The 2016 system for the Weight Watchers program is known as SmartPoints. This is an improved point system dietary feature of the Weight Watchers Beyond the Scale program that helps people to lose weight while helping people learn how to eat right. This is a program that helps people learn to eat properly and to understand what they can do in order to lose weight and keep it off for as long as possible without fear.
This is an improvement over the original PointsPlus system that Weight Watchers has used in the past. This is in part to how it focuses heavily on working with different controls dedicated to determining what foods are right for people to consume. There are even some specific standards that are used within the program to help people figure the optimal dietary options.
Frequently Asked Questions of the Weight Watchers SmartPoints System
What Makes Weight Watchers SmartPoints New?
The SmartPoints system from Weight Watchers works by offering a feature where people will use a certain number of points over the course of a period of time. This includes working with points on a weekly and daily basis and is determined by a goal set by going through a personalized assessment.
The setup on the system uses a series of points that is based on the participant’s weight loss goals and current progress and motivation. The total can change during the course of the program based on continually monitoring progress in activity and changes in eating habits. Its based on how well a person is working towards losing weight in a controlled and sensible manner.
What are some Examples of Foods I Can Expect to Eat?
For more information on the types of foods you can expect on the new plan, please visit the Weight Watchers “Food” page.
For more information on the types of starter meal plans top follow, please visit the Weight Watchers “Starter Meal Ideas” page (Note: This page is only available to current subscribers).
How are Weight Watchers SmartPoints points Determined?
The total values of the points that are used within the Weight Watchers program includes awarding fewer points on the healthiest foods. Fruits and vegetables are often listed as having zero points, thus making them easier for people to consume without any risks of any serious risks to thier weigh loss goal.
Meanwhile, the program focuses heavily on lean proteins and low-sugar foods. These are types of foods that are easier for people to consume without worrying about using up too many points.
Meanwhile, foods that have saturated fats and high amounts of sugar in them will have greater point totals. The goal is to ensure that people will eat healthier by avoiding depletion of their points at a given time.
The Weight Watchers website has full information on the points that are to be used on each individual item that one can consume. By using this guide, it will be easier for people to learn what they can consume in order to be more successful in their efforts to lose weight. The details that the program uses are rather extensive but user friendly and can certainly pay off well to anyone who follows it all the right way.
The SmartPoints system is a popular new part of the Weight Watchers program that will help people to get the most out of their weight loss efforts. It’s intended to do wonders for those who are looking to stay healthy and lose weight in a controlled and sensible manner. All participants who want to get into the Weight Watchers program should certainly see how well this can work for their needs and how they can benefit from it over time.
Give us your thoughts on the Weight Watchers SmartPoints system. Post Here!
I’m also feeling uninformed about the logic behind the new program. After a hiatus, I have reenrolled and find the SmartPoints puzzling. Why the increase in allowed points per day? And what is the basis for the new point values for foods? How should we best manage the 21 points/week extra?
I crave a general explanation of the philosophy and goals in the revised program. I suspect, from past experience, that Weight Watchers gurus have very good reasons and explanations. But it would be nice if they would communicate better to the user. I asked a 24/7 chat person, who referred me to a link that doesn’t open. Frustrating.
Weight Watchers should understand that for many clients, understanding the overall philosophy and rationale makes the program easier to follow. It’s hard enough to commit to weight loss, without doing so with blinders on.
West,
In reply to your comment, here is a direct response from a representative at Weight Watchers:
The SmartPoints plan introduces a total new way of calculating your energy requirements based on the new SmartPoints calculation based on your individual needs. This is why your daily or weekly target may have changed compared with the previous program.
Every food is assigned a SmartPoints value — one, easy-to-use number based on four components: calories, saturated fat, sugar, and protein. Calories establish the baseline of how many SmartPoints values the food is worth. Protein lowers the amount of SmartPoints that something “costs.” Sugar and saturated fat increase the number. The SmartPoints system inspires healthy eating by making protein-rich foods a better value.
I just joined and have found the SmartPoint system within the online component lacking of information. It talks a lot about healthy choices and nutritional balance, but nowhere on the site does it inform the customer of what these are. The experts simply say to log you food and that is it. So what then? What is someone is making bad choices, but is within their point allocation? How does that change behaviour of correlate with the SmartPoint Program. When I ask what the program actually is and how it works, the Chat Experts simply state of log my food and that it will work. Very confused with the lack of information, the process used to make this program work, or what the actual plan is. So far, not happy.
Jocelyn,
Thanks for your input and sorry to hear your frustrations with the product so far. I will try to reach out to Weight Watchers directly with your concerns and post back. Have a Happy New Year!
I am a WW member. The new Smart Points are focusing on less saturated fats & less sugar which prompts us to eat more lean proteins. Plus be mindful of all the added sugars in foods. The simple filling foods are still an option. A new plan always can throw people off. A new habit takes about 21 days to become routine. Sure hope your readership will stay positive & give WW a fair try. It is working for me. It takes more time to look up the points with it being new—-pretty soon I’ll spend less time once I get it to memory.
Sounds like you would benefit changing to the online WW with a coach & not just the chat. The beauty of monthly pass going to meetings is you have input from the Leaders, receptionist & members plus all the support of what you get with etools plus the chat. I’m sorry that you are having a frustrating time & mixed information
Jocelyn,
Here is a direct response from a representative at Weight Watchers:
The SmartPoints system inspires healthy eating by making protein-rich foods a better value and foods higher in sugar and saturated fat more “expensive.” With SmartPoints, people can continue to enjoy their favorite foods while being nudged towards healthier choices, including more fruits, vegetables and lean proteins.
Some foods will cost more in terms of points, so those choices should be thoughtful ones and can be effectively balanced with choices with lean proteins, fruits and vegetables. This is the true pattern of eating that allows for the most successful weight losses we have seen in addition to feelings of satiety.
I agree with Jocelyn. I previously used WW when the system was propoints and found that worked well. The new smartpoints seem much more restrictive and the amount of food I can “buy” within my points leaves me hungry as I don’t find fruit and veg filling. I have got through the first 4 days on willpower. There is not enough guidance towards foods that are filling and relatively low in points or information on how to choose which types of foods to eat when eating out etc.. To be fair there is decent coverage of different restaurants for smart points values if you are able to look them up there and then. If not however – i.e. Juggling 2 kids and ordering lunch not conducive to web surfing-you could be really stung by what you’d eating. For example I ate at a hungry horse pub today and a jacket potatoes with butter and tuna mayo is 17 smartpoints out of a daily allowance of 30. I would think that a relatively healthy choice but it’s over half a daily allowance. One main course meal listed was 98 points!!
Smart points is just another Weight Watchers scam to force existing and rejoining members to spend more money on supplies. I just joined in November and purchased all the books and the points plus calculator. Now all that is useless. It figures since Oprah is now a 10% owner in the corporation. Just the fact the she is involved is enough to make me never go back.
If you use the online tools it is much easier. I love the weight watchers app. I find it to be very easy. I think this is the best WW yet.
Could someone explain how to determine your allowed amount of smart points per day on the new 2016 program program. Thank you
If you download the app it will ask you questions and figure it for you.