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Healthline diet score: 4.25 out of 5
WW ( once known as Weight Watchers ) is one of the most popular weight passing programs in the world. Millions of people — including celebrities like Oprah Winfrey — have joined it, hoping to drop pounds.
In 2020, the company launched its latest program, called myWW+, which is designed to provide even more tractability and personalization than the original WW. This article reviews how the myWW+ platform works, so you can decide whether it ’ s the veracious burden loss solution for you .
Diet review scorecard overall : 4.25 out of 5 Weight loss/gain : 4.5
Healthy eating habits : 4.75
sustainability : 3.75
Whole body health : 4.5
Nutrition quality : 4
Evidence based : 4
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How it works
WW was founded by Jean Nidetch in 1963 in her home in Queens, New York. From its humble beginnings as a weekly system of weights loss group for her friends, WW quickly grew into one of the most sought diet plans in the world. initially, WW used an exchange system, where foods were counted according to servings, alike to the diabetes exchange system. In the 1990s, it introduced a points-based system that assigned values to foods and drinks based on their character, fat, and calorie contents. WW has overhauled the points-based organization respective times over the years, most recently launching the myWW+ program, which introduces a new level of individualization .
GET STARTED WITH myWW+
Getting started with myWW+
The first base measure for signing up for the new myWW+ organization is to take the personal assessment, which asks questions about your current health habits and goals. These include :
- why you want to lose weight
- when you’re most likely to go off-track on an eating plan
- how much you exercise
- your sleep habits
- your current mindset
once the assessment is complete, WW provides you with a report card that identifies your firm habits, such as exert, and areas where you could use some help, such as eating better or getting more sleep. next, you ’ ll choose your desire type of membership. current options include :
- Digital. WW’s most basic option, the Digital plan offers access to the myWW+ app, along with a customized weight loss and wellness plan, tracking tools, workouts and meditations, and a weekly check-in with a WW coach. It starts at $2.94 per week.
- Digital 360. Digital 360 offers everything that the Digital plan offers, plus live and on-demand content available from WW coaches. It costs $3.38 per week.
- Unlimited Workshops. This plan offers everything from Digital and Digital 360, plus an unlimited number of support sessions with your own WW coach and a group of other WW members with similar goals. It costs $4.77 per week.
- 1-on-1 Coaching. This plan is ideal for those who want an extra level of accountability. It’s the same as the Digital plan, but with the addition of private 1-on-1 coaching with a WW coach. It costs $7.39 per week.
What are the new myWW+ plans?
One of the biggest changes with the new myWW+ broadcast is the addition of three plan options. The myWW+ program recognizes that while certain individuals need extra accountability, others do better with more tractability. therefore, it offers three plans — Green, Blue, and Purple — that differ in the act of distribute SmartPoints and ZeroPoint foods. SmartPoints are point values assigned to foods based on their nutritional capacity. More alimentary foods, like fish and vegetables, are assigned fewer points than more heavily processed foods, like candy and sodium carbonate. While no foods are off-limits, all plan groups recommend that you stay at or below your SmartPoints budget in order to lose weight, if that ’ s your finish. ZeroPoint foods are ones that don ’ metric ton count toward your SmartPoints budget. The count and types of foods considered to be ZeroPoint foods depends on the plan you choose. here ’ s how the three plans compare :GreenBluePurpleSmartPoints budgetlargemoderatesmallNumber of ZeroPoint foodsaround 100around 200around 300Types of ZeroPoint foodsfruits
non-starchy vegetablesfruits
non-starchy vegetables
lentils and beans
nonfat dairy
eggs
lean proteins
most seafood and shellfishfruits
starchy and non-starchy vegetables
lentils and beans
nonfat dairy
eggs
tofu
lean proteins
seafood and shellfish
some whole grains While the green plan is designed for people who do better with stricter guidelines, the Blue and Purple plans encourage users to focus on making healthier food choices, preferably than on counting points .
myWW+ app
The myWW+ app is packed with features for members, including a food tracker, a meal plan tool, personalized consume plans, and over 9,000 recipes. In addition to encouraging healthy feed, WW besides motivates users to stay active by assigning members a weekly fitness goal, referred to as FitPoints. Members can log their activities using the myWW+ app, with the goal of reaching a delegate numeral of FitPoints per week. Activities like dancing, walk, and clean, in accession to more traditional workouts like running and weightlift, all count toward your FitPoints goal. The app besides provides fitness videos and exercise routines, along with a weekly follow-up of your physical natural process level. Because sleep is a critical component of a healthy life style, WW besides offers a sleep tracker and services from Headspace, including sleep music, 5-minute behavior change coaching, and mini-meditations. Another noteworthy feature is the app ’ s built-in social network, which allows members to create posts, view other penis ’ s posts, research by hashtags, and interact with others in group forums. ultimately, you can collect “ Wins ” on the app for completing healthy life style activities, such as going for a run or eating three meals per day. These Wins can be exchanged for prizes, including WW keychains, fitness accessories, and kitchen tools .
