When it comes to weight loss, many yo-yo dieters keep trying the same old methods and expecting different results. Isn’t that the very definition of insanity?

{Weight Watchers (allegedly) helped Jennifer Hudson shed the fat…can it help you?}

Well the good news is that Weight Watchers has done something very few weight loss programs have done—change their methods to keep up with weight loss science! Keep reading TLFA’s Weight Watchers review to find out if the new Weight Watchers is for you!

Weight Watchers PointsPlus™

The old Weight Watchers program focused on points through calorie counting, with a penalty handed out for fats. In 2010 however, Weight Watchers began a new weight loss points system that takes into account important dietary factors that include a diet rich in fiber and protein. Weight Watchers new and improved PointsPlus™ allows you to eat virtually unlimited fruits and vegetables as they have a point value of 0!

This new PointsPlus™ system by Weight Watchers is based on what has been learned in the last few years about losing weight and keeping it off.

How Weight Watchers PointsPlus™ Works?

Although Weight Watchers does have a new points system to help dieters shed unwanted pounds, the basics of how it works are still the same. You will receive a PointsPlus™ target from Weight Watchers, which lets you know how much food/how many points you are allowed for the day. These points are intended to make sure you lose weight without feeling hungry.

The new PointsPlus™ system by Weight Watchers gives food ‘points’ based on its protein, carbs, fat and fiber count. While researching our Weight Watchers review, we also found that there is an option for ‘Power Foods,’ which are defined as foods that make your body work harder to burn them while also giving you greater nutrition each day. These power foods include whole grains, lean proteins, low fat dairy products and of course…fruits & vegetables.

What’s Good About Weight Watchers PointsPlus™

What’s encouraging about Weight Watchers new point system is that it puts the power of food choices in the hands of the dieter, rather than a pre-determined amount. Instead of just eating whatever you want within a specific amount of points, the PointsPlus™ system gives greater value to proteins and fiber and less value to fat and other foods that your body can break down without much effort.

{This little logo lets you know you’re on the new weight loss program…the one that works!}

Weight Watchers also places greater emphasis on fruits and vegetables by giving them a zero value, so dieters feel encouraged to eat more produce without worrying about points. Now that dieters actually have to think about healthy food choices, Weight Watchers is showing that they really do care about weight loss and maintenance.

What’s Bad About Weight Watchers PointsPlus™

It’s difficult to say that the new and improved version of Weight Watchers weight loss program is bad, however if were things that concerned TFLA it’d be the prepared meals by Weight Watchers. These meals and food items are a great way to help dieters learn more about what foods they can and cannot eat. Unfortunately they are also a great excuse to not really change your eating habits, because someone else is doing all the work for you!

The other double-edged sword with the new points plan is that all fruits and vegetables are treated equally, which means the calories in watermelon count as much as the calories in an avocado, which has nearly 200 calories more! For a person with a certain body type–short people for example–an extra 200 calories every day or even a few days each week can put you much farther away from your weight loss goal than you think. What Weight Watchers fails to take into account is that some  fruits and vegetables have high calorie counts and should not be eaten in excess.

Because Weight Watchers is a weight loss program they do remind you that a calorie deficit is required for weight loss and an active lifestyle is promoted. However they do not explicitly encourage exercise, which we believe is a key component to successful and ongoing weight loss.

Support

One area in which Weight Watchers has always excelled is providing support for its members. Weight Watchers PointsPlus™ system allows you the same support as before; online for privacy or in person for a shared weight loss experience.

Weight Watchers PointsPlus™ Verdict

The new version of Weight Watchers point system is an effective way to experience successful weight loss. By using an improved method of assigning point values to foods, Weight Watchers has given customers a chance to learn how to lose weight rather than simply following orders.

Encouraging dieters to eat more fruits and vegetables is always great advice, and it is much easier to do when they have no points! Unfortunately the point value of fruits and vegetables will likely lead many to experience weight gain or stagnation. A new method with tons of recipes to follow, a point guide for when you dine out and an iPhone application makes using Weight Watchers easier than ever. Use Weight Watchers PointsPlus™ as a stepping stone to independent weight loss and you’ll learn much of what you need for successful weight loss.

A healthy diet and an active lifestyle are keys to weight loss and Weight Watchers PointsPlus™ system can help.

If you’re still skeptical of Weight Watchers, read our Eat Stop Eat review for other methods of breaking your food addiction and losing weight, not to mention KEEPING IT OFF!