Weight watchers how does it work

All of the plans encourage dieters to reach for more ZeroPoint foods that won't eat into their daily point limits. All of these memberships come with access to point systems, recipes, meal planners, workout and fitness tools, and app services, but here's how they differ:.

You won't be able to find the Freestyle program on WW's sign up page, but rest easy: The Blue Plan is largely the same as the previous Freestyle program. Just like with Freestyle, all new dieters will start by taking a personalized assessment, which enables you to choose the best plan for your desired results.

You can sign up for that program right now —or get started on any of WW's newest diet plans by taking your personalized diet assessment right here. Unlike other diet programs, Weight Watchers doesn't harp on restricting your choices when it comes to food staples, and it emphasizes the importance of portion control and leaning on wholesome ingredients. Plus, it stresses weight loss over a longer period of time: the WW website maintains that members should expect to lose anywhere from one-half to two pounds each week on the plan.

Like many other health experts, Sass believes that one diet doesn't "fit" all. More importantly, however, numerous clinical studies have shown that WW's diet programs support healthy weight loss that dieters can maintain.

The results from a clinical trial published in The Lancet shows that obese adults who followed a WW program for one full year lost more weight than those who used self-help materials; plus, these adults were better able to maintain their weight loss over two years.

Yours will be designed specifically for you to hit your personal weight-loss goals—all while eating the foods you love and living the way you want. Join now. Take our quiz. Are you sensing a trend? Whether you want a self-guided journey, dedicated Coaching, or a community to lean on, you can find your membership match by taking our personal assessment.

Our new program makes healthy choices easier and more rewarding so they feel celebratory—not like work. For the first time in WW history, you have the power to grow your Budget, not just see it go down. Completely customized food plan no two are the same! Explore memberships.

We get these a lot…. WW then introduced the SmartPoints system in and did another big overhaul in to create a new program still based on SmartPoints. The key to understanding WW is understanding the SmartPoints system. SmartPoints give different point values to foods based on their nutritional stats. Higher protein foods tend to get a lower point value, while foods higher in sugar or saturated fat are assigned more points. When you start WW, you enter personal deets like your weight, height, weight loss goals, etc.

WW then gives you a set amount of daily points you can use on food. With the SmartPoints plan, no food is considered off-limits. The BUT: WW does push a nutritious, balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats. And healthier foods are lower in points than foods with fewer beneficial nutrients are, meaning you can eat more fruits and veggies than, say, snack foods like potato chips.

For example, a corn muffin is worth 6 SmartPoints, while a cup of plain low fat Greek yogurt with berries is worth 4 SmartPoints. You can eat more of the yogurt and berries for fewer points because of their nutritional value. The current SmartPoints program is pretty flexible, more so than what WW offered in the past.

The program also includes hundreds of ZeroPoint foods for more versatility, including most fruits and vegetables, eggs, skinless chicken, fish, beans, tofu, and nonfat plain yogurt, among others. Each plan offers a different amount of ZeroPoint foods. ZeroPoint foods are meant to make WW more flexible and versatile.

If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. WW formerly known as Weight Watchers is one of the most popular weight loss programs in the world.

Millions of people — including celebrities like Oprah Winfrey — have joined it, hoping to drop pounds. From its humble beginnings as a weekly weight loss group for her friends, WW quickly grew into one of the most sought-after diet plans in the world. Initially, WW used an exchange system, where foods were counted according to servings, similar to the diabetes exchange system. In the s, it introduced a points-based system that assigned values to foods and drinks based on their fiber, fat, and calorie contents.

These include:. Once the assessment is complete, WW provides you with a report that identifies your strong habits, such as exercising, and areas where you could use some help, such as eating better or getting more sleep. SmartPoints are point values assigned to foods based on their nutritional content. More nutritious foods, like fish and vegetables, are assigned fewer points than more heavily processed foods, like candy and soda. The number and types of foods considered to be ZeroPoint foods depends on the plan you choose.

While the Green plan is designed for people who do better with stricter guidelines, the Blue and Purple plans encourage users to focus on making healthier food choices, rather than on counting points. In addition to encouraging healthy eating, WW also motivates users to stay active by assigning members a weekly fitness goal, referred to as FitPoints. Activities like dancing, walking, and cleaning, in addition to more traditional workouts like running and weightlifting, all count toward your FitPoints goal.

The app also provides fitness videos and workout routines, along with a weekly review of your physical activity level. Because sleep is a critical component of a healthy lifestyle, WW also offers a sleep tracker and services from Headspace, including sleep music, 5-minute behavior change coaching, and mini-meditations.

These Wins can be exchanged for prizes, including WW keychains, fitness accessories, and kitchen tools. Unlike many fad diets that promise unrealistic results over short periods of time, WW explains to members that they should expect to lose 0. The program highlights lifestyle modification and counsels members on how to make better decisions by using the SmartPoints system, which prioritizes healthy foods.