Weight Watchers Points Plus List and System

The new Weight Watchers program called, Weight Watchers New Points System, is a great way to jumpstart your weight loss. Having completed the program a few times, after having our children, I can attest that the program works. Previously, Weight Watchers had two programs: Weight Watchers Flex Plan which was based on the old Weight Watchers Points system and the Weight Watchers Core Plan. These programs are no longer supported, instead a new program, the Points Plus program is advocated.

There are two ways to use the program: Go to a Weight Watchers meeting near you or join www.weightwatchers.com. For first time users, I recommend attending meetings. The cost is about $10 per meeting; the joining fee usually is on promotion for free. At the meetings you are privately weighed in and your weight is recorded. The meeting usually lasts for about 30 minutes and is based around a topic. Tips and advice are given as well as help in reaching your goal weight. This support system can be extremely valuable and helps keep you motivated and accountable. Resources are also given and cookbooks and snack foods can be bought at the meetings.

I recommend joining Weight Watchers online if you are already familiar with the program and don't need the assistance provided at the meetings, or if you want to also use the online services along with the meetings. The online service provides you with recipes, stories, a community, food ideas, and a point tracker system. Once you have joined Weight Watchers Online, you can receive the free iphone or android app. The apps are very well done, allowing you to record your points, use the points calculator, check out cheet sheets, find a meeting, read articles, look at recipes, read success stories, etc. I highly recommend the apps for those that are on the go.

In the times that I have been able to lose weight, the key for me was writing down or journaling everything that I ate. Weight Watchers recommends this, but I can't say enough how important it is to your weight loss. For moms and dads, I think it's even more important. The reason is we are constantly feeding our little ones and a bite of this and a bite of that adds up. When you write down every bit of food that goes in your mouth, you tend to eat less - I know that I do! If you want to write down your points, I recommend the 3 Month PointsPlus Tracker Journal. You can buy it from Amazon or from the Weight Watchers site. For those that are also dealing with emotional eating, a journal is a great way to express how you're feeling as you lose weight and during those times that you "cheat." Going back and looking over what you have written can be extremely powerful.

The new PointsPlus System is different than the older Points system in a couple of ways. First, the new system no longer uses calories in the Points equation. The older system used, fat, fiber and calories to calculate a point value for a food. The new PointsPlus system uses fat, fiber, carbohydrates, and protein to calculate a food value. Because of this, you are given more points per day under the new system. The other bonus is that most fruits and vegetables are given a zero point value. Under the older Points system, only vegetables were given a zero point value.

The one similarity with the old Points program is your weekly allowance. Weight Watchers still gives you a little wiggle room to splurge with 49 weekly points to use as you please.

Yes! If you have an iPhone or Android phone and you have paid for your online or etools account, then you can download the Weight Watchers application for free. It's a great app that helps you track and calculate your points and weight; browse recipes and get food ideas; and get PointsPlus values while you are on the go. I highly recommend the app and if you have an iPad, there is a Weight Watchers app for the iPad, too!

I have three girls and I used Weight Watchers after having each of my babies. It was a great program to get you back on track fairly quickly. If you are nursing, make sure that you follow the nursing mother guidelines. Your body needs more calories than if you weren't nursing. There were times when I knew my body needed more, and I listened to my body's cues. I think this system is great for new moms and helps you lose that baby weight quickly. Coupled with nursing, I was able to lose my baby weight with Weight Watchers.

Power Foods are foods that have a lower PointsPlus value and help keep you satiated for longer. The table below goes through different categories and Power Foods within those categories. Remember, most vegetables and fruits are power foods with zero points!

In the Flex/ Points plan all foods have a point value depending on three factors: calories, fat and fiber. You are given a number of points a day. The number of points allotted depends on: age, current weight, height, gender, and amount you exercise.

You are then given extra points, Weight Watchers calls it Flex Points, to use at your discretion throughout the week. The old Points system had a different Flex plan where you banked points throughout the week to use. More points were given each day and those points that were unused could be transferred to another day for special occasions or treats.

The point values per day based on your weight are as follows:

• Less than 150 lbs: 20 pts
• 150-174 lbs: 22 pts
• 175-199 lbs: 24 pts
• 200-224 lbs: 26 pts
• 225-249 lbs: 28 pts
• 250-274 lbs: 30 pts
• 275-300 lbs: 31 pts

Flex Points: 35 extra points a week to use as you choose.

Exercise: added points are given depending on your exercise time, activity and intensity.

*Above values are not for growing teens or nursing women*