Happy Sunday all! I have spent a lot of time reflecting lately on what exactly it is that I want to do. Part of me feels lost and part of me knows exactly what I need to do to be successful. I have gone back and forth in my head so many times and any time I switch things up, it is never without a lot of pondering. Last night, I pulled out my Weight Watchers Journals from when I used to do the CORE program (yup, I really do have my trackers from 7 years ago!). I actually kept all the ones where I lost over 1.5 lbs.
For those that are not familiar with the CORE program it is very close to what Weight Watchers calls the Simply Filling Technique today. You focus entirely on listening to your body and your hunger signals, while eating only Power Foods, aka Simply Filling Foods. You use your Weekly Points Allowance (WPA) for any non power food items you want to enjoy. It’s a great way to help you focus on picking the “right” foods and enjoying everything else in moderation.
In my last journey with Weight Watchers (the past 8 years), I actually lost my first 20 points using flex points with zero exercise. When I was ready for a change, I switched things up and switched to CORE while adding in exercise as I told you all about during my running story.
I can honestly say that both programs work 100% WHEN you work them 100%. I also can say that you do not necessarily have to exercise to lose weight based on my experience, but, adding it in, definitely helps the process.
I have really been feeling like I need a change lately ~ something to make me feel like everything is “new” and “exciting” and something that will boost my motivation again. When I looked at my journals last night, I thought, WOW, I cooked so much and ate so good….WOW, I wrote down like everything ~ look at me writing down that bite, lick or taste…..I even wrote down my Non-Scale-Victories (NSV) when my pants were too big.
Just looking back and remembering how that felt in that moment made me realize, it’s time for a change. I NEED to do something for me so I can get excited about reaching my Labor Day Goal.
So, for the month of July I am going to do the Simply Filling Technique and get back to the basics of Clean Eating and Power Foods. I may not be perfect to start and I can tell you now, I do have some tweaks that I allow as long as I lose weight (i.e. low-fat cheese versus fat free cheese), but, none of that matters….what matters is that I am EXCITED and ready to go!
I actually think that Summer is the best time to do the Simply Filling Technique because the produce is just plain awesome.
I whipped up 1/2 cup Old Fashioned Oats with 1 cup of water in the microwave for 2 minutes. Then, I stopped it with cinnamon…..
A bunch of farmer’s market fruit…..
And a sprinkle of unsweetened coconut. There is so much flavor in these 3 toppings you will not even miss having sugar or butter in your oats. 100% SF (4 points+ if you are counting).
Since I know I totally value my WPA, I decided to nix the 1/2 and 1/2 this morning and went with just 1 pump mocha & 1 pump coconut for 1 WPA.
Fun fact: I actually learned to drink my coffee black when I followed Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Diet and did cooler 1….the cooler’s still haunt me today, but, I love drinking my coffee black.
I read somewhere it takes trying something 12 times to like it and I think that’s true ~ sorta.
I snacked on some watermelon at our Weight Watchers meeting (up 1 lb and it was earned!), then, we headed out to the Alameda Antique Faire.
I came prepared with a banana and Pearine (Pear + Nectarine – below), but, only ended up eating one of them.
5 hours and a million steps later, we were done and off to Yokoso ~ my favorite sushi place ever.
We started with Edamame which is a Power Food = SF! (1/2 c = 1 points+ if you are counting).
Simple salad ~ 3 WPA for the dressing and worth it!
I pondered the Miso Soup since they say all broth based soups are Simply Filling, however, Miso was not listed. From what I can tell, it is based on the tofu they use – not all are Simply Filling.
I decided to keep it Simply Filling and only drank the broth leaving the tofu behind. (2 points+ if you are counting).
Sashimi is the only thing that is Simply Filling when it comes to sushi even if it is brown rice sushi. The thing is, I like all the “stuff” that comes with sushi so I am not sure I could ever do just the raw sashimi.
