Welcome W.W. Newbies!Welcome W.W. Newbies!Welcome to a very unofficial W.W. Canada Online Newbie FAQ with Cheese.
April 6, 2006: It's true, I am finally starting some
updates. Can you dig it????
Caveat: I know nada about Core, little
about Flex Points. So please don't ask me.
Anyway, there's no fancy-pants
Flash or nasty pop-ups on this site - I continue to put it together
between loads of aforementioned laundry so give me break if it
doesn't slice your veggies for you. I'm more about content than
style. Really.
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1) The very first thing I think EVERY newbie should do is take their measurements!!!! Bust/chest, waist, butt, upper thigh, upper arm ... you'll thank me for this piece of advice that no one ever gave me until I'd lost many inches (and I have no idea how many)!!! Sometimes, the scale is not your friend ... but in those moments, sometimes the tape measure IS!!!! You can be losing inches too, so measure, and write it down ... you'll be amazed!!! Also, even if it makes you cringe, TAKE SOME PHOTOS OF YOURSELF RIGHT NOW!!! You'll need them when you become next year's Success Story Post Child!!
2) GREAT BIG CAVEAT: Okay, my darlings. Even the Fabulous Stellamama occasionally makes mistakes. And sometimes people send me lists and I just can't verify every single item. SOOOOOO.... please use your noodle. Learn to read packages and double-check point values for things that you consume frequently. And please please please if you find a mistake on here, let me know. I can't fix things I don't realize are incorrect.
3) I have not yet revised the information below for the Flexpoints program. For example, the Wendie Plan refers to the old Winning Points methods. I may make a Flexpoints FAQ at some point, but someone's gotta make it worth my while LOL.
Maybe someday, I'll add a little something about me! If you're lucky. If you drink your water. If you promise not to get all anal-retentive and try to calculate the points on your sandwich to the square root of Pi.
Ahem. Okee dokee, here we go.
(This page was first posted on May 25, 2003.)
Since the FAQ on the WW site has more info about billing than communicating, we have put together answers to the most common questions we see on the boards day after day.
1) Short-hand expressions you'll see 2a) Water 2b) Body Mass Index Calculator link 3) New Foods You Need to Know About 4) Favourite Low Point Snax (compiled by a bunch of oldbies) 5a) Low-fat meal ideas 5b) M & M Meat Shops Point Listing 6) "The Wendie Plan" 7) Quick point calculator 8) Most sought-after recipes:"Zero Point" or 0 pt soup Bran Brownies/Brownie Muffins, The Diet Coke Cake, and Frozen Peanut Butter Cups! 9) How do you get those picture thingies/stats/quotes/etc at the bottom of your posting? 10) Links we love 11) Favourite rallying criesSkip all this newbie info ... take me to her recipes!! Take me to the Weekend Challenge!!
1)
Short-hand expressions you'll see:
OP - on program
WI - weigh in
OT - off topic
TOM - "that" time of month, aka your period,
unless you're a guy, in which case it might be your name
TMI - too much information, like when people describe various
bodily functions in detail
NSV - non-scale victory, something that made you feel good
about your weight loss that wasn't a number on the scale
IMHO - in my humble opinion (never used by Stellamama cuz
she ain't humble)
KWIM - know what I mean?
Dh, dd, ds and SO - darling husband, daughter or son; Significant
Other
TIA thanks in advance
TVP - Textured Vegetable Protein, a virtually fat-free
meat substitute
WATP - Walk Away The Pounds, a favourite exercise video.
Sez Miranova: "Available @ Walmart, Zellers, Costco. Need
2 pound weights. Can do in a living room the size of a postage
stamp or like my living room in the middle of a 3 year olds toy
explosion." Warning: do not buy it from TV ads (too $$).
Also available through many libraries.
LOL, FDL, LMAO, ROTFLMAO - various forms of online laughter
(laugh out loud, falling down laughing, laughing my ar$e off,
rolling on the floor laughing my ar$e off)
SF PBC bar The Slim Fast
Peanut Butter Crunch Bar
[back to table of contents]
2) Water. Drink it. At least 6 cups per day. Really. It makes a huge difference. Coffee and diet soda do not count as water. Aspartame-based drinks should be consumed in moderation [the debate on the safety of aspartame rages on ... so go gently]. You will need to "go" frequently. You will deal with it. How do you deal with it when you are not near a bathroom? Depends. (Ha ha, a little bladder control product humour - always lost on those under 50.)
Why water?
Here's some good reasons to drink, drink, drink.
Stellamama breaks down the water thing for you, in case you think 6 cups a day is impossible: let's say, for the sake of easy math, that you have 12 functional hours in the day, say 7AM to 7PM. Six cups is half a cup per hour, a quarter cup (which is basically a big mouthful) every half hour. IT WILL NOT KILL YOU TO DRINK A BIG MOUTHFUL EVERY HALF HOUR. In fact, it makes a HUGE difference to your success, and makes your skin glow. So don't whine -- just learn to love it!!!
