NOTE: This is the old Momentum Weight Watchers Points formula, not the new as of November 2010 Points Plus.
I followed this program for several months (and previous several years ago) with good luck, but when my activity levels changed greatly, I stopped losing. At that point, in February 2012, I switched back to plain old calorie counting for about a year. Then in January 2013, I went back to Points Plus. While I had bad luck with the P+ program when I tried it at the end of 2010, I am having good losses with it now.
Please follow the blog posts or the Weekly Summary page to see how this is going for me.
You can see information on the new Points Plus+ program here.
For those of you wondering, here’s how the Weight Watchers Points system works. (C/50) + (F/12) – (R/5). C is calories, F is grams of fat, and R is grams of fiber. In plain English, you divide the number of calories in a food by 50. Then you take the number of grams of fat in the food and divide by 12. Then take the number of grams of fiber, and divide by 5. The number of grams of fiber are capped off at 4, so if it has 6 grams, you only use 4 for the equation. Then add your first two answers together, and subtract the third answer from that. That answer you now have is how many points are in the food item.
I know, it sounds horribly confusing, right? Here’s a secret- I set up an excel file to do all of the math for me. All I do is plug in the number of calories, and grams of fat and fiber, and it does the rest. If you’d like to see my file, grab it here. (right-click and download here.) There is also this file, which is better suited to tracking calories though it tracks Points as well. It also includes the Points values worksheet with many values included. (right-click and download here.)
Another helpful tip is to keep a page in your file that has the data for every food you eat. After a few weeks, you’ve got most of the foods you eat regularly in there already, so all you have to do is copy and paste the info into the sheet where you keep your daily totals. 
And the last one is that (and this is rough, don’t take this as set in stone) you are using 1 point for every 50 calories you consume. That’s if there’s no fat and no fiber, so if you eat a bag of gummy worms with 300 calories, there’s your 6 points right there. If there are grams of fat, add the equivalent of 4 calories to the total for each gram. Fiber? Subtract 10 calories for each gram up to 4. Re-figure your points (divide the new number by 50) from there. That should help you do the math on the go.
Lastly for today, I’ll copy and paste the formula for figuring out how many points you’re allowed to have per day.
- The first step is going to be establishing a baseline for weight watchers points depending on your sex and whether or not you are nursing. If you are female, give yourself 2 points to start. If you are male give yourself eight weight watchers points to start. If you are nursing give yourself 12 weight watchers points to start. This is the first step to calculate how many weight watchers points you will get on the plan so you can start losing weight.
Example: I am a woman so I start with 2 points.- The next thing you will do to calculate weight watchers points is to add to the number you got in step 1 depending on your age. If you are between 17-26 add 4 points to your weight watchers point total. If you are between 27-37 add 3 points; 38-47 add 2; 48-57 add 1; and over 58 add 0. This is because your metabolism slows as you get older so when you calculate how many weight watchers points you get.
Ex. I am 32 years old so I add 3 which gives me a total of 5 points.- Next, you will take the numbers you added together in step 1 and 2 and then adjust it for your weight and height. You are going to take the first two numbers of your weight. (You would add 19 if you weighed 197 pounds.) You will also adjust for your height. If you are under 5 ft you will add 0, between 5’0″ and 5’9″ you will add 1, and over 5’10″ add 2.
Ex. I weigh 194 pounds so I will add 19 points to my total giving me 24. Then since I am 5’8″ I will add 1 more point giving me 25.- Lastly, you will calculate how weight watchers points you get by adjusting for your activity level. If you spend most of your day sitting down, add 0 to your weight watchers points total. If you are occasionally sitting but mostly standing add 2. If you are walking most of the time add 4. If you do physically difficult work, add 6.
Ex. I spend most of my time unfortunately sitting around so I will add 0 which makes my point target 25. Now you have calculated your daily weight watchers points target.The points total does have two stipulations. It will never fall beneath 18, or go above 44. You also have 35 bonus points to use as you want during the week.
