The #1 Reason You're Not Losing Weight On Weight Watchers Freestyle! (MyWW Blue)

[@HashtagSab]

I think weight watchers is just trying to make this more of a lifestyle and not a strict diet. Most people (including myself) jump off and on weight watchers becauSe it can be hard when you are strict. This is the first time in my life that I’ve felt like I’m making a lifestyle change and listening to my body verse stressing about food. My advice to anyone on the program is to not cheat the system and listen to your body. Beans are zero points but they make me feel fat and bloated afterwards so I don’t eat them...even though they are on the zero point list. Listen to your body, use zero point foods in each meal and don’t eat an entire meal that’s zero points. Loved the topic xoxo

[@DivaandtheDivine]

This!!! This is exactly what needs to be seen!

[@karensabolcik2511]

Alot of lectn in beans (other foods too) that cause that feeling u have. I see it in my baby and me.

[@karensabolcik2511]

*lectin

[@Lindaaromin]

HashtagSab I just started weight watcher and been following it. This and the comments just discourage me greatly: made me feel like I signed up for the wrong program. Why am I paying for something that I thought was helping me lose weight but in actuality just maintaining my weight... not what I signed up for.

[@chekeshag25]

I agree the zero point foods are meant to supplement a balanced meal. Or snack in between not to make a “meal” on zero point foods, that’s defeating the purpose. 💕 thanks for sharing

[@hula62]

Then why give it a zero (0)? Why not give it at least a 1pt? It is deceptive. And sends the wrong message!

[@DivaandtheDivine]

They're trying to encourage healthy eating habits, which I totally understand. This is a lifestyle plan, not a quick lose diet.

[@hula62]

I get that they want people to make more healthy food choices but they are advertising weight lost. And it is not happening. People who are losing weight are secretly using the old system. That is not helping anyone. Freestyle is great marketing.

[@alenanalbandyan3417]

I totally agree, totally wrong

[@5877user]

The goal with these weight programs is to keep getting new members to pay or other members to keep buying their food. But you can’t eat their food forever. Don’t think Marie Osmond eats nutrisystem all the time. WW keeps changing its program to get new members to make up for the ones that quit because they don’t allow the old programs to remain on the websites. They’ve lost a lot of members

[@mitchybee8258]

Hula Girl .. I joined in June.. I have no prior knowledge of the old program.. I have lost 29 lbs.. I have stuck to the plan. I mostly use all my points.. I understand that if I eat 10 pieces of fruit, eggs or chicken breasts.. in one day because they are zero points.. I know that logically I will gain weight.. it’s about using your points and carefully planning your diet.. it’s still per serving!! My coach at the workshop made that clear.. and it makes sense.. a serving is what we need to keep in mind! One serving of corn is zero points.. I hope that helps ❤️

[@nybtrfly1]

WW needs to show the total amount of calories we are eating in a day on the app too. It's a pain to log my daily foods into 2 different apps every day.

[@DivaandtheDivine]

Agreed

[@Evega214]

That's should be easy to do with the data we log in already. Would love to see the Marco breakdowns.

[@joarnett1708]

Calories are in the app. When you look a food up for points scroll down to nutritional value

[@trelynla]

@@joarnett1708 But it doesn't calculate the calories we've consumed in a day.

[@Radricgirl]

Gosh yes this would help me out!

[@livingblessed100]

I lost 134lbs on WW in 2005 when the only thing that was 0 points were non starchy vegetables and condiments. I think now weight watchers is starting to cater to people who want to feel good about overeating. They need to go back to their roots. How can eggs and chicken be 0 points?? I don’t think weight watchers understands the cravings of an over-weight person with food addictions.

[@VeronicAM313]

The reason for the 0 points that I was told to by the coach, is that they picked food that people usually won't binge on (Eg, corn, eggs, and chicken). Like it's expected that you won't sit down and eat 10 boiled eggs in a row. And even the leader, sorry coach, mentioned that just because it's 0 points, that doesn't mean it's zero calories. And she's been telling us to weigh our foods.

[@cooperdog9956]

Read The Obesity Code-Unlocking The Secrets Of Weight Loss by Dr. Jason Fung. It explains insulin and insulin resistance,......and why you will never lose weight and keep it off if you continue to eat processed food, sugar, sugar substitutes,...etc.....it talks about how fasting effects our bodies. Very informative book.

[@loulou7963]

V bloody hell then she is totally contradicting herself and the programme ! I do see people snacking on lots of boiled eggs and packets of chicken ! And they still think they don’t count.

[@VeronicAM313]

@@loulou7963 The reason my coach even brought it up was because someone said, "I can have all these free foods." Thats when she said "These zero points are NOT free food. We picked foods that people won't binge on and they may be zero points but they aren't free of calories." That's being realistic in my eyes as it holds me accountable to eat foods but remember not to overindulge just because its zero points.

[@lindaboutris8837]

@livingblessed100 I agree with you!!!! I did it back in 2004/2005 for my pre wedding weight loss. I felt amazing and lost 20lbs. Consistent weight loss week by week.and those weekly allowance including added activity points where perfectly calculated. I just started WW freestyle. We will see the outcome but I do have a issue with overeating emotionally.

[@5877user]

The reason Weight watchers with Carrie is working for her is that she keeps a daily journal which lists her points and calories. Her husband made it to lifetime. She’s a great inspiration. And you are a reality check for all who are watching this video. Thank you for telling us the info about how low we can go. Very helpful because no one at WW will tell you that.

[@byrdal1076]

Hear what your saying, but most people signed up for weight watchers to not have to calorie count. That’s the frustration

[@DivaandtheDivine]

That makes total sense, and I get it, and I'm not saying do it all the time, but just to keep yourself in check.

