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I’m sure you’ve heard about Weight Watchers and 21 Day Fix, especially if you have been struggling with losing weight.
But which one of these two eating plans should you follow?
I personally believe that the first choice is highly popular while the second one is very effective in teaching people how to eat properly.
But enough chit-chat! Let’s dig deeper and see what else you should know about these weight-loss systems.
Bottom Line up Front Summary: If I have to pick, I’m going with the more wholestic diet plan found in the Weight Watchers. Sticking to a diet is typically the biggest barrier for most people. Otherwise, the 21 day Fix is great program here if you also want to integrate exercises (understanding that proper diet is the most important place to start).
The single biggest barrier for most people is DIET. Weight Watchers has spent years mastering the art of letting people eat what they want, but get into the habit of TRACKING. Diet is also one of the highest impact avenues to losing weight long term. Start your FREE trial today and get their limited-time offer of 50% off now!
Contents
Weight Watchers vs 21 Day Fix – What Are They
Weight Watchers
This is a popular weight-loss program that has been on the market for decades.
Therefore, many people who’re interested in slimming down already know about the program’s group meetings, support services, and weekly weigh-ins.
The company has constantly improved and updated their eating plan to keep up with all the new exercise and nutrition trends.
Weight Watchers have even created the Freestyle program which allows dieters a lot of flexibility. The program lets you consume almost any food you want as long as you do it in moderation. WW acknowledges that the key to long-term weight loss is not austerity per se, but rather; consistency.
- As a Weight Watchers’ dieter, you must also count both food and activity points and try to find a balance between them which are both called SmartPoints. So, you will need to keep track of your progress and food intake.
Also, you must learn to make proper nutritional choices like eating veggies and fruits and include lean meats in your diet.
The single biggest barrier for most people is DIET. Weight Watchers has spent years mastering the art of letting people eat what they want, but get into the habit of TRACKING. Diet is also one of the highest impact avenues to losing weight long term. Start your FREE trial today and get their limited-time offer of 50% off now!
21 Day Fix
This is also a very popular nutrition and exercise plan that can be easily applied and followed in the privacy of your own home. It was created to serve several purposes:
- First and foremost, it works great for beginners because it helps them adjust to working out on a regular or even daily basis through short and doable workout routines. There are also plenty of modifications for each type of exercise which allows dieters to strengthen their body in daily 30-minute workouts
- Secondly, I’m talking about a nutrition plan that will help you learn the proper way to consume your meals and how to mix food groups in a correct manner. Learning to combine foods and the right portion size are usually the hardest things of a diet. The program also lets you indulge in an occasional treat
21 Day Fix was developed by Autumn Calabrese who is a certified personal trainer and a national bikini competitor. She is known for her coaching work on the Beachbody platform.
See how 21 Day Fix compares to others:
How Do These Programs Work?
Weight Watchers
This program was created back in the 1960s by Jean Nidetch. It had a humble start as a weekly get-together with her group of friends. Still, Weight Watchers has grown into one of the most popular eating plans in the world.
At first, for many years, the system was entirely based on the concept of counting foods in relation to servings. Then, in the 1990s, the new system of counting points has revolutionized the program.
These points were assigning values to all the foods dieters consumed based on their fat, calorie, and fiber content. This system was remodeled several times, and the most recent one was introduced in 2015 (the one of so-called SmartPoints).
So, how does the SmartPoints system work?
Well, it assigns values to drinks and foods based on their calorie, protein, sugar, and fat content. Once you become a dieter, you will be given a number of daily points. The number of points received by each person will vary depending on that individual’s gender, age, height, and weight-loss objectives.
Even though no foods are completely prohibited, all dieters must remain below their set of daily points in order to achieve their desired weight-loss goals.
As you can probably guess, healthier and low-caloric foods receive a lower number of points while unhealthy foods such as chips, pizza, sweets, and sodas are higher in points.
For instance, a glazed donut usually contains around 230 calories, and it will receive 10 SmartPoints. At the same time, a plain yogurt that comes with granola and blueberries and that contains the same number of calories will only get 2 SmartPoints because it represents a healthier alternative.
In 2017, the program has even included the zero-point foods which don’t have to be measured, weighted, or tracked. These foods are fish, eggs, tofu, non-fat yogurt, and plenty of other calorie-restricted and high-protein foods.
The single biggest barrier for most people is DIET. Weight Watchers has spent years mastering the art of letting people eat what they want, but get into the habit of TRACKING. Diet is also one of the highest impact avenues to losing weight long term. Start your FREE trial today and get their limited-time offer of 50% off now!
21 Day Fix
This plan is easy to follow. As a dieter, you will be taught the proper way to use the company’s portion-control color-coded containers. Also, you will be encouraged to complete a 30-minute workout each day.
21 Day Fix Workouts
- Cardio Fix – although this is a paced routine, it will make your body sweat, and it will even leave you breathing heavily. Basically it’s a high-intensity interval training style workout.
