The flex points weight loss system, or Weight Watchers, began a new points system in 2010 called PointsPlus. The new points system, based primarily on the nutritional value of foods, has disappointed around 750,000 Americans using Weight Watchers, according to a December 7, 2010 article in the New York Daily News. However, the new Weight Watchers PointsPlus system offers many of the same benefits such as the flexible use of food points.
Points Plus
The PointsPlus program uses a scientifically backed nutritional formula to assign various point values to foods according to the amount of protein, carbohydrates, fat and fiber they contain. You are assigned an individualized daily point target -- based on factors such as your height, weight and gender -- to let you know how much you can eat and still lose weight without feeling hungry. The healthier the food, the lower the point value it receives. For instance, Weight Watchers assigns fruits and vegetables zero points, whereas a glass of wine is valued at four points. Your goal is to keep your points low and within your target range.
Benefits
The Weight Watchers PointsPlus system not only helps you lose weight, but also can improve your health by providing an incentive to eat nutritious foods such as vegetables, fruits and lean proteins. This flex points weight loss system includes super nutritious "power foods" such as bananas and low-fat Greek yogurt with berries, which can satisfy your hunger to help prevent overeating. You can eat as much as you want -- including snacks -- as long as you stay within your personalized PointsPlus range, and you can also earn extra "activity points" by performing exercises such as walking, biking and skiing. In addition, Weight Watchers makes it easy to keep track of your points through the use of point trackers.
Options
People who attend Weight Watchers meetings lose three times more weight than those who attempt to lose weight alone. Attending a Weight Watchers meeting will provide you with resources and support such as practical weight loss strategies, a step-by-step plan, guidance and information from trained leaders as well as direct access to cookbooks and weight loss tools. In addition, confidential weigh-ins help monitor your progress. If you don't want to attend meetings, Weight Watchers Online provides comprehensive guides and interactive tools to analyze your food and exercise habits, provides nutritional advice when eating at restaurants and gives you a multitude of recipes, meal plans and food options, as well.
Meals
Weight Watchers provides nutritious meals with the motto, "Don't eat less, eat smarter." For instance, a meal of black bean soup and pasta salad, made with ingredients including whole grain pasta, grape tomatoes, small black olives and reduced-fat feta-cheese, along with a serving of grapes is worth 11 PointsPlus. The Greek Lemon-Dill Grilled Chicken Salad, with fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, chickpeas, romaine lettuce and boneless, skinless chicken breasts and other nutritious ingredients will cost you eight PointsPlus. In addition, you can eat a Philly cheese steak sandwich on a reduced calorie bun with low-fat cheddar cheese for only five PointsPlus.
References
- Diets in Review: Understanding Weight Watchers PointsPlus
- Weight Watchers: Two Ways to Lose Weight
- Weight Watchers: Make Final Choices Second Nature
- "New York Daily News" ; Weight Watchers New Points Plus Weight Loss System Has Dieters Losing Their Minds; Rosemary Black et al. ; Dec. 7, 2010
- Weight Watchers: Greek Lemon-Dill Grilled Chicken Salad
- Weight Watchers: Philly Cheese Steaks
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