[@teresajones5651]

Ugh this is exactly what I am struggling with why pay for ww when I still have to count calories

[@lolalives6937]

Exactly! This program falls so short ... calorie and fat info are vital. We shouldn't have to calculate. That's what I pay the program to accomplish

[@DivaandtheDivine]

I have definitely expressed a desire to have the WW app include a feature where it ALSO tells us our calories and macros. Like if the WW app merged with my fitness pal. That would be ideal.

[@laurieb1127]

its common sense......zero point foods have calories. its as simple as that. the chicken breasts that I buy are 9 oz......the WW suggested serving size in the app is 3 oz...so if I ate the entire breasts...that's 3 servings. WW did not get rid of the suggested serving size.

[@jasminestarr1506]

I've only ever known WW Freestyle and am not familiar with the previous plans. When I started mid-February on freestyle I took a look at my points (23 a day) and divided them up into day parts. Breakfast/Lunch and Dinner I aim to eat 6 smart points per meal and then supplement that with zero point foods, leaving 5 points for snacks. I also weigh/measure out the correct portion sizes for eating foods. Ive seen a steady loss since joining, the program works but I think you really need to evaluate your own eating habits to make it work.

[@DivaandtheDivine]

This is a great way to do it! Making sure you get point with every meal is a sure fire way to ensure you won't overuse the 0sp foods.

[@m.florencia8320]

That's what I do, having come over to WW from MFP. :)

[@jelambertson]

If we could control our portion sizes we wouldn't be overweight and we wouldn't need Weight Watchers. At least before Freestyle all you really had to keep in mind was to go easy on the fruit.

[@loulou7963]

Joseph E my thoughts exactly !

[@itsjusttaj]

Then there’s no point of paying for weight watchers I might as well just use a free calorie counter

[@DivaandtheDivine]

and that's what some people do.

[@christienamosley2799]

This is exactly the thought that brought me to this video, why do ww? Why not simply use one of the many free apps?

[@laurenmcmillan4880]

spark people!!

[@ashleycrystal9719]

daperfectstorm est.1980 and the free app is cheaper too?

[@basedlawyer5147]

Taj I didn’t pay for the app. There are free apps and charts out there. The zero point foods weren’t meant for me. I can seriously eat. Most people will be all “muh belly is so full with eggs and apples.” I’m not like that. I will over eat me some eggs and chicken breasts.

[@laamundsen3238]

What has worked for me on freestyle is NOT eating more of the 0pt foods. Keeping the same serving size for your lean proteins and eggs as before freestyle. Bulk up meals with veggies and use your points for the “extras” ie condiments, cheese, pasta, rice, etc. And I stick to 2 servings of fruit a day and try to roll over 2-4 pts every day. I think some people struggling with freestyle are eating as many 0pt foods as they can in a day, and as much as they want in a serving, and then using their points on “treats” or high point foods, definitely not how freestyle is intended. Also a lot of people haven’t noticed that the healthy eating range aka blue dot range has also changed, if I’m trying for a big loss, or need to recover from a crappy week, I try to stay in the lower end of that range.

[@kellybakker2655]

L Aamundse

[@sherylchapman4168]

So . . . not only do you have to count POINTS, now you also have to count PORTIONS AND CALORIES. This is taking something that was straightforward in the old SmartPoints system and making it more complicated. With Freestyle, you need to have 2 trackers--the Weight Watchers one AND calories. That's why it's a fail for me :).

[@TruWatcher]

No, you don't. I don't count calories at all. However, I do count portions. I don't get obsessive with a scale, but do I pay attention to the fact that a "serving" equals a cup or 4 oz. or a half cup or whatever? Do I keep in mind that 0 points doesn't = 0 calories? You bet. 50 pounds lost in 5 months.

[@darlenevandyk7390]

I liked the old SmartPoints better too... not so confusing. Do they not have that system at all anymore to follow?

[@lollie6760]

You’ve always had to consider portions.

[@amandaarii]

I love the freestyle way. Zero point foods encourage me to choose healthier and leaner meats, it encourages me to snack on healthier options. This type of diet is teaching me to live a lifestyle and better eating habits. That’s why I love this.

[@mitchybee8258]

Thank you for making this video.. what I also do in the evening.. in order to be aware .. is also add up my daily calories.. as I find when I’m eating super clean.. If im less than 1000 calories then I know I need more food.. another reason for no weight loss is UNDER EATING.. I find that happens too. This program is NOT trying to push eating out of control! It’s teaching us to pick .. carefully pick our diets. At the end of the day.. some people want to continue with unhealthy ways.. and still lose weight.. good advice. Thank you.. completely agree

[@MF-cj4by]

I just came across this video and I could not agree with you more. This is my 3rd time doing WW and Freestyle is, by far, the easiest plan for me (I have lost 45 lbs, and been at Lifetime for 10 months). I don’t understand being upset about paying money because you have to count calories AND points so it’s much harder than previous plans. You had to work at ALL of the previous plans to be successful, just as you have to work at anything in life to be successful. What you need to do is practice portion AND self control, and use common sense. That is true of any weight loss program, whether you pay for it monthly or you are doing it with a fitness app. I, for one, am not disciplined enough to do it on my own, and I look forward to the weekly workshops for support, recipes, and feedback. Thank you for sharing the calorie values for some popular zero points foods. I, personally, have never really thought about the calorie values of most of them because I was staying within my blue dot range, but this has totally opened my eyes to the fact that I really need to be more mindful that there’s no such thing as a “free lunch”!

