Updated on 14th April 2018: When you are maintaining on No Count, you can add up to 7 weekly points to your weekly points allowance.
This was introduced after I started maintaining. You can read how I maintain below:
- I still weigh everything. I’ll have 50g rice, 70g pasta or two medium sized potatoes at any one time. For breakfast, I’ll use 40g oats. It has been important for me to keep an eye on the amount of carbs I eat and I do try to have a few carb-free meals a week.
- I plan all my meals on a weekly basis and make sure I have all the ingredients ready in the house. If I know I’m going to be late home, I’ll do a slow cooker recipe or something that is quick and easy to make. I’ll always include at least two new recipes a week as this gives me something to look forward to food-wise.
- I follow the No Count plan for six days of the week, using my 28 weeklies. On a Saturday, I do not count any points I use. I don’t go overboard but it’s very handy if I’m going out for a meal or if I fancy some chocolate and/or wine! (I introduced this as I was continuing to lose weight once at goal.)
- I do have a sweet tooth which is why I began creating different desserts for No Count. I can now go out and resist that cake at Starbucks because I know a piece of strawberry tart is at home waiting for me. However, I will only have one portion per day.
- Exercising has also been important while maintaining. I do have a Fitbit which is a great motivator, especially with Fitbit buddies like mine! I mainly walk my two dogs but I did do C25K last summer and still go for a run at least twice a week.
- I weigh myself each week and if I’ve put a pound on, I’ll walk more the following week and have a few more meals without carbs. If I’ve lost a pound or two, I’ll eat a bit more the following week. It is a very fine balance!
- Finally, my 28 weeklies are mainly spent on ingredients I add to my lunches, dinners and desserts. I will only occasionally have a packet of crisps or something like that. I’ve found myself eating far fewer processed foods while feeling much fuller after each meal.
I hope this helps some of you – do feel free to ask any questions you have about maintaining. Wishing you the best of luck on your weight loss journeys and hope you’ll be joining me soon!
I have been doing weight watchers for years but always put the weight back on. I was scared of nc as I too have a sweet tooth and like good proper dinners.
After finding you and reading your page I was Inspired to give this ago.I have a binge eating disorder and dieting makes it worse.So following g your advice I am eating 3 good meals a day and pud and lost 4 1/2 lb this week and no urge to binge.
So thank you so much and keep up the good work. X
Oh wow! Deb, that’s brilliant news!I am so pleased this has worked for you and what a fantastic weight loss this week too! Well done!Thank you so much for your lovely comments and here’s to another successful week next week:-)Helen xxx
Thanks very much for the information about the extra 6 points when maintaining. I couldn’t understand why nothing changed when I hit goal!
Hi Carol, if you go on the WW website and log in to your settings, when you change it to maintaining on No Count it gives you 36 extra dailies.These can be used on any days you wish but you have to keep track of them as it doesn’t recognise them on the app.If you are using them and begin putting weight on, you will need to adjust accordingly.Hope this helps and good luck with maintaining! Helen xxx
Hi! Fantastic blog! Thank you so much for all this information! I am just starting my journey, so still getting used to it. When you say you weigh your oats, rice and pasta, is that before or after cooking? Thanks so much!
Elisa
Hi Elisa, thank you! I’m glad you like the website! The weight of them all is the dried weight, before cooking. Wishing you lots of success on your weight loss journey. Good luck! Helen xxx
Loving this blog
Awww thank you Josie
Are the rice,potatoe and pasta portions cooked. Also are there no count ,nocount,on your site.
.Love all you advice and recipes.all our meals are based on your recipes .
Thanks for all your hard work and care.
Kathy
Hi and thank you very much Kathy, I’m glad you’re enjoying the recipes.The rice, pasta and potato portions are all uncooked.Could you please send your second question again as I’m not sure what you mean.Thank you, Helen xxxxx
I meant to no carb,no count recipes
Hi Kathy, you could leave the carbs (potatoes, rice, pasta) out of the dinner dishes and just serve them with lots of veg.
Hello. This site is a fantastic read full of useful tips, thank you. I have been on flex and fancy trying No Count but am nervous of not religiously pointing everything i eat. Do I need to forget all the points foods I eat like my banana pancakes for breakfast and eat a crumpet which is free? So confusing
Hi Anne, it’s great to hear that you’re finding the website useful.The banana pancakes are free on No Count too so you could still have those for breakfast – you’ll also find an alternative No Count pancake recipe in the ‘Breakfast’ section that you might like to try.You could still have the WW tomato soup for lunch but, yes, that would have to come out of your weeklies.You do need to limit carbs and make sure you’re not eating too many things like crumpets or NC won’t work as well as it could.I’m online only so happy to help if you have any further questions.I hope you enjoy No Count – it can take a while to get used to but I haven’t looked back since swapping to it.Good luck!Helen xxxxx
Thank you Helen. I’ll give it a go, carbs are not too much of an issue and I love veggie meals which a lot of the recipes seem to be based on. Anne. X
Hi do you need to stick to no count everyday or could u vary your week with flex/no count? Or could you do it week about? Just joined in Wednesday and I am online only! Thanks Susan
Hi Susan, you can vary your week between Flex and NC if you want to.