Weight Watchers Points Plus.
- Thread starter Gulianna
- Start date
Jay Farrant
Banned
Long Term Imo Weight Watchers Sucks . Your basically restricting your body of calories and lowing your BMR (The rate at which your body burns calories normally) WW doesnt teach you to eat the right foods together and the whole thing is based around buying there over priced crap food . They basically give all different foods ,points and cut your calories down . What do you think happens when you starting eat more calories when you come off the diet ???? Surprise Surprise You put more weight back on because your lowered your BMR and your body has turned into a energy saving machine. (Become very good at burning less calories to survive and function)
Loosing weight isn't about cutting calories its about eating good clean food and eating it right .
I read a report bout WW and 97% of there dieters who lost weight and met there target either put more weight back on or ended up the weight they started at . The people who did the study were hired by Weight Watchers ....
San2
Mod
I agree with everything except this:
Losing weight IS about cutting calories. You can eat clean all you want, if you eat too much 'clean' food, you're still not going to lose weight.
That said, it's not ONLY about cutting calories. So maybe we could change the above statement to:
Losing weight isn't just about cutting calories, it's also about eating good, clean food and eating it right.
How's that?
Other than that, I totally agree. WW might be nice for a while, but it's not sustainable. In addition, it limits you completely. What if you are in a situation where you don't have access to any WW meals? Holidays and stuff. You won't know how to eat sensibly, because WW doesn't teach you that, so you'll come back home with more than just a couple of extra pounds.
I do use the WW ready meals occasionally myself though - some are tasty enough, and do me for lunch or dinner when I can't be arsed to make any food.
Losing weight IS about cutting calories. You can eat clean all you want, if you eat too much 'clean' food, you're still not going to lose weight.
That said, it's not ONLY about cutting calories. So maybe we could change the above statement to:
Losing weight isn't just about cutting calories, it's also about eating good, clean food and eating it right.
How's that?
Other than that, I totally agree. WW might be nice for a while, but it's not sustainable. In addition, it limits you completely. What if you are in a situation where you don't have access to any WW meals? Holidays and stuff. You won't know how to eat sensibly, because WW doesn't teach you that, so you'll come back home with more than just a couple of extra pounds.
I do use the WW ready meals occasionally myself though - some are tasty enough, and do me for lunch or dinner when I can't be arsed to make any food.
Tob1
New member
I am on weight watchers only because my wife wanted to go on. so far im impressed. it teaches you how to eat... I dunno anything about buying meals? you get a certain amount of points to eat a day and you have to stay within that amount of points. they have online tools to help you but after a while it mostly becomes second nature. Teaches you how to reduce your intake and make better choices. as far as holidays go well you can still eat your meal just stay in your points range. But you don't buy meals from them. you make your own food at home...Friends of mine have been on it for a long time and they are doing so well its what made my wife want to join.
i would rather count calories but the online tools really make it easy. My advice is sign up for the 7 day free trial and try it. determine if you like it or not for your self.
San2
Mod
Guess it changed then. I was talking about the weight watchers ready meals you can buy everywhere. Most people just buy those, and count the points on the box, because it's convenient. But maybe WW have finally managed to get away from that nonsense.
But look at it that way...they are charging you money for something that you can have for free. All the info they can give you is out there, in fact, I bet there is nothing they can tell you that you can't learn from this forum.
But look at it that way...they are charging you money for something that you can have for free. All the info they can give you is out there, in fact, I bet there is nothing they can tell you that you can't learn from this forum.
chubbygirl
New member
I agree with Tob. I'm also a member of weight watchers and I have never bought one of their ready made meals. They taught me a lot about portion sizes, fiber & healthy fats. I pay mostly for the weigh-ins because it keeps me accountable. Knowing that I have to go there once a week to get weighed really motivates me to keep the scale going down. I can't motivate myself all the time and listening to the other members in the meetings really helps. They also bring recipe ideas and stories of what works for them.
Getting back to the main question though - the points plus program - honestly I don't care for it as much as the old points program because I feel like they are taking some of the freedom out of the plan. I understand why they are doing it and when it comes down to it it's more healthy but I still haven't adapted to it.
Getting back to the main question though - the points plus program - honestly I don't care for it as much as the old points program because I feel like they are taking some of the freedom out of the plan. I understand why they are doing it and when it comes down to it it's more healthy but I still haven't adapted to it.
