Weight Watchers diary: Week 2

After one week of the Weight Watchers plan, we catch up with our two readers to see how they got on and most importantly, if they managed to lose weight in the first seven days.

---

Name: Peter Cooney

Meeting: Thomas Davis GAA Club, Tallaght

Current weight: 13 stone 9lbs

Starting weight: 13 stone 13.5lbs

I’m now a week into the programme and its going swimmingly as I lost four pounds. I can’t exactly see where, but there's some part of my body that must be somewhat sexier.

The ProPoints plan is actually quite easy to follow and you become increasingly aware of your diet in both a quantitative and qualitative fashion. The first change I noticed was my portions, as I’m inclined to cook large quantities of food, especially pasta, so actually concentrating on quantities has helped big time.

From tracking what I eat each day, I have also realised that my diet actually isn’t too bad, it was just the overeating on each meal and ordering take aways.

I am yet to work the fast food into my programme, so I have pretty much tried to avoid it, bar obviously the post pub ‘snack’. I used up the majority of my 49 weekly ProPoints on Friday by going to the pub. I sounded old beyond my years, commenting on the amount of ProPoints I was using up after every pint.

After I was finished pontificating on the benefits of Weight Watchers, I left the pub to be greeted by the temptous lights of the chipper. My body yearned for the greasy gold. Whilst my mind was telling me to turn, walk away, I found my physical being standing at the mirrored counter in a Mexican stand-off with the chipper-man. He won this time.

4lbs loss - get in there!

In an attempt to ‘win’ back some ProPoints I have also rejoined the gym and this time I have actually showed up. It’s wild. It turns out all that stuff they say about exercise is true, I feel great, well I did. See, I may have overdone things just a little. On Sunday morning I was trying to lift the weight of a truck on the leg press when I felt something explode just below my ribs.

Whilst the superficial results may not be immediate, working out has been rewarding as I am able to put the activity ProPoints earned back into my diet.

The last week has seen a major shift in my mindset. I was always toying with the idea of sorting my diet and fitness out so I’m glad I’m finally doing it. The Weight Watchers programme has enabled me to concentrate on my diet and has certainly re-focused my eating habits.

I was expecting to make drastic changes but it’s been quite enjoyable as I have started to try recipes and actually cook decent dinners instead of just cooking everything from a box with instructions.

All week I was worried about the weigh-in and when it rolled around I became extremely conscious of what I was eating and becoming increasingly paranoid about not losing weight. I went up to the class and was weighed. The moment of truth. I was down 4 lbs, get in! F**k you male mammary glands! It was a great feeling and gave me the impetus to continue on as I now feel I can lose more weight if I really put the effort in.

All the gals in the class gave me a big round of applause and gave me a kings chair whilst chanting my name. I felt like I made a massive step forward.

So I look forward to the next week and hope that the weight loss continues and by hope, I mean I know the weight loss will continue. I feel positive about the challenges to come and know that I can overcome them to become the greatest gold member ever.

---

Name: Roger Wheeler

Meeting: Castle Arch Hotel, Trim

Current weight: 15 stone 3lbs

Starting weight: 15 stone 7.5lbs

Week one complete and success! I lost four and a half pounds and I am feeling very happy with myself.

My class leader Jenny was delighted for me and the advice she had given me after my first meeting really helped.  Tracking was the main point she made and I found that when I was keeping track of all I ate during the day it really made a difference.I know it sounds like a tedious task which involves writing down everything, but it’s really simple when you get into the habit.

The main difference I noticed in my eating habits was the size of my portions. Weighing my food before cooking it takes approx 5 seconds longer than trying to gauge it by eye. This meant that my portion sizes had reduced in size but it also meant that I was able to survive without having my plate over flowing with potatoes and foods.

Instead, my wife and I were filling our plates and belly’s with more veg and still feeling full.

I also found myself eating a lot more fruit during the day. This was instead of the bar of chocolate or bag of crisps, which you can still eat of course but I didn’t fancy wasting ProPoints on a bar of chocolate and still be hungry 30 minutes later.

It was also a week where some new recipes were introduced. These recipes came from the Weight Watchers cook book and from the starter pack that you receive when you join. They were different I must say, not something I’d normally go for, but I was pleasantly surprised.

4.5 lbs loss? Just done it!

Jenny sent me a very valuable email during the week. This mail included the ProPoints values that are contained in both alcohol and bread. It came in very handy knowing how many ProPoints are in your pint and how easily you can lose track of the empty ProPoints I was consuming. I can still enjoy the odd pint and slice of bread but I put a bit more thought into the choices I make.

With the Weight Watchers program there are no foods that you have to give up like in other diets. As my mother used to say all those years ago, anything in moderation is fine. There is a huge amount of ‘free food’ which will keep you going through the day and with the zero ProPoints soups lunchtime doesn’t have to revolve around the same sandwich every day.

Looking forward to week two and hopefully there will be more weight loss to report.