Read about NEW myWW New Program launched 11/2020
You may remember that back in September Weight Watchers announced its name change to WW to reflect it's mission to move beyond weight loss into wellness, with a new tagline of "Wellness That Works."
WW Focus on Wellness and Health
In the WW announcement Mindy Grossman, CEO, said, "We are committed to always being the best weight management program on the planet, but now we're putting our decades of knowledge and expertise in behavioral science to work for an even greater mission. We are becoming the world's partner in wellness. No matter what your goal is — to lose weight, eat healthier, move more, develop a positive mind-set, or all of the above — we will deliver science-based solutions that fit into people's lives. This is just the beginning of our journey to become the world's partner in wellness."
Going beyond a number on the scale, members will now have the option to focus on building healthy habits without focusing on weight loss.
Because lasting health is about so much more than just the number on the scale, this change makes a lot of sense to me.
Watch this video to learn more about WW Wellness that Works 2019...
WW Updated Terminology
In addition to their name, other aspects of the (Weight Watchers) WW program also have been modernized:
- Stores/Centers are now "Studios"
- Meetings are now "Workshops"
- Receptionists are now "Wellness Guides"
- Leaders are now "Wellness Coaches"
- Weigh-Ins are now "Wellness Check Ins"
As we move into 2019, the Freestyle Program launched in December 2018 continues to evolve. You may be wondering...
What's changed?
What's the same with the latest WW Weight Watchers plan?
Latest Changes to the WW Freestyle Plan for 2019
WW Freestyle Smartpoints Program Stays the Same
First and foremost, there are no changes to the current Freestyle SmartPoints System and its expansive list of Zero Points Foods.
In 2018, Weight Watchers updated its points system to Freestyle Smartpoints and added a whole new group of zero point foods. This change from SmartPoints to Freestyle SmartPoints, was a major shift in how WW points are calculated.
To encourage healthier choices, many healthy whole foods like lean proteins, legumes, beans, vegetables and fruit became zero points.
At the same time, many foods that were higher in sugar and/or saturated fats saw an increase in points.
Changes to WW FitPoints (2.0)
FitPoints—points assigned by WW for specific activities—have been newly calibrated (FitPoints 2.0) to make it even more accurate than before. They now consider your height, weight, age, and gender, as well as the activity you're doing and how long you're doing it, to determine a personalized FitPoints value for all your the activities you track.
Just as all calories are not created the same, neither are types of activity. 100 calories burned walking is not the same as 100 calories burned running or lifting weights.
The new algorithm still provides points for all types of activity, but high-intensity activities and strength training are now rewarded with more Fitpoints than lighter activities, like walking or cleaning.
Your FitPoints can still be exchanged for extra food points during the week, if you want.
WW is also partnering with audio fitness app Aaptiv in 2019 to provide members with on-demand digital workouts. When members sign up for WW Freestyle, they'll gain access to Aaptiv's personal trainers and be able to sync their workouts with FitPoints.
WW New WellnessWins Rewards Program
Wellness is about building healthy habits that last a lifetime. The WellnessWins rewards program sweetens the deal by offering you credits - aka "Wins" - for the healthy behaviors you accomplish each day - like tracking your meals, activity, and weight or attending workshops.
Tracking meal in food journal
These accrued "Wins" can then be cashed in for various rewards for things like online shopping vouchers, cookbooks, hats, journals, insulated bags, and gift cards.
More Focus on Community with WW Connect Groups
A big part of WW Success is the sense of shared community it provides. WW Connect allows online interaction with members all over the world.
A new feature called Connect Groups, allows you to connect with other members who share your interests. You can join groups based on your age and stage of life, where you are on your wellness journey, food, activity, mindset, or hobbies.
So whether you're a 60-year-old vegetarian foodie or a 20-something college student who loves CrossFit, you can find like-minded people who are doing WW, too. Just this morning I've joined several Connect Groups including Traveling, Reading, Mindfulness, Yoga, Meal Prep, Foodies, Recipes, Maintaining and In My 50s!
It also includes an Instagram like area where you can follow other members, like their posts, and use hashtags.
Mental Wellness, Mindful and Meditation Content
WW has decades of experience in the science of behavior change, and they are using it to give people the tools they need to achieve their wellness goals.
Next on the horizon: A partnership with Headspace to create custom mindfulness content that members can tap into from the WW app—anytime, anywhere.
Though the Headspace partnership isn't up and running yet, you can find meditation resources on the current WW website to help support mindfulness and mental health.
Updating WW Food Products
To better align with their overall shift to health and wellness, WW has announced plans to make all of their food products free of artificial colors, sweeteners and preservatives. As someone who gets terrible headaches from Splenda, this is happy news for me!
Voice Recognition Capability
Members will now be able to use their voices to look up the SmartPoint values of foods, quickly add points to their tracker, and get updates on their progress thanks to integration with Alexa and Google Assist.
You might also like:
- All About WW Freestyle Program
- The Ultimate Guide to WW Resources
- Oprah's Favorite Things for Weight Watchers
Subscribe to Get: Top 10 Reader Favorite Recipes
The Top 10 Most Popular Recipes (PDF) on Simple Nourished Living + Weekly Support Emails with Tips & Easy Healthy Recipes Not Found Anywhere Else!
Wanda Bigelow
Thank you Martha for the extensive information you have given us re: WW. I am a few pounds over goal weight and have started getting back on track. I've already lost 2.5 lbs. since Monday morning when I weighed in. Your meals are so good. There is only one that did not please my palate. I've been trying to get a few recipes down to repeat every 14-21 days. I did the roasted veggies tonight and seasoned them with Herbamare, which I purchased at a health food store. If your store doesn't carry it, they can order it for you. It adds so much flavor to everything, even eggs.
