How does Weight Watcher points convert into calories?

1454ever · January 2014

I have worn a heart rate monitor during fitness classes and estimate that 60 calories burned is approximately equal to 1 APPV. There is no official conversion for this, it's trial and error.:ohwell:

1454ever · January 2014

I am struggling with the same thing lost a lot of weight on WW but it has stopped! I am training for a half marathon and work out every day! I am having trouble with the amount of calories it says I need, bc on WW I was only eating 1200 calories and not eating exercise calories

Your WW leader should have counseled you to eat your activity points. Sounds like you are/were undereating for the amount of training you are/were doing.

WannabeStressFree · January 2014

I'm new to MFP and am also counting Weight Watcher points. I'm allowed 31 points a day and on My Fitness Pal it says my goal should be 2200 calories a day. That seems like a LOT of calories. I'd like to know how many WW points that equals. Any idea how to find out? I've been successful with WW in the past- I lost 90 pounds, but sadly i stopped eating right and gained it all back. I want to lose the weight again.

The big difference between MFP calorie allowance and WW points plus is that you get free fruit and certain free veggies with WW. Therefore WW sets your calorie goal lower to allow for the extra calories from those foods. While using MFP, make sure you track everything including those fruits and veggies to get a more accurate calculation.

Also WW leaders don't always pass on the information about the earned exercise calories. If 40 calories is approximately 1 PP then I would think burning 80 calorie would give you 2 activity points but you may want to check with your leader to find out for sure.

YES!! My biggest frustration with WW was the conversion of exercise points, it was vague and no one could help me when I asked. I was starving after working out and couldn't accuratley figure out the amount of calories to replenish.
Even at 26 points, with the extra points divided by 7, my daily calorie allowance was 1,320. My BMR is 1444 plus exercising, I was always HUNGRY.
Sorry WW is a scam, only because if its' price tag. Yes, it works but it's not worth the $$ they charge. MFP is free and a source of info, a o pposed to the cryptic WW system. Sorry guys, I'm not a WW fan.
Real exercise is hardly promoted, rather they promote walking, etc. This is great but it's not geared towards more active people.Rant over!

focuseddiva · January 2014

I find all the general calorie guides pretty interesting. It sounds like WW sets you at about 1200 cals and then your free fruits/veggies/0 point foods account for any upward variance in total daily cals. AND you do not eat back exercise cals.

I am on Jenny Craig. Just to give you a comparison, they set you at 1500 cals if you have more than 40 pounds to lose. You do NOT eat back exercise cals. If you have a less than 40 to lose, you go on 1200 cals. You do NOT eat back your exercise cals. But they also include "free" food -- such as raw, non-starchy veggies, sugar free jello, etc.

So, in terms of general calorie budgets, these -- and MFP -- seem to be around the same ballpark. The main difference is that MFP allows you to eat your exercise cals back. And even that is debatable. Seems like many people on here, through trial and error, recommend ONLY eating back some of your exercise cals, not all.

Anyway, 1200-1500 cals eaten per day (excluding any exercise cals) seems to be the general guidelines ...

WalkingAlong · January 2014

I find all the general calorie guides pretty interesting. It sounds like WW sets you at about 1200 cals and then your free fruits/veggies/0 point foods account for any upward variance in total daily cals. AND you do not eat back exercise cals.

I think they have most people starting around 1450 calories (29 daily points plus 7 'weekly', times 40 calories per point, roughly) and then you add 'free' produce, bringing most people over 1800.

And I think they advise you to eat back exercise calories (as desired) at the rate of about half of what you burn. One 'activity point' is around 80 calories in exercise, and you can eat all your activity points.

This is all how it was when Points Plus first came out a couple years ago, so it might've changed since then.

KValmera71 · January 2014

I will give a little spin on this. I have been following MFP since October. I joined WW 2 weeks ago. Now I am a lot heavier than you all. I started at 345 lbs, as of today I am 321. I have my MFP set to 2 lbs a week loss and on sedentary lifestyle (I average about 4000-6000 steps a day with my job). WW has me at 48 points with 49 weekly points. If I do the calculation of 1p = 40 calories, that would mean WW allows me roughly 1920 calories and MFP has me at 1710 calories a day but I set it to 1920 daily.

I have a jawbone UP that calculates my steps into calories burned. It breaks it down into activity and resting calories and gives me my total calories burned for the day. Now there are days I will go for a 2 mile walk or try to add some extra steps and MFP links with my jawbone and adds the additional calories in but I dont usually eat them back.

