What's new?

I am four weeks into the new year. I have taken over a meeting about a mile away from where I live. I am torn between fed up and ecstatic.

There is one meeting that I run that has been mine since I became a leader in January 2010. You'd think it'd be my baby wouldn't you, but it's not. I have been trying to build it up ever since I took it over. I have had mean members, clerks that slag me off behind my back and then leave, members that move to a different meeting at the same time/same night (i.e. some problem with me) been abused by the residents of the street where the venue is and harrassed once every month by the Yorkshire Countrywomen's Association - a group of women in their 60s and up who should know better but clearly don't. I've had someone collapse in my meeting, but never got a thank you for taking care of her..... I've helped people get to goal and never seen them again...

I'm feeling bitter tonight. I campaigned my little butt off 4 times in 2010 trying to build up a meeting where I am now pretty much convinced that they really don't care. I've even done a venue change, and I can't see any difference. My numbers are already down and it's January for heaven's sake.

The other two meetings, one which is building up quite nicely and one which is already just mahooooosive and two minutes from where I live, deserve my attention. I feel horrible for saying it, but it's true. I don't really see why I should waste my time with the other, when they don't really want to be there.

I just feel as if I'm letting my members down if I leave or have to close the meeting. But I don't know what else to do. It would be nice to have that evening back and not get so stressed out over things that are out of my control.

Watchdog

Anne Robinson only has to open her mouth and have a public strop about something and then everyone is up in arms.

Of course as usual, Watchdog (like a newspaper) just takes snippets and not the whole truth and makes everything sound worse than it is, saying that POINTS tools were being sold right up until the week before the ProPoints launch.

This is true but only online, and this has been sorted out very quickly by WeightWatchers, but all Watchdog focusses on is the money spent, not the fact that it will all be refunded.

Still laughing at the fact that the woman had a calculator from about 4 models ago and was trying to pass it off as new.

Weekly Weigh In

I put 2lbs on this week. Doh! I was honest though - wore my "Little Miss Bad" top to the meeting and admitted that I had totally used up all (if not gone a little bit over) my entire ProPoints budget! What do we always say?

"If you stick within our ProPoints budget, you will see success"

Not that I went over by a lot, only a couple of ProPoints, but if I got my daily allowance slightly wrong, it could have made all the difference.

I'm trying to maintain, so clearly went up too many ProPoints on my daily allowance. It's all trial and error until you find the right number for you, so 31 was too few - kept losing - and 33 is too many - had a gain so looks like my magic maintenance number will be 32 daily ProPoints!!!

Going to lose this extra pound first and get back to my 11st 8 goal and then I'll stick to 32 and see how I go!

What a Great Meeting!

So tonight was my first meeting, post-launch. I wasn't dreading it at all, but was nervous to find out what the feeling in the room would be like.

I had 1 new member, some who couldn't make it to the launch last week and some who haven't come back.... for what ever reason (will wait and see if they come back next week)

Anyway, there was SOOOOO much positivity in the room. A couple of members admitted that they hadn't quite got their heads around it all, but had followed Points this week whilst still reading up ready to start properly this week, but on hearing the stories of those who HAD followed ProPoints, everyone was really geared up and ready!

Last week I had a room full of people.... a definite first for this meeting for me, but I was absolutely overjoyed to have just about the same number of people again this week! WOW! And the weight loss??? Two and half times that of last week!!!

Up from 12.5lbs last week to 31.5lbs this week!!! Absolutely brilliant!!

I am so pleased and so was everyone else, particularly the one member who was worried that she'd eat too much fruit and didn't understand it.

WOO HOO!

Money Making Scheme?!?!?

People (and from what I've read in the comments here http://bit.ly/ccRsRd it's not just in the UK) seem to think that instead of wanting to help millions of overweight, obese and morbidly obese people all over the world lose weight, achieve their weight loss goals and reach healthy BMIs, WeightWatchers are launching the ProPoints plan simply to inveigle money out of everybody.

Seriously?!?!??!

