Under the Weight Watchers diet plan, every food you eat has a points value; staying within a daily number of points helps you lose weight. Weight Watchers groups and Weight Watchers Online both offer resources to determine point values--small books and online points directories. But for those times when you're stuck without these resources, knowing how to figure Weight Watchers points independently is a useful skill. Luckily, the key is a simple equation.
Step 1
Determine these values for the food that you are eating: fat content, calorie count and fiber content. If you're at a restaurant and don't have those values handy, ask your server for them. Many states require restaurants to provide nutrition information for diners. Make note of the values and use the following International Weight Watchers equation to calculate the points for your meal.
Step 2
Divide the number of calories by 50 to get a value.
Step 3
Divide the fat content (in grams) by 12. Add this number to the value you determined in Step 2.
Step 4
Figure the fiber content value. If the fiber content is less than 4 grams, use the actual fiber content as your value. If it is above 4, use 4 for the value. Divide the fiber content number by 5.
Step 5
Subtract the fiber value from the sum of the calorie and fat values. Round the number up or down, as needed. This is your meal's points value.
Step 6
You also can use the International Weight Watchers online point calculator if an Internet-capable device is handy.
Things You'll Need
- Pencil
- Paper
- Calculator
Member Comments