For every 10 pounds you lose, you lose 1 point off of your daily allowance.
Okay, I lied. One more thing! Activity points, and how to figure them out. Its pretty simple, but you’ll want a calculator to do the math because there’s no shortcut like for figuring food points.
I had hoped to link to your excel spreadsheet but the link is gone… Bummer!
I just switched my diet to WW, but I am doing it at home the OLD way…I had a the materials from years ago when I had sucess with it. The new and current way doesn’t sound interesting to me.
Mom on a missiob recently posted..Note to self: Don’t skip breakfast!
I just saw this- how weird!
I tried the new way, and the first week I lost 5 pounds. Every week after that for 2 months, I gained 2 pounds and I was rarely able to eat all my points in a day. Total disaster!
Deb recently posted..Day 126 – I Jogged!
I use to be on WW but i cant remember the old way 5-veggies a day–3fatsday–dairy 3day etc. do you have tis plan anywhere??
Thanks Linda
Hi Linda. I really don’t know the answer to your question, and my first Google searches weren’t helpful. I only have what information could be found on the internet. I only briefly officially used WW and it was with P+, which was a complete disaster for me.
Deb recently posted..Sunday Day 289
Hi Linda, I tried the points and found I eat more junk food,so am back to the ages old traditional. % to 6 breads, 4 to 5 protein,3 veg 2 fruit, 3 fat and 2 milk. 700 optional calories,and after week 3 7-21 personal selections
Does anyone have the user manual for the Momentus Points Calculator? I just bought it and I don’t know how to set it up
Try this link.
Here.
Deb recently posted..Saturday Day 330
Just wanted to say thank you. I have an old food value book but couldn’t remember how many points I was allowed. I, too, did really well on the old program.
You’re very welcome Karen! Glad to have helped!
Deb recently posted..Sunday Day 338
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. So you said its like 1 Point for every 50 calories correct? Pretty easy. I Hate The Points Plus they just made it harder. Thank You Again Rebecca
Basically yes. Just remember before dividing by 50 to get the points that you’ve converted the fat and fiber grams into calories. 1 g fat = 4 calories. 1 g fiber = – 10 calories for up to 4 grams.
Deb recently posted..Sunday Day 338
Can you please send me a link to the old points system or the list itself….would very much appreciate it
thanks
Sorry, I’m not sure what you mean by that. I’ve already shared everything I have or know.
Deb recently posted..Wednesday Day 383
thanks very very much Deb. I’m traveling internationally and can’t get to any of my sites. Now I’m tracking in Excel. I stopped doing ww, but I like the points system because it’s easier to track about 25 points than calories, fiber, fat, protien. Love your site!
V
You’re welcome! And thanks!
Deb recently posted..Wednesday Day 383
Can you tell me how I can get the slider that calculates the number of points for you? It has the calories, fiber, and fat and you just line them up and it tells you the number of points. Thanks!
I’m sorry I don’t know anything about that. I just use the excel sheet to track and figure points. However, I gave directions in the post above on how to figure points in your head on the fly.
Deb recently posted..Wednesday Day 383
I have been on the points plus program for a couple of months, and don’t seem to be losing anything. I lost for the first month, than nothing for the remainder. I am following everything, not eating the activity points, or the weekly allowance. I followed the calculations from the top of this page, and come up with 19pts, while my PP are at 26. Am I eating too much on the new program?
Does anyone have any feedback. I am getting frustrated.
Points are figured very differently between the two systems, thus the difference between the allowances in the systems. I found some foods, like Kraft mac n cheese, had almost twice as many Points Plu as they did old Points.
As to your lack of losing, I had the same thing happen- I love 5 pounds the first week, and then I gain 2 pounds every week. I stopped the program pretty quickly after that especially since a lot of days I wasn’t even eating all my points.
Deb recently posted..Monday Day 388 Food Diary
Thank you. I almost always keep all of my old WW info but this part sure got away from me. I veered from WWPP within 2 months of the change. Many people including myself simply don’t have a good fit with the all the fruit. Technically it finally came out that for every fruit after the first two you should charge a point. Too little info too late.
