As a Weight Watchers member (6+ years) I have been through a number of
program changes. Points, Point Plus and now the newly (as of a few
months ago) rolled out Smart Points. Initially with the undertaking of
the program I was annoyed because of all the system and app glitches
which left me guessing a lot of things. Once the bugs were ironed out, I
decided to fully give the plan a go. Initially I liked it because I
wanted to nip some sugar in the bud (even though prior to the programs
roll out I was trying to get
away from substitute sugars by replacing my artificial sweetener with 2 tsp of sugar in my extra large coffee in the morning).
For
the first two weeks I was pretty good, avoiding sugar for the most
part, weening things out of my day and eating what I wanted/enjoyed. I
had snack size M&M's that I had given away because 1 little bag
which used to be 2 points plus values, was now 6 points plus values (the
equivalent of a lunch). Then at work one day, I had a tiny piece of
(1/8th) of a donut and it was like the fire was lit within me. I craved,
and I mean craved the sugar. That day I
ate not one, but TWO whole donuts at work because I had been avoiding
having sugary snack/desserts because the points for them was simply
insane. I had cleared out my cabinet, giving away some of my snacks I
kept on hand for when I needed a little something to be one in the crowd
(fiber one bars, granola bars, individual packages of candy, cookies,
etc.)
Now don't get me wrong - there are aspects of smart points that I genuinely like:
1)
The fact protein is considered lower in points. It makes me more apt to
have a few more ounces of chicken or deli meat allowing me to feel more
satisfied.
2) I like the fact that weekly points were
reestablished. I remember hearing so many people complain that if they
ate their weekly points they'd gain weight. I never had such "luck" I
would be able to lose eating my weeklies. But I did know that the older I
got my body may not respond as it had in the past by eating this weekly
points.
3) I like the general idea of smart points being the healthiest Weight Watchers program rolled out
But even with it being the healthiest program doesn't necessarily make it the best lifestyle.
My major downfall with the Smart Points program is the fact that sugar and saturated fat are taxed so heavily.
I understand sugar isn't great for you, it shouldn't be consumed in
large amounts .... but I think we forget that healthy fat isn't bad for you.
Your body needs fats to a certain extent to function properly.
Now,
don't get me wrong, with Points Plus, I would easily eliminate my olive
oil because I didn't want to "waste" 1-2 sp for a tsp or 2 of EVOO. But
on Smart Points even healthy oils are something you truly have to
consider adding in or eliminating all together. For instance - 1 tsp of
olive oil is 1 smart point, 2 tsp is 3 smart points, 1 tbsp is 4 smart
points. If your someone who obsesses over points (as I've become) I
think "I could have an 80 calorie Greek yogurt, a string cheese and 2
tbsp of hummus for that" - aka my snacks for the day. It's truly become
something that can easily be obsessed over.
With
that obsession, it doesn't allow so easily to live a lifestyle. I have
to plan my day/week around an event. If I know Friday is going to be a
day I need to eat out, then I need to make sure I've got the rest of my
week planned to a T. Now, what happens if a monkey wrench is thrown in
there and I don't really have points to play around with? This is the
dilemma that I find makes smart points so much more difficult to label
as a lifestyle verse calling it a diet.
A
lifestyle is something that you can live with, you can go with the flow.
A diet is something you obsess over. And I don't want to obsess. Since
Smart Points rolled out I've been labeling things as "can't have that"
which makes the stubbornness in me want to come out and say "well, screw
you, I'll eat 10 of them to show you I can!" I mean I had a hissy fit
because I made a quick little frozen Chinese food dinner for my fiance
and myself. I didn't calculate the points at the store because I've had
it before under smart points and it was doable. After putting it in the
oven and heating up the rice I found 1 cup of orange chicken was 16
smart points -- yes, 16 smart points (380 calories)!! I was like are you kidding me?! I simply refused to eat dinner - refused. It singled me out and made me feel some type of way.
If
I was eating alone and could completely keep all tempting foods out of
my house/life, Smart Points wouldn't be all that bad. But when I'm
eating with others, who aren't fans of trading out pasta for spaghetti
squash, or who don't like adding vegetables into meat to bulk it up - it
causes some challenges. I can make multiple side dishes, but at the end
of the day it's time consuming. I do the best I can with what I can.
But I find having convenience meals a few times a week, or even going
out to eat (not so much with fast food places like Wendy's or pizza) I
have a harder time.
I'm not a fan of the
newly updated app. I find looking up restaurants to be incredibly
difficult. It's certainly not as user friendly as it was with Points
Plus. Basically, if an item is not on a restaurants website nutrition
facts page - then it's a guessing game and the wagers vary from
comparable to way off.
I enjoy the structure
with Weight Watchers. I enjoy the accountability (stepping on the scale
once a week). But I'm finding I'm struggling with the new plan when I
have to venture away from the "safe" foods I prepare and eat normally.
Sure, would I save myself a headache if I just ate anything I cooked?
Yes. But it's not always an option. Life isn't something that can be
planned out to the T all the time and the fact I'm obsessing over things
is starting to drive me a little crazy.
I'll figure it out eventually, I have to.
