A couple of you have pointed out that This Thing I’m Doing sounds a little like the Weight Watchers Core Program, where you eat only heartbreakingly sensible whole foods and don’t have to count any POINTSâ„¢ because your metabolism is just too bored to even bother turning it into fat. Or something like that. So I can sort of understand if This Thing sounds awful because it sounds like Core, because who the hell wants to be on Core? It’s like the Weight Watchers short bus. It’s the orthopedic shoes of WW, really, and you stomp around sadly mumbling “me no allowed to eat bread” while everyone else at the WW party is on the other plan, wearing their sexy Flexy high heels and telling stories about their fabulous lives where they get to eat daring little portions of cheese and flirty slivers of cake every day, woohoo! And you wonder how everyone else can stand to wear those POINTy little shoes, because you never got used to how they felt no matter how hard you tried.
Okay, so that’s another weird analogy for how I felt the last time I did WW a bit over a year ago.
I also never really took to Core because the recipes were pretty awful. To be honest, a lot of the dishes in that Eat to Live book are kind of brutal, too, with things like Raisin Coleslaw and Anti-Cancer Soup (oh, let me pound my spoon with anticipation), and if making those had been my first experience with This Thing, I don’t know how it would have turned out. Chris had the book to begin with, and he’d found a couple of recipes that didn’t make you want to pound your fingers flat with a twenty-eight-ounce can of beans. But like I said, I like how it’s going so far. More later.
Points made me crazy. Core makes me happy. Can’t explain it, really, since Core looks like the most depressing thing in the world (whaddya mean, NO bread? Are you fucking nuts?). But I still end up at the end of each week having eaten ice cream, bread, real cheese (not the rubbery flubbery imitation), and I weigh less. And I haven’t given myself a disorder over counting every point.
Keep veganning on.
I went on Core for the summer and it was surprisingly easy, if only for the access to avacadoes that Flex denied me. “Whattya mean 10 points for one avacado? You people are crazy! I’m taking my damn lunch and sitting at the other kid’s table.” I did get very dark circles under my eyes that disappeared when I switched back to Flex and the glorious world of bread and bread products. I’ve lost 94 lbs so far (most of it point counting.) As for This Thing you’re doing, well heck, if it works, it’s healthy, you’re happy, you’re awesome.
How do you feel about the no dairy idea? Low fat dairy is pushed so hard with WW, but do you think it should be avoided? Or eaten only a few times a week?
Wow, I don’t know. I don’t feel strongly that dairy is bad but I’m not convinced people absolutely need it either, from what I’ve read. (And as long as you eat lots of veggies.)
I guess I don’t buy either view entirely. I use enriched soy milk mostly because it’s more convenient than regular milk (it keeps better; you can stock up). On the other hand, fat-free sour cream is cheaper and lighter than vegan substitutes, and I don’t think an occasional spoonful on chili or soup is going to hurt me.
I do think WW pushes dairy because an awful lot of people believe in it and they’d probably get a lot of shit for suggesting that it wasn’t essential.
Is it wrong if I have a relaxing cigarette after eating Anti-Cancer Soup, or do the two cancel each other out?
i just heard at my WW meeting tonight that some changes are coming. One of them being that soy milk will finally be counted as a fulfilling the dairy requirement.
I just found out from my allergist that I have to eliminate all dairy from my diet. So, I look forward to reading more about what’s working for you and what you’re cooking that doesn’t taste like ass so I can make this transition without wanting to put a gun to my head.
You may say it’s weird, but I love your shoe analogy, and it seems oddly apposite. One of the reasons I’ve never done WW is that it seems to require more maths and general attention to what you’re doing than just, um, failing to buy and consume any of certain foods. I’m a low-maintenance kind of person, and I’m better at not doing things than doing them. The pointy shoes are sexy, but they require pretty hosiery and pedicures and you need to plan your route to avoid cobbles and grass, and get a taxi if you want to go anywhere…
OK, analogy pushed to the limit. Maybe if Core is orthopaedic shoes, your Thing could be funky and cute but comfy Doc Martens? I’d sign up for that.
Oh that was funny! The WW shortbus…I haven’t popped into your site in a while…probably since I read your book which I loved and have recommended to ooodles of short-bussers.
Regarding Eat to Live – fuck that book, i hate that book, i hate that guy…i don’t want to eat spinach in the morning, blended or not.
Now, I’m on the Dr. Oz wagon and really love it…very sensible…it’s the way i’ve always wanted to eat but couldn’t…i feel like i’m one of the kool kids now.
OK, so I am really intrigued by The Thing You’re Doing, so I went to look for the book today at Border’s and BN. Neither had it in stock, but at BOTH stores they were playing the new Barry Manilow Sings Hits From The ’60’s CD. Now I’m scared that it is an omen and I should NOT try this.
I don’t eat spinach in the morning.
Fuhrman knows his stuff, but I learned not to follow any culinary suggestion he makes.
howdy Wendy! i just wanted to tell you that i’ve been on the CORE program for about 7 months and i love love love it! and i just wanted to say that there are some great sites (i DID get permission from these forum members to post this – they were so nice) that have some really super yummy tried-and-true CORE recipes on them. you might want to check them out: http://www.mikey57.com AND http://www.freewebs.com/hwc1973
but thanks for your continual blogging! i love it all! and i loved your book, too! i pass it along to everyone i know!
have a happy almost-friday!
~ jessy
Thanks, Jessy. Core isn’t for me right now, but others, take note.