Updated on 5/4/20
Today, I am going to share with you all the rules I break on Weight Watchers yet still lose weight every week. Now, remember, this is what I do. Every “body” is different and thus far breaking these rules have NOT affected my weekly weight loss. Could I have lost more if I didn’t break these rules, maybe, but it would have been minimal. And, the way I figure it is, I am training my body to adapt to this way of eating for life. Not just for summer or a vacation, but for life. I would much rather fiddle with what works for me now, than lose all the weight only to regain it back through trial and error.
*This post contains affiliate links.
PIN FOR LATER ⇓
Rules I Break on Weight Watchers Freestyle Yet Still Lose Weight Every Week
Nonfat Half & Half
If I have coffee, I don’t count the couple points I use of nonfat Half & Half. My reason for this is it’s nonfat and I rarely finish the entire pint of coffee I drink.
Rx Bars
This past weekend, we were going to church on Saturday night and I was ravenous. I didn’t want to eat dinner before Mass, so my husband offered me one of his Rx Bars. I initially said no since a small bar was 7 points and I did not want to give up my points set aside for my dinner out. Then, I looked at the “4” ingredients on the bar which consisted of: 3 Egg Whites (0 Points), 14 Peanuts (2 Points), 2 Dates (0 Points for farmer’s market dates (Medjool Dates counts as points)). Since egg whites and dates were 0 points and the 14 peanuts was 2 points, I only calculated the points as 2 not 7. It was definitely more enjoyable and fair (to me) doing it this way. If I happen to eat another Rx Peanut Butter Bar again, I will still count it as just 2 points.
Related Weight Watchers Freestyle Post: The Best Weight Watchers Freestyle Foods to get at the Dollar Tree
Marinades
If I happen to marinate chicken or fish, I do not count the marinade that I am using. For the most part, I use light or low fat salad dressings and I discard all the marinade that remains. Most times, I have the same amount of marinade remaining in the dish as I started with.
No Fruit Count for Smoothies
If I make smoothies, I do not count the fruit that I add to it. I know you are supposed to, but I only add the amount of fruit that I would eat in one sitting if I wasn’t making a smoothie. In other words I do not put 8 bananas in the blender for a smoothie, I just use 1-2 bananas.
Salad Dressings
I always use light salad dressing. My favorite is Olive Garden’s Light Salad Dressing which is 1 SmartPoint for 2.5 Tablespoons. I usually use 2-3 tablespoons, but if I’m having an especially large salad, I will NOT count it as more than 2 SmartPoints. Why? Because most times it settles to the bottom of the bowl and remains unused. If for some odd reason or other, there was none left after adding extra, I’d record the points.
*Update: I have recently come to love the Walden Farms Dressings. They are all 0 Calories. Yup! 0 Calories and they come in an array of flavors. 0 Calories = 0 SmartPoints too. If you do count SmartPoints for marinating meats (unlike me – see above), then try these Walden Farms Dressings for marinating meats:
Walden Farms Balsamic Dressing
0 SmartPoint Raspberry Vinaigrette
Walden Farms Pear and White Balsamic Vinaigrette – SIMPLY DIVINE!
0 SmartPoint Super Fruits Balsamic Vinaigrette – AMAZING!
They also have the creamy types of dressing too like Ranch, French, and Caesar. As a side note, they have fantastic syrups too. Here is a 4 Pack for a great price for their 0 SmartPoint Blueberry, Caramel, Stawberry and Chocolate Syrups.
Related Post:Â More Dollar Tree Items That Are Weight Watchers Freestyle Friendly
Disregard Points “Jumping”
If I am making chicken salad and I add 1 tablespoon of Hellmann’s Light Mayonnaise, it is 1 Point. But if I want 3 tablespoons, it jumps to 4 points. I disregard the 4 and record it as 3 points. The reason for doing this is that when I first started the program in January, I would mentally calculate the points as I was doing my weekly menu and I didn’t realize that it jumped to 4 points. Even so, I lost 6 pounds the first week and I do it every now and again and I have had no problems with it. To me, it’s simple math 1+1+1=3 not 4. Now if every food I ate in a day was ahead one point, I would calculate my points correctly. This is not something I do everyday, but every now and again if I need an extra tablespoon of mayonnaise, I use the 1:1 point ratio.