I loved the Points program and 1,2,3, Success. SO I reverted, then stumbled. I am no longer stumbling and am thrilled to find your page for others whom I will pass it on to.
Good luck in the New Year everyone.
Glad to be of help Nancy, and good luck getting back on track and making this happen! You can do it!
Deb recently posted..Friday Day 441 to Monday Day 444
Thanks for all the help it is greatly appreciated I too have kept all those old points books.It seems like everything I have read lately completely dismisses the new PP Plan and I can see why fruit with 0 points not good we all know that it is good for us but with 0 points and sky’s the limit look out fruit is high in natural sugar and can set you up for failure unless you know how to limit the amount you consume easier said than done that’s why we’re on WW. Terriffic site added it to my fav’s.
I’ve heard recently they have capped “free” fruit at 2 servings, and after that its 1 PP per serving. The problem is this has come too late for a lot of people who tried the new program and failed miserably with it.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting Diane!
Deb recently posted..Wednesday Day 446 Food Diary
Thank you so much for this useful info. Did WW 3 or 4 years ago with best riend and did very well. Wish me luck…
Best of luck to you! Thanks for stopping by!
Deb recently posted..FMM – Simple Questions
When I first did WW, you had to answer questions based on your gender, etc to figure out your daily points, but then after that, it didn’t matter if you were male/female, etc and it just depended on your weight. Once you lost weight, it would tell you how many points you had..does anyone have that information? I have misplaced my old books. Thanks!
Sorry, I can’t help you there Ashley. I never had the books in the first place. Did you try searching for it?
Deb recently posted..Wednesday Day 453 Food Diary
I started WW’s back in 2001 and lost 40 lbs. I have managed to keep my weight off for 12 years now thanks to this wonderful program. I love it and live by it daily and know that I will have to forever. As soon as I get cocky and think “I got this” and eat what ever I want, the lbs come on quick. I allow myself to go up and down between 5 lbs or so but thanks to my anal obsession with weighing every day (I know they say not to) but when I see I am getting to “my max” I get strict again on counting my points and it still works to this day. Now, I am several years older, lol, so I have noticed I have to excercise more when before I didnt really “have” to, I could just count points and that be enough. I have not been to meetings in years, I just do the “old” way on my own, and LOVE it. It was so easy. All the changes and new things they keep trying just confuse me. I am a creature of habbit and say if it works… why change it. Plus I hate all fruit, so that didnt help me anyway. I have so many people come to me still, and ask how to do ww’s b/c they have seen how I have kept off my weight and I still always teach them the old way. It is a lifestyle change for a reason. My weight is a daily struggle for me so I have had to make a lot of changes in how and what I eat. But thanks to zero point foods, I never starve!! Your website was helpful b/c i forgot the exact formula to getting the daily points, I just knew what I got but wasnt sure how to help my friends. So thank you. =) And to everyone out there… don’t ever give up. If you cave… it’s okay, we are all human, just get right back on it and count those points and you will be just fine, I promise.
Julie, thank you for giving those words of encouragement! You’re right- if you mess up, just fix it and move on. Don’t throw in the towel!
Deb recently posted..Monday Day 472 Food Diary
Julie, I was wondering if you could give me a list of “0″ point snacks? Thanks for sharing your story!
how do you figure points the old way again? I think its calories fiber and fat right? what do you divide and what do you subtract? Like I look at a package and want to figure out what the points for that item is. thank you for your help. i agree the old way is easier and i lost 31 pounds then and want to continue just don’t remember how. Please email me quick thanks
Sent you an email. Hope it helps!
Deb recently posted..FMM – TV, Movies, & Me
I am so happy I found this site. I lost weight on the old Weight Watchers plan and then after some health issues (Medications) I gained some of it back. I tried the new weight watchers and hated it. So with your info I can get back on track with the old plan. :o)
Thanks
Jenn
Thanks for popping by! Good luck getting back on track again! You’ve got it!
