I can't give you any advice, sorry.
But I will agree with you I am overwhelmed. I don't know how to start or
what to do. I think the problem is it's too open ended. I will listen to
the advice others give you. Thanks for the post I'm about to give up trying.
Kathy

Hi Yvette. Just wanted to welcome you aboard this great newsgroup.
Elaine K
292/263.4/200? (total lost 28.6)

Here's a recommendation..

We bought the TurnAround core cookbook and do some of the CORE recipes, but we do them in the FLEX plan.

There's NO WAY I trust myself to know when I've had enough, so the POINTS give me that boundary of "Ok, time to stop now.."

Maybe when I'm nearer to goal, I will have learn/adapted what the satisfying point is naturally.

Anyways, those are my thoughts!

Glenn
 I joined yesterday, and boy the info is overwhelming!  I had initially signed up for the flex-plan, but I switched to the core plan to try it for a few days.  

 Any advice from veterans is appreciated.

 Yvette

Hi Yvette and welcome to the group.  The info can be overwhelming, but just
take it one day at a time and you'll be fine.  Don't panic if you slip up -
it happens to all of us.  Just don't wait until "tomorrow" to get back on
track.  Here's our welcome notice with even 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!

I joined yesterday, and boy the info is overwhelming!  I had initially
signed up for the flex-plan, but I switched to the core plan to try it for a
few days.

Any advice from veterans is appreciated.

Yvette

Hi Yvette,

Welcome to the group. I did core from the end of August until a few weeks
ago. I really liked the plan but found it hard to follow since I don't cook
much. It really requires more preparation of your foods than the flex plan
does. You also need to keep an eye on portions. Many recommend that folks
follow the flex plan first so that they can get an understanding of how much
food makes up a portion. Otherwise you run the risk of eating too much food.

And here's an explanation of Core/No-count that I posted a few weeks ago:

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.

I joined yesterday, and boy the info is overwhelming!  I had initially
signed up for the flex-plan, but I switched to the core plan to try it for a
few days.

Any advice from veterans is appreciated.

Yvette

My advice is to cook yourself through one of the WWs cookbooks for a
whole week, or a fortnight. That's usually the best place to start and
gives you a boost as you try out new recipes that you might later want
to incorporate into your regular menu.

I was once a Quick Weight Loss member. I lost the weight, but put it all back on plus some.  I just joined WW last week.  In looking at the CORE plan, it is VERY similar to QWL's plan.  I found it VERY BORING!  You pretty much have to eat the same things every few days.  There is little variety.  It was easy to do because I knew that Mon/Wed/Fri were chicken days and Tu/Thurs were fish.  Sat. was beef, and Sunday was whatever I wasn't sick of having just eaten.  When I reached my goal weight, I added foods that weren't allowed, and that's when I started gaining.  Personally, I felt that plan was way too confining.  There were foods that I craved but couldn't have because they weren't "core" foods.  With the FLEX plan, I love having the ability to eat pretty much what I want without depriving myself of my cravings (within reason).  As I said, I just joined WW, so we'll see how the flex plan works for me.

Good luck to you!  Sheri
 I joined yesterday, and boy the info is overwhelming!  I had initially signed up for the flex-plan, but I switched to the core plan to try it for a few days.  

 Any advice from veterans is appreciated.

 Yvette

I enjoy Core because it really takes you away from all the junk and process food... and you'll find your cravings for good go away.  Now, that's not to say there aren't still a few demons, but the physical side is diminished significantly : )

Go, Yvette!

 I joined yesterday, and boy the info is overwhelming!  I had initially signed up for the flex-plan, but I switched to the core plan to try it for a few days.  

 Any advice from veterans is appreciated.

 Yvette