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TvilleMonkey
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McDonald's and Weight Watchers: Numbers Don't Add Up, but Pounds Might
Weight Watchers (WTW) and McDonald's (MCD) have teamed up in New Zealand to create three meals that carry the weight-loss program's seal of approval: a chicken wrap, a six-piece McNuggets order and the classic Filet-O-Fish. All three combos come with a water or diet soda, and the McNuggets and Filet-O-Fish also come with a side salad.
The partnership is made possible by "a number of significant and positive changes to our menu over the past few years," Mark Hawthorne, managing director of McDonald's New Zealand, said in a press release, citing several of the chain's moves, including its healthier frying oil and its decision to reduce sugar in its buns and sodium in its dipping sauces. Said Emma Stirling, nutritional advisor for Weight Watchers Australasia: "Our philosophy at Weight Watchers is that all food can be part of a healthy, balanced diet, taking into account portion control and frequency."
By that philosophy, following the program by eating at McDonald's isn't as strange an idea as it sounds. Weight Watchers dieters measure food consumption on a point scale that permits them to eat between 18 and 40 points of food per day. The three McDonald's Weight Watchers meals, according to Weight Watchers New Zealand, are each worth 6.5 points.
Check the Labels
But American Weight Watchers should be careful if they visit a Kiwi branch of McDonald's. Calorie and fat counts differ slightly between the two countries, and the Weight Watchers equation is different, too. In America, the Filet-O-Fish has 380 calories, 18 grams of fat per serving, and 2 grams of dietary fiber, totaling 8.7 Weight Watchers points. A six-piece order of McNuggets has 280 calories, 7 grams of fat, and 0 grams of dietary fiber, yielding 7 points (excluding dipping sauces, most of which add 0.7 points).
The chicken wrap is more promising. American McDonald's' don't sell the Kiwis' seared chicken sweet chili wrap, but our grilled chipotle barbecue snack wrap has 260 calories, 9 grams of fat, and 1 gram of fiber: 5.75 points. But add a salad, light dressing and a diet drink, and the points rise to 6.75 points for the chicken wrap, 8.7 points for the McNuggets, and 9.7 points for the Filet-O-Fish -- all a far cry from New Zealand McDonalds' claim of 6.5 points.
But McDonald's New Zealand's nutritional information site lists the seared chicken sweet chili wrap with a whopping 374 calories and 10 grams of fat, the Filet-O-Fish sandwich with 330 calories and 15 grams of fat, and the six-piece McNugget meal with 269 calories and 19 grams of fat. Any differences between New Zealand's nutritional statistics and ours don't account for the apparent difference in point counts.
Different Countries, Different Points
Why are the point counts lower in New Zealand? One reason may be the calculation. The American equation factors in calories, fat and fiber, but Weight Watchers Australia & New Zealand uses the U.K. points equation, which doesn't factor in fiber content. Instead, it uses a proprietary variable to represent portion size, which injects some uncertainty into the Weight Watchers equation.
McDonald's and Weight Watchers New Zealand representatives acknowledge the difference between the two equations but decline to explain how they calculated the portion-size variable. And because that number determines the ultimate points calculation, it's impossible for us to verify the accuracy of the McDonald's point counts.
TVNZ reports that McDonald's paid Weight Watchers an undisclosed sum for its endorsement, a deal that's reminiscent of a 2007 campaign in which McDonald's paid the Australian Heart Foundation about $275,000 (A$330,000) to approve of nine McDonald's' meals. The message seems to be that, when it comes to deals between Weight Watchers and McDonalds in New Zealand, the most important variable may be the sum on the check.
Taken From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/company-news/mcdonalds-and-weight-watchers-numbers-dont-add-up-but-pounds/19381721/?icid=main|aim|dl5|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailyfinance.com%2Fstory%2Fcompany-news%2Fmcdonalds-and-weight-watchers-numbers-dont-add-up-but-pounds%2F19381721%2F
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Tarrant220
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Well here I am, writing a blog for the first time about weight loss I'm attempting for the third. I'm not even sure if anyone will come across this or not but it's probably a good idea to keep my thoughts in some sort of written format so I can go back over them from time to time.
Two years ago I had a major life changing experience in my divorce and I was the heaviest I had ever been in my life, I weight in at 253 and I had enough with low self esteem and avoiding mirrors. Weight loss was my first goal to a better me, one I could be proud of again and one that I wouldn't be ashamed of when others saw.