Firstly, let me point out that EVERYTHING you need as a member to follow the ProPoints plan (apart from your Leader and your meeting support!!) can be found in the little blue folder you receive on week one, including the (admittedly a little fiddly, but much better once you're used to it) ProPoints Finder wheel. And think yourselves lucky, because the WW members in Europe who have been following the plan for a year now, didn't even get one of those.

There is NO obligation to buy any new tools at all. You don't need them, they are a really nice thing should you WANT them.

I understand that some people will have bought all the POINTS tools available to them, but this new programme has been in the pipeline for many YEARS now, and as a result the POINTS tools were sold off (AT HALF PRICE I MIGHT ADD) MONTHS ago. So even if you were the very last member to buy a set of POINTS scales at £19.95, you have had at least 5 months use out of them, and they are a REALLY good set of scales and they still weigh things. Just weigh your food and then look up the ProPoints values in your guide books. The POINTS pedometer still counts steps. Then you just find out how many ProPoints you've earned by looking in your guide books. The tools are not a necessity, just a luxury.

Having said that, there is 20% off most of the tools available to you - Track, Eat Out, Shop, Pedometer, Calculator, ProPoints scales and there are some amazing discounts on bundles too.

As for the cookbooks, WeightWatchers have ProPointed the values (at least in the UK for 100% definite) of all the recipes in the cookbooks released this year.

I can't understand the problem. If you don't want to spend your money, then don't! You don't have to!

Just follow the plan, enjoy it, LIVE, LOVE, LOSE WEIGHT!

New Facebook and Twitter pages set up

So I got my new social network support stuff up and running today.

Facebook page for my members, and Twitter for, well anyone I guess!

eBay - leaders cashing in.

Here's something that really grinds my gears. The new plan has been out for five minutes and already some leaders somewhere are selling the files on eBay.

I don't know who is going to read this blog, but for heaven's sake DO NOT BUY STUFF FROM EBAY! They will charge you the earth.

Come to a meeting or join online, that way you'll be sure to get all information, and the support you need.

Launch 2 - success.... all bar 2 things!

So this morning went well, although I stood somewhere different to weigh and it was right in front of a radiator, so by the time I actually started my meeting, I was so hot I actually nearly passed out!!! Not the greatest of beginnings!! Got the door open, and cooled off and was then fine though. Phew!

Second thing was that one of my really great members, 54lbs lighter so far, really stormed out at the end... I hope she's okay with it.

Again though, lots of positivity in the room generally. Fingers crossed for lots of good weight losses next week.

Ask-it meetings next week!!

And as well....

I lost another pound. I now weigh in at 11st 7lbs. This is one pound under my personal goal (and 8lbs under my actual goal weight) so I need to add another couple of ProPoints to my daily allowance now....

So I am now on 33 ProPoints a day. Let's see how that goes...... maintenance is so trial and error!

Launch 1 - success!

I can't remember much of it - it feels like a blur, and I know there was one member who actually asked me what had changed (which either meant I wasn't explaining it very well, or she just wasn't listening!!) - but I remember a lot of positivity in the meeting AND

There was a room full of people!! It was so lovely to look up to 24 faces, rather than the usual 7. Wow. It was lovely. I wish them all lots of success this week and hope they all come back and tell us all about it next week.

This is it....

Today (in about 2.5 hours) is my first launch. I feel absolutely sick with nerves.

I'm prepared, I have practised the new GSS, I have some (probably not enough but I had to split it!) stock, I think I'm ready with answers, I have balloons, I have everything I think I need, but that means absolutely nothing!!!

Once I get there, I'll either be great or go to pieces. Let's hope it's the first one!

Happy ProPoints Launch Day (week!) WOO HOO!!

So today, after all the stuff in the papers/magazines/online, ProPoints is finally officially being launched this week.

Of course my meetings aren't until Thursday and Saturday, giving my members ample time to hear about it from other members/friends and eSource (cannot WAIT to see new eSource go live tomorrow!) and then hopefully they'll be all hyped up by the end of the week.

Just hope that I can do it justice on launch night!

OMG. The Daily Mail!?!??!?

Renowned for being quite possibly one of the worst scaremongering papers ever (even though it purports to be a broadsheet in a tabloid format), The Daily Mail has been given an (almost) exclusive on ProPoints.

