I've been on calorie counting and exchange counting plans since grade school, and I have a lot of foods memorized (most, really). Overall, learning the Weight Watcher's point sytem wasn't drastically easier, or more difficult than learning exchanges or calories. I did find it only a little easier to memorize point values (it's easier to remember 1 point, than 62 calories), and easier to tally points in my head (because it's easier to do two digit math in my head than 4 digit math - 35 pts as opposed to 1800 calories).
The learning curve for points, is pretty similar for the learning curve for calories, and "what you do" in restaurants and other situation is the same - you look them up in a resource online or in book format (your introductory materials will list many common foods, and there is an optional Food Companion, and Restaurant Companion book that you can buy. There are also websites - Weight Watcher's own, and others that have calculated the points).
The process is the same for exchange plans too, you look up the exchanges until you have most memorized, and you look up what you don't know.
With 36 years of dieting under my belt, I have exchanges, calories, and points memorized for most foods, and have books and webpages marked. Of all three, I like exchanges, but the reasons are mostly personal preference. I can't say that any are easier or better (at least not by all people's definition) than the other.
Last edited by kaplods; 02-25-2009 at 10:02 PM.
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