[@shaunnamyers-hinton4818]

I’ve done old school weight watchers, points plus and now freestyle. I’ve been on FS for 2 weeks and it took me some time to tweak it. I make sure to eat my 23 dailies and enjoy my meals. I don’t eat fruit after dinner and use zero point foods to supplement my regular meals. I like having my sp for the fun stuff like blueberry waffles and toast but having some egg whites with it makes it stay with me longer. Using the zero points keep me from dipping into weeklies because you can volumize your meals with lean protein and veggies. You made a good point about portion control. 3oz of chicken, a small sweet potato and green veggies is a filling meal. No need to eat a giant chicken breast. I double tracked the first week and come out with 1100-1300 cals a day with 23sp and a handful of zero point foods.

[@seangarrity9285]

You make a lot of great points. Thank you for sharing your thoughts in such a positive and honest way. Weight loss, whether WW program or some other is a life long journey. It's not something you do for a short period where you lose the weight through diet and exercise and the universe rewards you with being fit for life regardless of what you eat after you see your end number on the scale. Initially when I started the Freestyle program I didn't believe you could eat all of the zero point foods you want and kept waiting for it to catch up to me. In 8 months I have lost 80 pounds, (about 1/2 of what I need to lose), pretty much eating all of the zero point foods I want and I eat a lot. However, I have realized that my weight loss has slowed down. I am still losing but not as much. I haven't worried about getting the blue dot since the beginning, except for staying below the daily SP count. I usually roll 4 points a day. At this point I either need to ramp up my activity level, which is very low or pay closer attention to my zero point food intake. I like the Freestyle program because it encourages better choices, even if you overindulge on them.

[@Sandybeaches07]

I really think WW have made a huge mistake changing the plan , it was perfect the way it used to be!

[@toniart9564]

r we counting calories? cuz wut the hell do i need ww for?

[@pamornes3592]

I am sooooo glad I came back and watched this video again. I watched this last year when I first joined WW again and it made perfect sense and I lost weight (14 lbs), But then it happened I got use to eating and did exactly what you are talking about. I am abusing the free foods and not thinking about the calories and now you have kicked my butt back into the right frame of mind. Thank You Thank You Thank You.

[@DaveGoldShow]

Thanks for the clarity! I've been in WW for almost a year....and have lost 89 pounds.....however, they never said what you just said about calories and of late (last several months) I haven't been losing too much....even though i was sticking to zero point foods! Yes, calories count! Thank you! As simple as it may sound, I didn't pay attention to that as long as I was eating zero point foods...Now I know they're not all equal! I'm waiting for your sequel!

[@DivaandtheDivine]

I’m so glad this helped you, Dave. 89 pounds gone is absolutely amazing! Good for you! Things obviously will get slower as your weight loss progresses, so it’s important to start taking calories into consideration as well. Keep us posted on if this different way of thinking got the scale moving again.

[@lollie6760]

What I have been doing is saving the Free points for times I am actually hungry between meals. So basically, use free points for snacks. You can use your smart points for meals, free points for snacks. That works pretty well for me. A piece of Free fruit or veggies & protein between meals is a great way to get in your whole foods, plus if you’re legit hungry, go for it! Just go lower calorie. The nutrition is still there.

[@shandymonte]

The biggest issue I have with freestyle and why it did not work for me.... I don’t eat many of the zero points foods. I barely eat yogurt, I eat eggs maybe one to two days a week, I don’t eat a lot of beans, I DO NOT eat seafood, and there’s only so much chicken I can eat, etc. I was starving on this plan, and I certainly didn’t lose any weight. I also need the structure of Smart Points (beyond the scale.) If freestyle works for you, great, but not everyone who is unsuccessful with freestyle is gorging on zero points foods all day. That was not the case with me at all.

[@buoysmom]

So frustrating! I gained 15 pounds during Covid and am trying to take it off with WW. I used to count calories. I’ve tried the purple plan and now the blue plan. I’m not losing weight. I’m maintaining. What is the point of WW if I have to count points AND calories? I can count calories for free on My Fitness Pal.

[@pamornes3592]

You are ABSOLUTELY right. I've been a WW member for over 20 years, yes my weight goes up and down but that's on me and I have seen people go crazy every time WW comes out with a new program because all they see is the O Points and think it says O calories and that's NOT how it works. Everything you put in your mouth has calories and you have to count them. Sorry people but that's how it is. So two thumbs up to you!!!

[@CarolinaBluez]

The 200+ foods that are now 0 sp, they need to be 0 points when eating only certain amounts per day and then it should auto start counting passed that point. If I want to eat an extra ear of corn and chicken breast rather than other things, I shouldn't feel scared I'll gain weight (as i do on freestyle now). I'd rather "pay" for it and lose weight than it to be 0 points & gain weight. A lot of my favorite foods to eat are the ones that are 0 points now. It's beyond frustrating.

[@DivaandtheDivine]

That is actually brilliant! I really wish they would have done it that way. If you eat 8 oz of chicken in a day, fine, but after that start adding points. Occasionally, if I'm having a huge meal of 0 sp or low points foods, I'll track an extra point or 2 anyway, just to be safe.

[@amberrobinson1629]

Problem is... you could eat up to the zero point threshold of chicken... and then salmon... and then throw extra lentils in to your salad (just a serving) and then some other “zero hero”. You could be eating hundreds over what is healthy!

[@kathleenbiolik-stewart6932]

meisha ru

[@kiimberly89]

I have been on freestyle for 10 weeks and lost 20 lbs ! I eat until I am no longer hungry thanks to the zero points food and eat pretty much what I want including sweets & chips... It's a program that I know after I am done with it I am going to be able to still follow it without needing to track my points!

[@DivaandtheDivine]

That's awesome!! The Freestyle plan really is great, but only if you use it properly, which you appear to be doing. Rock on!

[@chronicallyhormomal]

Way to go!! I love it! Week one I lost 5.9 lbs. I think you got it right with the zero point foods, I try to eat in moderation , don’t use my weeklies, and turned off all my roll overs . I try to eat on the lower end of my blue dots usually leaving 5 points unused . And hey if I need um they are there.

