Weight Watchers Chat #302: How To Build a Tracking Routine

News and Reviews January 2023

First, have you seen the cool new (new to me anyway) Widget you can put on your homescreen on your phone for WW? It gives you a quick glance at how many points you have left for the day and a super quick way to access your app! I will be posting a video later showing you how to add it but I wanted to thank Sylvia for showing me how!
Second, this is the last week for FIFTY PERCENT off all retail items in the showroom. (PLEASE NOTE: some items were sold over the weekend and have not been removed from the website, if you choose an item that is already sold out we will either contact you about a different selection or refund the item) They are already marked 25% off and you can use coupon code CLEANOUT or CLOSEOUT at checkout to take an additional 25% off!! I wouldn’t wait too long to take advantage of this one because it includes Dak’s Spices, Food Huggers, Souper Cubes (SOLD OUT!), Pedal Java Coffee, Wet It Cloths, and all your faves! When these items are gone they are gone, so just go to www.ifyouhaveanegg.com/shop or directly to kckitchencenter.com and check out the deals!
Third, this is our LAST CHAT at the KC Kitchen Center showroom. Well, this showroom anyway LOL. We did not reach an agreement with our current landlord and let’s just say his new conditions are, well ridiculous. And yes I kept that PG-13 for you by just saying ridiculous hahaha. We start moving into one of two new spots TOMORROW and I’ll share details later. I’m asking for prayers of clear direction on the move, travel mercies as we go back and forth, and a blessing on this new adventure! Oh and if you have an extra barrel of cash lying around please send it my way so we can fund this move 🙂

Last week in Chat #301 Happy New Year! I decided to make the official topic title “Happy New Year!” because A) I wanted to wish each of you a Happy New Year and B) if I called it “Where the heck did the Discover tab go?” I may not have had as much participation LOL

Ok let’s go ahead and address the elephant in the room. The Discover Tab….is GONE! Do you even know how many times I’ve said “go to the Discover tab at the bottom or your app and….” I don’t know how many either but it’s a lot. So here is what I do know:

The Chef’s Hat

The Discover Tab has been replaced by a Chef’s Hat icon.

Positives for the Chef’s Hat Icon:

You can quickly find recipes you have saved, created or create a recipe
Featured recipes and “what’s in your fridge” are easy to find now
There is a pretty extensive set of groups of recipes like: Starter recipes, Best Breakfasts, Snack Attack and more

Negatives for the Chef’s Hat Icon:

It’s not the Discover Tab 🙁

Enjoy the scavenger hunt

I hope you enjoy scavenger hunts because that’s what you are getting ready to go on! Y’all know I love change and usually embrace it. I also like games and love playing them. This was not fun. And I am not currently embracing it. This was so hard to figure out in fact that I had to reach out to several people and then look up an article on Connect to find it. And even at that it was still not simple. Here are the deets:

There is no more Discover Tab. Did I mention that?
There is no where on your app to go straight to the weekly topic
I posted a video on both Reels and YouTube to show you what I went through to find it
From your app you will have to follow @ww_techniques on Connect and/or search the same to find the weekly topic
If you happen to be on Connect on Sunday, and if you happen to have your settings on “trending,” you may happen to see the new topic for the week. But after Sunday each week you’ve got to dig a little and go back to @ww_techniques and scroll to the topic for the week. Every. Single. Time. For now.
If you are looking for the Weekly Topic from a desktop it’s a tiny bit easier. From the home page go to “Living WW” → Weekly Topic. Whatever you do though DON’T try to find this from Connect on a desktop. Why? Because you can’t search for @ww_techniques *sigh*
BONUS CONTENT – Orlando Debbi reminded me that if you click on the link a new browser will open and you will no longer be on the WW app

There is only one way back(wards)

Please pay attention to this one! You used to be able to go back and see the weekly topic from prior weeks. Now you can ONLY do that if that topic is in the current month. Meaning if you want to go back and see a topic from December you are out of luck. I did find one loophole, HOWEVER it only works for December and isn’t worth telling you about. The ability to go backwards outside of the current month is effectively gone from your app. For now.

If you do need to go back to a prior week (as long as it’s in the same month) you can do that from a desktop or the app. Again, for now. I’m not saying they will change back or go to something different but this is an even more controversial change than the Personal Points Program if you ask me. Follow the instructions above for either method and then find the hyperlink that says “learn more about” and the monthly topic

Your homework for last week was #InvoluntaryScavengerHunt.Casey actually pulled off a good graphic on this one LOL. During the past week I wanted you to not get discouraged, don’t give up, not have a meltdown on me, just try one of the methods above and find the weekly topic. Once you find it just type FOUND IT! And #InvoluntaryScavengerHunt …. 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!

Only Sylvia did her homework…why? Because it’s too hard to find LOL

Bravo, you did it!

This Week’s Topic: How To Build a Tracking Routine!

