Attempting the Zero Point Weight Watchers Diet
Weight Watchers has helped millions slim down thanks to its points system. But some dieters strive for the ultimate challenge: consuming zero points in a day. Could you potentially eat only zero point foods for an entire week straight in the Weight Watchers program? I decided to find out by trying this stringent dieting tactic myself.
An Overview of WW's Zero Point Foods
First, what qualifies as zero point foods? Weight Watchers (WW) assigns smartpoints values based on calories, saturated fat, sugar, and protein. The more nutrients and lower in calories a food is, the fewer points.
Zero point options are almost entirely fruits and vegetables. But a few lean proteins make the cut too like skinless chicken breast, fish, eggs, beans and tofu. Some condiments including mustard and hot sauce are zero as well.
These point-free foods form the base of the Weight Watchers diet. You balance them out with measured servings of higher point foods like whole grains, dairy, oils, and treats. It encourages nourishing, balanced eating without restriction.
The Zero Point Challenge
But could a person feasibly subsist on only zero point foods? I decided to give it a shot for a week. I stocked up on produce, chicken breasts, and fat-free Greek yogurt.
The first day went smoothly enough. I made a huge veggie omelet with chicken for breakfast. Lunch was a spinach salad with chickpeas and snacked on fruits and veggies. Even though flavors got repetitive, my stomach felt full.
Hitting a Wall After Day 3
By day three, boredom set in hard. I missed dairy like cheese intensely. Making another egg white omelet felt depressing. Even pileups of stir frys, stews, and chicken skewers grew tired in flavor.
I also dealt with pounding headaches and low energy. My workouts suffered without adequate carbs to fuel them. In the afternoon, I stared longingly as friends ate sandwiches and takeout.
Clearly, I needed more balance and nutrition variety. But having come this far, I pushed forward out of sheer stubbornness.
The Home Stretch Felt Unbearable
Day 5 might have broken me if not for some spicy salsa I whipped up. My kingdom for a slice of bread! At least having endless zero point foods meant I could eat large volumes.
But the last days my willpower wavered badly. I actually dreamt about chocolate chip cookies and bowls of pasta in red sauce. My mood grew irritable and trains of thought scatterbrained from low blood sugar.
Finally on day 7, I came to the finish. While doable for a short span, long term zero points felt ridiculously restricting. I gained new empathy for why people despise diet culture so intensely!
Key Takeaways from 7 Days of Zero Points
While an interesting experiment in willpower, living off zero point foods alone proved extremely difficult. Here's what I learned from taking WW's point-free eats to their limit:
It Lacks Major Food Groups
Eliminating entire food groups like grains, most dairy and proteins, fats, and many condiments made for nutrient deficiencies, low energy, headaches, and mood issues.
Our bodies thrive on well-rounded nutrition from all corners of the food pyramid. Cutting these out is neither sustainable or advisable.
Flavor Fatigue Sets In
Despite getting creative with seasonings and cooking methods, taste bud boredom hit hard after several days. We crave variety by nature for a reason. The same fruits, veggies and lean proteins continuously gets old fast!
It's Incredibly Restrictive
Banning all but zero point foods feels akin to "dieting jail." When your options narrow that extremely, obsession with off-limit foods intensifies severely. It's a mindset ripe for binge relapses.
Any successful diet must contain balance, moderation and wiggle room. Zero points offers none of that leeway.
A Better Approach to Weight Watchers
Living off zero point foods alone crashes hard after just days. While these options can form a healthy base, balance and moderation serves you far better for sustainable results.
Be sure to enjoy all of your daily smartpoints for servings of protein, dairy, whole grains and heart-healthy fats. Tracking points instead of limiting food groups lets you eat diverse, flavorful, nourishing meals.
Zero points represent only one piece of WW's effective program. Use them wisely as part of balanced, moderate eating for diet success you can stick with forever.
FAQs
What are Weight Watchers zero point foods?
WW zero point foods include almost all fruits and non-starchy vegetables, skinless chicken breast, fish, egg whites, tofu, beans, lentils, some condiments like mustard, and hot sauce.
What happened when you only ate zero point foods?
Around day 3, I struggled with extreme boredom of food options, low energy, headaches, and mood issues. Cravings became very intense by the end of the week trial.
Why is a zero point diet not advisable?
It lacks entire food groups essential for balanced nutrition and varied flavors. Becoming so restrictive triggers binge urges. Moderation and flexibility serves far better for sustainable weight loss.
How should you use zero point foods in Weight Watchers?
Balance zero point fruits, vegetables and proteins with measured servings of grains, dairy, fats and treats by tracking your daily SmartPoints. This balanced approach prevents restriction pitfalls.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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