Top points for a top gadget! (Weight Watchers Points Calculator)

Member Name: thehonesttruth

Product:	Weight Watchers Points Calculator
Date:	03/10/08 (778 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: makes keeping track easy, helps make informed food choices

Disadvantages: n/a

I joined Weight Watchers a little under two weeks ago, and at my first meeting was advised by the leader that buying one of these little gadgets would help me greatly in following the Weight Watchers points plan.

Now the Points Plan is pretty simple - basically, there are no forbidden foods - you can eat what you like, so long as you don't go over a certain number of points per day . Your points allowance is calculated based on your sex, age, weight, and activity levels. You then tally up whet you eat, calculating the points as you go ( they give you a card that helps you do this) and thats pretty much it . Certain foods are free from points - mainly vegetables such as brocolli, asparagus, tinned tomato etc. So theres never any need to be hungry.

So, if I had the card, why did I buy the calculator? Well, it has a lot of features you don't get with the card calculator - you can set points allowances for the day, input points as you use them,
see your remaining points for the day, and track your usage over 7 days - as well as working out how many points are in prepackaged foods . It can also be used as an ordinary calculator.

Its the size of an average mobile phone, lightweight, and is a stylish silver clamshell with a striped image on the front. There is nothing on the calculator that screams 'Weight Watchers' - In face, theres no long at all , so you needn't be embarrased about taking it round the shops with you when doing the weekly shop. A battery is included when you buy it .

Its incredibly simple to use, and comes with clear instructions- I was using it within a couple of minutes of getting home from my first meeting, working out how many points were in some of my favourite foods (I was in for some real surprises!)

The points calculator allows you to calculate the points value of a product by letting you input the calories in a food and the saturated fat. This is easy to do. You simply press the "points" button on the right hand side of the calculator and it will then ask you to enter the amount of calories. Once you have done this hit enter and it will ask you to enter the grams of saturated fat. Again, hit enter and the points value of the product will be displayed. It also allows you to save all the points you have eaten that day and will tell you how many you have left. It also allows this feature to be used over the course of a week.

Its incredibly useful - although when you join weightwatchers you get a booklet containing guideline points amounts for some foods, its not an exhaustive list, and food doesn't come with a handy points allowance printed on the packaging, excluding of course Weight Watchers own brand. It makes making wiser and healthier choices easy, and helps you keep track of how much you're eating each day.

Because its small, its easy to have anywhere, in your pocket around the house, so that you remember to add that snack to your daily tally. In your bag when shopping to help you work out which of two brands is healthier for you, and of course to take to your meetings, so that if needs be, you can review your points usage over the previous week.

I've been using the calculator for a little under two weeks now. After a week on Weight Watchers and using the calculator, I'd lost 6lb - without feeling hungry, simply swapping high point value foods for lower point foods in bigger portions. I'm due for my next weigh in on monday, but my scales at home indicate I've lost another 3lb, so the calculators doing its job , and I'd definately recommend it.

The calculator costs £7.95 in your meeting, battery included, or can be purchased for £9.95 online at www.weightwatchers.co.uk.

Summary: Well worth the 7.95 I paid for it ^^