Deb recently posted..Monday Day 472 Food Diary
So once you work out how many points you can have a day, I guess then you just have to stick to consuming only your allotted points each day? (Mine is 26). Am I right to believe that this is the correct points list -
http://www.augustgames.com/weightwatchers.htm#top
I want to do the Old WW plan as I know people that have had great success with it but I am trying to access all of the info online! So with this list and my daily points allowance (assuming I’ve calculated it correctly) I should be good to go?
Xx
Yes. You can eat whatever your daily allotment is, and if you’re following the old Momentum plan, you also have 35 points to use at any time during the week on top of those.
The page you linked to is using the correct formula for figuring the points, but I would find the points on your own using the formula or a calculator for actual recipes as you really don’t know what’s in some of the dishes they have listed and everyone makes things differently.
Deb recently posted..Monday Day 486 Food Diary
Like everyone else, glad to find your spot. Left WW in Nov ’10 disgusted with the change. Praying I’ve not become resistant to losing. Have recently cut lots of sugar from my diet as I am sensitive to it. Got my old WW stuff out of the closest, I don’t think I threw away a thing from Flex Pts to Momentum but don’t want the Pts Plus. Anyway, I’ll check out all your stuff and hope this is a start to losing some weight! I’m 60, and in the 190′s in wgt. Thanks Deb!
Sometimes it takes some experimenting to find what will work for you. I’ve found myself switching from system to system as things change and what I’m doing doesn;t work as well.
Best of luck with your losses!
Deb recently posted..FMM – Blogger to Blogger
So glad to have found this site!! I worried that maybe noone would still be doing the old momentum program. I’m gettig no where with pp and that goodness i still have all my momentum books! Thanks for sharing all the information
There’s a lot of people using the old program. This forum has several members who use the old program, as well as the new.
http://www.healthdiscovery.net/forums/forums/101-Weight-Watchers-at-Home
Its one of the best support groups I’ve found online besides the blogging community.
Deb recently posted..FMM – Blogger to Blogger
I too found the new Points Plus to be a problem. I spent money purchasing the Points Plus material and even bought the cookbook. It doesn’t work for me! Too much “free” fruit or too many points, I’m not sure. Unfortunately, I threw out all the “old” points material, but I am thrilled to say that I just visited our local Goodwill store today and bought the Companion and Dining Out points books, both 50 cents each, as well as hitting the jackpot and finding 5 different cookbooks with the “old” points that I purchased for a total of $9.45! Happy to say that they were all an additional 50% off (if you are familiar with Goodwill and their tag colors). I order the points calculator slide on Amazon and that was a bit pricey at $12.99. I won’t throw these out!!! My husband lost 50 lbs. doing low-carb, but gained half of it back. I’m going to have him try the old WW points program. I think it will be better for him and easier in the long run. Excited to get started!!!!
So glad you’ve found what works! And great finds at the Goodwill! Sometimes they have exactly what you’re looking for.
Best of luck to you and your husband in losing. :)
Deb recently posted..FMM – Blogger to Blogger
Hi all. I am tickled to have found this information regarding the points system for WW. I did not do well on the new PP’s. I was successful on points only, but have had some weight gain the last few months. I am working with the old program to lose it before it becomes a big problem. I understand the formula for figuring points. No one has mentioned the loss of points as you lose weight. As I recall it was a point for each 10 lbs you lose. This is an important part of the weight loss formula. Also…on the old program there were some 0 points foods. Fruits always had some points values, but I am wondering if you can figure the points for fruit just as you figure the points for other foods? I’m sure people on this forum would benefit from others experience and would appreciate points values for some of those foods. If anyone cares to share from their memory that would be great.
You’re right of course, about losing a point for every ten pounds. I didn’t include that above because I thought it was obvious, but I’ll add it in just in case. :)
I don’t know the 0 points foods- I was never an official member during the Momentum program and just know the formulas as found online. I always counted the points in everything no matter what.