Karen
Has the cost for WW remained the same?
Ann
Sooooo where were LIFETIMERS mentioned. We seem to be all but forgotten. We have worked hard to get where we are today. Some of us from 1-20+ years. Never a word about us or any recognition for our longtime achievements. And I am not the only one who feels that way. Just saying!!!
Christina
I totally agree with you.
Lynne D Painter
I feel the same...plus, they seem to be neglecting those of us who are senior citizens, who do not have (nor want) smart phones and are not digital savvy...so many times they ask members to look at their apps during meetings, while the rest of us just sit. The leaders tell those with phones to share with us, but we don't have smart phone and don't understand them or want to use them. I felt when they changed to the new WW (Wellness) concept, it was a futile attempt to try to modernize the program, but I'm from the old school "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." So, now they offer rewards, when what we really want is a professional, no frills weight management, give us back the professionally printed stickers in our books (half the time, we can't read the handwriting of the person weighing us, plus there is more room for human error.) I feel they are going to have to overcome a huge, decades-long familiarity that people have come to know and trust. I'll bet Jean Nidetch is rolling over in her grave.
Lou Ross
Totally agree. Those of use who don't use smartphones are out of luck. I couldn't be more disappointed in the changes. I tried that Connect feature on my computer, but it only really works on "devices" Pretty clear that they only want younger people. As a lifetimer, it took a lot to talk myself into going back after gaining ALL my weight back over 20 years. Guess I'll have to just try to do it myself somehow. This new digital approach to WW makes me feel left out and abandoned.
Judy
I totally agree. They have gone over the deep end with all the wellness / digital regimen. Zero points values on so many foods that make it too easy for one to remember it’s still all calories in versus good old fashioned calories out. When one loses sight of that it’s to easy to go out of your daily point budget
Stefanie
It’s important to grow with the times. If they refused to do so, they would become irrelevant. Just because you are older and not used to technology doesn’t mean you can’t learn. Why resist change? You might enjoy it once you understand it better. Give it a try before you shut it down. If WW stayed the exact same for 50 years and didn’t change with the current times they would become obsolete. I hope you decide to try to learn something new as we are never ever too old to continue learning and growth! Best wishes! 🙂
Angie
I was wondering the same thing! I was just looking through the information and found no mention of life timers.
Deborah Price
I agree, and if you are a lifetime member and over your goal wight , you pay a meeting fee but if you want the app you have to pay extra for that. Also I was told I could really only attend one meeting per month unless I wanted to pay additional meeting fee. Used to be that once you paid for the first monthly meeting fee when you were over goal you could attend more meetings in that month without an additional charge.
J. Harris
you always had to pay for a meeting if over goal (lifetime members). I do not have a smart phone, don't want one, like the old smart points. Guess I won't be coming back.
Dianna
I am Celiac. Is the wwfreestyle program a viable option for me?
Debra Toutloff
I am also a celiac. I have been eating gluten free for more than 20 years. I don't find my restrictions change the results of WW's programs...it's all personal choice and making good choices for you. Obviously there are foods on program that are no go territory for me, but they are no go territory when I'm not following WW's as well...so nothing changes there. For those of who are celiac - the biggest dangers of an exposure come with pre-made and packaged foods...best thing to do is cook from scratch, that way you always know your food is safe for you.
Miriam Sherman
I am a life member. I reached my desired weight 6 years ago do I haven’t participated since then. I am a senior and find that my midriff is expanding (loosely!) and my height shrinkage has reduced my waistline. And, my skin is wrinkling on arms, face, thighs. I am in my 80’s, active and healthy.
Questions:
1 am I still on your membership list?
2. I have heard that WW is easier to follow nowadays, no points or measurements, is that do and how does the system work now, have to show up frequently?
3. I heard from a nutritionist that healthy fats like avocados should be included in healthy food choices: yet you do not include such items yet potatoes and corn and pasta, carbs with less nutritive value ARE included: don’t inderstand that, do you have a reason to include such things?
I live in Downtown Buffalo so if I wanted to start coming to meetings again please let me know the closest to me and the schedules thank you
Martha McKinnon
Hi Miriam,
You are going to want to contact WW directly to get your questions/issues answered and addressed! I'm simply a blogger and WW Lifetime member 🙂
Cindy Taylor
Hi, can you explain why WW changed the points for Chick fil A's diet lemonade?
Bob Muller
Why has weight watchers soda been discontinued?
Martha McKinnon
Hi Bob, I'm really not sure why WW soda has been discontinued. Truthfully, I didn't even know they had soda. (Artificial sweeteners give me a headache.) I know they are updating many of their products to be free of artificial ingredients. That may be the reason. I'd reach out to them to see what they say. ~Martha
Marjorie Hill
How sad that WW does not feel an obligation to long term customers to continue other plans that worked,
Della Anderson
I agree with the ladies with a life time membership. I have been trying to find where the meetings are held, etc. for an elderly friend of mine who is a life time member. She has never been contacted about all the changes, she does not have a computer or smart phone. I have copied out where the meetings in Regina, Sk. will be held but I am afraid that she will not attend as they are too far out of her driving radius.
I, too, am very disappointed, as I use to be able to quickly get to a meeting and then home. Not now, too far. Haven't got the time to travel across the city.
Pauline
I live in Thailand and so wish there was a meeting here, even if its bangkok . I will still be able to get there. I have been to ww in the uk, where im from and enjoyed the meetings. But i had to come home to where i have lived for over 40 yrs. Otherwise an onlinr meeting would be good, not as good as a live meeting mind.
Looking forward to your thoughts.
Pauline
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