Everything You Must Know About Weight Watchers Diet
By Catherine M, Staff Editor
Last Updated on March 6th, 2023 / Published on February 27, 2018
Losing those pounds is commonly associated with the belief that one must drop all their favorite foods. However, weight loss has more to it than just counting calories. The Weight Watchers diet aims to bring this belief forward with their different programs. The diet programs are designed to help make healthier choices and certain behavioral choice which will result in a better feeling during the weight loss journey.
Weight Watchers is an established diet brand whose working revolves around the Smart Points system. This means that the different foods are rated on a point scale based on the carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber that they contain. This diet programs essentially make the process of counting calories easier. Also, the diet does not put total restrictions on any kinds of foods but there is a certain limit. One can eat any amounts of fruits and vegetables as they wish. What sets the Weight Watchers diet apart from the rest is that it provides the individual or dieter with a weekly SmartPoints safety net. This means that on some days, you can treat yourself and give in to food cravings.
The Weight Watchers diet comes with a personalized exercise plan that is formulated based on the capabilities of the individual. Moreover, there are weekly meetings and weigh-ins that help the dieter discuss the following activities and also help keep track of weight loss. The Weight Watcher Diet is less extreme than most other diets and thus, it comes as no surprise that this diet is favorite among celebrities and fitness experts.
How does SmartPoints work?
The SmartPoints in the Weight Watcher Diet plan assigns every food and beverage points value. The SmartPoints value for a food is based on the nutritional value that it carries. If a food comprises of higher amounts of proteins, the point value drops. On the other hand, foods with sugars and saturated fats will increase the point value.
Process of following a Weight Watchers diet
In a Weight Watchers diet plan, one can eat whatever they desire, however, the SmartPoints target must be strictly followed to obtain the best results. Members are pushed towards following an overall eating pattern which comprises of foods with proteins and dropping of foods that are high in calories and saturated fats. The SmartPoints are allotted to individuals after taking several factors into consideration like height, age, weight, and gender. Making the process easier, the Weight Watchers diet plan comes with a database that lets you find the value of more than two lakhs of foods through the desktop or mobile app.
The diet encourages the dieter to consume more of fruits and vegetables when hungry or to fuel energy. These natural foods carry immense nutrients and are very low in calorie. Moreover, they will keep you full for longer as compared to a packet of fried chips. One thing to understand when following the process of this diet is that foods like fruit juices and dried fruit cannot be counted to have the same points as fruits. They have a higher calorie count and cannot be substituted for fresh fruits.
Reasons to follow Weight Watchers diet
The Weight Watchers diet is a practical program that does not require one to crash diet or abstain from eating certain foods. There is flexibility that accompanies the diet plan and here are some reasons to follow the program:
Enjoy dine-outs – Most diet plans will oppose the idea of eating food at a restaurant or outside the home. However, with Weight Watcher diet, you do not have to be so hard on yourself. The diet permits one to dine-out. The program comes with a ‘Menu Master’ that allows you to check for healthy restaurants around an area and also provides nutritional information about meals served at several restaurants around.
Take your plan everywhere – No matter where you are having a meal, Weight Watchers lets you keep a track of the same everywhere you go. Adding convenience, the mobile app lets you access information of food by simply entering the nutrition information. Most importantly, the plan comes with a pocket guide that is meant for people who do not use a computer or a smartphone.
Free recipes – Members can avail of the facility to follow free healthy recipes through the website or mobile app. These recipes come with all the details that you will require such as appropriate serving size, difficulty, reviews by other members and more. The recipe is also accompanied by SmartPoints value for added convenience.
The Weight Watchers diet has no fixed period and can be followed for as long as you wish. Through this program, one can avail of the service online through OnlinePlus, meetings or even personal coaching. The program can be followed to maintain your diet even after you have lost the desired number of pounds.