[@debbiew263]

So true. I eat my SP up to 23. I have seldom used weeklies. Some days I eat less and up to 4 are available for another day if needed. I consider serving size (cup of berries, 1/2 banana, 3 oz of low fat meat, 1 egg). I usually eat 0 points for breakfast (0 fat yogurt + berries) and lunch (salad with protein). I've been aware that calories do count. If I'm really hungry, I do have a 0 food snack (usually fruit). This allows me a treat in the evening such as a WW fudge bar, if desired. This is really working for me. I love Freestyle.

[@pagansunite4005]

Thanks for explaining the Freestyle! I've been trying to learn for free about WW and from what I just learned from your video, I like the old point system for weight loss. I found some formulas that are roughly the same as what they use and if it's off by 1 or 2 points then that is probably not going to break the bank. The formula I found to calculate my daily points is Base Line 2 + Age 3 + Height 1 + 10% Weight + Activity Level. I'm guessing the Weight part is for your goal weight and not your current weight? That's the only questionable thing about the formulas, but if I calculate with my current weight and I don't lose anything then that is how to maintain my weight. If that's the case then I can dock off a point every time I reach a milestone until I reach my ultimate goal. The hardest part of all this is going to be building my self-discipline and not giving up within a month or two.

[@diannamichie5775]

Wonderful video, I totally agree, I am 74, started WW online in Jan. and have lost 14 lbs. on 23 points, I am a turtle but only exercise is walking as am very arthritic. My problem is I am careless with tracking oil, marg, mayo, etc. you have reminded me to start MEASURING! 😊

[@MR-cb7pe]

I have eased into it. I am eating the freestyle foods and add in a little point foods like a light dressing etc.

[@sheelaghgaelic4489]

So with keeping track of all these, so called free food, I have to keep an eye on the calories too. If I knew that ahead of time, I would have gone on a calorie counting plan. I think WW has made a wrong turn with this plan. Bring back the old plan Weight Watchers,( if your watching)

[@twoodward5283]

I lost a lot of weight 10 years ago on WW and made goal. Back then I ate a lot of 100 calorie snack packs, skinny cow ice cream etc. I’m only one month in on Freestyle but Ive lost every week so far and am loving the plan. I’m making super healthy choices and am never hungry. I make sure to portion control my zero point foods though.

[@elaineabreu282]

T Woodward same here. It's almost shocking to me how easily the weight comes off! Never experienced this kind of success. 30 pounds in 4 months and I'm never hungry!

[@DivaandtheDivine]

Not being hungry is something I (usually) experience too! It's pretty awesome.

[@gaylebuster1079]

I wish Weight Watchers would return to their “roots “...a basic healthy exchange diet. I lost 80 lbs on WW in 1973. I have never been successful on any of their “new improved” plans.

[@pppaaattt4671]

Gayle Buster Weight Watchers simple filling ❣

[@BtrflyBelle]

This is so interesting. I have been the most successful on this plan. I eat 3/4 veggies and 1/4 protein for my meals. I have lost weight every week.

[@loulou7963]

Me too. I lost loads on the pro points programme. I wish it would go back to basics and counting everything except fruit and veg.

[@Sharon-G]

I lost 30 pounds in 1990 on the Weight Watchers Fast and Flexible program. It was the good old exchange list. Smart Points hadn't been invented yet. I wish it was still that way.

[@sandyshort3896]

I was on the old program and I want to start again. It's too confusing to do all of this counting! I'm just doing it the old way. I lost weight and just followed a low calorie diet. All we need to do is look on the package and stay away from saturated fats. They are making things way too hard for people. Good luck everyone!

[@jennifermenniti7083]

GREAT video! I agree with your assessment that WW is trying to encourage us to eat whole/clean/unprocessed foods. This is why purchased foods (processed or from a restaurant) count the entirety of the calories even when component parts would be zero calories. I think of these zero point foods as the "ideal" foods that should always be our go-to and then we supplement our meals with foods with point values. As such, our already reduced points shouldn't be reduced further for eating ideal foods. This is training us for eating after we reach goal. I do not plan on using my weekly flex points unless a celebrating a special occasion, such as a birthday, simply because of my mindset with the zero point foods. The bottom line is that we should base our meals around zero point foods and we should not get fixated on eating all of our available points simply because they are "available".

[@k.c1126]

From the beginning I understood that portion sizes should not change. I keep hearing about people who have 3 or 4 servings of food they used to have one serving of. Also I think freestyle is mainly encouraging us to be more mindful. A lot of people who are struggling haven't changed their mindset enough yet.

[@SueSlimsDown]

I've been preaching this for a long time! Don't forget that even with zero points, we still need to be mindful of portion control!

[@blackketo0975]

Yes that so true

[@lyricaldove6250]

I was hoping that this video would help me to understand why I am loosing very slowly on WW. I’ve been averaging .2 pounds per week for over two months. Unfortunately, it didn’t. I’m aware that zero smartpoints foods still have calories. I’m a vegetarian who eats mainly vegetables and fruit. I limit the amount of fruit I eat. I don’t go overboard on zero smartpoints foods. I rarely use my weeklies and have rollovers a few days a week. To say that I’m frustrated would be an understatement.

[@mariaegues]

You have no idea how great this information is. I've been super frustrated lately because I'm extremely disciplined with tracking, meal prepping, water intake exercise and I was losing .2 or .4 or nothing at all or gaining without explanation. Well this week a friend of mine (also a WW member) we decided to count calories as well. So, I'm tracking, but also writing down all the calories (shocked at how many calories I was actually eating that still fit into the points) to see if this will budge the scale. Thank you again for sharing this information. Zero is not free!