Summary The myWW+ program provides three design options, which vary in the number of allotted SmartPoints and ZeroPoint foods. Members on myWW+ besides have access to the myWW+ app, which offers features such as food and activeness trackers, fitness video, guided meditations, and community groups .
Can myWW+ help you lose weight?
myWW+ uses a science-based approach to burden personnel casualty, emphasizing the importance of :
- portion control
- food choices
- slow, consistent weight loss
Unlike many fad diets that promise unrealistic results over short periods of time, WW explains to members that they should expect to lose 0.5 to 2 pounds ( 0.23 to 0.9 kg ) per workweek, depending on their chosen plan. The plan highlights life style modification and counsels members on how to make better decisions by using the SmartPoints system, which prioritizes healthy foods. many studies have shown that WW can help with weight loss. In fact, WW is one of the few weight loss programs with prove results from randomized controlled trials, which are considered the “ gold standard ” of checkup inquiry. One study found that people with fleshy who were told to lose weight by their doctors lost twice a much weight on the WW platform than those who received standard weight unit loss guidance from a primary caution professional ( 1 ). Though this learn was funded by WW, data collection and analysis were coordinated by an mugwump inquiry team. furthermore, a review of 39 control studies found that participants following the WW course of study lost 2.6 % more weight than participants who received other types of guidance ( 2 ). Another controlled discipline in over 1,200 adults with fleshiness found that participants who followed the WW program for 1 year lost significantly more weight than those who received self-help materials or brief slant loss advice ( 3 ). What ’ s more, participants following WW for 1 year were more successful at maintaining their weight loss over 2 years, compared with other groups. overall, most of the studies on the WW diet find that participants lost an average of 10–15 pounds ( 4.75–6.76 kilogram ) over the course of a class ( 1, 3 ). Keep in mind that these studies were performed prior to WW ’ s newly myWW+ course of study. As a result, inquiry on the effectiveness of myWW+ is needed, though the plans silent emphasize many of the lapp basic principles as those WW programs studied, including the use of SmartPoints .
GO TO myWW+
Summary While many studies have proven that WW is an effective way to lose weight and keep it off, inquiry on WW ’ s new myWW+ course of study specifically is lacking .
Other benefits
WW prides itself on being an adaptable and flexible manner to lose burden. specially with the new myWW+ program, members are able to choose the plan that works best for them. While some involve counting SmartPoints more than others, the plans overall encourage members to choose healthier, more alimentary foods. The plans besides allow members to enjoy their favorite foods, a long as they fit into their distribute casual SmartPoints value. additionally, unlike diets that forbid certain foods, WW allows users to eat them within reason. This means members can go out to dinner or attend a party without worrying if the food served will fit into their diet plan.
Plus, myWW+ is a effective choice for people with dietary restrictions, like vegans, or those with food allergies, since members choose how they spend their SmartPoints. The myWW+ program stresses share control, specially the green design, and the importance of physical natural process — both full of life to weight passing success. Another benefit of the program is that it provides members with tools and resources for achieving a healthier life style. In finical, the myWW+ app includes community documentation to help members feel connected and stay motivated by engaging with fellow members .
Summary The myWW+ program allows dieters to be flexible with their food choices and has many benefits, including a large support system .
Potential drawbacks
While myWW+ has many benefits, there are respective reasons why it may not be the best plan for everyone. For exemplar, to follow the program, you must be volition sustain path of the foods — and their consociate SmartPoints — that you consume each day, even if you choose the more relax Purple plan. This long-winded and time-consuming task may be a turnoff for some. conversely, the myWW+ broadcast may be besides lenient for those whose top concern is self-control, specially if they choose a plan with a greater phone number of ZeroPoint foods. additionally, while the platform encourages the consumption of nutrient-rich foods, members can theoretically choose to eat foods that are high in boodle and humble in nutrients and still stay under their set total of SmartPoints. Another electric potential precipitation is that it may be besides expensive for some people. Though monthly costs vary depending on the subscription plan, the entire investment might be out of reach for those on a budget .
Summary The myWW+ program has respective likely downfalls, including the cost of the program, the necessitate to count SmartPoints, and the exemption to choose less alimentary foods .
