WW Point Math
(Weight Watchers Point Math)

Count quarter Points

Stuck on a plateau? Try counting in quarter points or half points. Weight Watchers tells you that anything up to 1.99 counts as 1. Count in 0.25 increments, If you eat two things at 1.5 do not count it as 2 but count it as 3.

1 plus 1 is not always 2

In point math, you need to calculate the total calories, grams of fat and grams of fiber. Then use these totals to calculate the points. Western Bagels are one point each, 110 Calories, 0 Fat and 7 Fiber. This is 1.9 points or 1. If you eat 2 bagels it is not two points but 4 points, 220 Calories, 0 Fat and 14 Fiber. Points for high fiber food do not just add up. 

I made an Excel spread sheet to help me. Meal Points Excel Spread Sheet. Enter the item, the amount you are using, the serving size, calories per serving, grams of fat and fiber. The spread sheet will adjust the portion size for you. If the box has 1/2 cups as the portion size, enter how many cups you are using. If you have a can of beans that is 3.5 servings per can, enter 3.5 for how much you are using and the nutrition information for a server and the spread sheet will calculate the points for the entire can.

Here is an example of how to use the spreadsheet, Berry Crisp Spreadsheet, Berry Crisp Recipe.

The Formula for Points

Points equals Calories divided by 50 minus the Grams of fiber times 5/24 plus the grams of fat times 1/12 plus one-half. This sounds complex but it is not.
(Calories/50) - (Fiber *5/24) + (Fat * 1/12) + 0.5
5 /24 is about 5/25 which is 1/5.
1/12 is about 1/10.
These number are easier to deal with.
(Calories/50) - (Fiber *1/5) + (Fat * 1/10) + 0.5

Now to simplify the formula so you can do it in your head
(Calories/50) - (Fiber *1/5) + (Fat * 1/10) + 0.5
Calories/50 = (Calories X 2) / 100
Fiber * 1/5 = Fiber * 0.2 = (Fiber * 2) / 10
Fat * 1/10 = Fat / 10
So the formula is
((calories X 2) / 100) - ((Fiber * 2)/10) + (Fat / 10) +0.5
or
((calories X 2) / 100) - (Fiber * 0.2) + (Fat * 0.1) +0.5

Example
80 calories = 80 X 2 = 160
160 / 100 = 1.6 points

Fiber
2 fiber = 2 * 2 = 4
4 / 10 = 0.4

Fat
3 fat = 3 / 10 = 0.3

((calories X 2) / 100) - (Fiber * 0.2) + (Fat * 0.1) +0.5
This formula is not exact but it is close. Remember you can only count 4 grams of fiber.

Here are a couple of examples of how to do it in your head while in the store trying to decide which can of soup to buy.

• Example 1:
  85 Calories, 3 Fiber, 1.5 Fat
  (85 X 2)/100 - (3 X 0.2) + (1.5 X 0.1) + 0.5
  170/100 - 0.6 + 0.15 + 0.5
  1.7 - 0.6 + 0.15 + 0.5 = 1.75 points
  1 points
   

• Example 2:
  110 Calories, 2 Fiber, 4 Fat
  110 X 2 = 220 divide by 100 = 2.2
  Plus 2 X 0.2 = 0.4, Minus 4 X 0.1 = 0.4
  2.2 + 0.4 - 0.4 = 2.2 + 0.5 = 2.7 points
  2 points

Point Math in Your Head

I want to thank Angie for sending me an email with a different version of the points equation. Here are a number of different equations that you can use to get the points. The calculation is not exact but it is very very close. 

To use this table pick one line and work it from left to right.

Example: 120 calories, 3 fiber, 2 fat.

Line A:
calories, minus fiber times 10, plus fat times 4, divided by 50 then add 0.5

120 - (3 X 10)
120 - 30 = 90
90 + (2 X 4)
90 + 8 = 98
98 / 50 = 1.96
1.96 + 0.5 = 2.46
2 points

Line B:
double the calories and divide by 100, minus the fiber time 0.2, plus the fat time 0.1, plus 0.5

120 X 2 = 240
240 / 100 = 2.4
2.4 - (3 X 0.2)
2.4 - 0.6 = 1.8
1.8 + (2 X 0.1)
1.8 + 0.2 = 2.0
2.0 + 0.5 = 2.5
2 points

Line C:
 calories times 2, minus the fiber time 20, plus the fat time 8, divide by 100 and add 0.5

120 X 2 = 240
240 - (3 X 20)
240 - 60 = 180
180 + (2 X 8)
180 + 16 = 196
196 / 100 = 1.96
1.96 + 0.5 = 2.46
2 points

Line D:
calories times 2, divide by 100, minus the fiber divided by 5, plus the fat divided by 10 plus 0.5

120 X 2 = 240
240 / 100 =2.4
2.4 - (3 / 5)
2.4 - 0.6 = 1.8
1.8 + (2 / 10)
1.8 + 0.2 = 2.0
2.0 + 0.5 = 2.5
2 points

Line E:
calories times 2, minus the fiber time 20, plus the fat time 8, plus 50, divide by 100

120 X 2 = 240
240 - (3 X 20)
240 - 60 = 180
180 + (2 X 8)
180 + 16 = 196
196 + 50 = 246
246 / 100 = 2.46
2 points

Line F:
double the calories and divide by 100, minus the fiber time 2 divided by 10, plus the fat divided by 10, plus 0.5

120 X 2 = 240
240 / 100 = 2.4
2.4 - ((3 X 2) / 10)
2.4 - (6 / 10)
2.4 - 0.6 = 1.8
1.8 + (2 / 10)
1.8 + 0.2 = 2.0
2.0 + 0.5 = 2.5
2 points

 

Page Last Updated 10/31/2010