Deb recently posted..Monday & Tuesday Days 493 & 494 Food Diary
Well I too think that most would know that in order to lose weight you would have to continue to eat less as you lost the weight, but when I joined WW I had no idea at what point (pun intended:)) I was to lose a another point. The program just did it for me and I noticed that it happened at about each 10lb loss. If a person were to use the program without actually being involved with WW it might not be apparent at what point to drop your allowance down hence slowing down your weight loss. Nothing is more discouraging than working hard to lose weight and then not losing. Just thought it might be worth pointing out.
I also alwasy felt that the WW calculations for Activity points earned was way too generous and I just used a basic 100 calories burned = one point. I think that works well.
Thanks for the information Deb.
LOL Good points and I have added that to the page. I’m sure someone somewhere has wondered and didn’t find the explanation or didn’t think to ask.
I also thought the various ways of calculating APs was a little loose and it just didn’t add up to me. I especially noticed this when a friend was using the guidelines and was actually gaining because she was giving herself way too many. It made me do more research into the way APs can be figured.
Deb recently posted..Monday & Tuesday Days 493 & 494 Food Diary
I have tried many diets over my 62 years, but weight watchers works the best for me….the OLD program! I really tried when it changed over to the points plus, but it just didn’t work for me. I’m so glad to find out how to calculate points allowance from the old program. My husband and I both have about 50 pounds to lose and will start this journey together. Thank you for this site.
Best of luck to you and your husband in your new journey!
Deb recently posted..Saturday Day 519 Intestinal Cleanse – DONE!
Hi, just wanted to say a massive thank you for showing how to work out the points! i much prefer the old weight watchers system, i lost 4 and a half stone last time i did this diet and although i put a lot back on over a few years; thanks to you i can go back to the diet which actually worked for me! thank you thank you thank you!!! :D x
You’re very welcome Lynn!
Deb recently posted..Wednesday Day 530 Food Diary
Hi, I just hit my target weight using the old point system and am now wondering how many points i should be eating to maintain my new weight. I have been using a friends old point calculater and all i can find online uses the new point system. do you know how to calculate maintainance points with the old point system. I’m 5’8 and now weight 140Ibs. any tips would be great!
I’m not positive, but I think you’d just add a point at a time to your allowance until you find the space where you’re maintaining.
Deb recently posted..Wednesday Day 530 Food Diary
Hello All,
I am wondering if anyone knows, if I wanted to purchase some of the frozen food options at the grocery store, how the points differ from old points verses new points? Everything is marked by points plus values…
The number of points can differ by a lot- I know some foods, like Kraft mac n cheese, the points almost double from old points to points+. Just use the formula I gave above to figure the old points values on the fly in your head. :)
Deb recently posted..Thursday Day 544 – How To Lose Weight
Thank you so much for your information! I did the old WW system years ago with wonderful success. Thinking I could do for myself, I fell off the wagon. Now my daughter and I, who are both full figured women :), are ready to use the system again. So thankful to you for putting all this information out there. With your site, we are ready to DO IT! Thank you so much!!!
I too love the old program – it worked well after each birth of my four children and I always got back to my target weight within 6 months. With the last baby, I tried the the new points plus program and I did horrible on it….I honestly don’t think I lost a pound. I did it for about a month and then dug out my old notebooks and sheets and had success with the old way. I gained a few “winter weight” pounds and went to start up again but had someone lost the information for how to calculate my daily allowance. Thank-you for having this information on your website – now I know how much I can have again. I also wanted to mention that there is a great website called “Skinnytaste” – they have incredible recipes and post both old points and points + values.
Hello everyone!
I am so glad I found this site. I was very succesful on the old system 3 years ago adn have tried to go back to WW on the new plan. When I did, I immediately realized that it just does not work. I kept track of my points in both systems and always had points left to “eat” on the new system. Your responses have given me the motivation to keep tracking the old way.
Thanks for all the info and encouragement!