Two Questions please :

Your goal sounds reasonable, but you can check different charts. All the charts say I should shoot for 135 pounds, but my goal is 150.

You have two daughters doing Weight Watchers, I'm sure they will share the points with you, if that is truly the way you want to go. Personally I think counting calories is the best approach and works better in the real world. My opinion many will disagree with me and that is fine. The lists you are looking for? Well many of those things you can find right here on this site. Click on Food, then click on Database, then type in what you are looking for.

Good luck.

Thanks for the tip Q: where can I find a good calorie counter covering most meals & the point system too. Is there something free online that I can click on to, or do I need to buy a book.thanks

I'm confused, are you wanting to try to do WW points AND calorie counting? Are you looking for one place that gives both sets of information? I don't think you're going to find that, since WW is a copyrighted program and is specifically a system that doesn't count calories. But truthfully, I'm not that familiar with WW, so I could be wrong.

I agree with starting with your current weight and aim for the release of 20 pounds and then ask yourself if 165 is still your goal weight you are aiming for. Males have a tendency to release weight much easier. I find by following MFP, you actually get to "see" the amount of calories you are consuming in a day, compared to what you are burning during exercise.

Skinnytaste.com is one of the many sites that gives recipes that are in both Old WW Points and New WW Points as well as calories.

Just remember your key to success in reaching your goal or better is consistency and scheduling your daily workouts like an important meeting that you cannot miss. After all, you are meeting with the boss. YOU.

Have fun and be inspired with the support. ~ Laura

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/822197-how-to-track-weight-watchers-points-on-mfp perhaps ?

What's MFP if I may ask & my Q: where can you find a good calorie counter online for most foods/thank you

MFP is my fitness pal, which is the website you are currently posting to.

As for food combinations, I'd avoid lists like that. I can make a turkey sandwich with mustard that uses texas toast and 8 pieces of turkey with a honey mustard. That's going to be far more calories that someone who makes a turkey sandwich with diet bread and 1 piece of turkey. Take the time to log each ingredient separately and accurately (I suggest a scale because my thoughts of what is a serving of lunch meat was different than what the package said it should be).

The food diary stores foods that you've eaten recently as well as what you eat the most. So, if you eat the same lunch everyday it's easy to find those foods. There are also "quick tools" that allow you to copy a meal from a previous day, or you can even save it as a favorite meal and then that meal is able to be added all at once.

Counting calories I think is more effective than weight watchers because you learn more about what you are eating (points seem kind of arbitrary to me). However, neither method is going to work unless you track accurately.

I think MFP has a great data base for finding foods and certain combination foods. For things I make regularly I just enter it in the recipe section.

Watching, controlling calories and regular exercise has done wonders for me here. Been in maintenance for two years now with no regain.

Remember this is not only about diet but lifestyle changes that stick.

This site works but only if you do too.

thanks for all the tips - I mention turkey sandwich because for the last four yrs after my divorce I have the same lunch during the week days. 3.5 oz oz trader Joe's sliced turkey, w tble spoon of honey mustard, 1/2 baked chips & an apple. So finding out how many calories that would be, would certainly help. Anyone ? thanks

You can go to either Recipes and log in the specific ingredients for your sandwich then save it, or you can log each as a different food, then save it as a "meal". Either way, once you log all the ingredients once, it's saved and you can just click on it every day. Plus it will be far more accurate than finding some one else's turkey sandwich calories and using them, because you know it's based on exactly what you put on your sandwich.

thanks for all the tips - I mention turkey sandwich because for the last four yrs after my divorce I have the same lunch during the week days. 3.5 oz oz trader Joe's sliced turkey, w tble spoon of honey mustard, 1/2 baked chips & an apple. So finding out how many calories that would be, would certainly help. Anyone ? thanks

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

Go to "FOOD" ..............the blue header on top. Scroll down to where you see "Lunch" ..... Click on "Add Items"

There is a blank box....... type in "Trader Joe's Sliced Turkey" .... hit the green "Search" button ..... select from Honey, Smoked, Roasted, etc. ......change the serving quantity if needed ...... most servings will not match 3.5 oz exactly. Highlight your selection and hit the green "Add" button. Continue on for all items in your lunch.

Skinnytaste.com is your answer ,all recipes are lightened up and have serving size and calories listed .also WW points listed.