So yesterday I'm reading all my daily blogs and I come across Ms. Kelly (I'm a religious reader, she's great) and she went the WHOLE WEEKEND without using any flex points at all. I don't know how she did it. The girl is a hero. Then I got thinking.....is my definition of OP different from everyone else's? When I tell everyone I had my first OP weekend in months....do they know that I used every last one of my flex points? Am I lying to them by saying I stayed OP even though I used a few of my flex points to have a chocolate bar and baked Doritos on movie night on Friday?? I've always saved all my flex points for the weekends so I can splurge a little. Whether it's a few glasses of wine or some munchies for the movie, I love having them for the weekend so I can treat myself. Sometimes it's homemade pizza, sometimes it's chocolate, sometimes it's a fancy dinner out with hubby, sometimes it's wine, sometimes if I have saved the points, it's a combination of a couple splurges! Is this wrong???
If WW says I can have 35 flex points a week and still lose weight...why wouldn't I take advantage of them? I guess I should note that I don't count activity points. Gym time doesn't give me any extra points in my books. So maybe this makes up for the fact that I use 35 flex points each week. In fact I actually did a little experiment last Spring where I took a few weeks and tried different ways of using/not using flex points. A few weeks, I cut it down to 20 flex points, a few weeks I used no flex points and a few weeks I used 35 flex points. And to be quite honest, I lost more weight (not a lot more but about 1/2 lb more) on the weeks that I ate all my flex points! How is that even possible? Maybe your body needs the variation?
How many of you ladies use all of your flex points?? Every week? Every other week? Do you save them all up for the weekend or do you use a few every day and spread them out? I think it would be interesting to find out so let me know.
On another note, Hubby and I decided to take a trip to New York in May! We are total Big Apple virgins so we need advice. We are thinking of driving down since it is only about 9-10 hours and we can stop along the way and see a few other places like Boston, Portland (Hello, Bath & Body Works!) but we are just starting out with the planning so we really have no idea where to stay, what to see, what expenses we are looking at.....Suggestions??
Happy Tuesday!
PS Body Sculpt class last night is already taking it's toll. I'm SORE today!
Speaking of PS...has anyone seen P.S. I Love You yet???? Go see it!! Bring kleenex.
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Trust me, Flex points are there for using! You are totally on plan when you use them. Some folks find they don't lose as well when they use them all, but if you're using them and satisfied with your progress, then by all means use them.
ReplyDeleteFlex points are part of the program. If you use more than 35 in a week, and they aren't your activity points, THEN you're not on program. At least that is what our leader told us. I find success for me only happens when I'm not feeling deprived. And that only happens when I can eat MORE than 20 pts a day! HA! Everyone is different, and the gal you mentioned will likely loose way faster than me. You have to do what is right for you. I like reading your blog, because we have similar WW styles! And you're doing so awesome - very inspiring. Thank you.
ReplyDeletehey girl! thanks for the sweet words! it was easy for me this week, i haven't had any cravings for anything. somehow. magically. maybe the WW gods are smiling at me? haha. i usually eat all 35 flex points, sometimes i drink them (which is bad i know) but this was the first time i didn't use any. i just wanted to try to kick start this diet thing. it worked, i am down 3 lbs but i think this week i'm back on my flex points. i always save them for the weekends though. something in my head wants to make sure they're there just in case. just in case what? just in case i need to eat mcdonalds or a krispy kreme? who knows...but i like knowing they are there if i need them.
ReplyDeletei always hear that you need to make sure to eat all of your points and maybe that means all of the flex points too. i always subtract activity points (1 point for 100 calories burned) so i guess it evens itself out right?
about NY: i love it there, i go once or twice a year. the spring is a good time to go too. the weather will be nice to walk around. i usually book rooms through expedia or travelocity. just make sure you don't stay too far up town. they rates are cheaper but the price of the taxis (unless you take the subway) are going to be pretty high to get to the good stuff. last time D and i stayed in soho which was nice. see if you can stay near greenich village - a lot of young people there. soho is the best for shopping i think. have! let me know if you need any more tips as you get closer to your trip.