[@DivaandtheDivine]

I'll be interested to hear how it works out for you. It's really easy to abuse the 0sp rule and let things get out of hand.

[@trishthibodeaux4061]

I have FINALLY reached my goal and am currently on maintenance....I LOVE, LOVE Freestyle!! IMHO I don’t think ANYONE has ever developed a weight problem overeating fruits and vegetables, PERIOD. We all have our triggers...mine are Carbs so I limit them. Some people have a sweet tooth..on and on...You explained it well....I absolutely love the scanner! It has amazed me sooo many times! I was blown away to see how many pts one piece of Cheesecake could be at the Cheesecake Factory 83pts!! Aaahhgggg

[@DivaandtheDivine]

There's an 83 point piece of cheesecake?? ouch!

[@ms_cheeseandcrackers]

I am so glad I came across this video! I have been struggling to lose any weight since the Freestyle kicked in. Now I understand why!!!! Thank you

[@lisachandler2010]

I love the Freestyle program. I love having some flexibility. And, the zero point items are not things that I would ever over eat. I just make a point to follow the serving size, load up vegetables, and have some points at every meal.

[@DivaandtheDivine]

That's the exact right way to do it!

[@duvanottin]

I was eating zero points, plus my 23 dailies, plus my weeklies, thinking this diet is great, I'm eating so much food! Then shocked that I was gaining. I started tracking also in My Fitness Pal after coming to the same conclusion as you, you are so right!

[@DivaandtheDivine]

Yeah, there's a fine line between too many 0sp foods and just enough

[@gigid9606]

I was doing this online and trying to do this on my own with no results. I really think I need to be in a meeting. I used to eat all my points, & got into the habit, now they are all free, I have to watch I am not eating too many points!!! They dont explain this. This program is teaching me to eat the right foods on my own/listen to my body, where I used to just eat as much as I can to the limit, even when my I didn't need or want that much food. Thanks for the video!

[@danielletranquill3378]

I think you're right, but i think the thing that people forget is that you're still supposed to log your 0 point foods as well. I do this regardless, because it does show you a portion size recommendation for them. I go over it on occasion, but i log it so that i remember not to eat more of it later. So important! Thanks for sharing!

[@retiredbooknerd]

Excellent video!! I just got through discussing this very thing with my daughter. I just started WW Freestyle, but have been on all of the other variations through my adult life. This is finally the one that makes the most sense to me! It is an encouragement to eat the things you SHOULD eat! I get that there will definitely be a learning curve going into the program, but you have hit the nail on the head! Zero points is NOT zero calories! You are very articulate and succinct in your explanation! I completely agree with everything you said!

[@lindaboutris8837]

I say bring all the points back for everything including fruit and veggies!!

[@ncshomevids]

I eat my points and fill in with 0 point foods. I stop when full or satisfied.

[@jotownson]

I think Freestyle teaches people how to eat with a basic template of lean meat, fruit, veggies, beans and a moderate amount of whole grains. It also teaches that things like oil, cheese, honey/sugar, processed foods are "extra" and therefore should be measured via points. This actually promotes a healthy and sustainable outlook toward eating because it is based in healthy choices (not quick fixes) and heightened mindfulness of what kinds of foods pack on the pounds when they are overeaten. In the long run, following this template will be less stressful and more manageable for people. It will bring the joy back to eating. It will take our attention away from the obsession of calorie counting and put it on assembling healthy, delicious meals.

[@DivaandtheDivine]

Oh I agree. I love the concept behind Freestyle, and I think it definitely teaches you the right balance of how to maintain a healthy eating lifestyle, but there are many that struggle with it.

[@vickyboyd5340]

I agree totally! I always tell new members 0 point foods are not 0 calories. It is all about moderation. It is a great program as long as you use common sense with your servings and total calorie intake. I lose slowly but that's ok with me, I enjoy eating and I still lose just not large amounts. Adding exercise will help with your loses as you burn calories. I struggled at first until I got it too! People give up too easily and blame the program but it is really easy and simple to follow as long as you are aware of how much you are eating. I track everything so I see the volume of food I take in and it's a no brainier!!

[@rachelboone2914]

Totally agree. Stayed the same weight today and was super annoyed. But will now go back and review all of my eating and snacks. Thanks for the tips. Hopefully this will help with this weeks weight loss.

[@hopehall-sanchez1913]

I agree with you.. we still have to have portion control.. I have lost 25 pounds in 2 1/2 months but I watch my portions when I’m eating the zero point foods

[@anavarvara9098]

To my understanding, there is a quatity guide for the 0 SmartPoints food, e.g. Kidney Beans - 2 Spoons, Banana - small, Salmon - 1 Piece, Chicken breast - 100g, etc...

[@Squid1986]

Yeah, I'm in the "not a fan" group on the Freestyle plan, I really liked the previous plan, where I can count the points of everything to a T, I'm actually much less satisfied on this plan, as I am trying to keep each serving of the 0SP foods to the official 1 serving size, for fear of consuming too many calories. My belly is always growling, and when I do eat foods with SP values, I run out of SP real quick. I am used to always being hungry after 4 months, with moderate success, so I will just have to look forward to the next plan.

[@brendamcbride2868]

I'm not sure there will be a next plan.

[@bionicwoman9884]

I'm done with weight watchers I track calories on my Fitbit and exercise I'm a normal weight

[@amyann47]

I've been more successful on freestyle so far, but that's mainly because when I was eating 30SP my calories were always too low (around 1100), versus freestyle where my calories range from 1300-1600 calories. I think it depends what your natural diet is made up of to begin with.

[@amyann47]

I also try to eat 1 standard serving size of protein for each meal, 2 servings of fruit, and 2 eggs max per day... kind of a self-implemented portion control.

