Ray seems to be our guru on how much one can safely cut back and get
appropriate nutrition and not burn off muscle as opposed to fat.

You do not have to join WW to get help here.  You can also follow
their program without joining.  If you google the group you can find
our welcome and faq which could lead you to sites where you can figure
out your current weight and then how much WW suggests to eat to drop
about 1-2 pounds per week and get you where you want to be.

Losing weight quickly is neither healthy nor effective, as you will
simply put it all back on again as soon as you resumed eating a certain
amount of calories.

It's not just WW, it's most nutritionalists and most authorities on
weight-loss say that an average loss of 1-2 lbs per week is the optimum
(that's the equivalent of about 500 calories under your basal metabolic
rate ie. 500 less than you'd need to maintain your current weight and
activity level).

Any more than that, unless you are significantly overweight (by which I
mean a couple of hundred pounds overweight), you are going to lose
muscle rather than just fat, which is going to significantly compromise
your overall health.

Also, a factor particularly significant in the older age-group, you
could lose bone density. It's not just women that have to worry about
osteoporosis.

In addition, dropping calories to a low level can put your body into
starvation mode, which means your metabolic rate drops, your hunger
increases and you become lethargic and less mobile. This slows down
weight-loss and is appallingly bad for your health.

FWIW, I'm not doing WWs myself, but I'm following a plan significantly
similar to make this NG relevant.

I would like to know why you are so keen to lose weight fast - what is
the hurry? It is far better to take plenty of time to learn a healthier
lifestyle, as habits don't form over-night.

Hi and welcome.  I can't help you with the calorie count because I work in
points.  I do, however, echo what the others have said about losing too
quickly - slow and steady means that maintenance is easier, and you have
time to make the change in habits stick.  Anyway, stick around and let us
know how you go - you don't have to be on WW to stay here!  Here's our
welcome notice for more info.

Welcome to this great newsgroup where you'll receive lots of support,
advice, and encouragement. Once a week on Sundays, I post a list of links
that newcomers to asdww might find useful. You may want to look for that
later in the week, or do a backwards search for last Sunday's post.

In the meantime, here's our FAQ:
http://www.didian.com/asdww/
our welcome notice:
http://www.geocities.com/welcomenotice/index.html

Frequently seen acronyms on this NG:
NSV = Non-Scale Victory
WOE = Way of Eating
WOL = Way of Life (Living)
OP = on Points or On Program
DH = Dear or Darling Husband
DS/DD/DGD/etc = Dear or Darling Son, Daughter, Granddaughter, etc
WI = Weigh-in

Amberle3's Challenges:

Generic Exercise Challenge: http://www.angelfire.com/me4/travelgirl/ge.htm
   November 29-February 27

It's Never Too Late Weight Loss Challenge:
http://www.angelfire.com/me4/travelgirl/intl.htm
   December 6-February 27

Weight Loss Challenge Summary:
http://www.angelfire.com/me4/travelgirl/summary.htm

Other acronyms:
http://www.wwlissa.com/dwlz100+/100+acronyms.htm

Here's a short synopsis of the USA Flexpoints program by Joyce -

How many points you can eat is only based on your current weight, as you
lose weight those points allowed will decrease (logic is that your body will
need less to operate).   At 183 pounds and based on the new US flexpoints
system, you will have a set point target of 24.  In addition to this you are
allowed 35 flexpoints to be used throughout the week ... as well as any
activity points you earn on a particular day.  When your weight drops to
175, your target drops to 22 points ... weight reaches 150, target once
again drop to 20 points.  3 servings of dairy of recommended per day, 5
servings of fruit and veggies, minimum of 6 glasses of water.

To calculate food and activity points, I love this computer desktop
calculator ...
http://www.zythra.com/downloads/points.exe

The basic plan is easy.  Eat at least your minimum daily number of points.
Points do not carry over from day to day.  You are allotted 35 weekly
flexpoints to be used at your discretion ... can divide them up and use
daily (would be an additional 5 points per day) or save them and use them
for a special occassion during the week.  Activity points are earned based
when exercising, but can ONLY be used on the day they are earned.

Joyce
WW starting weight: 228.8 - 2/5/02
current weight:  133.3
Lifetime: 4/4/03

And here's an explanation of Core/No-count by Laura -

It is a great plan. You DO however need to make sure that you are eating at
your normal Flex plan target number of points. This can be difficult for
some and you WILL stop losing.

Here is the summary of the plan: http://ahwww.home.comcast.net/summary.htm
Here is the detail list of foods:
http://ahwww.home.comcast.net/wwcoreplan.htm

Basic rules:
1. Eat as much of the core foods as you need to feel "satisfied" (not full).
2. If you want to eat foods that are not on the core foods list use you 35
weekly points allowance (WPA).
Note: use these points on healthy foods and not junk.
3. Activity points are used to supplement the 35 WPA for Non-core food items
only. They must be used on the day they are earned.
Note: most people find that they will increase the amount of core foods
because they are hungrier due to exercising.
4. 2 teaspoons of heathy oil daily is required.

~Laura

Please note that if you live in onther countries (UK, Australia, NZ,
Europe), the Points plans are different.  The UK and Australia/NZ calculate
points based on saturated fat and total kilojoules.  Most of Europe
calculates based on total fat and total kilojoules.  The desktop calculator
above can handle all of these programs.

Disclaimer: As an unmoderated Usenet newsgroup, asdww is unusual in that
most of the people who participate are respectful, considerate folks who
freely share their experience with and knowledge of WW, weight loss, and
maintenance. Yet occasionally, spammers, trolls, and flamers show up to post
advertising, false information, insults, and the like. Nearly all of the
time, people like this are just trying to yank someone's chain. Most of the
regulars on this newsgroup offer their experience as a suggestion to try if
you're stuck, but are quick to advise that each person has to find what
works for him/herself. If someone posts something that doesn't sound right
to you, ask the newsgroup, ask your WW leader, or ask your health
professional.

Much success on your weight loss journey! WW works!