I use my flex points every week. Some weeks I end up not using all of them (if I have a week that involves no socializing, going out, etc...) but typically I use them all. So yes, your weekend was totally OP - you were following the plan which INCLUDES flex points. Good for you!!!
ReplyDeleteI use EVERY single flex point!!!! To me, that is OP! Where I am counting everything that I put into my mouth and fitting it into the program the way it's meant to be used...
ReplyDeleteThe only place where I "stinge" myself a little is AP's, I only eat half, but that's because right now I get 29 points a day, when I get down to the low 20's you'd better believe I will eat every point I have!!!
You know I'm not WW right? but my opinion is, that the way you do it, with sort of "cheat days" is a better way to use them than just split them up evenly between all days. I do think our metabolism benefits from higher cal days. Also, I think you should be eating your activity points! Your body needs food to have strong workouts! Especially strength training days! You need to build that muscle and your body won't use fat to turn into muscle. It doesn't work that way. It needs protein from what you eat. If you have more muscle, your body with use body fat for every day energy. At least drink an extra glass of milk after you do weights! (I heard this is the perfect post workout thing)
ReplyDeleteFlex points are points that are to be used in a Flexible manner...not points that are to be banked and never used. You are "On Point" and "On Plan".
ReplyDeleteOn plan to me means using the flexpoints and eating your activity points as layed out in the info that WW gives you. I know for me that I don't lose if I don't eat the flex and don't eat ap points. The thing to remember is everyone's body works differently so the trick is finding what works for you.
ReplyDeleteI usually use at least most of my flex points. And as long as you stay within your daily and flex points, you are totally OP! And I have seen P.S. I Love You twice now and it's fabulous!
ReplyDeleteYou are dead on with this post. Ones own version of OP is very different than another's version of OP.
ReplyDeleteI figure I am OP if I am eating within my points range (I don't use my flexies unless necessary). But now I am redefining my OP, I am OP the days I am getting my 8 GHG's in!
I always eat my 35 flex points. And often I am 5-8 flexies in the hole each week too.
ReplyDeleteFor me, OP means getting in my 8 GHG's and feeling in control when I am eating. There have been weeks when I have eaten way over and above and still had a good loss because I was making healthy choices most of the time.
When I say OP I mean my daily points plus any flex points I might want to use. I do not count activity points, just because I don't like figuring out whether my workout was low, medium or intense. I figure WW gives us flex points for a reason ... I've also found when I use them I lose more. I tend to just use mine throughout the week ... unless I know I have a big event or a day where I'll be eating higher point foods.
ReplyDeleteOP for me is staying within my pts, flex or no flex, as long as I'm doing the plan.
ReplyDeleteI use almost or all of my pts each week and also find that I lose more if I use them all.
You are working at cross purposes to your metabolism by keeping your calories too low if you don't eat most or all of your points. I'd much rather see you use your activity points for good, quality refueling after you workout. Half a scoop of protein powder with 8 oz skim milk is awesome, it tastes like chocolate milk but has 20g protein and about 9 g of carbs for 3.5 points total. I read about a study that showed people get better calorie burning results after a workout if they consume whey protein within 30 minutes.
ReplyDeleteI used my APs to refuel and as a treat to motivate me to workout harder. Remember, APs are 1 point for 100 calories burned, but points that you eat are only 50 calories, so you are still in calorie deficit by eating them. Try eating them, but only extra healthy food, no 100 calorie packs!
I usually used 2/3's or 3/4's of my FPs, just because I know that I tend to underestimate portion sizes. I say eat all your points!
Ok, so I have no idea about the flex points, just wanted to say, Yay for being sore from the class!!
ReplyDeletei agree. OP is using your flex points. When I was on the actual plan, I remember hearing a lot about the Wendie plan. It's a way to use all of your flex points, but they are rationed out through out the whole week. I never did that, but it makes sense !
ReplyDeletei know, i hate and love the scale at the same time. it definitely holds me accountable for what i eat and lets me know when i need to cut back. and then there are times that i eat/drink right and its up...who knows. i always say im not going to weigh myself and end up on the scale anyway. oh well.