[@stephallen5134]

thank you so much for this input. I have been so disappointed as the first time I tried weight watchers, begore they added more zero points goods, I did great staying within my limits and losing. This time and after listening to you, it hit me... She knows exactly what I'm doing wrong!!!! I never took into consideration that overdoing the zero points food can be just as damaging if you still dont think calories... and Yes.. I am that person eating 3 or 4 bananas in a day... Wow.. Great insight and thank you so much!!!!. I was feeling so down this morning because I started exercising with my husban just to find I still gained and when I heard you.. I was like Duh... THANK YOU YHANK YOU

[@milkteanomnom]

I did weight watchers when I was in my early twenties (33 years old now), and I loved WW back then. Things happened in my life, and I had to stop using the program. Now I’m looking into starting WW again. I have lost 30 lbs on my own in a year using MyFitnessPal, and now I’m not losing weight. I haven’t lost any weight in 6 months. My grandmother uses WW, and she told me about this new FreeStyle program. I haven’t used it, but it doesn’t take a genius to know that WW is trying to teach intuitive eating, and portion control. Zero point foods like chicken, beans, and 0% Greek yogurt still contain calories. Not as many as a Big Mac at McDonald’s, but still, you need to limit yourself to only 4 ounces of chicken per meal. I can’t eat more than 3-4 ounces of chicken anyway, and I don’t know how anyone could eat more than that. Even though I’m overweight, I didn’t gain this weight from an extremely out of control diet. I have hypothyroidism, and PCOS, and so I gain weight very easily, and it’s hard to lose weight. Even though I’m overweight, I have a small stomach, and I can’t eat a lot. I’m more of a snacker. I eat smaller portions more frequently throughout the day, and then I eat a moderate sized dinner. To me this new program sounds like it would provide more freedom, and help teach people intuitive eating, and choosing more whole food options over processed crap. I’m actually going to sign up later today for WW, and I’m hoping I will lose weight again. I don’t know what is going on with my body, but I just stopped losing weight after 30 lbs on MyFitnessPal. I remember WW being easier than calorie counting though, and I’m hoping perhaps it will be easier for me to lose weight on WW. I know in my 20s, I lost about 50 lbs on WW, and that was before fruit was free, only non-starchy vegetables were free.

[@christinaryanvoissem6638]

I'm 3 months in and down 12 lbs. Averaging 1lb/week . Your words make sense...thanks for sharing. I'll pay more attention to my journaling.

[@DivaandtheDivine]

You're losing at a great rate. Good for you!

[@creativediva52]

I did freestyle before and wondered why I wasn’t losing weight while I was eating unlimited amounts of garbanzos! Just re-started freestyle and I agree completely with your advice. This time i’ll be more careful, measure free foods, and use my fitness pal to track calories. I’ve had some luck with intermittent fasting, and will incorporate that as well. I feel much better on IF. I‘Ve accepted that, no matter what your approach, it takes WORK. Wish me luck!

[@crystaldholloway]

I switched back to bts because I didn’t have the capability to comprehend I was eating too many calories when it was zero points. I feel like I don’t control myself as well. With bts, I am in better control of my caloric intake.

[@Robinsnl]

Another reason some may not be losing weight especially if they are eating solely zero point Foods. It might be because they are not eating all of their smart points. The points are there very specifically for you to eat all of your points. Zero point foods are there two help supplement the hunger but it's not for you to overindulge or to eat solely. That is what my coach had to say

[@babyexit08]

I get what you are saying but Weight Watchers should've thought about this before coming out with the "free points". Their marketing ploy is "free points" so with that, they should know people are going to take this literally.

[@babyexit08]

Also, if you are counting calories, just do MyFitnessPal. They aren't really free....

[@myrajefferson3672]

I thought about this as well, because it just makes sense! Everything (except water) has calories, so we have got to change our mindsets about "unlimited eating"!

[@DivaandtheDivine]

Yes. There's no such thing!

[@anitakay6722]

This is why I use MyFitnessPal in conjunction with WW so if I’m not sure about my overall calorie intake, I can check. I find if I make those healthier choices, my calories tend to stay low enough without me getting hungry. I find the smart point number easier to wrap my head around since there’s more of a swapping idea vs just calorie counting. I see it far more as an allowance than the calories. Because of this, I’m more likely to not make the worse choice.

[@23pointsaday18]

It is SUPER important to weigh/measure and track all your foods, even the zero point foods. While Weight Watchers says you don't have to track zero point foods, if you want to lose weight you need to be aware of what you're eating and how much of it you're eating.

[@DivaandtheDivine]

Agreed.

[@katharinecarreaux9990]

Thank you for your common sense honesty. If WW would just tell the truth along with the sound nutritional guidance, I wouldn’t be so frustrated and stuck at goal for 9 months and incrementally gaining 14 lbs in 6 months despite allegedly burning more than I consume according to FitBit. I agree that WW should calculate and add the total calories in the App instead of having to go back and forth and do it manually. Also by not including many fruits and veg it’s hard to know how to calculate how much impact they have. For instance, surely vegans have to calculate some other way than just points. This gal has really cheered me up because I’m so tired of being on diets (since I was 9 years old) but I’m also more tired of being uncomfortable and in my eyes unattractive and worse - unhealthy. Thank you!!!

[@Greyjedi67]

I think you’re absolutely right and I’m so glad I watched this. I started WW Freestyle about 3 1/2 weeks ago and I’ve lost 7 lbs (I also get in about 50 fit points/week). But I have been TRACKING my 0 point food consumption so I know what I’m eating, when and why (snacks, meals, etc). But I was going on the idea of disregarding calories for 0 point foods. Now I realize that I shouldn’t be eating 0 point foods just to put something in the tank - I need to reserve it for hunger NEEDS. Thanks again for the insight! 🙂

[@DivaandtheDivine]

I agree completely. Don’t just eat the 0sp Foods because you CAN, but utilize them when you need them most.

