Weight Watchers calls its newest option the Momentum program, which encourages dieters to spend points on healthy, nutritious selections from a list of "filling" foods. The Momentum program utilizes components of both the Core Plan and the Flex Points program to encourage dieters to eat healthier while losing weight. Members have the option of participating online or at local meetings.
Features
Fixed factors that affect your points allowance include your height and gender. Women start with a base of two points, and men start with eight points. If your height falls in the range of 5 feet 1 inches to 5 feet 10 inches, you add one point to your base. However, if you're taller, you add two points. Variable factors affecting your points budget include your age, weight and general activity level. Weight Watchers helps you set an initial points budget based on these factors, and adjusts your points allowance as your weight decreases.
Significance
Staying within your points allowance helps you lose weight at a healthy rate. When you spend your points on healthy, nutritious foods from each food group, you establish smart eating habits that will help you maintain your weight over the long term. Choosing healthier, low calorie foods more often also allows you to eat more and feel fuller without exceeding your points budget, according to Weight Watchers.
Weekly Allowance
Your personalized points allowance gives you a daily budget to help you reach your weight loss goals. Weight Watchers gives you an additional weekly allowance of 35 points. You can spend all or part of these points at any time during the week, according to Weight Watchers. You can also expedite weight loss by not spending the additional points. The weekly points allowance is a feature of the new Momentum program, as well as the still available Flex Points and Core Plan.
Activity Points
Increase your daily points allowance with exercise. Weight Watchers allows you to earn additional points based on the amount of energy expended during physical activity, according to its website. As a general guideline, you earn an additional point for every 100 calories burned through exercise. The higher the intensity of an activity, the more calories you burn. Low-intensity exercises include gardening, housework and leisurely walking. Brisk walking and biking are considered moderate-intensity activities, while jogging and swimming fall into the high intensity category.
Considerations
A food journal helps you keep track of how many points you spend on food. Writing down everything you eat can also help you detect eating patterns that lead to cravings or hunger spikes. Weight Watchers encourages you to keep a journal and provides members with tools to make tracking your points easier. The list of filling foods encouraged by the Momentum plan is available online.
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