It’s nearly the end of week one of Amy and Patricia’s journey with Weight Watchers. Let’s just say the girls have learned a few things about making smart choices and healthier alternatives when it comes to their food.
So far Amy and Patricia have been keeping us up to speed with their diary of the programme. Over the next few weeks they’ll be reporting about how they’re getting on, how much weight they’re losing and they’ll be sharing their thoughts and tricks with the nation.
If you missed the girls’ previous diary entry, you can check it out here or read the start of their journey here. This week, the girls are spilling all about their first full week on the Weight Watchers ProPoints programme.
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Name: Patricia Murphy
Meeting: Carmelite Community Centre Whitefriar, 56 Aungier St., Dublin, Dublin 2
Current Weight: 14 stone 11lbs
The transition into the ProPoints plan this week has been quite an easy one and I have really found the benefit in planning and tracking.
On Thursday, I chose some Weight Watchers dinner recipes from their Cooking for Two book and I made a shopping list. I really filled up my baskets on filling and healthy foods and made little adjustments to my cupboards such as substituting basmati rice and pasta for wholegrain alternatives.
I am the least picky person in the world so my basket would usually be filled with fruit and vegetables but our leader gave us some great ideas last week, many which I have put into practice over the weekend.
For example, butternut squash is a 0 ProPoint ingredient it is great in any number of winter dishes. However, Mary advised that we cut the squash in half and remove the seeds before roasting and flling the centre with baked beans. It was really delicious and a small butternut squash made a yummy addition to supper and came in at only 3 ProPoints. It is a really nice alternative to potato.
The weather has been really beautiful the past week and I have been getting out and moving as much as I can. The other day I walked into town and back again with my shopping and although I was tempted to hop on the Luas, I resisted and felt better for it.
I won’t lie and say this week has come without its temptations but I really found that having low ProPoints options in the fridge and cupboard really helped the cravings. If you are the type to crave something sweet after dinner, a portion of sugar free jelly and some Weightwatchers vanilla yoghurt is a great way to satisfy yourself and this week I also tried baking some apples with cinnamon and having with a Weight Watchers yoghurt. I went out with my friends this weekend and I went without my usual glass of wine and went for a spirit and a diet mixer.
I haven’t found myself hungry on the ProPoints plan and I think by tracking and knowing that what you’re eating is measured and controlled takes away a lot of the guilt I may have felt after tucking into without weighing it or tracking it.
I’m looking forward to Wednesday and hopefully I’m more inspired and motivated to keep on track with this healthy, happy programme!
Name: Amy Wall
Meeting: Carmelite Community Centre Whitefriar, 56 Aungier St., Dublin, Dublin 2
Current Weight: 11 stone 9lbs
I’m nearing the end of my first week on the Weight Watchers ProPoints programme. The good news is that every day seems to be getting easier and easier.
I’ll admit that I haven’t exactly been great with my exercise (basically, I haven’t moved much at all) but I have stuck to the ProPoints plan as best I can.
I’m tracking everything and I’m being diligent when it comes to weighing food portions. Over the past few days I feel like I’ve started to understand the ProPoints plan better. It really is all about smart budgeting – making choices that suit your body and deciding if you’d rather spend your ProPoints on a bit of junk food that won’t fill you, or on a nice, healthy, hearty meal that will keep you going for the rest of the evening.
The weekend was quite tough. I was literally longing to sit down on the sofa and eat my body weight in chocolate – but thankfully my will power was stronger. Instead of chowing down on a bar of Dairy Milk, I had a low-fat hot chocolate drink with a ProPoints value of 1. It not only killed my chocolate craving but it also kept me on plan. See? It really is all about making some smart choices.
I’m a bit worried that my lack of exercise will come back to haunt me when I step up on the scales on Wednesday, but I’m proud that I managed to stay on plan for a week. After Wednesday I’ll focus on upping my activity levels.
Last week my leader Mary was chatting about the importance of focussing on one thing at a time. Now that I feel I’ve got the ProPoints plan itself under control, I’ll work on dragging myself off the sofa in the evenings. Baby steps people, baby steps…
Do you want to join Patricia and Amy? Find your nearest Weight Watchers classes here.