Tik
New member
Just to chime in - I have no experience with the actual Weight Watchers program, what I do have is a giant Weight Watchers cookbook which I've found fantastic!
It's so convenient to go to the cook book, plan a meal or two (even large holiday meals), and know that I'm cooking something that is healthy. I think WW can teach you wonderful skills for your life- depending on how you use it. If you use WW's just as a quick premade meal, then, yes, you're getting healthy food...but you're missing out on the part of learning what's right for your body. WW's can provide you with GREAT skills in learning how to cook food for yourself that tastes good, and is healthy
I can't comment on the points, but I would say that WW recipes are fantastic!
It's so convenient to go to the cook book, plan a meal or two (even large holiday meals), and know that I'm cooking something that is healthy. I think WW can teach you wonderful skills for your life- depending on how you use it. If you use WW's just as a quick premade meal, then, yes, you're getting healthy food...but you're missing out on the part of learning what's right for your body. WW's can provide you with GREAT skills in learning how to cook food for yourself that tastes good, and is healthy
I can't comment on the points, but I would say that WW recipes are fantastic!
Jay Farrant
Banned
You do have to expand more calories than you consume yes . But you can still increase your calories and lose fat so long as you are performing the right type of exercise . ( Metabolic Training ) . You body will actually need more calories if your training right .
WW , is very simple it cuts your calories down and you lose weight . Not rocket science really . The fact that you can still eat carb with fat etc ,then clearly shows WW are not teaching you to eat right .
This is the study that showed people put weight back on ,with WW.
WW , is very simple it cuts your calories down and you lose weight . Not rocket science really . The fact that you can still eat carb with fat etc ,then clearly shows WW are not teaching you to eat right .
This is the study that showed people put weight back on ,with WW.
Tob1
New member
Well weight watchers isn't designed for body builders or meant to make you ripped. its designed to allow you to live a normal life while cutting back and losing weight. hence you still eat carbs... and why not?
After you are in your maintenance stage what ever. if you want to eat some bread then eat the bread and be happy. just don't eat the whole loaf and you will not get fat. Sorry i didn't read the article its to long ill have to come back to it same with the other.
also anyone who is on a diet then stops tends to put weight back on. even those on Atkins, ( low carb ) SB, cal Counting, WW or even 3 day miracle diet. its up to the person to stick to it and eat better. people who count calories go back to eating lots of calories if they relapse.
I'm another supporter of weight watchers. I went for about 6 months last year which was when I lost the bulk of my weight. At no time was I ever encouraged to buy the ready made food but was encouraged to eat sensibly with better portion control , healthier foods and more exercise. It taught me that weight loss shouldn't be about going on a diet but a lifetime change to healthy eating and exercise habits.
None of this answers the OPs question though.
None of this answers the OPs question though.
Jay Farrant
Banned
It Generally does work at the beginning , No one is saying its not .
If your are eating 3000 calories a day then suddenly cap it with a points system (Like WW) and eat 2000 calories a day and then get "encouraged" to do exercise ,then do exercise and expand even more calories ,then obviously Your going to lose weight . Thats nothing new . My problem with WW is its a low fat diet and a calorie restriction diet. You are in a negative balance to your BMR . in the long term your going to put the weight back on, as soon as you starting eating a normal amount of calories.(your daily BMR)
Find the right amount of calories you need to fuel your body (BMR) .Consume the calories correctly . Ie Carbs and Protein, Fat and protein, regular meals and snacks. Then exercise to force the calorie deficiency . Long term your not lowering your BMR but still in a calorie deficiency resulting in fat loss ,Long term your not going to put weight back on as your BMR Is likely to go up not down . Any extra muscle gained will Increase your BMR and long term your be able to eat more not less and stay the same weight .
If your are eating 3000 calories a day then suddenly cap it with a points system (Like WW) and eat 2000 calories a day and then get "encouraged" to do exercise ,then do exercise and expand even more calories ,then obviously Your going to lose weight . Thats nothing new . My problem with WW is its a low fat diet and a calorie restriction diet. You are in a negative balance to your BMR . in the long term your going to put the weight back on, as soon as you starting eating a normal amount of calories.(your daily BMR)
Find the right amount of calories you need to fuel your body (BMR) .Consume the calories correctly . Ie Carbs and Protein, Fat and protein, regular meals and snacks. Then exercise to force the calorie deficiency . Long term your not lowering your BMR but still in a calorie deficiency resulting in fat loss ,Long term your not going to put weight back on as your BMR Is likely to go up not down . Any extra muscle gained will Increase your BMR and long term your be able to eat more not less and stay the same weight .
