Weight loss does not have to be complicated, although it can be stressful. From the many diets available on the market to the pressure from celebrities to be a certain size, you may feel overwhelmed. Then the thought of having to count calories or eat only a particular food for days at a time only adds to the problems. Weight Watchers was designed to eliminate the stress that often comes with selecting the right diet; in fact, that is why Weight Watchers is considered one of the top diets nationwide.
The Basics
The Weight Watchers program is a point-based diet plan that creates a calorie deficit in participants, thus allowing them to lose weight. Each food is assigned a certain number of points. In the Momentum plan, this point value was based on the calorie, fat and fiber content of food. For the new Weight Watchers plan called Points Plus, which was launched in the fall of 2010, points are derived from a variety of factors including calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein and fiber.
Just like foods are given a specific point value, so is the participant. In the Momentum Plan, the point range assigned to a person was based on age, weight and height, plus the person's level of physical activity. In the new Points Plus plan, the only way to obtain your point range is by using Weight Watchers online program, visiting a local Weight Watchers center and enrolling, or calculating the range using the Weight Watchers Points Calculator.
Once you have your points range, all you do is keep track of the amount of points you eat during the day and subtract it from your assigned points. The program works similar to balancing a checkbook. Once you have eaten all of your points for the day, you stop.
How Points are Calculated
The point values of the foods you eat can either be searched for on the Weight Watchers Online site, in the Weight Watchers Point Guide or by using the official Weight Watchers Points Calculator. Since the program changed in 2010, the point values previously given for the Momentum plan are not valid for the new Points Plus plan.
The actual calculation for figuring the amount of points per food item is still unknown. Weight Watchers has guarded this information with the new plan so that to use their program, you must participate in either their online plan or attend local meetings.
Tracking Points
The best way to track your points daily is by keeping a journal. You do not need anything fancy; a small notebook will work just fine. In your journal, you will write down everything you eat and drink, as well as the point value. Deduct your food points from your assigned point range, just as you would deduct purchases from your checking account balance. Also, be sure to write your weekly weigh-in totals down and how you feel each day. If you do any exercise during the day, be sure to note that, as well as how long you exercised and the intensity.
Are Points Easier to Count Than Calories?
People may say that keeping track of your Weight Watchers points is easier than actually tracking calories. Then again, you still have to keep a running total of both. The one downside of using Weight Watchers points is that you will need to calculate how many points a certain food is worth. With counting calories, the calorie amount is easily found online -- or better yet, on the nutrition label.
In addition, with Weight Watchers, you now must maintain a membership with them to have access to the program. With counting calories, no membership is needed, and you can freely find the information through the Internet.
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