Why Weight Watchers

I have to be honest. I really truly believed in the low carb life style for a long time. I lost a great deal of weight in the past on it, and kept it off until I began to have serious problems with my thyroid. (I am hypothyroid and have been on meds for about 7 yrs).

So why did I chose to stop it and go on Weight Watchers which appears to be the exact opposite of the Low Carb life style? In a phrase...

The Core Program...

I have never liked the WW points program. It annoys me to have to look up everything and calculate a strange number that reminds me of being in a chemistry class. However, after reviewing the Core program I realized I could do this program because it was VERY close to South Beach, a diet that I support and that it would be more in line with my lifestyle.

Why does Core work for me? Well...

The basic premise of Core is you eat only what is on the Core List and you eat until you are satisfied. You do not count calories, points, fat grams..nothing that is on the Core List. What is on the list? Fruit, vegetables, lean meats, (even sirloin!), most non-fat dairy (but not non-fat cream cheese, because people make pigs of themselves on it!) and some complex starches and whole grains. Your goal is to meet the 8 healthy guidelines a day, eat Core...and get your body moving...

Your only real limits on the Core List are the carb-starch family. You can have only one meal with sugar free cereal a day (I LOVE SHREDDED WHEAT!) and one choice of a starch (potato, brown rice, or whole grain pasta). Some things are NOT on the list...BREAD!

Bingo...this FEELS like my lifestyle...this feels low carb...but isn't quite. What it is, is low GI and healthy foods...

In Addition:

I love sushi...I was tired of "cheating" and spending three days to get back into ketosis every time I decided I wanted my favorite food. On Core I have 35 Weekly Allowance Point to spend HOWEVER I want....I spend about 10 pts a week on sushi..and STILL lose weight! The only time I count points is when I eat something off the Core List. That is the only time the annoying math formula comes into my life...otherwise I go for Core...

I love potatoes as well...they make me feel good...I NEVER got them on low carbing...I can have one potato a day...I usually do this a few times a week...other days I have whole grain pasta or brown rice, instead. Here is the thing...I do NOT have to have the grains if I do not want them...there are many days I do NOT want them...they are part of the 8 healthy guidelines but no one smacks me over the head if I chose to not eat them one or two days a week..

However I am Italian, and I missed the foods of my culture. I must have the occasional pasta dish to feel connected to my background and culture...well have you tried whole grain pastas lately? Let me tell you, they are GOOD!

I don't eat much bread...I buy Thomas light English Muffins and WW Whole Wheat bread, and Western Alternative Bagels and Pitas when I need bread. They all are one point each...I use them to make lunch easy and fast...

I have realized that I was not as much of a low carb person as I was a protein and WHOLE carb person. I also realized that I was mean and grumpy all the time on low carbing...something was amiss and I could not put my finger on it until I joined Weight Watchers...

I love this program...I am satisfied, rarely hungry, have lost many many cravings, get some goodies when I really want them and still am losing weight at a healthy pace. I am looking forward to good things ahead...