Splenda
I recently made fresh lemonade for my son and knew I would want a few glasses as well. Since I did not want to use sugar, I used Splenda instead. I thought Splenda was 0 points no matter how much you used, but I was wrong. One cup of Splenda is 3 points, but since we were sharing the lemonade I chose not to use any points for my glass. Regardless, a glass would be less than 1 point anyway. If I drank the entire pitcher, I still wouldn’t count it because I would most likely not drink it all in one sitting.
Remember that this is what works for me right now. I do NOT do these “cheats” everyday and I know that when I move closer to my goal weight, doing this might not work anymore. But for now, I am happy with the way things are progressing.
Do you break any rules on Weight Watchers? What are they?
Related Post:Â Every meal i ate to lose almost 20 pounds in 30 days on weight watchers
THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS WHICH MEANS IF YOU PURCHASE SOMETHING USING THE LINKS BELOW, I WILL RECEIVE A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE SALE FOR RECOMMENDING THE PRODUCT TO YOU. THIS IS ALL AT NO COST TO YOU. THANK YOU IF YOU DO PURCHASE SOMETHING THAT WAS USED IN MAKING THESE RECIPES.
Fantastic 0 SmartPoint Salad Dressings to Use on Weight Watchers
Olive Garden Light Salad Dressing
Walden Farms Balsamic Dressing
Walden Farms Pear and White Balsamic Vinaigrette
WF Super Fruits Balsamic Vinaigrette
WF 0 SmartPoint Caesar Dressing
Walden Farms 0 SmartPoint Blueberry, Caramel, Stawberry and Chocolate Syrups
Jessica says
I do the exact same things you are doing. It doesn’t make any sense to me to count an extra point for something jumps up by 2 when initially it’s 1pt. Thank you for this post because I do sometimes struggle with if I’m doing it right and I honestly feel like there isn’t a right or wrong it’s what works for you. I just started back on my journey last week and so I’m very hopeful that I can def make this work with the freestyle program.
[email protected] says
Jessica, that’s right. You do what is right for your body – not somebody else. This is your journey no one else’s. Good luck on your journey and continue sticking with it and you will get there!
Susan says
I do similar things and am so glad to see that I’m not alone! Thanks so much for posting this. Do you have a blog I can follow?
[email protected] says
Susan, yes I do, it’s the blog the post was featured on “DeeDeeDoes”. Thank you!
Joan says
I use a sugar-free vanilla creamer in my coffee and never count it. When I was on WW before and gave up on it 5-6 times, one of my downfalls was getting frustrated with my coffee points. This time I decided to not worry and I have lost 30 pounds.
[email protected] says
Great Joan – you found what works for you and that’s all that matters!
Amanda says
Some good pointers! My mom and I think the point jumping is because some things aren’t a whole point value, maybe the 1 is actually 1.5 so having 2 would make it a whole point of 3. We take it into account for some things but not all.
We have also found that many menu items with free point items in them include all that in the nutrition facts… so, like you did the Rx bar, we adjust things as well. I love the Rx bar! My doctor turned me on to them actually, lol.
Good luck on your journey!
[email protected] says
I’m glad it helped you Amanda and good luck on your journey too!
Fran says
The key to weight watchers success is getting used to a new way of thinking about eating. You can have anything you want, just not as much as you want. I have Rules I don’t follow too. When in doubt, use the lower number. I don’t count cool whi because 2 tablespoons are only 25 calories and that makes such a difference when my sweet tooth is going crazy. I’ve done 3 different versions over the years, and I honestly believe that Freestyle and the app will make this the final time 14 weeks, 27 pounds
[email protected] says
Way to go Fran!