Weight Watchers---is the new Points Plus/360 program that much better?

[Ottakee]

I did weight watchers very loosely several years ago and with that and exercise I lost about 70 pounds. Then I got injured and gained 30 of that back.

 

I do have my old Weight Watchers stuff---has the points slider, activity points, etc. but was wondering if the new Points Plus program is that much better that I would want to try to learn a new system?

 

Dh is unemployed right now so joining and going to meetings, etc. isn't going to happen. I am active in that I do farm chores for 1-2 hours a day, 365 days a week along with walking/aerobics/exercise DVD 4-6 days a week. My last physical came back with perfect blood pressure, blood sugars, cholesterol, etc. Basically super healthy, just fluffy.

 

Is the new program worth it or is is similar enough to the old one that that will work for me?

[dirty ethel rackham]

I much prefer the PointsPlus program because it doesn't penalize you for eating healthy food like fruit and sweeter veggies and there is more of an emphasis on eating real food rather than the processed stuff that has additives to replace calories. I started on the old points system and struggled because I refused to give up eating a more whole foods diet. I was overjoyed when they came out with the PointsPlus system. I haven't gone back to learn the 360 revision, but most of what I have noticed is that it is about supporting lifestyle change rather than changing the point values of the foods.

[BigMamaBird]

To say I was skeptical when they changed to PP is an understatement! I was sure it was just a corporate gimick to get us to buy more stuff. But I put on my big girl panties and decided to give it three months. I'm glad I did. I really like the new program.

 

There's a strong focus on eating filling foods so all fruits and most veggies are 0 points. The new formula takes into account fat, fiber, carbs. and protein rather than just calories and fat because they found people were looking at a three point banana and a three point pack of cookies and saying "forget wasting points on fruit! Gimmie the good stuff!" I find it's a much more balanced approach to looking at the food. Granted, most foods cost more now, but you also get a lot more daily points. For example, I'm 6' 2" 213 lbs. and I get 37 points a day. That's a lot more than I got on the old program.

[BrookValley.]

Yes, PointsPlus is totally different, as has already been described. I don't know what the latest update entails, but I did PointsPlus for awhile last year and I liked it (and was sucessful). I only did the online/mobile app version; I didn't do meetings, and I never bought any of their stuff. I think it cost me just under $18 per month. That may have changed a bit now, but I think that would still be the easiest and most economical way to go if you want to try it but don't want to make a big investment.

[gingersmom]

Free fruit is the best thing Weight Watchers ever did!!

 

Down 25 pounds, with a mini-goal of 11 more to go!

[Night Elf]

I was reluctant to switch to the PointsPlus program but it worked very well for me. I reached my goal weight. I attended meetings so now that I'm on maintenance, I get the monthly weigh-ins and etools for free.

 

One of the WW ladies, who works for WW, told me the new 360 program is just getting members to think healthy and organized. I read the literature and really didn't see anything that looked different from the PP program. They still have free fruit and filling foods (for people who want to eat healthy and don't want to track). But if you join now, it will be called the 360 program I guess.

[Tess in the Burbs]

I just joined. I had done the old program(like 2005) and I like the newer program better with the fruits/veggies being 0 points. The 360 thing is all about healthy living/choices. They have a lot of info on the online stuff about being prepared for the day in the space you will be(home/work/travel). I love the online tracking stuff. I use my computer or my iphone. LOVE it! I can even read articles or watch exercise videos on the phone. The scanning app literally scans the barcode and you can add to your tracker. Super cool! I am not doing meetings....did them before and it was nice but time wise I need to just track and read articles on my own. So I like the new program but it's probably like the PP program but with more info now about healthy choices. It's not like the old program I did way back in 2005-6. Hope this helps.

[Ottakee]

Thanks for the input. I might have to try it. I saw that you got 49 bonus points a week and then activity points so it looks like a lot more points but then again other foods seem to be higher in points than before.

 

I have a "join for free" card but not sure the $18/month is in the buget---but a friend did give me her stuff to look over.

 

Is the calculator something handy to have?

[OH_Homeschooler]

Is the calculator something handy to have?

 

 

If you become an eTools subscriber you can calculate PPs with a mobile app, etc. There is not a slider that is compatible with PP, because the calculation involves 4 things now (fat, carbs, fiber, protein) instead of 3, and there was no way for them to create something that would work like the slider did. So basically, if you do not want to pay for eTools, you might find it handy to cough up a little bit to pay for a calculator. At least that's just a one-time expense. And of course there are the books you can look things up in if you just wanted to go that route, but that is an expense as well.

 

One of the WW ladies, who works for WW, told me the new 360 program is just getting members to think healthy and organized. I read the literature and really didn't see anything that looked different from the PP program. They still have free fruit and filling foods (for people who want to eat healthy and don't want to track). But if you join now, it will be called the 360 program I guess.

 

That's right-no changes to PP values or anything. I'd say it's more like they're organizing and presenting the same old information differently now. I like it, but 360 is really no different than the previous PP program.