There is a new Weight Watchers® plan coming next week! The new WW PersonalPoints™ is a personalized approach to weight loss that WW is rolling out next week. Here's everything we know about the new plan so far including information on points, zero point foods, plan options, and more.
Every couple of years, Weight Watchers makes changes to its plan and 2022 brings another set of plan changes. Like many of the previous changes, this can leave WW members (like myself) feeling nervous, excited, and curious about the new plan and how it will affect their healthy eating and diet journey. Change can be tough.
The last major change to the plans was the introduction of myWW™ Smartpoints and the three plan options: Green, Blue, and Purple. While many felt like that change was a major one, it looks like the new WW PersonalPoints™ will be an even bigger change. The biggest change under this new approach is a completely personalized approach to weight loss and healthy eating.
Every member will take a personalized assessment and then have a plan that is completely unique and personal. This plan has already rolled out in Australia and according to their site, "A plan that’s yours, and only yours. No two people are alike, so no two plans are alike. When you join WW, we’ll ask you a series of questions via our PersonalPoints Engine, then we’ll design your unique PersonalPoints™ Budget and ZeroPoint™ food list.
Let's look at what we know so far: (image from WW Australia site)
What are WW PersonalPoints™?
Like the name suggests, WW PersonalPoints™ are the new Weight Watchers® system that will create a unique daily points allowance and zero point food list to create a diet plan that is tailored and customized to your needs. It is built around a personal assessment that includes questions about how often you eat vegetables and fruit, the types of "higher point" foods you enjoy, your favorite protein sources, and more.
It also includes questions about diabetes as the new plan WW Personal Plan has specific support for people living with diabetes.
The purpose of these questions is to help create a zero point list and approach to eating that will work for the real way you eat. Based on the information out there now, it is believed that:
- There will be a specific approach for anyone with diabetes where carbohydrates and fruit servings have specific point values.
- If you indicate you eat lots of vegetables, fruit, and proteins you will likely have a lower points budget and a longer list of zero point foods (similar to Purple).
- If you indicate you enjoy more treats and indulgent food options, you will have a higher daily points allowance but less zero point foods (similar to Green but possible with less zero point foods)
- Most people should expect to have a lower daily point allowance.
- Weekly flex points will still exist, but will likely be lower. However, there are new ways to earn more points by making healthy food and activity choices.
- There is a new way for calculating the points values that take into account saturated versus unsaturated fat, natural sugars vs. processed sugar, and fiber content.
What's happening to Zero Point™ Foods?
ZeroPoint™ foods will still exist in the new program, they will just be tailored to each individual based on their lifestyle and personalized plan approach. For some people, the list may look very similar to what it looks like on the current green, purple, and blue plans but for others, it will be quite different. Here are some foods that could be on your ZeroPoint™ list on the new Weight Watchers® plan.
- Fruit
- Non-starchy vegetables
- Non fat dairy including yogurt, cottage cheese, and milk
- Whole grains including quinoa, brown rice, rolled oats, and pasta
- Boneless skinless chicken breast, turkey breast (including ground)
- Fish and seafood
- Oats
- Eggs
- Tofu and tempeh
- Beans, lentils, peas, and corn
- Avocados (new!)
Other than avocados, most of these foods were on the zero point list for certain color plans. The new plans are very focused on helping people to make healthier choices that work for their lifestyle and the personalized lists will be built about encouraging those choices.
What is happening to the green, blue, and purple plans?
It looks like the previous, myWW+ plans that featured either green, blue, or purple SmartPoints™ will no longer exist when the new plan is rolled out. It isn't clear if it will change over completely on November 7th or if it will be phased out over time. However, if it follows previous WW plan updates, it will likely change for everyone when WW PersonalPoints™ are released.
When does the new WW plan launch?
The new WW plan will be released in the United States and Canada on November 7th. It has already been rolled out in Australia and New Zealand.
How will recipes work with the new PersonalPoints™?
The points value for recipes will be unique based on each person's individualized plan. This will mean that recipes will have to be calculated using the app to determine how many PersonalPoints™ (formerly SmartPoints™) they have for you.
Looking at the Australian website, it looks like points values will show on recipes with a range of points based on possible combinations. The photo below is from their website.
New Features
Here are some of the new features you can look forward to in the new WW PersonalPoints™ plan:
- Completely personalized plan with a unique PersonalPoints budget and ZeroPoint food list
- New plan based on nutritional and behavior change research that rewards healthy habits like exercise, drinking more water, and making healthy food choices
- No off-limit foods! One of the things most members love about WW is that nothing is off-limits. This will be continued in the new plan and enhanced since the plan is built around you.
- New plans specifically built for people with diabetes in mind
We will continue to update this article as the new Weight Watchers plan is rolled out in the United States and we learn more about PersonalPoints™.