Is it hard or easy to follow?

Does one have to be a part of WW to use the Points system to help themselves lose weight?

Where can one find how many points foods are?

How many points does one allow themselves in a day?

And exactly what all is involved in using the Points system?

Thanx,

I think it's pretty easy to follow. I imagine that anybody could use the points system, but you do have to have the information that calculates points. There is a formula, actually, but the pointsfinders are easier to use. Points are calculated by calorie/fat/fiber content of food. There is an at-home Weight Watcher program as well as an online program. There is a cost associated with it, however.

The number of points you get as a target depends on your current weight. You also get 35 flex points and then points for activity that you can choose to eat or not.

What's involved is eating a healthy variety of food that totals each day to your target points and exercising. That's pretty simplistic, but what it boils down to. What WW provides for me is a great support system and people who've been there and done that.

Sheila's given you a pretty comprehensive summary of how points are calculated!

You're given a target number of points based on your weight plus the 35 flex points that can be spread over the entire week or all used up at once (for example if you have a special occassion). Like Sheila said, you measure activity also and can use that as extra foods points or not. I prefer not to eat my activity points and less than half of my flex points. But you MUST eat your full target points for the day. In addition, there are rules such as drinking at least 6 8oz glasses of water, 5 servings of fruit/vegetables daily, taking a multivitamin, restricting sugar, fats and alcohol, eating protein, controlling portion size, 2 servings of dairy, and including whole grains. In other words, you could use all your points for the day on candy and still lose weight, but you'd be very unhealthy!

Here's a sample menu based on a 22 target point day

Breakfast
3/4 cup bran flakes 1 point
1/2 cup 1% milk 1 point
banana 2 points

Snack
1 cup grapes 1 point

Lunch
Tuna salad w/ fat free mayo 3 points
4 whole wheat melba toasts 2 points
celery and carrot sticks 0 points

Snack
1 serving pretzels 2 points

Dinner
Skinless grilled chicken breast 3 points
2 cups steamed broccoli & cauliflower 0 points
2 fat-free cheese slices (melted over veggies) 2 points
1 fat-free chocolate pudding 2 points

Snack
Low-calorie calcium added hot chocolate 1 point
2 slices Smart Ones whole wheat bread 1 point
1 tablespoon peanut butter 2 points

total points = 23 (22 target points plus 1 flex point)

I agree totally with Sheila - the most effective thing about WW is the support group. The meetings are informative and lots of topics are covered and discussed. Just following the plan and weighing in wouldn't be enough for me - I need the meetings!

or you could go to a meeting. pay your fee, get your information and if the leader is a good one she will explain everything you need to know and since you will have the information you can do it yourself without having to go to the meetings (and pay each week)... but i will warn you that it is much easier if you are going to meetings and have a good leader. i was on a roll the first 2 months i was on it and then i stopped going to the meetings and now its really hard for me to stick with it.