>Can you explain what the core plan is? I did WW (kinda
>slacked off as of now) and I lost 27 pounds in 4 months. I
>would still like to lose 20 more so I'm curious what the
>difference is with this "core plan".
>
>Also do you go to mtgs or did you join online?
I'm doing it online.
Basically, it's no measuring, no counting, no weighing . . . There's a list of foods that you eat from, as much as you want. Some of the stuff on the list: unlimited fruits and veggies, unlimited fat free dairy products, whole grains, plain fat free yogurt, whole wheat pasta (limited to once a day), lean meat, broth based and tomato based soups, eggs. It's a HUGE list. The only points you have to count are for things that aren't on the list. You have 35 points a week PLUS any activity points you earn for those things. (i.e, ice cream, alcohol, bread, stuff like that.)
Here's the summary from the WW site:
"When you first learn about the Core Plan, you might think, "How can this actually work? It sounds too good to be true." Well, it does work – and there's sound science behind it.
About TurnAround
First, it's important to understand the big picture: TurnAround™. Weight Watchers has put its years of experience and scientific study into learning what works, and TurnAround is the result. With TurnAround, you can achieve healthy weight loss using an approach that incorporates your own needs and preferences. TurnAround offers two food plans: the Flex Plan and the Core Plan. Both the Flex Plan and the Core Plan help you make wise choices and eat nutritiously. Both plans enable you to reduce calories — the key to weight loss, and deliver healthy nutrition and livability.
How does the Core Plan work?
Weight Watchers has tested the healthy-eating strategies that support weight loss in both of our food plans. These strategies include:
Choosing foods that are low in energy density
Selecting whole-grain foods instead of those that contain mostly refined carbohydrates and are low in fiber.
The Core Plan provides you with an approach to healthy weight loss that supports the selection of low-energy-density foods as well as fiber-rich ones by using a list of foods that have been specifically researched and tested for weight-loss benefits.
What is Energy Density?
You know a cup of ice cream has more calories than a cup of broccoli. That, in a nutshell, is energy density – the number of calories in a given volume of food. Foods with a high-volume/low-calorie ratio are low-density foods. So for example, most vegetables have a low energy density; most high-fat desserts or fried foods have a high energy density.
Why is the Energy Density of a Food Significant?
Why not just count the calories? Because foods that have a low energy density will be more satisfying, and you will feel fuller after meals. And if you eat more of the foods that have a low energy density, you'll still be able to enjoy the occasional treat in moderation. Filling your daily diet with low-energy-density foods increases eating satisfaction with fewer calories because these foods are usually higher in water content, lower in fat, and in some cases, higher in fiber.
Filling Up on Fiber
Choosing whole-grain foods, such as whole-wheat pasta and oatmeal, improves eating satisfaction and often provides more nutrients. For example, a cup of whole-wheat pasta contains more fiber (which helps protect against diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer) and is a better source of nutrients such as zinc and vitamin B6 than regular (white) pasta. Oatmeal contains more disease-fighting fiber and far less sugar than many low-fiber, high-sugar breakfast cereals.
Nutritious Eating with the Core Plan
The Core Plan works by focusing your food choices on a group of wholesome, nutritious foods that are lower in calories and provide eating satisfaction. Foods that are not on the Core Food List include those that provide "empty" calories as well as some that can trigger overeating. The foods that are on the Core Food List fill you up with fewer calories than other food choices. Eating from this list of foods ensures the reduction in calories that is needed for weight loss — without tracking or counting. And, if any of the foods on the list trigger overeating for you, it's a smart idea to choose these foods sparingly or not at all. On the Core Plan, you'll find that eating primarily from a list of wholesome, nutritious foods makes weight loss easy."
...Carole