[@sere7000]

I've been eating meals that are under 5 points and snacks under 1 point . I love seeing my points roll over , it gives me the option of having a safety net when the weekend comes around and I want a margarita! It was hard in the beginning because chicken and eggs are 0 points and it was hard not to over eat them , I count 4 oz of chicken as 1 point and usually have 8 oz with a veggie or a salad . Vegetarian recipes from weight watchers are also awesome and my whole family loves the meatless no noodle lasagna ! Great video!

[@DivaandtheDivine]

Great job finding what works for you!

[@RedheadRetroChic]

Exactly!!! I find if frustrating when I hear people complain about Freestyle because they’re not working the program correctly. I have had the most success on Freestyle than any of their prior programs. Great video!

[@DivaandtheDivine]

100%!

[@deliagarza8125]

I have not gone on weight watchers yet just checking out a couple of youtube videos, Plus i have an excercise plan of resistance training cardio and stretching

[@loulou7963]

Oh boy am I glad to see this ! I’m so in agreement with this. This is my major problem too. I do not understand this new system at all. It is totally flawed. I see people having a zero point breakfast of loads of salmon and eggs ! And thinking it doesn’t count. But they refuse to spend any points on a piece of wholemeal bread or a grain of rice and then use their points for wine and chocolate ! I see many many people who only eat zero point foods because they then use their entire allowance on crap !

[@kimberlyguelette9000]

I find it funny that people are actually complaining that you have to know what calories your taking in. I track on both ww anD another tracking app to make sure my calories and other macros are where they should be. Unfortunately there just is no easy way to lose weight. You always have to be willing to put the work in.

[@axbxcx123x]

Put in work for weight loss, absolutely! But what's the point of paying WW if you have to track points on one app and calories on another app to reach a deficit.

[@joarnett1708]

I agree completely. I have always realized I cannot pig out on zero point foods.

[@DivaandtheDivine]

Exactly. Calories are still calories.

[@Mel30000]

I never ever eat all my points. Im a very busy mom and have bever been a snacker. So for me learning portions has been the biggest take away from ww freestyle. Alot of things still have to be measured even if its zero points. Ive been on it for 2 months now and have lost a healthy 22 pounds. Its not a crazy and drastic change, but i have been able to make lifestyle changes and really reshape my way of looking at food while still being able to cook for everyone else and not feel deprived or cranky because i have chosen not to have certain things. Ive tried counting calories before and its never worked. This has worked.

[@mz.olejitneyweekender6776]

I'm finding that with anything free there is accountability and that common sense must be used with this 'freestyle' plan, or any WW plan. Therefore, I subconsciously watch the higher fat and calorie content food items when I select food using my points to eat.

[@LorettaMath]

Yes. I adjusted my daily tracking to use the "old" protein points to build a 30 per day. I even went so far as to create a list of the "old" point values: 2 for a whole egg, 1 for 1/3 cup Greek Yogurt, 1 per oz. chicken, etc. I build them in to my day to build up a total of 30, which lost me 70 lbs.. I tried to explain this at my meeting, but either the leader didn't understand or she was trying to dismiss this alternative b/c she is a paid spokesperson for WW. I guess I put her into an awkward position. So I went home and "30'd" my day anyway.

[@AlwaysAWorkNProgress]

I just joined WW last night but I've been a professional dieter since about middle school. I guessed the secret right before you said it but I'm still happy I watched this video. I wanna think back to this so i won't fall into a habit of abusing the 0 smart points food.

[@tiffanysigafoose2302]

Its all about making healthy choices which I struggled a lot and I just joined weight watchers and seeing how different foods are more healthier for you than others.

[@kristend11]

That’s why smart points program works better! AND I’m not alone!!!

[@lindajohnson3245]

I had great success with W W back in 2000-2001..the problem that I have now is adjusting to the fact that you can have as much chicken as you want til full and not track ..for me it is better for portion control and you count points for everything..I feel that the program was better back then..

[@DivaandtheDivine]

This is exactly me! I can't be told that I can eat unmeasured portions for 0 points.

[@CynVee]

I just joined and I'm loving Freestyle but I realized from the start exactly what you're saying. I was a member a long time ago so I guess old habits die hard. I have 23 smart points to use every day but I only eat 16 - 18 points a day to compensate for the 200 zero point foods I eat. Great video and excellent advice. I'm a new subscriber so looking forward to more great videos.

[@jeff_from_jax]

So if you follow the list of 0 point Freestyle foods doctor them up with points but don't use all of your points in a day and only eat when hungry?

[@stephaniekoss2841]

Love this video! I am personally not a WW member, but I do enjoy your videos and the perspectives that you bring about weight loss. I like that you brought up the topic of calories in vs. calories out, because it's such an easy thing to forget about! I'm a calorie counter, and it is HARD... but essential!

[@DivaandtheDivine]

Thanks Stephanie. Yes, calorie awareness is essential to losing weight, no matter what plan you're on.

[@mariaegues]

Just wanted to let you know that today was weigh in for me. I lost 3.4 pounds for a total of 87.4. Tracking my calories and being mindful of the zero point foods really kick started the scale again. I knew I was doing something wrong. I'm happy I tried this new method. I'm going to continue doing this, this upcoming week and let's see what happens.

[@DivaandtheDivine]

YAY!! I'm so glad it worked for you!

[@Richardangelo84]

As a 6’4” man with quite a bit of weight to lose, I’m allowed over 50 smart points. Even with that many, I find that I eat all my points and I’m still hungry at the end of the night. My struggle is that I def. don’t eat enough zero point foods. This new program is harder than when I did the program many years ago, but I’ll stick with it and hopefully find that balance. Thanks for the tips!