Foods to eat
Although the WW point system emphasizes solid, unprocessed foods including vegetables, fruits, and tilt proteins, no foods are off-limits. While healthy choices are encouraged, members can choose any foods they want, adenine long as they stay under their day by day SmartPoints allotment. The myWW+ program besides makes healthy food more tantalizing to members by offering ZeroPoint foods, which vary by plan :
- Green: fruits, non-starchy vegetables
- Blue: fruits, non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins, lentils and beans, nonfat dairy, eggs, and most seafood and shellfish
- Purple: fruits, starchy and non-starchy vegetables, lean proteins, lentils and beans, nonfat dairy, eggs, tofu, seafood and shellfish, and some whole grains
Foods encouraged on the WW plan include :
- lean proteins like skinless chicken, eggs, tofu, fish, shellfish, and nonfat yogurt
- non-starchy vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, greens, cauliflower, and peppers
- fresh, frozen, and unsweetened canned fruit
- high-fiber carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, brown rice, oatmeal, beans, and whole grain products
- healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, and nuts
Summary myWW+ encourages members to make healthy choices and emphasizes whole foods .
Foods to avoid
While the SmartPoints system allows members to choose any food they like, myWW+ discourages eating foods that are highly processed or high in add sugar and saturated fats, such as :
- sugary drinks
- potato chips
- processed meats
- candy
- cakes and cookies
however, WW makes it clear that no foods are off-limits and members can eat their front-runner snacks and desserts adenine long as they stay within their intend SmartPoints .
Summary myWW+ encourages members to limits foods eminent in boodle and saturated fats, though no food is off-limits when following the course of study .
WW provides members with a database of more than 9,000 goodly recipes. These recipes help keep users motivated and prevent boredom in the kitchen. Most meal ideas provided by WW focus on fresh, whole foods. Dessert recipes are available as well. here ’ s a 3-day sample menu using recipes from the WW web site : Monday
- Breakfast: poblano and egg breakfast sandwich
- Lunch: barbecue-ranch chicken salad
- Snack: banana–chocolate chip mini muffins
- Dinner: roasted salmon with chickpeas, zucchini, and red pepper
- Dessert: chocolate-almond “nice” cream
Tuesday
- Breakfast: cranberry-walnut oatmeal
- Lunch: Greek-inspired veggie burgers
- Dinner: spicy chicken soft tacos with goat cheese
- Snack: deviled eggs with capers and dill
- Dessert: Baked apples with vanilla drizzle
Wednesday
- Breakfast: Greek yogurt with warm blueberry sauce
- Lunch: pesto chicken salad sandwiches
- Dinner: easy shrimp and veggie bowl
- Snack: Parmesan-thyme popcorn
- Dessert: Mini brownie cupcake
Members can choose home-cooked recipes provided by WW or eat any food they desire, vitamin a long as it fits within their SmartPoints specify .
Summary WW provides over 9,000 breakfast, lunch, dinner, nosh, and dessert recipes for members to choose from .
Shopping list
WW encourages members to keep weight loss friendly foods on handwriting. Purchasing goodly foods makes it less probably that you ’ ll eat highly processed foods and ensures that members have the ingredients necessary to prepare fresh, tasty meals at home. hera ’ s a sample grocery list of WW-approved foods :
- Produce: fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, plus fresh herbs
- Protein: lean meats, poultry, eggs, tofu, shellfish, frozen veggie burgers, and fish
- Dairy: low fat milk or nondairy milk substitutes like almond milk, low fat or fat-free unsweetened yogurt, fat-free cottage cheese, and regular or low fat cheeses
- Grains, breads, and pastas: brown rice, barley, quinoa, corn tortillas, whole grain bread, oatmeal, whole grain pasta or waffles, and shredded cereal
- Canned and prepared foods: tomato sauce, hummus, black bean dip, WW frozen entrees, salsa, canned beans, canned unsweetened fruits, and canned low salt vegetables
- Healthy fats: olive oil, avocados, peanut butter, nuts, and seeds
- Seasoning and condiments: vinegar, hot sauce, mustard, dried herbs, fat-free mayonnaise, reduced-sodium soy sauce, and fat-free or low fat salad dressing
- Snacks: fat-free popcorn, baked tortilla chips, sugar-free gelatin, and WW ice cream bars and sorbet
Summary WW encourages members to choose nutrient-dense options when grocery shop, including lean proteins, batch of fresh and freeze fruits, vegetables, and unharmed grains .
The bottom line
myWW+ is a popular system of weights loss plan that attracts hundreds of thousands of newfangled members every year. Its elastic, points-based system and choice of plans appeal to many people and encourage an overall poise life style. Plus, studies have found that WW is an effective room to lose weight and keep it off. If you ’ ra looking for an evidence-based burden passing program that lets you choose which foods to eat a farseeing as you stay within your destine points, WW might help you reach your health and health goals .
Get started with myWW+
Interested in trying myWW+? We can help!
Select the plan you think is right for your weight loss goals and explore the worldly concern of WW from your point of view on the app.
I’m in!