 Zero Point Foods. Having 100+ named things that are zero still gives you decent selection of whole foods that can be used to #builkitup everything else
More family friendly recipes. Let’s face it, when you’ve got enough points in the day to choose copycat Hamburger Helper it’s easier to please the crowd and then throw a low point salad or green beans on the side
A minimum 30 daily points plus rollovers to enjoy things that will save time and trouble like eating out, frozen meals, casseroles and more convenience items
The Green Plan can be used for as little as a week or for a lifetime, and I think it is especially good for people with families who want to support you but may not be up for the challenge

Who should choose Green?

Anyone trying to balance a family and workload while still eating some whole foods to #bulkitup convenience items you may need to use frequently
Families. Like I said this is a great plan for people with families who need to feel like they are eating more “normal” food
Those who like to don’t have time to or don’t like to meal prep or who often eat the same or similar things every day out of convenience

Perfect Green Pantry!

These are the things I keep handy when on Green and are the basis for a perfect fridge and pantry (these are all no seasoning or additives already included):

Convenience pre-prepared foods from stores like Trader Joes
Canned green beans, carrots, and chopped tomatoes
No salt seasonings
Fresh fruit like grapes, apples, bananas, seasonal melon
Seasonal vegetables like butternut or spaghetti squash, zucchini or yellow squash, mushrooms, corn, fresh leafy greens, etc
Frozen fruits and vegetables
Bagged salads with all ingredients including dressing
Frozen convenience meals (check those points BEFORE you put them in the buggy)
Commercially prepared yogurt, instant oatmeal, instant grits
Light bread
Turkey or ham sandwich meat
String or light cheeses
Ingredients for lighter point muffins and breads from fellow WW’ers like Pound Dropper and Drizzle Me Skinny
Nutritional Yeast
Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Perfect Green Recipes!

These are recipes that are tried and proven, perfect lower points and perfect for #bulkitup opportunities:

That Man’s Chicken – This chicken thigh version is savory, spouses and kids will love it and you have a few extra points a day to splurge on this deliciousness!
Drizzle Me Skinny Bubble Up Recipes
SkinnyTaste Tuna Casserole

Green On The Go!

There will be times you need to grab and go, head through the drive thru, or go in and sit down. These are my go-to’s on the go:

Protein Bars
Pre-popped popcorn like Skinny Pop
Rice Cakes with a schmear of peanut butter
A sandwich!
Convenience Stores – hard boiled eggs, bananas, flavored water, snacking cheese, pickles, veggie snack packs
Drive Thru / Dine In:
- Chick-Fil-A Grilled Chicken Nuggets and a fruit cup
- Chipotle lettuce, fajita vegetables, salsa, pinto beans, chicken
- Cracker Barrel grilled chicken tenderloins or grilled catfish, green beans, pinto beans, seasonal fruit
- IHOP Simple & Fit Omelette with fresh fruit
- Wendy’s Plain Baked Potato, small chili and light sour cream