[@gingerredshoes]

Fast forward to 2020... Yeah, I need the Green plan..

[@lindabloodgood9656]

Your are soooo right. I had thought about the exact same thing but now i am going to really concentrate on watching the calories. It make perfect sense “calories must be counted to be successful.’

[@joycehermans7959]

Thanks for explaining the reason I’m not losing weight. Great tips for reevaluating what I’m eating!

[@DivaandtheDivine]

You're most welcome. I hope it helped!

[@inbarshema]

I think the whole point of the free foods is that you can't really eat to much of it, like if you eat 300 calories of bananas or skinless chicken breast you would be get sick it but if you eat 300 calories worth of something like nachos with cheese, your just gonna crave more nachos with cheese

[@stefaniedoloreux1044]

I started Weight Watchers on the Flexx program here in the UK so do not know any other ways. My understanding is that the zero points food are stables to work around with because they are nutritious and filling and they will automatically balance your cravings/urges. They are not "all you can eat buffet". If I have a zero point protein I usually add some carbs, cheese or fatty oils/nuts and if I have a steak I will serve it with vegs and a glass of red wine. To be honest how many eggs and fat free greek yogourt can you eat a day? I think lots of members get a kick about living on zero point, like they are beating the system lol.

[@DivaandtheDivine]

I agree with you 100%

[@Virginiasmile]

Recently found your channel and I love it :). I agree with you!

[@cynthiavallejo6271]

That’s it - I quit! Starvation diet is killing me.

[@wotiluv]

True true true. I suspect people are not losing weight on Freestyle because they’re eating too many calories or not eating enough - you have to calculate for normal servings like you said. But have you ever calculated what the caloric intake vs points is on a day of eating single normal servings ? Let’s do the math. There are some discrepancies. 1 banana 100 Two eggs 140 (med eggs) 1 oz avocado 40 (1 point) Two slices of low cal thin sliced bread 100. (2 points) Total breakfast 380 calories (3 points) Lunch 2 cups of romaine 20 1/2 cup black beans 100 1/2 cup of FF salsa with cilantro 50 1 teaspoon of olive oil 40 (1point) 4 oz of chicken breast 180 Total lunch 390. 1 point Snack apple med w/ peanut butter 180 (3) Total points 7 from breakfast lunch and snack 940 calories Dinner 4 oz Yukon potatoes 80 (2) 4 oz of salmon 230 2 c broccoli 60 1 tbsp Butter. 70 (3) Total 440 Grand total 1380. 12 points You may be saying to yourself well that’s too little calories you need to eat at least a few hundred more which I agree and you certainly have more points you can eat. the problem is that you have so many more points and just what are people eating ? well eating dessert that’s what I think they’re eating. You see Weight Watchers needs to let the people know what it is that they’re intake for fat and carbs sugar etc is so people can also calculate the true detrimental effect of the food choices they make. Most people aren’t educated on this and just eat what they want. Or in some cases don’t eat enough which will send their body in starvation and then they binge. There’s a whole group out there which you don’t touch upon which double tracks - points and macros. Those are the people that really know Freestyle can work for you or against you.

[@KKruse-jb4cu]

I was doing WW back in 2006, and they had more than one type of program and you could choose which one you wanted to use. It seems that they should be giving people a choice now, too. Those who like Freestyle could use it (I like it, but find the app a bit confusing) and those who like the old program could stay on it. Give people a choice.

[@MaisysWorld]

Thank you, so helpful!!! I used to work the system, but I'm trying to use freestyle to train me to eat cleaner and make this a permanent lifestyle.

[@Merelynne]

I couldn't agree more! It's so easy to not realize just how much you're eating with this new program. I still track everything even if it's zero points just so I am aware of what I'm consuming!

[@DivaandtheDivine]

That's a smart way to do it.

[@catherinemalloy4207]

I gained 6 lbs this week on WW, because I had a bad attitude and didn't care anymore and was even thinking about quitting, but I need this, my life depends on it.

[@Jennnnaaaaa]

I agree with you that a lot of people are probably doing full meals at 0 points and then thinking they have all their daily points for snacks, desserts, etc. when if we were counting calories, we wouldn’t do that. It’s about common sense and stopping when you’re full. However, Freestyle does not cater to people who need something strict to keep them in check, it caters to people who know how to stop when they’re full and make good food choices and if we all could do that then we wouldn’t need Weight Watchers, would we?

[@Aymers34]

This is the best explanation of free style I have heard. Thank you !!😊

[@in2wishin]

I have yo-yo'd with Weight Watchers for years! If it had worked I wouldn't have gained the weight back again! Now I am on keto - I feel better than I ever have! It's a life style change that is easy to maintain. I'm not even hungry! It's so easy, it's crazy! Dr. Eric Berg is so knowledgeable about health and how to get to a healthy weight. If Weight Watchers worked, I wouldn't be writing this ...

[@DivaandtheDivine]

I have to disagree with your statement about if it had worked you wouldn't have gained the weight back. When you were following the plan, did you lose? If the answer is yes, then the plan worked. What doesn't work is going back to your old habits after hitting your goal weight, which is what happens to most people.

[@in2wishin]

@@DivaandtheDivine Good point. I personally don't like counting points for the rest of my life. Keto is so much simpler and easier as a lifestyle - and it cured my hypoglycemia. It eliminates all the processed foods, sugars and is a much healthier way for the body to learn to burn fat instead of sugars. My energy is so much better I cannot even say. I used to be insulin resistant and I was stuck at a certain weight no matter how much I reduced my calories. I just felt terrible. If it works for you - great! I just wanted to give others on this thread another option in case they are frustrated and have difficulty keeping the weight off easily like I did. It was the answer for me!