I was livid when I read it (and after a look on the Leader site, turns out I wasn't the only one). I sent a massive email to all the Leaders in my area and my ASM too complaining!!

I think, on reflection, it was the fact that we were all asked to keep it a complete secret until soft launch week, and then - at the eleventh hour no less - WeightWatchers head honchos go and give all the secrets away in a massive three page spread.

The article in question, if you haven't already read it, is here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1326447/Weight-Watchers-Pro-Points-plan-A-new-approach-dieting-success.html but by now you should already know all about ProPoints from your Leader and know how fabulous it is!

Anyway, feeling pretty despondent I headed off to my Thursday night meeting, determined to put a happy and excited face on it and STILL not let anything slip to my members.

Imagine my delight and surprise when the meeting was full! (Well full for this meeting anyway!! Haha!). I had members returning, new members joining and everyone stayed for the meeting talk too! I was very enthusiastic.... how could I not be? ProPoints has helped me to lose weight and I don't really have weight to lose!!

So as it turned out, I had one of the BEST meetings I've had for a LONG time. 

The interesting thing was that one of my members said she'd read the Daily Mail article and when she tried to say what she'd read it all came out COMPLETELY muddled up. So even though they've read it, it doesn't mean they understand any of it. 

It makes total sense to us as Leaders when we read the article, because we know how it works and we've been trained how to follow it and how to help members follow it, but they need LEADING!! My panic was instantly dispelled, and was made even better when I asked everyone to write down their goals for Christmas and they came out with things like: 

- Have a guilt-free Christmas 
- Enjoy a party over the festive period without putting too much (any) weight on 
- Get into my party dresses 
- Be able to go to an impromptu party without worrying about gaining that week. 

Everyone said I was visibly excited while we were discussing these things and I said "You know why???? You'll find out next week!!!!" 

They may have read all about it, but they're going to look to us to lead them. It's all about the members and I guess the proof will be in the (WW ProPointed!) pudding when we see how the numbers look coming through the doors next week. 

Let's just say I was totally eating my ranting words.

Training!! Has it REALLY been almost a month?

Okay, I didn't realise it had been so long since I posted!! Good job this blog isn't live yet!

So we had training for the new Programme this weekend. It was GREAT!! (Not least because we were given LOADS of lovely new products to use too!! Weigh and ProPoint Scales!!! WOO! And the new pedometer!)

Anyway, I am panicking about getting my members to COME and then actually to stay in the meeting on launch night!

S.M.A.R.T Goals

On Saturday morning, one of my members said to me that she wanted to take her weight loss a stone at a time. Another said, she just wanted to lose every week.

I encouraged them both to make SMART goals for themselves. Setting unrealistic goals (in ANY situation) can put pressure on a person, and make them more likely to give up before they succeed.

A stone doesn't always seem that much, but it can be a lot, especially at a pound a week. And saying that you want to lose every week sounds great, but there may always be circumstances beyond your control, which may affect that, and then you could end up disappointed.

So set yourself a SMART goal:

S = Specific. Be specific about the amount. Your 5%, the next shiny 7, a certain number of inches, the next dress size, into the next stone bracket....
M = Measurable. Be able to measure it. If it's a weight goal, your Leader can use her scales, if it's inch loss, you can measure it with a tape measure. If it's about clothes, you can "measure" it by trying on those new trousers etc..
A = Achievable. Can you achieve it? Don't make your goal something that you won't achieve.
R = Realistic. In particular with regard to weight loss. If you stick to your Points allowance, and don't frequently have many Points less than you should, you can lose up to 2lbs of fat per week. So saying something like "I'll lose a stone in 4 weeks" (unless it includes your first week on the plan) is NOT a realistic goal. As with "achievable", make it something realistic, such as perhaps 7lbs in 10 weeks. And anything on top of that is a bonus!
T = Time bound. Give yourself a time scale to do it. As in the example above, 7lbs in 10 weeks. Don't just say you want to lose 7lbs and don't give yourself a really long time either, otherwise you'll become complacent.