TUNA STEAK ~ Spicy Crab Meat Topped with Ahi, Avocado, Green Onions, Tobiko SRIRACHA and special sauce made extra spicy for me = LOVE!!
Yup, that would be an entire dish of Sriracha for dipping 
I estimated this based off a Spicy Tuna Roll at 1 points+ a piece. (8 WPA)
Since we had a late lunch and I am not starving, dinner is going to involve dipping this big bowl of strawberries in 1 cup 0% Greek Yogurt (all simply filling). 3 points+ if you are counting
As soon as we got home tonight, I whipped up lunches for the first 2 days this week (since The Husband likes it, I have to share). Recipe courtesy of my fantastic Weight Watchers Leader….I’ll post it tomorrow for you all too.
STATS:
- 3,020 calories burned
- 11,334 steps taken
- 13 WPA used, 36 WPA remaining – SF, (21 daily points+)
HERE IS WHAT IS ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:
- BBQ Chicken, corn and kale chips
- Grilled Tri Tip, Sweet Potato Fries, Grilled Corn, Salad
- Grilled Thai Turkey Salad
- Sweet Potato BLTA Nacho’s
- Mushroom Ravioli’s A La Kale, Salad
- Spaghetti, Salad
Q’s
Have you ever tried the CORE and/or Simply Filing plans? What did you think?
Night all!
Yanno, a friend and I were texting yesterday. We both were SO MOTIVATED 6 or so years ago. I lost 35 pounds and was almost to my pre-wedding weight. She lost 125 pounds and was so awesome. Nothing stood in our way. No matter what the obstacle, we conquered it and stayed on plan! Now…. 🙁 We just can’t get our minds in the game. It’s not the plan – it’s us! Like you said… WHEN you work it, IT WORKS! My problem is staying on plan for a little under 2 weeks before I’m ready to inhale whatever I wish in portions that are ungodly. :::sigh::: Okay, sorry – a little vent! LOL I’m looking forward to seeing how Simply Filling works for you! I’ve never done it.
Good luck with Simply Filling! Hope you have a great month! 🙂
Can’t wait to see the recipe!
You can lose 1 lb just by sweating! 🙂 How is the husband doing?
Hi Carol,
Thanks! The Husband is doing great. He was actually at his personal goal weight until we went to Las Vegas. Now he is working his way back down that last few lbs.
Danica
Your food looks reaaaaaally good! AND filling. When I did WW I counted points but I think the CORE plan is actually healthier in some cases (depending on choices of course).
Danica, I’ve been WW Lifetime for 23+ years. After I reached goal that first time it slowly crept back on and when I started going AGAIN in April 2010 I was 79.4 pounds over goal! (I only needed to lost about 20 the first time). I’ve lost 82 now and I’ve been at goal for 8 months. I know your struggle! Being at goal doesn’t make it goes away – it makes it harder to stay motivated because you are up a pound, down a pound, instead of having more steady, consistent losses. The beauty of the WW plan is that you can shake things up to keep yourself motivated as your journey continues. I think it is awesome that you recognize you need a change and are doing it. Keep up the good work and keep motivating others! You are doing a wonderful job!
Your photos look so delicious! I do like eating on Simply Filling some days… but I don’t usually do it for days on end or entire weeks. You’re inspiring me to consider it, though. 🙂
When I read your post, I was like, “Oh my! Danica is reading my mind and put it into print!” I have been feeling so torn lately between what I need to do and what I end up doing! I think of where I was a year ago and look at myself now, and think, ‘What happened?’ I just need to find a power switch to flip on and get going again. I’m just not there! Your words are encouraging to me. Today is a good day to get going again and give thanks for the small victories. Thanks Danica, and have a simply filling, power- filled week!
My motivation has fell off! I am in need of a change too! Sometimes I just get tired of counting points. I will have to give the Simply filling a try.
