Weight Watchers and Training

Thanks for replying.  I am allowing myself Activity Points on my hard training days.  I just seem to get used to the extra food and want it on my light days.  My first week of really training harder, I lost 4 lbs.  This week, I am staying the same.  I think my body might just trying to get used to it.  I think I also need to try to eat more nutrient-dense foods for both the Weight Loss and Training aspect.  Any ideas there?

Thanks again!

I've gone back to the points system for myself but I'm modifying for training. Someone will probably chime in that I'm on the wrong trail but what is working for me (admitably only over a few weeks) is allowing myself 10 more base points (and I started at the high level for my weight) and eating all my exercise points.

My take is, my basal metobolic rate will be somewere around 2000, 35 WW points is 1750 calories giving me a deficit of 250, less free vegetable calories. The WW activity points look to be about 50% of that which I'd actually burn so that adds about 42 points to eat, ie 2100 calories, but a deficit also of 2100/7 or 300 calories a day at my current level of training. With a deficit of 550 calories a day I would be on track for a little over a half pound a week. Slow and steady to lose 10lbs+ before Ironman Arizona.

I really can't see having such a substantial caloric deficit and being able to train for Ironman. I can however say that when I first did WW 10 years ago, I was active but only in a walking to and from work (1.5 hours a day) sort of way and the program worked. Continued to work, I've maintained 80% of my weight loss and if I wasn't doing triathlons wouldn't actually be worried about my weight at all. I look fine, I'm healthy, I just want to be faster.

I carry over points from day to day as, like you, it's the recovery days when I'm starving. Which, if you think about it, makes sense entirely - your body needs those calories to heal and get stronger. I wouldn't starve yourself on those days at all.

Edited by smhammond 2009-07-28 12:18 PM

I did WW for about 2 years, lost 60lbs.

I noticed also that when I was doing hard-core training, I would get FAMISHED.  I switched to CORE for a while, and that helped a bit.

After I get certified as an aerobics instructor I started counting calories. Recommendations are to have about a 500 calorie/day deficiency.  On days where I burned more than 1000 calories exercising (which is possible when training for a triathalon and teaching aerobics classes!), I was falling VERY short of my daily calories, so I first started altering how many APs I earned (for the first 500 calories burned, I would get 1pt per 100 cal, anything over 500 would be 1pt per 50 cal), but then I found calorie counting alone to just be easier (although I try to hold myself to the HGs still)

I am a lifetime WW member.  I weigh in monthly as it keeps me on track and I have been the same weight for about 8 mos now.  When I follow WW I maintain my weight or loose.  I use the activity points 100% or I would not have enough energy to train as much as I do (training for Augusta 70.3 as ultimate season race).  I still measure and weigh foods especially if I have put on a couple of pounds.

Last year around Tgiving and before I thought I was home free and could pretty much eat what I wanted as I was working out all the time.  NOT!  I can tell you that if you are famished and eating more and thinking it's ok, you're gonna gain the weight back.  Also, the word famished to me usually equates to eating foods you shouldn't and waiting too long to eat (you should eat 3 meals and 2 snacks a day).  I truly believe that if you eat the amount of points you are allowed daily and add all the xtra points in for your activity you will have more than enough to eat.  Eat the right foods and you will be satisified too.

On days that you don't train and you are hungry, eat more vegetables so you are not eating the xtra calories.  Your body will not burn them up on off days.  And I don't believe in bankrolling daily points that you don't eat.  Calories in and energy out on a daily basis is key.

Tips on filling up on veggies for free or very little points:  For lunch everyday I eat one box of frozen veggies - my favorites are Green Giant Health Vision (1 pt), Green Giant Healthy WEight (2 pts) and Healthy Giant Green Beans and Almonds.  I follow this with some type of lean cusine, weight watchers, amys or health choice meals and I always add a jar of whole mushrooms.  Huge meal, very filling - and between 6-8 pts depending on the frozen meal you choose.  For dinners I make massive salads - all with free veggies - again huge meal, little points.

Don't mean to rant or preach here but 70 lbs is a lot of weight to lose and I am guessing you don't want to go through that again.  Do not fall into the trap of thinking that since you have lost all this weight and are rolling along well now that it will be easy to keep it off.  NO matter how much you train.  It is easy to lose weight because you are on a plan and it's a project.  But keeping it off for life - that's the hard part.

I second that!!!  Even though I'm not "doing WW" any more, I still have to track my food every day!  I write it in a journal or on here.  If I don't write down everything I eat, I WILL gain weight (I'm up about 8lbs since Jan....I haven't been that good at tracking recently )


Lisa - congrats on making lifetime!!!  I would be lifetime too (if they allowed it online - hence why I stopped, I didn't want to pay for it forever :-p).

I have been on ww since September of 2008.  I have lost about 45 pounds but I am now totally plateaued and still have about 15 lbs to get to my goal and make lifetime.  I am also finding it difficult to stay on points with all my training.  Particularly, I feel like I am giving myself some "free" time either before races to carb load or after.  I agree that the vegetables are crucial to filling you up.  I just need to do it.  It's nice to know others notice that sticking to the points on WW while doing heavy training can be difficult.  I just need to figure out how to readjust it.

This user's post has been ignored.

Edited by CHR15 TREE 2009-07-30 9:46 AM

From what I have read, carb loading is a thing of the past.  I never eat differently before or after races.  But for those of you that need the xtra calories and carbs - how about fruit?  It's full of carbs and much better for you and less caloric than pasta, white potatoes and rice.

Same thing for those feeling famished from training.  I think if you pick "good" foods like fruits, veggies or a handful of nuts, some crakers and humus to name a few to "splurge on" you'll be ok.  Just make sure the food you eat when famished is not junk food.

Hi all -lifetime WW member here as well! Its great to have a forum to speak with folks in my shoes....I lost 40lbs since July 2007 and started Tri's in 2008. I just completed my 9th Tri, and first HIM last month.

I have an iphone and have been using the Livestrong app to track my activity and points. It tracks calories, is free for their website and in the "journal" i put my points. The app on my phone is about $3 i think, but well worth it for calorie content. I agree that the training goes hand in hand with WW, and too find it challenging to stay within 2 lbs of my goal weight. Even though the inches show the most, I honestly use it as a guide and try to eat more core foods.

My plan is to be "good" and see if I can get below my goal weight. I think if I cut out the processed stuff and go fully on the CORE program this might be achievable. I agree if we dont keep an eye on it the weight will come back, guaranteed, no matter how much we train.

Side note on carboloading, i think I read that you only need to do that for HIM and fulls, not sprints...