PointsPlus is a proven tool, within the broader Weight Watchers 3600 plan, that allows you to lose weight while eating the foods you love. The 3 elements of the Weight Watchers 360° program are:
- Tracking (PointsPlus): making the smart food/activity choice
- Spaces: making those choices easy in the environment you live in
- Routines: making those choices second nature through implementation of small steps
The system assigns a PointsPlus value to every food you eat. This value is based on the latest nutritional science about how our body uses nutrients from foods. It is designed to nudge you toward foods that help you feel satisfied while you are losing weight.
I love the exciting features I found in the program. Every food and drink has a PointPlus value—just one simple number that is calculated using 4 key nutrients: Protein, Carbohydrates, Fiber and Fat.
What are PointsPlus Values?
Every food has a specific PointsPlus value. The values of the foods you eat in a day are added up and must not exceed your daily PointsPlus Target if you want to lose weight.
This Target is a number that is given to you when you first join a Weight Watchers Meeting of sign up Weight Watchers Online. It is based on your weight, height, gender, age, how many pounds you want to lose. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are factored in, too.
Does the PointsPlus System Count Calories?
“Where are the calories in the PointsPlus system?”, I wondered when I started the program. Well, Weight Watchers has taken the calories out of the equation. Instead, the PointsPlus value looks at the components of the calories—the macronutrients—to better account for how your body processes food and how satisfying that food is.
Your personalized daily PointsPlus target tells you how much you should eat each day to lose weight.
What Does Jennifer Hudson Say About PointsPlus?
"I thought the old program was great, but the PointsPlus program is amazing", says Jennifer Hudson, recording artist, actress, and spokesperson of Weight Watchers. "After seeing my results, I don't know why you wouldn't want to do Weight Watchers."
You Can Eat Whatever You Want – You Won’t Feel Deprived
You can literally eat whatever you want to meet your daily target. But if you are not sure where to start, just look at the Good Health guidelines. This is a set of 8 principles that ensure you get your allotted daily points from foods that contain the nutrients, vitamins and minerals that will boost your health while losing weight. If you make smart choices, you won’t feel deprived.
Indulging a Craving is Allowed
Weight Watchers know that treats and special occasions like eating out are a part of life, that’s why they give you an extra 49 PointsPlus values every week to use anyway you want.
You can spend your weekly PointsPlus Allowance on little treats every day or save them up for one big splurge. It’s up to you.
Why Does PointPlus Work so Well?
Tracking what you eat every day really helps boost your weight loss success. It makes you mindful of what you are eating. It has been documented that recording what you eat every day can double your weight loss.
The Plan Manager: A Set of Tools that Help You Track Your Food
Those who have purchased Weight Watchers Online or eTools can track what they are eating using a tool called “the Plan Manager”. Through these tools you can track your weight, find PointsPlus values of foods, recipes and meals, and much more. You can also access these tools on many smartphones, including the iPhone.
What If I Don’t Like Tracking my Food?
While counting points is beneficial because it makes people more aware of what they are eating, tracking is not for everyone. Some may prefer to forgo food tracking for another technique called Simply Filling. According to this technique, you eat exclusively from a list of foods called Power Foods. You don’t count points. You just eat until you are not hungry.
The list contains a big variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, non-fat dairy, lean proteins, beverages, condiments, and healthy oils.
Processed meats, dried fruits, fruit and vegetable juices, and French fries are not included in the Power Foods list.
If you choose the Simply Filling method over counting PointsPlus values, you still receive the weekly PointPlus Allowance. Whether on Simply Filling or PointsPlus, you are allowed 49 PointsPlus values to enjoy however you want.
Weight Watchers Power foods are filling, nutritious foods that deliver a lot of nutrients for their PointsPlus values. You can find them in Weight Watchers’ site by looking for the green triangle. They provide an easy way to focus on foods that are easy choices for a healthy weight loss. They can also help you stay satisfied longer.
Another thing I like about this program? All fruit and most vegetables have zero PointsPlus values. Suddenly that banana looks a much better choice than something from the vending machine.
You can also use fruits and vegetables to bulk up meals, for dessert, or any time you need something to tide you over
PointsPlus and Exercise
While you do not HAVE to exercise, being physically active plays an important role in your weight-loss journey. This is why getting physical activity is a big part of the PointsPlus program.
Whether you are working out in a gym or just playing with you kids, being active helps increase your strength, flexibility and energy levels as you lose weight. In addition, by moving more you can earn activity PointsPlus values that you can swap for food if you like.
In the mood to go roller skating for 30 minutes? You are about to earn 5 PointsPlus values that you can add to your daily Target. So, if your daily target was 29, you now have 34 points.
That’s how the PointsPlus program works. Just use the current Weight Watchers online promotion code, jump in and start using the program.
Remember, once you start your subscription with Weight Watchers Online or Weight Watchers Meetings, you will find every day new recipes, articles and videos to keep you motivated. You will also find a buzzing community where you can connect with other people who are losing weight.
Get started with the PointsPlus program today.
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