Everything went well, I got down to 213, I was the lightest I had been in years and was feeling great, I had more energy and all was going well until I moved and got a job where I sit most of the time. Over the course of about 18 months I put about 20lbs of that back on getting up to 233 before I said enough was enough and began again.
That wasn't overly long ago, about 2 or 3 months ago and I got down to about 218 before somehow falling back out of that routine and now I'm back to 233.
Enough is enough, my family is riddled with health problems and I have two wonderful kids with one on the way that I want to be around for, for years to come. I need to get control of my eating habits, the major problem I have is I work a lot and am in teh habit of eating one very large meal a day, sometimes followed up by a snack I wash it down with small amounts of soda, I drink mostly water when at home.
I need to go back to what I was doing before and eating 4 to 5 small meals a day, start off with a small glass of OJ and then hit water the rest of the day. I need to bring portions back under control, using smaller plates and eating slow to allow my brain to register when I'm actually full. I need to start going for nightly walks again and having them eventually turn into runs when I am more in shape. (one thats not as round as the one I'm in now currently. )
It's time to get a handle on life and get it under control, I'm not getting any younger and it's surly not going to get any easier.
Tomorrow is a new day, a new beginning and the start of a new me. Tomorrow I will take my first steps, for the third time.....for the last time.
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TamTamm
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In my previous post, the results from a recent blood test revealed that I have a Vitamin D deficiency. My doctor immediately prescribed Vitamin D to take with my meals twice a day.
This revelation led to some Google searches on Vitamin D. After conducting some general research, I discovered that people with Vitamin D deficiency are at higher risk for certain chronic diseases and ailments such as-
- diabetes
- heart disease
- rickets
- osteoporosis
- certain cancers
- obesity
Source: Global Healing Center
Also, lack of vitamin D not only reeks havoc on a person's physical health, but mental health as well. In Norway, a three year study was conducted on over 400 overweight or obese patients. Participants that had lower Vitamin D levels (<16/ml), displayed higher levels of depression than those who had Vitamin D levels greater than >16/ml. Source: Vitamin D revolution
After reading these different articles, I had to ask myself how long was I Vitamin D deficient and how much of an impact did it have on my weight? Also, could it be the key to help me keep the fat off and regulate my weight?
A number of studies have been conducted looking at the correlation between the lack of Vitamin D and obesity. While the studies can not say for certain if lack of Vitamin D actually causes obesity, people who are obese do lack vitamin D. Also, patients who increased their Vitamin D intake loss more weight overall than those who did not (note: these patients were also on a very low calorie restricted diet). The reason for the weight loss? It could be that Vitamin D also plays a significant role in regulating a person's blood sugar. Source: Science Daily
If you have struggled with weight all of your life, it may be worth your while to have your primary physician conduct an extensive blood test to measure your levels of Vitamin D. If your levels are below 20/ml, then you may have a Vitamin D insufficiency. Anything under 15/ml is considered a deficency (mine measured at 10/ml).
In the upcoming months, my doctor intends to do another blood test to see if my weight loss and intake of Vitamin D will yield an improvement in my Vitamin D levels.
For more reading on Vitamin D, check out the links below:
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/10-foods-containing-vitamin-d/
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090611142524.htm
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/depression.shtml
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rchamoff
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Hi I am brand new to the site and blogging. So if I don't reply it isn't because I don't care it's because I am trying to navigate the site. It might take a little time. With that being said, here is my blog.
Tired - tired of dieting, exercising, counting calories, tired of being tired. Tired of losing the weight, keeping it off for years only to have it creep back up. Tired of fighting urges to eat. Tired of being fat, not wanting to go to the beach (my version of heaven). GET IT I'M TIRED NO MATTER WHAT DIRECTION I GO IN. I am so confused I don't know what I want.
Every morning I wake up and say I will get it done today. Every night I am not exercising once again, every night I'm eating more than I should. Yet inside I can't give up or the 60 pounds I have to loss will be 150 pounds within a year. I feel like I am falling off a cliff in slow motion into a bottomless pit and there is not way but to scratch my way back to the top.
I can't do it alone. I don't have it. I need support. I know it. That is why I am here.
The last time I was this weight 210 and got down to 150 I did it with an on-line support / chat room. I kept that weight off for 5 years. I have always had to diet I started weight watchers at the age of 12 I am now 50 and want to be fabulous. I have great support at home just not inner motivation. Hubby loves me no matter what, yes it is a blessing but not much for motiviaton.
Okay I am rambling now so I will leave my fatigue in your hands if any "buddie" wants to help me pick myself up and make me accountable one day at a time I am looking for some support and am willing to give it. Thanks.
