Jean Nidetch started WeightWatchers in 1963 at her home in Queens, New York.
WeightWatchers started as a small weight loss group for friends and became a popular diet plan worldwide.
At first, WeightWatchers counted foods based on servings using an exchange system, which is like the diabetes exchange system.
In the 1990s, they made a system that gave points to foods and drinks based on how much fiber, fat, and calories they have.
WeightWatchers changed their points system a few times. The latest changes focus on personalization and other things that can affect your weight, such as sleep, stress, and exercise.
Pros and cons WeightWatchers
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Start with WeightWatchers
The first step in signing up for WeightWatchers is to take the personal assessment, which asks questions about your current health habits and goals. These include:
- you want to lose weight because…
- when you are most likely to lose your temper-stick to a meal plan
- how often do you work out
- your sleep habits
- the way you think right now
After completing the assessment, you are asked to sign up for one of two types of membership:
Core: This is the most basic plan. It gives you access to the WeightWatchers app and a personalized weight loss and health plan, as well as recording tools, workouts, and meditations. Starting price is $15 per month.
Premium: This plan has everything from the Core plan, plus meetings with a WeightWatchers guide and a group, both online and in person. The first month costs $33.30.
Products and Services
All WeightWatchers accounts give you access to the WeightWatchers app and all of its tools.
Members who sign up for Premium can also take part in classes in person or online or get special coaching.
In addition to these services, a WeightWatchers Shop sells a wide range of approved and named WeightWatchers products, such as
snack foods, pantry staples, breakfast items, collagen powder, cookbooks, kitchen tools, drinkware, kitchen storage items, workout equipment and accessories, candles, jewelry, skincare, products, body scales
About WeightWatchers Points
WeightWatchers Points are a replacement for counting calories, and they are meant to make it easier to eat properly and still lose weight. Your Points budget is based on your beginning weight, how much you want to lose, how active you are, how old you are, and if you are a man or a woman. For example, if you are nursing or breastfeeding, you will get more points because you need the extra calories.
There are also things with zero points that anyone on WeightWatchers can eat without using any of their Points.
Here’s a quick description of foods with points and foods with zero points:
Points: These are the numbers that are given to foods based on how healthy they are. Less points are given to more healthy foods, like fish and veggies, than to more highly processed foods, like candy and soda.
ZeroPoint foods: These foods and drinks don’t count against your Points budget. There are more than 200 ZeroPoint foods, like scrambled eggs (without extra fat), nonfat yogurt, fruit, and veggies that don’t have a lot of starch.
WeightWatchers says that if you want to lose weight, you should try to stay at or below your Points budget.
Other Benefits
Other good things about Weight Watchers are:
Effectiveness: WeightWatchers is a program that helps people lose weight in a realistic and flexible way. Many people have found success with this program. The Points system and ZeroPoint foods help people pick healthier and more nutritious foods.
Sustainability: The Sustainability program lets members eat their favorite foods as long as they fit into their daily Points value. You can eat at a restaurant or go to a party without worrying if the food is allowed on your diet.
Flexibility: WeightWatchers is a good option for people who have dietary restrictions such as vegans or food allergies. This is because members can choose how they use their Points.
Included tools: The program gives members tools and resources to help them live a healthier lifestyle. The WeightWatchers app has a feature where members can connect with each other for support and motivation.
Potential Drawbacks
WeightWatchers is good for some people, but it may not be the best choice for everyone. These are:
Requires food tracking: To follow the program, you need to track the foods you eat every day and their associated Points. This task can be boring and take a lot of time, which may discourage some people.
May be too lenient: The WeightWatchers program may not be strict enough for people who struggle with self-control. You can eat more food without going over your Points budget by choosing foods with zero calories. Losing weight can be hard because of this.
Does not guarantee a balanced diet: The program doesn’t ensure a balanced diet. Although it promotes healthy foods, members can still choose to eat sugary and nutrient-poor foods and remain within their Points limit.
Not free: It might be too costly for some individuals. The total cost of the subscription plan might be too expensive for people who have a limited budget, even though the monthly costs can differ.
WeightWatchers Food to Eat
WeightWatchers encourages eating whole, unprocessed foods like veggies, fruits, and lean proteins, but you can still eat any food you want.
You can eat any food you want as long as you don’t exceed your daily Points limit, but it’s better to choose healthy options.
WeightWatchers program has ZeroPoint foods that make healthy eating more appealing to members.
ZeroPoint foods are foods that you can eat without counting their calories. They include fruits, vegetables (both starchy and non-starchy), lean proteins, lentils, beans, nonfat dairy, eggs, tofu, seafood, shellfish, and some whole grains.
| Foods to Eat | Foods to Avoid |
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WeightWatchers allows members to eat their favorite snacks and desserts as long as they stay within their designated Points. No foods are off-limits.
They Also Provide a Sample Menu
You can either cook WeightWatchers’ recipes or eat any food you want, as long as it fits within your Points limit.
Here is a Shopping list By WeightWatchers
WeightWatchers suggests keeping healthy foods at home to help with weight loss.
Buying healthy foods helps you avoid processed foods and allows you to cook delicious meals at home with fresh ingredients.
Here is a list of foods approved by WeightWatchers that you can buy at the grocery store:
Should You Try WeightWatchers?
Weight Watchers may work well for some people and not work well for others, just like any other diet program. Here’s a simple guide to help you decide if you should try it or not.
WeightWatchers is a good choice for those who:
- have tried and failed to follow a strict diet
- need to be more flexible to do well.
- want to start good habits that will last
- want help from an instructor or support group (but this group should sign up for the Premium choice).
WeightWatchers is not a good choice for those who:
- like more rules and order when it comes to what to eat.
- prefer a diet with fewer carbs and more fat because most foods with more fat have a higher Points value.
- have a very small amount of money.
- have had trouble eating or an eating problem in the past.
Bottom Line
WeightWatchers is a well-known program for losing weight that gets tens of thousands of new users every year.
Its flexible, points-based system is liked by a lot of people and helps them live a more peaceful life.
Plus, studies have shown that WeightWatchers is a good way to lose weight and keep it off.
WeightWatchers might help you reach your health and fitness goals if you’re looking for a weight-loss plan that is based on facts and lets you choose what foods to eat as long as you stay within your Points.