Unabashedly Me: WLJ: Points Plus and pushing forward

A few weeks ago, Weight Watchers notified members that there would be some changes to Points Plus. I had no idea what to expect. The last time they changed the Points Program, foods changed values. It wasn't totally unwelcome, but it was still an adjustment. I worried they might be making some drastic changes again.

I shouldn't have worried.

Yes, there were changes, but so far, I haven't run into anything that bothers me.

I love the updated website design, which makes it easier for me to get to my calculator from any page. Before, I'd go into the forums and the recipes and then have to click back to home to go to my dashboard. This is much more convenient, even if it really only saves a few seconds.

The change did result in a lower daily point total for me. I went from 29 points to 26. Three points doesn't sound like much. It's basically the equivalent of a yogurt. As someone who strives not to use all of her weekly points (but some of them), I knew this would affect me. Indeed, it took me a few days to get used to scaling back my daily intake. But now I'm used to it. And I don't really miss those extra three points. Too much.

They also offer an alternative to tracking called "Simply Filling." Basically, you don't have to track, but there is a list of foods you have to stick to. And you just eat enough to feel full. This is a nice option for those who don't want to worry about tracking or don't care for it. I don't think it will work for me just yet though. I'm still not good at moderating how much I eat of something UNLESS I know I have to track something. I need guidelines. And boundaries. Sure, I'll push them once in awhile, but I still need them to fall back on.

My favorite aspect of the changes is the Activity Goal. Previously, I was setting my own goal for activity I wanted to complete during the week. That was fine, but now I can actually track it on Weight Watchers. Awesome.

Supposedly, we'll soon be able to scan items in a grocery store and find the point totals. I look forward to trying that out. Reading labels is exhausting after awhile, although I do it anyway.

All in all, I have no issues with the Points Plus changes. The few ways in which they affect me are positive.

******

Speaking of changes, I'm going to be changing up my activity a little. I'm stepping outside of my comfort zone and joining a fitness center. Even though I'm good at working out on my own, I'm not sure I'm capable of pushing myself to the levels I need to reach my goal. A local establishment is offering a deal that can't be beat, so I'm going to sign up this week (and try and beat the New Year's surge) and get moving. I'm a little nervous about working out around other people, and I'm definitely afraid of having a trainer. (What if he/she makes me puke? Ha ha). But I'm also pretty excited about having some extra help and motivation as I keep powering through this journey. I'll keep you posted.

Also, here's that pink dress pic I mentioned a few weeks ago.