Overview of Weight Watchers Core and Flex Plans

Weight Watchers has been offering two diet plans that you can personalize for quite a few years now. Even if you've been on the Core or Flex Plan not too long ago, you might find that things have changed. Some of these changes are good and some are not so good. Here' s a look at some of the old and new features to these diets.

Core Plan

Traditionally this plan promoted a way to lose weight without counting, which it still does. However, you still need to keep track of your servings with their Quiktrak brochures or Journal so you don't eat more than one serving of certain types of foods. The Core plan gives you the opportunity to eat foods from the core food list, including meats, dairy products, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Your diet is limited to these foods, but you can always use some weekly points that are allotted to you to indulge in foods not part of the core food list. This diet is great for those that really want to know how to eat healthy, make wise food decisions, and learn how to know their hunger signals.

Cons

For those that have a really hard time eating to just satisfied, they will find this diet difficult. The foods are definitely healthy, but nonetheless limited. For someone that likes a very wide variety of options, this diet won't provide endless choices. The ability to eat without counting points is supplemented by only being allowed a certain amount of servings of each per day; this isn't a con in and of itself, because it aids in the weight loss process, but you might find it rocky at first when you are learning to remember what you can eat.

Flex Plan

This plan has the most versatility. You can eat anything you want in moderation as long as you stay within your points target. Each food is given a value in 'points' depending on the fiber, fat, and calorie content. You will find that healthier foods are generally the lowest in points, which will help you make better choices so you can feel satisfied and still lose weight. In the past, Weight Watchers used to offer you a set scale of points values for each weight range. Now, they take in consideration your frequent daily activities, height, gender, and age to determine a personalized points target. You will find that in most cases this scale offers you slightly more points each day than the previous scale. This plan is great for people that love variety, but want to learn to take it in moderation.

Cons

Along with the points you get each day, you will also receive a set number of weekly points. These weekly points can be great for occasional use to eat out or eat something that is high in points that you only have once in a while. But if you use these weekly points as well as all of your daily points you will find that your weight loss will be very slow. This can be good or bad depending on how much you have to lose. A slow weight loss is easier to maintain, but for those that only have a few pounds to lose, they might find this annoying. On the other hand, those that have a lot to lose may be able to lose rapidly in the beginning, but will taper off as they get closer to their goal.

Both of these diets can work. Decide which one better fits your needs and give it a try.