I've recently started back on Weight Watchers (have all the items from a previous attempt), however I don't remember how to calculate points in the follwing scenario. Let's say I eat two slices of bread at lunch, each one has 130 calories, 3 grams of fiber and 2 grams of fat. If I calculate each slice individually it's 2 points each or a total of 4 points. If I add all the bread together it's 260 cals, 6 grams of fibre, 4 fat and it's 5 points total. I run into this issue quite a bit when I calculate the points in recipes. I think it's because the fibre maxes out.
Good question! When it has come to a specific unit of measure like bread I have always just figured out per slice, and added up the points....mmmm now you have me thinking. Maybe thats what I am doing wrong hidden extra points and I don't even realize it.
Thanks for your advice.
This actually happens quite a bit. There are some Mexican taquitos that I believe it's one point each but if you eat 5 for a meal, it's more than 5 points. Brown rice sushi - same issue.
Speck , 08-05-2010 04:21 PM
Depends on the serving size on the package. Most nutrition facts are only for one slice of bread, unless you get the WW bread or Sara Lee light those are 2pts for 2 slices. Most bread is 2pts per slice.
My leader says you're supposed to add for the 2 bread together, NOT the individual point total twice. If 1 point is based roughly on 50 calories, depending on how many calories it has, it would be rounded up or down to the nearest point increment. Sometimes when you just have 1 of something, those 5 extra calories would still keep it nearer to 1 point. But if you eat say 6 of those items, those extra 5 are eventually going to add up. Does that make sense?
The only example I can think of (and only because I've figured this out many times before!) is drinking a bottle of MGD 64. We all know that has 64 for calories and figure 0 for fat and fiber (even if that's not accurate, pretend here!).
1 bottle= 64 cal= 1 point
2 bottles= 128 cal= 3
3 bottles= 192 cal= 4
4 bottles= 256 cal= 5
5 bottles= 320 cal= 6
6 bottles= 384 cal= 8
7 bottles= 448 cal= 9
Now, I'd sure love to count 1 point per bottle and X 6 bottles and get a total of 6 points. However, the amount of calories consumed does not equal 6 points worth. There's 2 extra points hidden in there! While those extra 14 calories in one bottle got rounded down to 50 cal/1 point, doing that twice (28 extra calories) pushed those calories closer to 3 points (150 cal). It sucks when you really enjoy something but you have to look at TOTAL calories/fat/fiber consumed. On the flip side, with many foods it can work to your advantage. I can't think of any off the top of my head but I've had many where when I've plugged multiple quantities of something into my eTools point tracker, it has actually rounded down and it might be .5-1.5 points lower than I'd guessed and how exciting is that?!
I hope that all made sense to you. I know and understand it's logic in my head but I had a hard time explaining it. I hope you get it and I didn't confuse anyone! I'm sorry if I did!
Ms. Sassy is right. Because only the first 4 grams of Fiber are counted, sometimes double the serving size will be more than double the points. For instance, I eat Whitewheat bread. The points for 1 slice is 0 points, but the points for 2 slices is 1 point. It's all because the fiber maxes out. If that weren't the case, then you could just double the points for another serving..
Thank you for the explanation!
When it comes to this, I just use the higher point amount when it is >1 serving. I figure there are a lot of "lost" points that could not be accounted for along the way if I just ate 1 serving of a 0 pt item. Items are usually never 0 pts, but 0.25 pts, 0.5 pts, etc... so if you count those, you hold yourself accountable.
thats how i see it.
I agree. I asked this question before however did not get an answer from anyone and am hoping someone here might know. Are you able to calculate
.5 points? For example the yogurt I eat calculates to .5 each and I have been eating 2 to add to 1 point. So far I still am losing weight, however as I get lower in weight I anticipate it to become more difficult. Does anyone have an answer to this question?
My view is, that the fibre and fat content stay the same. You are just eating more calories. You do not double the fibre and fat.
Also, I would say if you are eating yogurt and it takes 2 to equal 1 point then that is right. And if you only eat 1 then that calculation would be .5 point.