I found a way to change the code to show my WW points in my diary but found the points listed on MFP are way lower than what my WW diary shows. (usually by about 10 points)

So even though I use WW points, I still calculate my calories. I like WW for the accountability of attending meetings, the weekly weigh ins, the support and motivation, etc. I will never stop counting calories. I just balance my life around both.

And this Saturday, I am joining the YMCA so I can start water aerobics and swimming in the evenings. So I will have to adjust my activity setting on here to lightly active. That will change my calories I think but I will just again balance it all out.

Francl27 · January 2014

WW is low but you can eat veggies and fruit as much as you want I believe?

Casstevens133 · January 2014

I can't answer your question but 10 years ago I lost 5 stone on the old WW system and it was pretty easy to use. In Jan last year I subscribed again but the pro points system did nothing for me - it just didn't work and most likely because I couldn't wrap my head round it! Came on to MFP which is much simpler (and free!) and have lost 3 stone in just under a year. I'm a very happy bunny and will stay here THANKYOU MFP and my friends who support me and who I enjoy supporting :-)

IsMollyReallyHungry · January 2014

So even though I use WW points, I still calculate my calories. I like WW for the accountability of attending meetings, the weekly weigh ins, the support and motivation, etc. I will never stop counting calories. I just balance my life around both.

Agreed!

RoadsterGirlie · January 2014

50 calories was the old plan, prior to 2011.

It's now 40 calories, per point.

IsMollyReallyHungry · January 2014

50 calories was the old plan, prior to 2011.

It's now 40 calories, per point.

Thanks! Are you a lifetime WW person now and are you still counting calories and points or just on maintenance?

Did you use WW points when losing or counted your calories here with MFP?

rfordh1 · January 2014

I've done MFP and WW. I find that the setup of the ww plan is easy to follow especially for people who are trying to change some really bad habits. The extra 49 points a week is awesome. I can splurge for a day or eat a little extra if I'm still hungry throughout the week. I do agree that the MFP database is more extensive than the ww one, but in general it's a lot easier to remember that one food is 3 points or another is 2 rather than 150 calories or 135. If I forget to log my food it's a lot easier to add up my points for the day in my head than all the calories. Plus I love most fruits and vegetables are zero points. I know everyone says you should count everything that goes into your mouth, but WW has built in room for those extras in the points of other foods. All it really does is trick you into eating more fruits and vegetables. Not many people are going to binge on fruits and veggies. It's the bag of salty chips or cookies that you're more likely to attack. Lastly the support you get with WW is what really helps me. I need to be held accountable and I get a little more of that with WW. MFP is definitely a great tool for weight loss, but I think there's a reason to shell out the money every month for WW if you need more guidance and ease of following the diet.

IsMollyReallyHungry · January 2014

I agree about no one binging on fruits and veggies! Thanks for you reply! I am ready to start tomorrow!! But for now I am going to keep counting calories.

IsMollyReallyHungry · January 2014

Well I have been using the 40 cal per point and lost 2.4 pounds 1st week and had a bad weekend and still lost!! I will keep you posted. This week should be better for sure, no plans this weekend!

Tig_ · February 2014

Well I have been using the 40 cal per point and lost 2.4 pounds 1st week and had a bad weekend and still lost!! I will keep you posted. This week should be better for sure, no plans this weekend!

That's awesome, well done! & thank you for linking me to this thread, it's been a really interesting read.

IsMollyReallyHungry · February 2014

Well I have been using the 40 cal per point and lost 2.4 pounds 1st week and had a bad weekend and still lost!! I will keep you posted. This week should be better for sure, no plans this weekend!

That's awesome, well done! & thank you for linking me to this thread, it's been a really interesting read.

Thanks! and your welcome!

skbarton · February 2014

Under the old points system with 1 point equalling 50 calories, the rule of thumb was 100 exercise calories equalled 1 activity point. If I'm thinking right (and that is questionable sometimes LOL), if you ate your activity points, then it would be like eating back half of your exerise calories (burn 100, eat 50). Under the newer PP plan implemented a couple of years ago, rumors had it that activity points were between 60 and 80 calories.

I agree with a previous poster that was encouraging using the 49 extra points and at least some of the AP's. I didn't use all my bonus points and never the AP's and my weight loss came to a screeching halt. If weight loss stalls, do consider whether you are eating enough...

IsMollyReallyHungry · February 2014

Under the old points system with 1 point equalling 50 calories, the rule of thumb was 100 exercise calories equalled 1 activity point. If I'm thinking right (and that is questionable sometimes LOL), if you ate your activity points, then it would be like eating back half of your exerise calories (burn 100, eat 50). Under the newer PP plan implemented a couple of years ago, rumors had it that activity points were between 60 and 80 calories.