Make your goals SMART and you will achieve them.

Secret is out

So I think the secret is out. It's all over eSource now.

It's quite disappointing really. It seems from posts I've read that Leaders around the country have been actually telling their members all about it. Maybe not giving them names, but dates, and lots of details.

Do people not know what "secret" means?

Added to which, it seems the online community just can't wait to find things out. They've obviously heard the term and looked it up and now have posted it around and about for everyone to see. (I suppose details are relatively easy to come by as Europe have been on the new innovation for a year)

I'm just so disappointed.

What I ate...

I know I told you I'd used all my available *Points last week and STILL managed to lose a pound (LOVE this new innovation) but I don't think I actually told you WHAT I'd been eating did I?

My week starts on a Friday, as I get weighed on a Thursday and straight away on Friday I went out for lunch with my friend in town and had a dressed salad. Friday evening was tapas (including baked Camembert for a starter *licks lips!*) and wine - including champagne in our limo cruiser on the way there and back!

I also had 2 Chinese takeaways, a meal out in a pub.

Gah... this post is being interrrupted....

Ten Percent

So have you lost 10% of YOUR starting body weight yet? I've done it twice now and earned myself a very funky (not to mention handy!) keyring from my Leader too.

The health benefits are so rewarding, less risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, less risk of type 2 diabetes, less pressure on your joints and the list goes on and on, and you'll find that you have your OWN benefits too - not necessarily all of them health related.

A member in my meeting this morning gained her 10% this morning, a whopping 22lbs! She had "only" lost 1/2lb this week and seemed quite dejected, but when I reminded her what this meant she soon perked up and started smiling.

We talked in the meeting discussion about what 10% meant to everyone who had gained it so far. The member who had just received hers said she was already feeling less out of breath when she had to go places quickly, which made me think of when I used be rushing out and maybe I'd left something upstairs. When I was overweight, I would just leave it, because there was no way I could get it quickly without being in pain and out of breath from rushing. Then as I began to lose weight, I would get the thing I'd forgotten as I would be less out of breath, and as more weight came off I would find I could run up the stairs to get the thing! (Now I'm working on NOT forgetting things!!!)

Another member recalled on how 10% for her meant not having that big dam of water behind you in the bath. You know the one? When you've pulled the plug and you think all the water has drained away, but then you stand up and all the water that was stuck behind you is suddenly freed and comes swooshing down the bath. I recalled the other bath story, where you reach down to turn off the tap and then you scoot back and a tidal wave of water goes over the back of the bath!!! To both stories, there was a lot of nodding and laughing in agreement.

These are the things that make us laugh because we've nearly ALL been there, we've all had these experiences, and we all want to NOT have them again.

That is why I love WeightWatchers and the meetings. Because we are all in the same boat. And that boat is getting lighter all the time! ;-)

"Lose for Good"

Bit of a play on words by the American WeightWatchers - they are running a campaign over there at the moment where they are getting members to lose weight for charity: Lose For Good

It's a truly great cause and I think something that the UK should be a part of, with the chosen affiliated charity, the British Heart Foundation. I would love for 2011 to be my year to try and make something happen and maybe get this going.

In other news...

As part of our training on the new innovation, from Conference to soft launch in November, all the leaders in the area have to literally "Live the Plan".

I have obviously been doing so, and have basically been like a new member again. Weighing, pointing* tracking, and, most importantly, LOSING WEIGHT!!! (Which is great because I gained 8.5lbs on holiday and needed to shift it!)

The first week, Conference was on the Sunday, so I weighed myself as I got home to start Monday morning. Weigh-in is on a Thursday and I had lost 4.5lbs.

Week two, another 1lb off, and THIS week after using every single Point* available to me, going over by a couple EVEN AFTER USING THE EXTRA POINTS* I EARNED FROM ZUMBA (where is my embarrassed smiley?!?) I still lost another 1lb!!

This plan is the best thing I have ever seen. I want to tell everyone about it SO much, but I can't.... and the members in my meeting just need it, they need the inspiration....  Just another month to go.... ish!


*The new innovation will not use any version of Points terminology!