ReplyDeletei've never stayed in brooklyn or queens, a friend of mine lives out there. i think some areas of it are not as safe as others but on travelocity and those sites you can read peoples reviews, from my experience they are pretty on. places to see....ground zero, soho for the shopping, broadway/times square of course. maybe try to get a broadway show in. i've never been to one but i hear they are amazing. D and i took one of those cheesy double decker tour buses around the city, its $37 for a full day pass but if you take it early enough you can hop on and hop off and get yourself closer to our destination. it seems cheesy but i had a lot of fun and learned a lot of stuf i didn't know. :) have fun!
and p.s. i havent' seen p.s. i love you yet, i definitely want to see it. i also want to see juno really bad.
Everyone else has alreay pretty much covered my thoughts on FP so I won't bother, except to say that I usually keep mine for the weekend too, because that's when we normally would eat out or have drinks.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to say that I'm so excited for you to go to NYC! That's the one major thing that excites DBF and I about our big move to Halifax...our close proximity to NYC!! I've already started saving up and home to get there either Fall '08 or Spring '09. Weeeeeeeee!!!
I try not to eat activity or flex during the week, and then on the weekend I don't even count points at all. Bad, but it works for me. And on the weekend I usually only eat twice a day, sometimes three actually (post drinking) but I'm usually dancing at night or something like that.
ReplyDeleteAs for NY, I went for New Years '07 and whatever you do, don't stay in the Bronx because it's scary! Everyone was nice, and some locals gave me some tips - like don't put your purse down, don't look anyone in the eye!!! But still, walking alone was terrifying. Also walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and go to the Top of the Roc!
I use 25-35 FPs a week. I also think as long as you are getting enough of the healthy stuff in, and the chocolate and doritos are keeping you sane, that's fine. Can you make better choices? Yes. But the real question is: Are you OK with your choices? If the answer is yes, than don't fix what ain't broken. As others have said, not eating the FPs can stall weight loss as much as eating too much. You're doing great.
ReplyDeleteOh, and OP to me means following WW - which rarely means only eating my daily point allowance.
OP for me means "on program" and as long as you're obiding by the healthy guidelines (let's not forget those) and staying withing your weekly allowance, then that's staying OP. On the other hand, some people may feel they are not OP if they plan for something and then don't obide by it. I don't like it when I do that, but if I'm still within my points, then to me, I'm still OP.
ReplyDeleteI always always always always, did (I say always?) use every last point, including AP's. Especially now that I'm at 22/day. I'm a girl who needs to eat! I had tremendous consistent success for a long long time until I started getting carried away and consistently started going over my weekly allowance. Goes to show ya, those points are calculated very carefully and it works!
Yay NY woot woot!!!!!
OP means whatever you want it to mean for you. I use my 35 flex points usually on one day. Then I will stick strictly to my daily points the rest of the week. I don't count exercise points either unless I get a lot in. 1 hour of exercise doesn't count for me in my books for extra food points. That's just me though. Everyone tweaks it to how they like it, you know.
ReplyDeleteYou will have fun in NY. David and I were going at least once a year (usually in Fall and Winter) but it's been 2 years since we've gone. I miss it. We always stay somewhere different, and I book through travelocity most of the time.
I use my points exactly the same way as you. I never count my exercise points either. I always eat my flex.
ReplyDeleteIf I don't go over my daily points and my 35flex then I am OP, if I go over my 'total' points I'm not.
I also refer to "OP" in the exact same manner as you. I sometimes use all of my flex, sometimes not. Sometimes I use them all on the weekend if we are eating out, having people over, decide to have a few drinks, etc. Other times (like this week) I found myself hungry each day, and so I used a few every day. I also don't count activity points, even though I usually do an hour of activity each weekday. Whether it's right or wrong, I don't know. But hey, it's working for us so far, right?! I know for me, I have lost 45 pounds in less than a year, so if it's wrong, then I love being wrong :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I say OP I usually mean 2-4 flex points a day added with my 20 points. I definitely consider your flex points part of your OP. Like you though, I do not count my activity points so I don't feel too bad about using flex. I think you have to find what works for you though and then go with it.
ReplyDelete