What Are Weeklies in Weight Watchers Weekly Points?
Weeklies are a set of points in the Weight Watchers program designed to offer you flexibility throughout your week. Everyone who participates in WW gets a personalized daily points budget based on their age, weight, height, and activity level. This daily allowance ensures that you meet your nutritional needs while staying on track toward your weight loss or health goals. However, sticking rigidly to a set number of points every single day without any room for indulgence can feel restricting. That’s where weeklies come in!
What Are Weeklies?
Weeklies are an additional allocation of points that are provided on top of your daily points allowance. Think of them as a reserve bank account of points that you can dip into when your daily points aren’t enough. Whether it’s a weekend outing, a birthday celebration, or simply a day when you're hungrier than usual, weeklies give you the freedom to enjoy life's indulgences without going off-track from your weight loss goals.
Every Weight Watchers member gets a different amount of weekly points, which is also tailored to their unique physical attributes and goals. However, no matter how many weekly points you receive, they serve the same purpose — to help make WW a sustainable and enjoyable way of living.
How Do Weekly Points Work?
Weekly points reset at the beginning of each week, and they can be spent in any way you choose. If you want to save them all for a night out or spread them across the week to accommodate small treats each day, you can! The key is that weekly points are flexible, unlike your daily points, which should ideally be used each day to meet your nutritional targets.
For example, if your daily points allowance is 30 points and you use 35 points in a day, you’ve gone over your daily limit by 5 points. You can pull 5 points from your weekly allowance to cover the overage, keeping you within the overall structure of the WW plan.
Conversely, if you find yourself consistently eating fewer points than your daily budget, Weight Watchers will not roll those leftover daily points into your weeklies. So, it’s important to strike a balance between using your daily points and dipping into your weeklies only when necessary.
What Happens If You Don’t Use Your Weeklies?
One of the best features of WW weeklies is that they’re there for you when you need them, but if you don’t use them, it’s totally fine! Weight Watchers designed the system to allow flexibility without creating a sense of guilt if you don’t spend every point.
If you finish your week without touching your weekly points, there’s no penalty, and you can still continue progressing toward your weight loss or maintenance goals. In fact, some people find that they don’t always need their weeklies, especially if their daily points budget meets their needs. However, others find that using their weeklies helps them feel more satisfied and less restricted, which can help them stick to the plan longer.
At the end of each week, your unused weekly points expire, and a fresh set of weeklies is added to your account when your next week starts.
Do Weeklies Affect Weight Loss?
This is the big question many WW members have: will using weekly points slow down weight loss? The short answer is, it depends on how you use them.
Some studies and personal experiences shared by Weight Watchers members show that using weekly points can help make the program more sustainable and enjoyable. By allowing for more flexibility, it can reduce feelings of deprivation, which in turn can help people stick to the plan longer and prevent binge eating or falling off track completely.
For many, the weekly points act as a cushion that lets them enjoy their favorite foods in moderation without guilt. However, if you consistently go over both your daily and weekly points, weight loss might slow down or even plateau. But if you're using weeklies within the framework of the plan, the system is designed so that you can still lose weight or maintain your current weight depending on your goals.
Weight loss is influenced by many factors beyond points — including metabolism, activity level, and even stress. So, while the weekly points offer flexibility, they should be used in combination with mindful eating and regular activity to optimize results.
Strategies for Using Weeklies
Now that you know what weeklies are, how do you make the most of them? Here are some smart strategies:
Plan Ahead for Social Events: If you know you have a big dinner or event coming up, save some weekly points to use during that occasion. It allows you to relax and enjoy without feeling guilty.
Use Them for Treats: Everyone needs a treat now and then! Use your weeklies to have your favorite dessert or snack. This can help you avoid feeling deprived, which is key to long-term success.
Spread Them Out: Some people prefer to use a few weekly points each day rather than saving them for one big meal. This can help make every day feel a little more indulgent without going overboard.
Balance Them with Activity Points: If you’re someone who likes to be active, you may also accumulate activity points that can be swapped for food. Using a combination of weeklies and activity points can give you even more flexibility.
Mindful Eating: Weeklies can make it tempting to splurge on unhealthy options, but aim to use them mindfully. Focus on treats or indulgences that truly bring you joy, and savor them!
Track Everything: The key to success on WW is consistent tracking. Make sure you’re logging your weekly points so you know exactly how much you’ve used and what you have left. This can help prevent over- or under-eating.
Weekly Points vs. Activity Points: What’s the Difference?
Besides weekly points, Weight Watchers also has activity points (often referred to as FitPoints). Activity points are earned by engaging in physical activities such as walking, running, or strength training.
While weeklies are given to you automatically each week, activity points are something you earn by being active. These can be used as a buffer on top of your daily points as well, meaning you can essentially double your flexibility by combining weekly and activity points.
Key Differences:
- Weeklies are pre-set and added to your weekly budget regardless of activity level.
- Activity Points must be earned through exercise and can be swapped for food points.
Many people find that using both their weekly and activity points allows them to strike a perfect balance between enjoying food and staying active.
Understanding Your Points in the WW App
One of the best tools for tracking your weekly points is the WW app. Here’s how the app helps you stay on track:
- Daily Points: This is your personalized budget for the day.
- Weekly Points: This shows your weekly allowance and how much you’ve used so far.
- FitPoints: Tracks your activity points, which you can use for extra flexibility.
The app also provides meal suggestions, activity tracking, and even a barcode scanner to make logging foods as easy as possible.
How Weekly Points Empower You
In essence, weekly points are a cornerstone of the Weight Watchers program because they give you the power to choose. With them, WW becomes less about deprivation and more about making choices that work for you.
By allowing for flexibility, weeklies help to bridge the gap between living a healthy lifestyle and enjoying life's pleasures. They allow you to be both disciplined and indulgent, striking a balance that makes long-term weight loss not only possible but sustainable.
So, the next time you find yourself wondering if you can have that extra slice of pizza or an additional glass of wine, just remember: that’s what your weeklies are for.
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