BikiniBound2011
New member
Sorry for my massive post, but...
I agree with you about the meetings keeping you accountable. Having to go and weigh-in once a week is a great motivator. Also when I used to go to the meetings they would have a new recipe every day that we could copy down and exercise was talked about a lot. It is inspiring to have others losing weight right along with you and hear their stories, and share in their milestones.
I am still getting used to the points plus program myself. (I stopped tracking at the end of October and started again in January, and surprise they had changed the program!) I've been on it for about three weeks but have really only been seriously tracking my food on a regular basis for about a week and a half. Over that time I've lost 3.5 lbs. It's not much, but like I said I eased myself into it.
I understand what you mean about taking some of the freedom away from the plan. You feel the pressure to go eat some fruit instead of a 100 calorie pack of cookies, because now the points are calculated differently. But guess what? After three weeks on the new program I am eating lots of fruits and veggies, which I only ate seldomly before. I'm glad that I'm eating healthier, not just less calories. But I am making these changes slowly, so I don't get overwhelmed.
I totally agree with everything you said here.
I had the same experience when I used to attend the meetings.
I just wanted to let you know that with the new program (Points Plus), weight watchers no longer counts calories in the equation to figure out the points for food. The new program requires fat, protein, carbs, and fiber to figure out the points value for each food. Also there are other requirements of the program (which were present in the original program as well), such as adding two tablespoons of healthy oil to your food intake each day. So they do want you to have healthy fats in your diet.
I used to go to the meetings a few years ago, and I ended up stopping because I felt that I got all I could out of it. Now I follow it online. I like the online plan manager that you use to track your points. Plus it's only $17 a month compared to the $40 a month I was paying to go to the meeting as well as access the online tools. I know I could use fitday or something and track my calories for free, but to me the points system is simpler. I don't have to figure out how many calories I should be eating a day, or how many of what nutrients (carbs, protein, etc.). I just put in my food info and get a point value, and I am allotted a certain # of points a day. You definitely are not required to buy their food. I admit I buy quite a few of their frozen meals, but I'm trying to change that. I just don't really like to cook and never really learned how to make many things. And it may be silly, but knowing I'm paying for the program each month is also a motivator for me.
I also want to say that I started the online program on June 22, 2010, at 194.8 lbs. I got down to 172.2 lbs by October 28th. I went on a vacation in early October, which threw me off of my routine and I never really got back into it. From October 28th to the beginning of January 2011, I had not been tracking my food or actively trying to eat healthy foods. However, I did keep weighing myself frequently during this time. I ate bad foods a lot of times, but my portion sizes had dramatically decreased from what I used to eat at 194 lbs. So when I started again in January I weighed in at 176 lbs, which was a gain of just under 4lbs, which I thought was good considering the pressures of the holidays. I consider that basically maintaining my weight loss, and this helps me to believe that I'll be able to maintain my goal weight once I get there. I don't really feel like Weight Watchers is a diet, but that it teaches you to eat healthier in a way you can sustain for life. No food is off limits. If I want to eat Taco Bell one day, I just budget my points for it.
Like Tob said, I'm not trying to be a body-builder. I just want to lose this excess weight. Now when I get to my goal weight I will probably change up my diet and exercise if I decide I want to build some muscle, but this program isn't really designed for that and doesn't claim to be.
I agree with you about the meetings keeping you accountable. Having to go and weigh-in once a week is a great motivator. Also when I used to go to the meetings they would have a new recipe every day that we could copy down and exercise was talked about a lot. It is inspiring to have others losing weight right along with you and hear their stories, and share in their milestones.
I am still getting used to the points plus program myself. (I stopped tracking at the end of October and started again in January, and surprise they had changed the program!) I've been on it for about three weeks but have really only been seriously tracking my food on a regular basis for about a week and a half. Over that time I've lost 3.5 lbs. It's not much, but like I said I eased myself into it.
I understand what you mean about taking some of the freedom away from the plan. You feel the pressure to go eat some fruit instead of a 100 calorie pack of cookies, because now the points are calculated differently. But guess what? After three weeks on the new program I am eating lots of fruits and veggies, which I only ate seldomly before. I'm glad that I'm eating healthier, not just less calories. But I am making these changes slowly, so I don't get overwhelmed.
