WW Program Update - NEW PersonalPoints customized for you in 2022!
Everything you need to know about myWW™, the new Weight Watchers 2019/2020 plan! Learn about the new purple, blue, and green plan options including details about points, daily allowances, zero points foods, and more.
If you've been doing Weight Watchers for any amount of time, you know that the plan is updated every few years. This keeps things fresh and interesting, helps spark enthusiasm and prevents us from getting stuck in a rut.
I believe WW is committed to offering what’s best for its members based on the latest healthy weight loss research. I'm excited about myWW.
What's New in the Weight Watchers Program in 2019/2020?
MyWW: Weight Loss, Your Way
For the first time ever, WW is offering its members the opportunity to choose the specific plan best for them: "When it comes to losing weight, everyone's needs are different. What works well for one person may not work as well for another."
We need to consider our personalities and lifestyles.
There will be three options from which to choose.
What are WW Different Color (Green, Blue Purple) Plans All About?
The latest program includes Blue, Green, and Purple plans. According to WW, "You'll have the opportunity to try an entirely new plan—Green or Purple—or stay on Freestyle—now called Blue."
- The Green Plan (Like WW SmartPoints Beyond the Scale)
- The Blue Plan (Like WW Freestyle)
- The Purple Plan (Like WW a modified Simply Filling)
You'll also be able to switch from plan to plan if you want.
What is the WW Green Plan and Who is it Best For?
The GREEN PLAN is essentially the "SmartPoints Beyond the Scale" with a unique SmartPoints Budget plus 100+ ZeroPoint foods including fruits and non-starchy vegetables. It provides more accountability than the Blue and Purple plans.
Tracking the majority of what you eat helps you keep an eye on portion sizes and really know what's going on in your body. With this plan, the daily points allowance is higher. It will start at 30 SmartPoints daily. This plan also comes with with weekly SmartPoints and FitPoints.
My take: This options provides the most structure and accountability. If you struggle with overeating Zero Point foods and portion control, this may be the best choice for you.
What is the WW Blue Plan and Who is it Best For?
The BLUE PLAN is essentially "WW Freestyle" with a unique SmartPoints Budget plus 200+ ZeroPoint foods including fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. It provides a mix of freedom and accountability.
You can use Blue's long and comprehensive list of ZeroPoint™ foods to either bulk up recipes when you are feeling particularly hungry, or to create an entire meal from when you want or need to. You are then free to use your SmartPoints to enjoy a meal out, or have a glass of wine or some chocolate.
It's that flexibility and knowledge that there's never anything you 'can't' have that's been the key for many. There is a minimum daily points allowance of 23 points, which will adjust up based on age, gender, height and weight. There will also be a weekly SmartPoints allowance and FitPoints.
My take: This is the middle option, more flexible than the Green Plan but not as flexible as the Purple Plan. If you are doing well on the current Freestyle Plan, this is where you want to be.
What is the WW Purple Plan and Who is it Best For?
The Purple Plan reminds me a lot of WW old Simply Filling plan with a unique SmartPoints Budget plus 300+ ZeroPoint foods including fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Potatoes and whole grain rice and pasta are ZeroPoint™ foods on Purple too.
This plan provides the least tracking and most freedom. It is easy to overeat free foods under this option so it's important that people following the Purple Plan really listen to their body and manage their portions.
At the end of the day, if you eat too many calories, you will still gain weight. The minimum daily SmartPoints budget is lower at 16. This option also includes a weekly SmartPoints budget and FitPoints.
My take: This plan affords you the most freedom least amount of tracking. If you struggle with overeating carbs, this probably is NOT the best choice for you.
How Do You Choose Which is the Right WW Plan (Blue, Green, Purple)?
Members will have the option to follow the plan of their choosing or they can let WW help them select the best plan for them based on a simple assessment/questionnaire.
What is the Weight Watchers Quiz/Assessment?
New members can take a quiz once they sign up and download the APP. The quiz/assessment will ask you questions about your food preferences, activity level, lifestyle and approach to weight loss. Based on your answers you will be matched with an eating style - Green, Blue, or Purple, that suits you best.
Current members can also check out the assessment if they are curious. But keep in mind it was created for new members and you know yourself best. If you decide that you want to try a new color, you can switch at any time in Settings of the App.
Can Current WW Members Take the Color Plan Quiz/Assessment/Questionnaire?
If you are a current member and want to take the quiz/assessment follow these steps:
- Log in to WW.com (the assessment is only available on the website)
- Click on "Account" in the upper right corner
- Click on "Settings"
- Click on "Food plan"
- Scroll down to “Take our new member assessment”
NOTE: The personal assessment can only be taken once, so if you try to retake it but can't find it, that's why.
What's happening with WW SmartPoints with the New Program?
SmartPoints Based Food Plan Stays the Same.
It all starts with the SmartPoints system, which takes complex nutritional data and condenses it into one simple easy-to-understand number: the SmartPoints value.