Quick, what do you think the #1 reason for weight loss success is accredited to?

Now quick, what do you think the #1 thing is that we all wish we could do better, more frequently, or at all. You got it. Tracking.

Why is Tracking Hard?

Time
Knowledge
Effort

Consistency vs. Perfection

I’ve said it before, this is not a perfection sport. If you are going to beat yourself up everytime you track (or don’t) you ain’t gonna make it.

Tracking the exact flavor or yogurt even though it has the same points as the one you had yesterday? Not important at all in the grand scheme of things

Tracking one meal a day every day? Or tracking one day a week? Or even just opening your app every day even if nothing gets put in it? Being consistent in your actions (even if it’s just opening the app!) is how to win this race.

Finding what works for YOU!

Some weight watchers track every meal, every day, every bite. That’s not me. Maybe that’s not you. Here are some ideas on how to make it a little easier!

Quick add – you can use the Quick Add feature to put a number on a meal even if you don’t know how many points it really is. Being consistent with putting in SOMETHING is better than the perfectionist thought of thinking you have to identify and point EVERYTHING
Multi Track – this feature in your WW app allows you to select things you’ve eaten recently or from your lists by selecting the circle next to them, so quick and easy!
Saving Meals – Saving a meal is one of the easiest and fastest ways to track! If you eat a yogurt, a bagel, and a cup of coffee every day (or even most days), save that as a meal and you can quickly find and add it next time!

This Week’s Homework: #TrackHack

Your homework for this week is #TrackHack. Please do your homework this week, it was so lonely last week hahaha. All you need to do is decide what method you will use to get something, anything tracked this week (it may just be opening your app and tracking one thing!) …. 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 #TrackHack 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: How to Start (or Restart) The Weight Watchers Program!

It’s that time of year! So many new members, so many returning folks, it’s time we did a quick how to get started tutorial.

Whether today is your first day on Weight Watchers, you’re just thinking about joining, or you are back for the 11th or 12th time, here are my top 5 ways to get off to a successful start:

#1 Open the app – if you don’t do anything else your first week, open the app. This is a powerful tool but only if you use it. I didn’t say you need to know everything or even understand everything, there is a lot there! The most important things to find are:

My Day (the calendar icon at the bottom) for quick view of how you are doing, where to track when you are ready, and kind of your “landing page” if you get confused
The Bullseye (second icon at the bottom) will be important later but I want you to SKIP it for now…no obsessing over blue dots or challenges until you are comfortable with what you are doing
The Chef’s Hat (third icon at the bottom) which is the fastest and easiest way to find a recipe if you need one
Connect (last icon at the bottom) is another one you should use cautiously in the beginning. Connect has a plethora of information and support but can be a little overwhelming your first week. Save this in your toolbelt for week 2 or when you are feeling brave enough to ask a question to the community
Barcode scanner – Find it and use it! This is one of the most powerful tools in this arsenal!

#2 Check out the Zero Point Food Categories – Notice I didn’t say “memorize the Zero Point Foods entire list.” It’s a long list. There are over 200 items. Week 1 I want you to focus on familiarizing yourself with the categories. You can expand on the total list later.

#3 Find one recipe – Not 2 or 3 or 12. ONE. You can find a recipe under that little chef’s hat we talked about in #1. Don’t let me find you scrolling through this for an hour! Maybe just scroll down to the first category “Starter recipes” or on down to “Easy Weeknight Dinners” and find ONE recipe to try this week. I promise you will get the hang of making your own, importing recipes from others and adjusting the ingredients or servings. But for now, find one and stick with it. You can do this!

#4 Go watch Chat #295 – Seriously. It’s going to tell you everything you need when you are ready to really dive in and get going. Don’t worry if that’s not today, you will get there and already having this chat in your toolbelt will help! https://youtu.be/fWPiuDQ9-Xc

#5 Stock up on these pantry essentials – You will develop your own list of staples as time goes on, but this list is my personal go to. Some of you veterans here on the Live Chat, shout out yours so we can help these new Egglettes out!

Eggs
Chicken or turkey breast
Low point tortillas
Nonfat plain yogurt (regular or greek)
Already chopped and ready zero point veggies in a clear container like cucumbers, tiny tomatoes, carrots, etc
Easy to take with you sturdy fruit like bananas, clementines or apples
Light string cheese
Unsweetened applesauce cups
Salsa or pico (no sugar added)
Tuna packs (scan them first!)
Can of pinto beans, chickpeas, and black beans
Premade salad mix
Light salad dressing
Frozen veggies like broccoli, corn, cauliflower
Small bags of lower point microwave popcorn (I know it’s points versus air popping but this is your first week!)
Snacky something like veggie straws or other lower point crunchy food in single serve bags
Low point sandwich meat
Flavored zero calorie water or other beverages
I may add more depending on how much time there is at this point