I Do Not Like Green Eggs and Ham: Points Plus in Review Mon W44.

To break it down for the weight watchers who don't attend meetings (or the non WW out there), WW implemented a new program yesterday called "Points Plus." Instead of determining points using calories, fat, and fiber; the new plan takes into account fiber, carbs, protien, and fat. Its a bit more complicated than the old program, but that is the major difference.

"I do not like green eggs and ham.

I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

I do not like them in a house.

I do not like them with a mouse.

I do not like them here or there.

I do not like them anywhere.

I do not like green eggs and ham.

I do not like them, Sam-I-am."

This embodies my sentiment on the new Points Plus Program Weight Watchers introduced to its members yesterday at meetings across the country. I don't like it. When I originally heard we'd be hearing about the "new plan" this week, I was really excited and happy that I'd get some new tracker or materials that would jump start my motivation and look snazzy, bright, and new. Well, I got that, and a whole lot more...

• More daily points
• More factors affecting points values
• More weekly points

While most of that sounds pretty good (more points to eat, right?) foods are also worth more points. So despite the fact that I gained 6pts for the day, it doesn't compare to how much the foods I eat have gone up in points. I'm not really thrilled about that.

So what has disappeared in the program? All fruits are worth a whopping zero points now. Yep, even those blasted 2 point bananas. Eat up, monkeys out there. I'm excited to experiment with this. More on that later. What else is gone? THE POINTS SLIDER IS GONE!!! This is by far the most upsetting thing to me. I miss the tangible way of determining points. There is no way to calculate points of a food without WW online or a digital points calculator, and with those, you can't manipulate it to see what points would be with a little less. I feel like from that respect, there is less control. 

There are other mostly minor changes- filling foods are now "power foods," points are called "points plus values," the booklet is thicker (has to be since you took away our damn sliders), and if you don't want to track you can use the "simply filling technique." New name, same game.

The theory behind the change is that taking into account protein content will reflect the new research in nutrition science and the points will now fully represent a food's nutritional value...making us all skinny bitches by the end of the year. Ok, not really that last part, but a girl can hope, right? So I'm going to give it the old college try. Maybe I will be a convert and follow the path of Dr. Seus's protagonist...

"Sam! If you will let me be, 

I will try them, you will see.

Say! I do like green eggs and ham!

I do like them Sam-I-am!

and I would eat them in a boat...

I would eat them with a goat...

And I will eat them in the rain.

And in the dark. And on a train.

And in a car. And in a tree.

They are so good, so good, you see!"

Maybe I will be a convert, we'll see. For now, I'll just leave you with my food from Monday and its NEW Points Plus Values!

I had a cliff bar for breakfast 3pts (previously 2) before working with my first student.

I worked on my thesis during the day, but did find some time to sneak off to the gym. I got in an hour of cardio, some lunges, and crunches. New plus plan says its +12pts of activity. I'm not sure if I believe it, but I'm going with it for now.

Lunch was a smart ones fettuccine alfredo 6pts (previously 4).

And a bite of cottage cheese as a snack 1pt.

I made sure to go to the WW meeting to get my new stuff and learn the new plan. My weigh in wasn't quite as bad as I was expecting. I am up 2 lbs- fresh starting point. Here's all the new gear:

Tracker, pocket guide, booklet on points plus to keep old members from panicking, points calculator

I had friends over in the evening after the meeting and had a pb&j 6pts (previously 4), and several beers 17pts (obviously the alcohol points went nuts. Boo hiss).

If you missed my posts the past two days, check them out here!

• Me vs. My Inner Diva
• LBD New Photo Tab

MONDAY STATS:
Points: 33/29
Weekly Allowance Points: 0 used / 49 remaining
Weekly Activity Points: 12/12
Weekly Activity Points Used: 4 used / 8 remainingExercise: none
Weekly Weight Loss: + 2 lbs / -34.0 total