SmartPoints use an algorithm based on calories, saturated fat, protein and sugar to come up with a single SmartPoints number. Calories form the baseline. Protein lowers the SmartPoints value. Sugar and saturated fat will raise it.
How Many Points Do I Get on the WW Green, Blue Purple Plans?
Your daily SmartPoints budget will depend on the plan that you choose (green, blue, or purple), as well as your age, height, weight and sex. The specific number is calculated by Weight Watchers. However, here are some general guidelines:
- Green Plan: Minimum 30 daily SmartPoints plus weekly SmartPoints and FitPoints
- Blue Plan: Minimum 23 daily SmartPoints plus weekly SmartPoints and FitPoints
- Purple Plan: Minimum 16 daily SmartPoints plus weekly SmartPoints and FitPoints
Do WW SmartPoints Rollover on the new myWW Program?
On all three of the myWW plans, you can roll over up to four unused daily points into your weekly points allowance to be used as extras whenever you like for the remainder of the week. Rollovers will reset on your weigh-in day, along with other weeklies. To begin with, you will be automatically opted in, but can choose to opt out if you wish by going to Settings.
Do I still get weekly Smartpoints?
Each week you get an allotment of SmartPoints beyond your daily budget based on your weight, activity level, age, and other lifestyle factors. You can think of these as "overdraft" protection. They can be used at your discretion during the week. I've heard many folks refer to them as their "happy hour points" or "fun points" or "life happens points." They help you to navigate the ups and downs of real life.
Additionally, you can swap Fitpoints (after 3000 daily steps) for Smartpoints if you want.
What are Zero Points Foods on the WW Green, Blue, Purple Plans?
With the new MyWW Program, ZeroPoint foods will change depending on which plan you follow.
In general, the Green plan will include fruits and non-starchy vegetables.
The Blue plan will include fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, eggs, and legumes.
The Purple plan will include fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, legumes, eggs, fat free dairy and whole grains.
All plans include some zero point, low calorie drinks like black tea and coffee and condiments such as mustard and vinegar.
Which of the Three Plans - Green, Blue, or Purple - is Best for Weight Loss?
One plan is not inherently better than another. Every plan works. No plan provides greater weight loss than another. It all comes down to which plan works best for YOU, considering your personal preferences and lifestyle. You want to choose the plan that is going to be best at supporting you and your goals.
As a longtime yoga practitioner I also don't believe that flexibility and freedom are necessarily "better" than structure and discipline. As one of my favorite yoga teachers is fond of saying, "from discipline comes freedom." Some of us need more structure to thrive, others of us need more freedom. Neither is better or worse than the other, just different.
The good news is that if the plan you choose doesn't work, you can easily switch to and try out another!
Can I Change Between the Blue, Green and Purple Plans?
Yes, the choice is yours! However, WW suggests allowing two weeks before making a switch, because it takes some time to adjust to a new way of eating. If you decide to make a switch, you can do it right in Settings in your WW app. Go to Profile>Settings>Food Settings and then selecting the plan you'd like to use.
How Will this Change Affect the Recipes on Simple Nourished Living?
Moving forward, each of our recipes will list three different SmartPoints values for the three different MyWW color plans. We will be working hard over the next several weeks to add all three values to each of our current recipes. Please bear with us as we do all the calculations!
Do Your EBooks Reflect the New myWW Green, Blue Purple Plans?
Yes, all of our eBooks have been updated with Green, Blue and Purple Points information. If you purchased a previous version of the eBooks and don't wish to buy them again, here's a list of all the updated myWW SmartPoints for the recipes in our eBooks!
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
You might also like:
- WW Simply Filling Review & Explanation
- WW New SmartPoints Beyond the Scale Program
- WW Freestyle Program Explained
- Diet to Go Meal Delivery: Healthy Eating Made Easy
*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.
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Kathy E.
Thank you, Martha, for doing this under-cover work! I've heard just a bit about the new WW programs, but no details, so this is very helpful! WW is always on top of what's best for their members and I've been very successful following the Freestyle program. Thank you!
Martha McKinnon
You are most welcome Kathy! So happy to learn you are having success with Freestyle!
Charlene Laakonen
Personally did so well with points plus, and have struggled since the all the program changes since then. I'm still a member, never quit. I wish they would allow you to use the program that fits you.
Barbara
I also really did well on points plus and wish they would bring it back.
Stephanie Waugh
Thanks, Martha! Great information. I'm a lifetime member since 1979 and at goal for 10 years 10 months. I weigh in weekly. My best bet with the new changes is the purple plan. I don't use the app. (4 reasons I won't go into) My challenge is figuring smart points. I still use the little blue calculator and the little booklet. Will those still work under the new plan or is the algorithm changing too? Is there still a way to follow the program without using the app? Thanks for any help!