How you are feeling is not unusual it is part of the process to making real changes in our eating habits and the way we think about ourselves and losing weight. I remind myself every day why maintaining my weight is important to me today……sometimes I have to do it at every meal!! Hang in there Danica, I know you can and will be a success story.
Good luck on your switch up! I was thinking of making a similar change to my program. I decided to focus on “clean eating” and cutting out all processed stuff. I’m re-reading Tosca’s book right now!! I think I’ll move on to simply filling in August to keep it fresh!
I did Core a few years ago and liked it much better than tracking everything that passed my lips – and it works also. Questions for you and/or anybody out there: What is the value of adding cinnamon to food, i.e., oatmeal? I read some time ago that it’s suppose to help with metabolism. Is that true? Second question, does anybody out there have problems with gaining weight when eating fruit? I’ve added fruit to my diet once again after being convinced that it’s good for me, but yet again, it appears to cause me to gain weight – grrrr! The amount of fruit I’m eating isn’t significant during the day, i.e., a small fruit salad with lunch and with dinner but I’ve gained two to four ounces each day. I’m going to leave out fruit today and stick to my high protein/low carb food plan and see if that helps. Good luck to you for focusing on Core this month.
Hi Peggy,
I actually just like the flavor that cinnamon gives to my oatmeal. I never really thought of the health benefits, although, I am sure there are plenty out there for cinnamon.
I agree with Sassygirls’ comments below with respect to fruit. I have found that it really depends on how I eat my fruit. I have to make sure I am eating it instead of other things and not on top of everything else I am eating. This doesn’t really sound like what is happening with you.
I also think that if you have eliminated a food group (i.e. carbs) from your diet that when you add it back, you will gain weight from that. I have done this is the past and it happens.
Hope that helps a bit – good luck!
Danica
hey peggy!
fruit is waaaay better for you than a candy
bar, ice cream cone (gag) or sugar filled choc
cake; however, it still has CALORIES. lots
& lots of natural sugar & so there is a tradeoff.
eat your small portion of fruit early in the day
(suggest b4 dinner) do it can be metabolized
and digested early…,and MOVE that body!
Yes, you will gain weight with too many
portions of fruit.
btw.,,cinnamon is amazing! I sprinkle it
on raw apples, bake it in low fat CCC for
added sweetness (no refined white sugar 4 me
thank you very much!) and it has been said to
have über healthy benefits. penzey’s or the
Spice House (chicago girl here) has d’lish
cassia Saigon cinnamon. ir’s the best of the bunch
& I’d suggest that you try the top of the line
cinnamon. the sweetness & kick can ‘t be
beat.
started WW in ’09 & have lost MORE
weight (total 57 lbs.) than my goal; energy
level, happiness & balance in my life (who’s
really happy being overweight?? not I) is
amazing and the pounds are staying off!!
listen to your body…and best of luck to you!
Thank you Sassygirl for your information. I will limit my fruit to some blueberries (and cinnamon) with my oatmeal in the morning and “maybe” a small amount of fruit with lunch. I’m going to check the internet for the Saigon cinnamon you mentioned. You keep doing what you’re doing since it’s working for you – yahoo!
Hi Danica.
Thanks for all you do to help either get or keep us motivated. I am a lifetime member that has lost her weight 3 different times. First time round was 25 years ago when I went from 191 lbs to 124lbs. I didn’t start exercising till I got the first 40 some pounds off, as everytime I started excercising, it seemed to slow my progress down. That first time, I kept the weight off for 4 years and another baby. My first daughter never tasted fast food for the first 4 years of her life.
By the time my 3rd daughter was born, my top pregnancy weight was my orginal ww weight.