Well, what the heck did you THINK you were supposed to weigh?!?! Here's what the authorities think.
Here is another cool BMI site.
3) New Foods You Need to Know About:
Boca burgers (the roast onion ones) - The astonishing 1 pt soy burger, very tasty, actually tastes like a burger!! Available at Safeway, Save on, Thrifty's, Dominion, Sobeys, IGA.
Laughing Cow Cheese- aka La Vache qui Rit, in a round container with laughing red cow on front, be sure to get the low-fat one, 2 wedges = 1 pt. Available at the above stores, and No Frills. Spread it on just about anything. Canadian version is lower points than the U.S. one.
SlimFast (TM) peanut butter crunch bars- aka the SF PBC bar - Yes, they are 2 points. They taste just like a Crispy Crunch or Butterfinger. Eat one then put the box away in order to resist temptation. DO NOT CONFUSE WITH SLIM FAST MEAL REPLACEMENT BARS which are 5-6 pts. Can be found in the Weight Loss section of major drug stores, and someone said Walmart too. About $3-4 for a box of 6.
SPECIAL NOTE ON THE SFPBC: newer packages have an error in the nutritional information that makes them look like they are 3 pts. ALL SFPBC'S ARE 2 POINTS --- REALLY TRULY IT HAS BEEN RESEARCHED AND WE HAVE IT STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE!!!!
BUT A FRESH WARNING: SOME OF THE NEW ONES TASTE SOAPY.
4) Favourite Low Point Snax (compiled by a bunch of oldbies)
Nature Valley trail mix bars - 3 pts
Nature Valley Peanut Butter Bars - 2pts per bar i.e. half the pkg
Asian Pears - .5 pts
Almonds 11 - 2 pts
Ultra Low Fat Cool Whip 1 oz - 1 pt
Soy Dream L'il Dreamers Choco Ice Cream 1 bar - 1pt
Rice Crackers 16 - 2 pts
Turkey Pepperoni 1 - 1 pt
Spudz 20 - 1 pt
Rice Krispie Square, store bought - 2 pts
Body Smart Snack Size 2 servings - 2 pts
Whole Wheat English Muffin - 2 pts
Pudding Tube - 2 pts
Slim Fast 1 can - 4 pts
Liverwurst 1 oz - 3 pts
Baked Tostitos 20 - 2 pts
Baked Lays 11 - 2 pts
Hershey Sweet Escapes Triple Choco wafers - 2 pts
Cheerios snack pak 1/3 c - 1 pt
McDonalds Yogurt Parfait - 3 pts
Special K Bars - 2 pts
Sara Lee Cheesecake Bites - 2 pts
Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches - 2 pts
14 Gummie Bears 14 - 3 pts
Fruit & Veggie Bar - 2 pts
Our Compliments Choco wafers 1 - .5 pts
Campino Candies 3 - 1 pt
Body Smarts individual bites 10 - 2-3 pts
Carnation Light Hot Chocolate - 1 pt
Popcorn Orville Reddenbacker Smart Pop - 3 cups - 1 pt
5) Low-fat meal ideas (also submitted by oldbies):
- egg white omelette with mushrooms and peppers
- fat free cold cuts & cream cheese rolled in a pita
- chicken ceasar with low fat dressing
- grilled zuccini and eggplant with a splash of fat-free Italian dressing
- marinated beef flank steak with asparagus
- clear broth soup (beef/chicken/vegetable)
- pork and vegetable stir fry
- fish and wild rice
- sweet potatoes (good replacement for potato/rice)
- baba ganoush (grilled eggplant dip, delicious)
- hummus (chickpea dip)
- meatless chili (check out Stellamama's)
- spaghetti squash, served like noodles
- Boca Burger with turnip "fries"
- lentil soup
- turkey meatloaf and tossed salad
- angel-food cake, cool whip and berries (bit of sugar, but a great low fat dessert)
5b)
The M&M Meat Shops Point
List 
The new one is too big for here, so it's got its own whole page now!! Thanks again Lisa_F!
6) "The Wendie Plan". A variation on use of points to help people break a plateau. Not really recommended for newbies, cuz for heaven's sake you just started so stick with the program.
Comprehensive Wendie info is found at: http://groups.msn.com/POINTingMyWaytoaNewLife/theoriginalwendieplan.msnw
And here is where she talks about Activity points.
7)
Quick point calculator:
(calories/50) + (fat/12) - (fibre/4) = point value
Online points calculator:
http://www.angelfire.com/co/mtrevino/points.html?CALORIES=331&FAT=9.2&FIBER=0&CALCPOINT=&ExactPoints=
(but
be warned -- it's got tons of pop-up ads attached)
8) Those Ever-popular, Ever-requested Recipes
Zero/0 pt soup. Yum yum veg soup. Proof positive that even when you have no points left, you can still eat something yummy! If you have emotional problems with cabbage, use spinach instead! This is W.W.'s standby.