Martha McKinnon
Hi Stephanie, Congratulations on your 10 years 10 months of lifetime success! That's wonderful. As far as I know the SmartPoints algorithm isn't changing so your calculator and books should still work. I'll know more after attending my meeting next week and will update this post with everything I learn. ~Martha
Sherry
I like points plus best, as well.
MK
WW has applied for a new patent for “MyWW”
— That is a Trademark application, NOT a Patent application.
Rollout is slated for the week of 11/11/20
— The rollout is 11/11/2019 not 2020
Janine
11/11/20???
I think you mean 2019 ??
Martha McKinnon
Yes, Janine, Thanks!
Barbara Johnson
looks like that is what they are doing now....giving you the choice of which program you want. Excited!
Roxanne
How exciting. I made goal and made lifetime a couple of months ago. WW is the best. THANK YOU for information !
Atalanta
I am thrilled about the changes. I joined with BtS and lost 50 in my first 6 mos. It's taken me 2 years to loose the next 25 on Freestyle. Took me that long to figure out how to make it work for me. I'm gonna jump right on the green program as soon as I can, I need the more structure, stricter guidelines to make WW work for me.
Martha McKinnon
It's so great you know what you need!
Lisa
I am a UK resident and do like the ideas of the new plan and essentially going back to what SmartPoints was before flex. It will provide more flexibility for me and I anticipate better success.
Sheila
Hi, I am having trouble accessing my free ebook. Can you please send me the recipe for the cake at the top of the page? It looks like a sponge gingerbread cake maybe? Looks airy and delicious!
Martha McKinnon
Hi Shelia, That would be this 3-2-1 Mug Cake: https://simple-nourished-living.com/weight-watchers-3-2-1-microwave-mug-cake/. enjoy!!
Virginia AnnWatt
Great info! Can’t wait.
Karen
In your chart comparing myWW plans, I believe you have the first two labels showing previous WW versions at the bottom of the chart mixed up: the Blue plan is like Freestyle and the Green plan is like Beyond the Scale. Correct?
Martha McKinnon
Hi Karen, Yes you are correct. I've corrected the chart. Thanks! ~Martha
Reg
Thank you for the update and thoroughness! I was trying to understand why the three options and now I totally get it. Thanks a bunch!
Martha McKinnon
Glad it helped, Reg. ~Martha
Donna Damsgaard
As a WW coach, it is important to point out that all plans are flexible! Just because one plan has a larger Zero Point foods list doesn't mean it's more flexible and a smaller list of Zero Point foods means it's more strict! WW encourages members to use both Zero Point and Smart Points to build a healthy foundation of eating. Some members like tracking Smart Points and some members prefer to go to a list of healthy food options. The deciding factor for what color to choose will come down to which program is the easiest for that individual member to follow. We don't want members to perceive that one program is more beneficial then another! Green, Blue, and Purple all provide flexibility and freedom based on a healthy foundation of eating - Zero Point Foods and Smart Points.
Martha McKinnon
Thanks Donna. I agree that one program is not inherently more beneficial than another. As a longtime yoga practitioner I also don't believe that flexibility and freedom are necessarily "better" than structure and discipline. As one of my favorite yoga teachers is fond of saying, "from discipline comes freedom." Some of us need more structure to thrive, others of us need more freedom. Neither is better or worse than the other, just different. ~Martha
Monica Esau
Hi Martha,
I purchased and have been charged for The 2020 Weight Watchers Changes Cookbook and it said I would also get the Slow cook cookbook but I am unable to find it so I can download them on my iPad.. Can you please send me the links for these cookbooks??
Thank you
Martha McKinnon
Hi Monica, everything has been re-sent to your email. All the best, ~Martha
betty barnhart
i a problem with my computer and reset it. i lost my ability to get into my MyWW act, my user name and password don't work any more no matter what i do. i need some help to get into my account. can you help me? my email is Hummer777@comcast.net. thank you for following up on this. Betty Barnhart.
2533188334.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Betty, You've left this comment on the blog, Simple Nourished Living. You'll want to contact Weight Watchers directly so they can help you. ~Martha
Ray
I believe in the 80/20 rule. you know, where 80 of all reward comes from 20 of the effort? Well, I believe your blog is that 20. I've added you to the list of sites that I frequent. Thank you for the in depth and detailed blog posts. Not many people are willing to do that anymore.
carolyn anne noonan-liddle
Hi my doctor recommened a mederteranian diet
Dianne kokoski
How does the new program deal with those of us that are gluten free?
Martha McKinnon
Hi Dianne, WW is flexible enough to work with a variety of dietary needs including gluten free, vegetarian, kosher, etc. Hope this helps. ~Martha
Mae Brunell
Hi Martha! Why can't I watch the video.? Iclicked on it.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Mae, not sure why. I clicked it and it worked fine! ~Martha
Rebecca
I'm on the Blue WW program and when I create this recipe on their website it says it's only 2 points per serving. Why is your calculation different?