I went on to lose it all again with weight watchers new points (much different than the first go round). Over the course of life, and my kids growing up, my love of cooking and nurturing…I went on to eventually hit 226 lbs. Then I watched a biggest loser marathon and decided to make a change. Over the course of that year, I walked one hour everyday at lunch and went to the gym with my daughter 5 days a week without fail, attended ww at work without fail, and lost down to 163, following plan to the T. I was happy at that weight, even though 150 is my min goal weight. I kept that off for a couple years with daily exercise and a whole lot of focus on what I was eating. Then I fell in love again, ate out a lot and within 2 months had gained up to 185. My boss said it was “love pounds”. I did end up getting married to my most wonderful man who loves my cooking, plus loves to eat out and travel, and thinks I am beautiful no matter what. I spent the first year of marriage in the 190s…and eventually hit that 200 mark. I work long hours, have a long commute and dont seem to have the energy to commit to losing again. 9 months ago, I rejoined ww both on line and group, signed up for your blog and started on the right path, but over the last 9 months, I have lost and gained the same 10 lbs. Pts plus doesn’t seem to work for me. Maybe I eat too many fruits and/or vegtables. Maybe it is too different from the plan that worked for me. Maybe it is the fact that I am 53 years old, have watched Oprah gain and lose the same 50 lbs 5 times, and wonder sometimes ” what is the point?”. I am the uplifter for most folks. I am the one that says “you can do this”, but for some reason, I have hit a place that says “why am I doing this again?” . If you or anyone out there has any suggestions for me, I would greatly appreciate it. My current weight is 209. My goal is 170. I never tried core, but saw many people lose on it, hope it is the ticket for you. I am hoping to find my golden ticket too. Thanks again!
Hi Claudia,
Thanks for sharing your story with me and I can completely relate to you. Believe it or not I commute 2 hours a day and often work 10-12 days most days of the week. It is tough but I know when I exercise even for just 20 minutes a day, it helps to give me more energy. I laughed at your Oprah comment ~ I have so watched her too.
It took me several attempts at losing and gaining before I realized I needed to approach Weight Watchers as a way to live my life and tried to not look at it as a diet. I have probably tried every diet plan out there and while it works for awhile, eventually my motivation lags and I gain back the weight I lost because I cannot maintain the way they want you to eat.
This is where I think Weight Watchers is different. It has taught me to eat like I normally would, find ways to fit in the things I really want to eat even if they are not so plan friendly and to just take each day one meal at a time. Just because I have a bad meal, doesn’t mean I can’t turn it around the next meal.
Since I am not someone who loses rapidly it took me awhile to realize that doesn’t matter. What matters is that each day I am making changes for myself to be healthier and even if I lost 1 lb a week, in a year that would be 52 lbs! It all adds up over time and there isn’t a destination or stopping point because this is how I am living my life forever. Whenever I am tempted to not go to meetings which help me keep on track (even if I am maintaining), I remind myself of the alternative (pre-ww and the way I felt plus gaining).
Have you tried attending a meeting? I know for me personally I need physical meetings and doing the at-home or online thing doesn’t work for me. I can easily tell myself the scale isn’t right 🙂
I also think that it helps to work on consistency – having great weeks every week. I have had periods of time where I can undo my 3 weeks of losses in 1 week. The biggest thing that helps me here is tracking every single bite. Then, I realize how much I am eating and if I need to make changes or tweaks.
Whenever I need a spark in motivation, I look for new recipes too – even if it means just preparing a few on the weekend so I have easy and healthy lunches to grab and go. Having healthy snacks on hand and not having any of the tempting foods in my house, really helps me to make the right decisions when I am run down and tired at the end of the day.
I will stop rambling on, but, feel free to email me and I’d be glad to help however I can.
Take care and keep up the good work – eventually, you will get to your goal with persistence over perfection.
Danica
I really enjoy your website. I find the comments from other people helpful. I have done the SF several times. I try and do it when I am away it makes it easier. I have lost a total of 26 pounds and have put back 3. I am trying very hard to get to my goal someday. I have Celiac so I don’t know if that makes it harder or not. I exercise regular so I always have so many AP left over. Maybe I am not eating enough not really sure.
If anyone has any suggestions I am open.
Thanks
Donna