The Weight Watchers diet program has gone through many different variations. At the time of publication, the program is known as Points Plus. The Food Lovers Fat Loss System, like Weight Watchers, claims to be able to guide participants to sensible weight loss. The plans are alike in many ways, but they do have some significant differences.
What to Eat
The Food Lovers program claims to have a formula for combining foods to kick-start your body's fat-burning process. The plan calls for balanced servings of lean meats, vegetables and quick-burning carbohydrates. Weight Watchers, on the other hand, recommends a balanced diet of all foods, including vegetables of all colors, lean meats, whole grains and healthy fats.
How Much to Eat
Weight Watchers assigns every food a point value, and each member is allowed a certain number of points to eat every day. Members are allowed to eat whatever they like within their points limit. Food Lovers members are taught to eat foods in combination and to have only small portions of each food. Members are encouraged to eat healthy snacks throughout the day in addition to small meals.
What You Get
Signing up for Weight Watchers gives you access to all the program information, menu planning and points guides, plus meetings and access to a live leader to act as an adviser during your weight-loss journey. For this, members are charged an initial signup fee, plus a fee per meeting. Signing up for the Food Lovers program gives you a box containing all the program materials including meal planning guides, menus and advice booklets, plus a workout DVD. This program has a one-time fee that members can pay in monthly installments.
Similarities and Differences
Both programs claim that members can eat any foods they want and still lose weight. While this is technically true, both require members to fit these foods into their diet by giving up other foods on the daily menu. Finally, Weight Watchers is very personal, with face-to-face meetings every week. Food Lovers, on the other hand, provides you with guidelines you are then expected to follow independently.
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