Garden Vegetable Soup (makes 4 servings)
2/3 cup sliced carrot
1/2 cup diced onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups fat free broth (beef, chicken, or vegetable)
1 1/2 cups diced green cabbage
1/2 cup green beans
1 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup diced zucchini
In large saucepan, sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, saute
the
carrot, onion and garlic over low heat until softened, about 5
min.
Add broth, cabbage, beans, tomato paste, basil, oregano and salt;
bring
to a boil. Lower heat and simmer covered about 15 minutes or until
beans
are tender.
Stir in zucchini and heat 3-4 minutes. Serve hot.
Says Bethvert: Just wanted to add my humble 2 cents worth in regard to the zero point veg soup. A super-fast way to make it is to use frozen carrots and a small bag of coleslaw salad mix. I also add a large can of diced tomatoes and use a small tin of tomato sauce instead of paste (that way I'm not stuck with left over paste). I find that if I use 2 900ml boxes of broth (plus one can if needed)I have enough soup to last two weeks. It also freezes very well.
[Stellamama thinks frozen zucchini is icky and slippery ... she sez leave it out of your big batch and add it fresh when you reheat]
Brownie
Muffins/Bran Brownies, Chocolate Firemen - whatever you call them...
Some folks make them as brownies, some like 'em in the cupcake cups - suit yourself.
3 cups of All Bran
2 1/3 cups water
1 pkg Low fat brownie mix
1-3 tbsp baking powder
- soak all bran in water for
a couple of minutes
- add baking powder and stir
- add brownie mix
Bake in oven @ 350 for about 20-25 minutes
makes 24 small (1pt each) or 12 large (2 pts) muffins.
Personally, this is not something I would make ... but some people seem to love it .... so....whatever floats your boat.
1 box of regular or
low-fat cake mix
1 12-ounce can of diet Coke
Use any regular or low-fat cake mix and add the diet Coke. Bake the cake according to the package directions.
You can frost the cake a couple of different ways... Sprinkle the cake with confectioners sugar, or mix together an 8-ounce tub of Cool Whip and 1 package of sugar-free, fat-free pudding mix (any flavor appropriate to cake flavor).
Variations:
diet Coke/Chocolate Cake Mix
diet Sprite/White Cake Mix
diet Cherry Coke/Cherry Cake Mix
-- Submitted by Jackie Flood of Geneseo, NY
(SM note: At
24 servings (pieces or cupcakes), you're looking at 2 pts each.)
8 oz Cool Whip
Free
6 Tbsp Peanut Butter
2 Tbsp Hershey's Chocolate Syrup
Combine Cool Whip and PB. Line 12 cupcake tins with liners and
spoon in mixture.
Top with a drizzle
of syrup and freeze. That's it!
(1 point each)
NEW!!! Okay, I can't remember who sent me this, but ...
"I made
them a little more decadent, which of course...added 1 point.
I put a Simple Pleasures chocolate wafer on the bottom of them
(you have to cut off scallops on edge of cookie to fit on pan
though...a little added work...maybe if you made enough you could
get exercise points hahaha)"
9) How do you get those picture thingies/stats/quotes/etc at the bottom of your posting?
Click on 'my profile' in the upper right of your WW online screen and the options will magically appear!
How much water should you drink?? www.brita.ca/english/your_water/water_challenge/index.html
Amazing inspiration: www.darleneelizabeth.com
For shopping ideas: www.darleneelizabeth.com/inmykitchen.htm
More amazing inspiration with a killer humour sectionwww.getting2goal.com Where to find points values for some restaurant & fast food foods: www.dwlz.com
Make your own point slider:
www.decreasingdiane.com/slider1.htm
Handy dandy utilities for your handheld PDA www.decreasingdiane.com/tools.html
Amazing one point food list:
diet.sandyland.net/m1pointfoods.htm
To generate the wacky names
you see in people's profiles:
dir.yahoo.com/Entertainment/Humor/Names/Name_Generators/
OMG, this just in!! Crazy mental diet site (especially the Cheater's Tips!!) www.faddiet.com Chocolate is a Vegetable!!
And of course you are going to bookmark this page, cuz it's going to be your weight loss buddy!!
Oh, and for a real mood booster, go to the supermarket and pile up individual pounds of butter (pure fat) equivalent to what you have lost. Even a pound or two is impressive! And just imagine, it's NOT on you anymore!!
Anything else, keep asking!!
(Thank you to everyone who continues
to contribute ideas for the FAQ!! It's a community thing!)
Now go drink some water. Don't make me come after you. This site is dedicated to my little baby sister, Mo (now 37), who is a goddess and introduced me to WW; to our late Mother, who wrestled with the Diet Demon for many years; and to my darling daughter Stella, who I hope will never know the Demon. A not-too-recent picture of me & Mo can be found here.
Since May 23, 2003:
