I don't agree with the Wendie plan. It's just calorie shifting with a name slapped on it. :) If you want to calorie shift, I suggest counting calories and not putting the $$ or effort in to WW, because it's a completely different plan.

The WW plan is made to be flexible, so you don't need to add in other plans. You have weeklies to use or pass, activity points to either use or pass, and with WW you can make a big day if you need it. Those bumps in the road aren't planned for, so if you have the available points, you can use them and not feel bad about it. If you use them up on the Wendie plan, then when those 'accidents' happen, you don't have the available points to take care of it.

I agree with the overall point you are making about the Wendie plan. I think the idea of varying your calorie intake during the week (within your allowed daily and weekly points) is a good one. However, for most people, if you are using WW correctly you naturally do that. I don't like the rigidity of the Wendie plan and want my eating to be tied to my actual life.

All of that said - I don't think that if someone is counting calories they don't need to join WW. Again - I understand the point ... to a point. That is, I don't find any real magic in the WW food plan. I get just as much benefit from counting calories as I do counting points (I do both). So, from a food plan standpoint, I agree that I could easily skip doing WW, count calories, record food on My Fitness Pal and track activity on Fitbit. All of this is why WW income is down and why they suspended their dividend.

But the important thing for me is that I don't belong to WW for the food plan or for the tracker or for their online tools. I can get all of that free just fine. I belong to WW for the accountability of the weekly weigh in. It gives me a specific short term goal for each week (stay within my points until I weigh in so I will - hopefully - see a loss). I structure my week around the weigh in. Also, the meeting helps me continue to focus motivation on losing weight.

So, for even someone who counts calories, WW can still be a great program.

Wendie plan is points plus tweaked in such a way to surprise ones body. I would not discourage it, because it's not "not on plan"

going to look into this but some of the comments made are making me skeptical, good points!

I found that if I eat most to all of my WPs in 2-3 days say In the weekend, the stayed within my DPs for the other 4-5 days it kept my metabolism high and I lost consistently.

I too go to WW for the accountability. I think that I would go further astray without my weigh ins. It really helps me be mindful. I remember doing Wendie with carb cycling many many years ago. I have been counting calories and carbs but I think I'm ready to just use points and to get out of the "diet" mentality.

I've never really used my activity or WP. I exercise 6-7 hours a week. Maybe I should give it a try.