I totally agree with everything you said here.
I had the same experience when I used to attend the meetings.
I just wanted to let you know that with the new program (Points Plus), weight watchers no longer counts calories in the equation to figure out the points for food. The new program requires fat, protein, carbs, and fiber to figure out the points value for each food. Also there are other requirements of the program (which were present in the original program as well), such as adding two tablespoons of healthy oil to your food intake each day. So they do want you to have healthy fats in your diet.
I used to go to the meetings a few years ago, and I ended up stopping because I felt that I got all I could out of it. Now I follow it online. I like the online plan manager that you use to track your points. Plus it's only $17 a month compared to the $40 a month I was paying to go to the meeting as well as access the online tools. I know I could use fitday or something and track my calories for free, but to me the points system is simpler. I don't have to figure out how many calories I should be eating a day, or how many of what nutrients (carbs, protein, etc.). I just put in my food info and get a point value, and I am allotted a certain # of points a day. You definitely are not required to buy their food. I admit I buy quite a few of their frozen meals, but I'm trying to change that. I just don't really like to cook and never really learned how to make many things. And it may be silly, but knowing I'm paying for the program each month is also a motivator for me.
I also want to say that I started the online program on June 22, 2010, at 194.8 lbs. I got down to 172.2 lbs by October 28th. I went on a vacation in early October, which threw me off of my routine and I never really got back into it. From October 28th to the beginning of January 2011, I had not been tracking my food or actively trying to eat healthy foods. However, I did keep weighing myself frequently during this time. I ate bad foods a lot of times, but my portion sizes had dramatically decreased from what I used to eat at 194 lbs. So when I started again in January I weighed in at 176 lbs, which was a gain of just under 4lbs, which I thought was good considering the pressures of the holidays. I consider that basically maintaining my weight loss, and this helps me to believe that I'll be able to maintain my goal weight once I get there. I don't really feel like Weight Watchers is a diet, but that it teaches you to eat healthier in a way you can sustain for life. No food is off limits. If I want to eat Taco Bell one day, I just budget my points for it.
Like Tob said, I'm not trying to be a body-builder. I just want to lose this excess weight. Now when I get to my goal weight I will probably change up my diet and exercise if I decide I want to build some muscle, but this program isn't really designed for that and doesn't claim to be.
Jay Farrant
Banned
Same here , sounds totally different to the weight watcher I know . I am not a body builder or am telling any one to be or train or even eat like a body builder . As for carbs eat them ,but at the right times etc . Ill look into the new WW and get bk to you on it sounds allot better though ....
SoCoSideshow
New member
I haven't learned enough about the new PointsPlus program for Weight Watcher's because, marketing scheme that it is, it would require my re-signing up for WW (which I have no intention of doing) and shelling out more money for a new system.
While the new PointsPlus system may work fine (hell, even better), and may possibly be based on more core nutritional componants of basic foods, I could give a monkey's.
I've lost almost 100 pounds in just over 7 months on the OLD Weight Watcher's points system, which I don't find difficult to follow at all.
I'm rarely hungry or unfulfilled after meals, there exists no food that I am unable to eat as long as I keep my points in considerating, so on and so forth.
I believe the biggest reason the PointsPlus program was created was to rake in a few more fat stacks, because WW realized that with their original Points system formula floating around, they were losing money. Simple as that. There exists no PointsPlus formula -- to determine your daily PointsPlus range, you need to go to a meeting or sign up for WW online -- therefore, you need to open your wallet to make the transition.
And I guess I don't blame them -- they're a business, and they need money to survive --but I'm not buyin' it for a second.
While the new PointsPlus system may work fine (hell, even better), and may possibly be based on more core nutritional componants of basic foods, I could give a monkey's.
I've lost almost 100 pounds in just over 7 months on the OLD Weight Watcher's points system, which I don't find difficult to follow at all.
I'm rarely hungry or unfulfilled after meals, there exists no food that I am unable to eat as long as I keep my points in considerating, so on and so forth.
I believe the biggest reason the PointsPlus program was created was to rake in a few more fat stacks, because WW realized that with their original Points system formula floating around, they were losing money. Simple as that. There exists no PointsPlus formula -- to determine your daily PointsPlus range, you need to go to a meeting or sign up for WW online -- therefore, you need to open your wallet to make the transition.
And I guess I don't blame them -- they're a business, and they need money to survive --but I'm not buyin' it for a second.
Jim in Michigan
New member
"What if you are in a situation where you don't have access to any WW meals? Holidays and stuff. You won't know how to eat sensibly, because WW doesn't teach you that, so you'll come back home with more than just a couple of extra pounds."
I have seen this same thing printed on various forums, and it is clear that you either were not actually in Weight Watchers, or did not grasp the basics of their program at all. The first glaring difference is that there are no "WW Foods" that are required to be bought. Yes, if you go to your local Krogers or wherever you will find some WW frozen foods in the freezer case. That is a totally separate thing from the WW program. Those are an alternative to buying a Lean Cuisine or other convenience food.
Weight Watchers teaches a program of using everyday foods (grocery store, grown, hunted, whatever) for putting together healthy choices, portion control, better food choices, skills to move you from weight loss to long term maintenance strategies, as well as providing weekly lessons to cope with certain situations such as holidays, parties, vacations, boredom, avoiding binges and so on.
WW changed back in the early 1980's from a calorie-based management to that of counting points assigned to different foods. I did the early point-based program in the late 1980's. You were allocated various points by different food groups at that time. The points were not interchangable. If you had eaten all your breads/cereals for the day you could not move points from another, such as fruits or dairy, in to allow you to eat what you wanted. You wrote everything down and checked boxed off to keep track. The point-based system has moved through a few versions as it matured. Yes, likely to keep the things fresh or to sell new reference materials and so on.
The meetings back in the 1990s and early 2000 timeframe were nearly one-hour long and very helpful. If I have any criticism it is that they have shortened the meetings to about 35 minutes, which I see and enabling more meetings to be facilitated in a day and therefore more revenue. I see this as short-changing those attending a bit. I myself have been a WW at Work member a few times, have all the materials, and am using a third-party app that cost $4 to keep track of what I ate versus paying $15/month to use the online WW system. It has worked for me in the past and seems to be working again. Guys can expect to lose 2 to 2.5 pounds a week after the initial big loss on the first week of any weight loss program.
I have seen this same thing printed on various forums, and it is clear that you either were not actually in Weight Watchers, or did not grasp the basics of their program at all. The first glaring difference is that there are no "WW Foods" that are required to be bought. Yes, if you go to your local Krogers or wherever you will find some WW frozen foods in the freezer case. That is a totally separate thing from the WW program. Those are an alternative to buying a Lean Cuisine or other convenience food.
Weight Watchers teaches a program of using everyday foods (grocery store, grown, hunted, whatever) for putting together healthy choices, portion control, better food choices, skills to move you from weight loss to long term maintenance strategies, as well as providing weekly lessons to cope with certain situations such as holidays, parties, vacations, boredom, avoiding binges and so on.
WW changed back in the early 1980's from a calorie-based management to that of counting points assigned to different foods. I did the early point-based program in the late 1980's. You were allocated various points by different food groups at that time. The points were not interchangable. If you had eaten all your breads/cereals for the day you could not move points from another, such as fruits or dairy, in to allow you to eat what you wanted. You wrote everything down and checked boxed off to keep track. The point-based system has moved through a few versions as it matured. Yes, likely to keep the things fresh or to sell new reference materials and so on.
The meetings back in the 1990s and early 2000 timeframe were nearly one-hour long and very helpful. If I have any criticism it is that they have shortened the meetings to about 35 minutes, which I see and enabling more meetings to be facilitated in a day and therefore more revenue. I see this as short-changing those attending a bit. I myself have been a WW at Work member a few times, have all the materials, and am using a third-party app that cost $4 to keep track of what I ate versus paying $15/month to use the online WW system. It has worked for me in the past and seems to be working again. Guys can expect to lose 2 to 2.5 pounds a week after the initial big loss on the first week of any weight loss program.
Jim in Michigan
New member
I read online that many people felt that the points on the boxes were fiction. People who tried to use the frozen meals exclusively like it was a cheap version of the Jenny Craig Plan (where you have to buy their food) were disappointed, sometimes gaining weight. The people who make these for WW are re-calculating the points and are refreshing the boxes ongoing. I seldom buy these, so it does not matter much to me.