I agree with a previous poster that was encouraging using the 49 extra points and at least some of the AP's. I didn't use all my bonus points and never the AP's and my weight loss came to a screeching halt. If weight loss stalls, do consider whether you are eating enough...

Thanks! AP's???

Amethysta79 · February 2014

I've started on 26 points & I found out that it sometimes works out to only 1,000 calories (ish) on here & I've heard that the points drop the more weight you lose.

I don't eat back my Activity Points, & occasionally delve into my weekly allowance.

Some days I'm hungry & some days I'm not.

I'm aware that I probably don't use my points in the right way though, & as I hate fruit & veggies I'm not eating much free food which would bump up the calories on here.

sargessexyone · February 2014

I did WW for 2 1/2 years and lost 70 lbs. I got stuck last July and since then have pretty much just maintained. I started MFP just 3 weeks ago. WWs is an awesome program for SOME people. MFP is an awesome program for SOME people. You just have to find which one works best for you.

Like another poster said it is easier to count WW points in your head than calories but I do find myself eating differently then when I was on WW. I eat more foods now that I didn't before because I didn't feel it was worth the points. Although I still eat a lot of veggies, I don't eat as much fruit because now they are worth calories whereas before they were free.

I look at it like this points/calories, whichever you count, is like money in the bank. You just gotta decide what you want to spend it on.

IsMollyReallyHungry · February 2014

I look at it like this points/calories, whichever you count, is like money in the bank. You just gotta decide what you want to spend it on.

Thanks for sharing and I absolutely love your analogy to the bank too!!!

IsMollyReallyHungry · February 2014

Well I have been using the 40 cal per point and lost 2.4 pounds 1st week and had a bad weekend and still lost!! I will keep you posted. This week should be better for sure, no plans this weekend!

I lost another 2.2 pounds this week for a total of 4.6 pounds!! :happy:

skbarton · February 2014

Under the old points system with 1 point equalling 50 calories, the rule of thumb was 100 exercise calories equalled 1 activity point. If I'm thinking right (and that is questionable sometimes LOL), if you ate your activity points, then it would be like eating back half of your exerise calories (burn 100, eat 50). Under the newer PP plan implemented a couple of years ago, rumors had it that activity points were between 60 and 80 calories.

I agree with a previous poster that was encouraging using the 49 extra points and at least some of the AP's. I didn't use all my bonus points and never the AP's and my weight loss came to a screeching halt. If weight loss stalls, do consider whether you are eating enough...

Thanks! AP's???

Activity Points

rbrockman1963 · February 2014

for all you people doing WW plan it is good and you have to remember they give you fruit and veggies free. On fitnesspal they count as calories. So WW calories may be less but you have to figure in the fruit and veggie. They just made it easy to count your points and not to worry about fruit and veggie. They are pushing you to make better choices and that is the veggie and fruit. They fuel your body and give it the energy it needs to run.

wozkaa · February 2014

I lost 60lb using WW back in 2009-2010, old points plan.
After working a lot and then having babies, I gained it all back by just being slack with my nutrition.
I was thinking about rejoining WW Online (which i did last time) but can't afford it, so was looking here and found this link:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/822197-how-to-track-weight-watchers-points-on-mfp

It has helped me reconcile the calories vs points debate in my head, and has helped me transition to using MFP (my poor brain was stuck on WW)

You can choose which system (old or ProPoints) to follow, and gives you the links to install the scripts to be able to view the WW points for your foods in your MFP diary.

jeanwalters5268 · February 2014

I have done weight watchers. Went to Dr. Sudderth in Vicksburg. Adepex helped me lose 30 pounds since mid August last year. I was not able to exercise because of knee problems, but I went from size 14 to size 6. Used MFP to keep us with carbs and protein.

michellemeyers2 · June 2014

I was allowed 18 points on WW- I was SO hungry! It was terrible.

CMaksmowski · June 2014

What did you mean by change the code to show your ww points??

WalkingAlong · June 2014

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/822197-how-to-track-weight-watchers-points-on-mfp

You can probably just read the last few pages. It does calc points for produce so you may want to change your categories so you have one at the bottom (like under breakfast, lunch, dinner) for zero point items, in case you don't want to skip tracking them completely. Then it's easier to subtract out their points from the points total, at least.

dakotacabn · September 2014

This all really helped. I wanted to know how many calories I was eating. I didn't want to pay for weight watchers so I am going on my own.

How does Weight Watcher points convert into calories?

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