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Katiekins
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This is all completely new to me, never done something like this before but i have faith that it will do me a lot of good.
Being a teenage girl, I want to remember these years as my happiest. I'm generally confident, and wish that was the case with my body. Ever since I quit the school teams due to pressures of school work and up and coming a levels, my weight has been really hard to control, and I think I have used stress and other issues to try and convince myself that its not my fault.
And you know what? Sometimes, its just better to be realistic, and own up to it. And its scary and I'm sure I'll get demotivated and feel like none of my hard work is doing any good at times, but hopefully it will be worth it.
I want to look back at my prom pictures, and my holiday pictures and be satisfied that I looked great, happy and confident.
I'll be damned if the powers of dairy milk and ben and jerrys are going to stop me!
So, to the next couple of months...!
xxxx
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CheleBelle
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Today is my birthday and I know there will be food. Why do we always need food to celebrate? There isn't a single event that passes without food being involved... even when the event is a funeral - there is food. So, today I turn 44. My mother is taking me to lunch at Red Lobster. You know... the place with the cheddar biscuits. Sure, I could tell the waiter to not even bring them to the table, but where is the fun in that? Afterall, it IS my birthday! I already have in mind what I will get to eat - coconut shrimp, the appetizer size. My mother mentioned salad. Where is the fun in that?
Tonight my daughters, sweethearts that they are! will be making me a dinner of Chicken Parmesan. I found the simplistic recipe on the Pioneer Woman's website. If you are trying to lose weight - DO NOT VISIT HER SITE!!! ((lol) So... I will be eating lunch out, dinner at home full of calories I don't need. I am pleased that lately I find myself able to stop eating before I become bloated and uncomfortable, having that ability is great - especially when there's Birthday Cake!
Diet? I will start tomorrow. I promise!!!
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mrvsnp
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Well I am taking two positive steps today. The first one is to blog and post my daily goal. Personal life has challenges just as everyone's and at the moment I am feeling sorry for myself. I am allowed to do that until the end of this blog post, then I must reframe each negative comment positively.
My daily goal is no snacking after dinner. Step 1 complete. My second step was to start connections on this site. I had sent some emails and gotten responses. I will need to email back after work. I did join a team which is a big part of what I was searching for on this site. Now to start making good use of that feedback and support.
MRV
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pridyprinsis
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There is SO much going on in my life right now. I wish I could say they are all good things, but mostly bad things. 2 relatives in the hospital, my sister broke her ankle, BOTH of our cars wont start this morning, no clue why, and to top it off, my cousin called yesterday, her 26day old little girl, Emma, passed away Monday morning.  She was perfectly healthy, full-term, natural birth, we have no idea what caused it. We are still waiting on autopsy results. My cousin said at 4am, Emma woke up and she gave her a bottle and played with her for a little while. Then she went back to check on her at 7am, and she wasn't breathing. My heart goes out to her, I just can't imagine that.
It's been hard to maintain my calories/exercise the past few days, but I've managed to do it. Hope everyone is doing well! Keep up the hard work guys!!!
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want2Bbeautiful
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Hello everyone,
Well today I had planned to get back on track and I didnt. I layed around most of the day and was hungry the ENTIRE day. I did stay away from unhealthy foods though! I mostly drank ALOT of water hoping to get full! Im not going to beat myself up about it. Tomorrow I will make it my goal to do better!
Goodnight all!!
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TvilleMonkey
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Every other day I set challenges for myself. I set the challenges before I started my journey for this month. So far I haven't been able to meet any of them.
My first one was to schedule my whole day...Didn't notice that was my challenge until later that evening. The second one was to wake up at 8 AM. I noticed it the night before and then didn't get to be until late and cut the alarm. My next one is for tonight. I am supposed to go to the Alon-on meeting in my area, but I don't think that I am going to go. My husband is off tonight and he doesn't want to come with me so I would rather just stay home with him.
What is wrong with me? Why can't I stick to what I set in front of me? I have been able to stick to the weight loss, but I can't seem stick to anything else. Maybe there is too much on my plate...or maybe I just need some serious work. My next goal is to read for two hours. I will read!!
On the bright side, I think that I will be down 3 lbs at the end of the week. This morning when I weighed myself I was at 148 point something. I need to be at 149.8 lbs on 3/12 to be down 2 lbs and stay on goal for the month. So as long as I stay on this path I will be doing better than predicted.
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mrvsnp
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