- Pilates Fix – dieters will do this routine every Thursday. Pilates tones your muscles and all the exercises will strengthen your core
- Yoga Fix – this workout is done every Sunday, and it allows you to unwind, relax, and stretch your body while also improving balance and flexibility
- Upper Body Fix – this includes plenty of movements that target your back, chest, abdomen, and shoulders. The routine is full of resistance moves, and you can even use certain fitness accessories like a resistance band or dumbbells
21 Day Fix Nutrition Plan
This program comes with a detailed and comprehensive yet practical and easy-to-apply eating plan. It will basically take you every step of the weight-loss process. You will be able to use colored containers. The color-coded system helps you control your portion sizes so you won’t have to count or measure anything which is time-saving:
- Green is for vegetables and plant-based diet ingredients
- Red containers are for proteins
- Blue is the color of cheeses and other healthy fats
- Purple is dedicated to fruits
- Yellow containers must storage carbs
- The orange containers are for dressings and seeds
You will also receive a Shakeology shaker cup to mix drinks, smoothies, shakes, and other beverages.
Pros and Cons
Weight Watchers Pros and Cons
Pros
- It is a highly versatile and flexible program, and no foods are completely forbidden
- As a member of the Weight Watchers weight-loss program, you will gain access to a wide range of cooking and nutritional tips as well as lifestyle education
- Several Weight Watchers locations provide regular meetings, and they also offer parents the possibility to bring their kids
- Most dieters will experience a healthy, slow yet steady weight loss
- You will learn to control your portions
- The system also encourages people to engage in physical activities
- You will have to prepare your meals based on the meal plan at home which increases the opportunity to consume healthy foods;
- The program syncs with a number of well-known trackers such as Fitbit, Misfit, Apple Health, etc.
Cons
- The cost of the program is pretty high
- Group meetings might not have the same positive effect for everyone
- Members must weigh in every week which for some might be a bit frustrating and uncomfortable. Moreover, a monthly progress checking approach might work better for some people because most of us get easily discouraged if they don’t see significant results each week
- Counting SmartPoints can be a pretty tedious task, especially for people who used to dislike counting calories. This process is also time-consuming
- The program seems to offer too much freedom. Eating anything you want may be too tempting for some dieters
21 Day Fix Pros and Cons
Pros
- It mixes several training methods to boost your body’s metabolic rate: cardio, yoga, resistance training, compound exercises, Pilates, etc. Each day targets a different group of muscles which will eventually lead to fat burn and muscle definition
- When it comes to workouts, this program is pretty convenient. Each training lasts 30 minutes, and it is pretty easy to complete
- You will do all these beneficial things from the privacy of your home which is a major advantage for people who don’t feel comfortable going to the gym
- As a member, you will receive a practical nutrition guide, and you will learn how to control your portions;
- The 21 Day Fix weight-loss program also comes with a quick 3-day fix plan that is supposed to prepare your body and make it Bikini-ready
Cons
- According to most reviewers, this program won’t really help you bulk up or gain a lot of muscle mass which for some might represent an issue
- Dieters can only lose up to 15 pounds so, if you want to shed more pounds, you need to go through the program twice
- You won’t find any rest days in this program. Even on Sundays, you will have to complete yoga routines
How Much Do These Programs Cost?
Weight Watchers
There are three main plans that you can opt for, on the Weight Watchers website:
- Online Plus – an excellent choice for self-starters who live a busy and on-the-go life. It is also good for people who want more flexibility. This is the basic program that costs around $0.70 per day plus $20 which represents the fee of becoming a Weight Watchers member
- Online Plus with Meetings included – regular meetings with the program’s specialists and other members will significantly increase your chances of losing weight successfully. During these meetings that last about 30 minutes, you will receive support and motivation. This plan costs around $1.70 per day and almost $55 per month;
- Online Plus with Personal Coaching included – this is the most expensive plan, and it offers you unlimited support via a personal coach with whom you will talk on the phone. He or she will help you create an eating and working-out schedule in order to achieve your goals. The premium plan is marketed for the price of around $1.85 per day and almost $55 per month
21 Day Fix
You can purchase the 21 Day Fix kits on the Beachbody website here. There are several options you can select from:
- The Base Kit – 2 workout DVDs, 21-day eating plan, 2 additional guides, online support, 3 bonus gifts, all the colored containers, and one Shakeology shaker – around $59.85
- 21 Day Fix Extreme – this combo kit provides all that the base kit offers plus one extra guide and 6 bonuses instead of 3 – around $98.85
- The Challenge Pack – includes the 21 Day Fix System and the Shakeology pack (30-day supply). This bundle of fitness, nutrition, and support costs around $140
Weight Watchers vs 21 Day Fix – Main Benefits
Weight Watchers
- It is a very flexible eating plan that gives you a lot of freedom when it comes to the foods you choose to consume
- The SmartPoints concept encourages dieters to make healthier choices
- It allows people to lose weight while also indulging in occasional treats
- It is a great weight-loss method for people who have certain dietary restrictions such as vegans and those who have food allergies
- As a member, you will receive plenty of support. There are an online chat room and a large online community of fellow members
21 Day Fix
- It can help you lose a lot of weight in a relatively short amount of time
- Encourages healthy eating
- The color-coded containers teach you how to portion your meals
- The program includes daily exercise routines
- It encourages dieters to change their old eating and lifestyle habits
Weight Watchers vs 21 Day Fix – Important Drawbacks
Weight Watchers
- Dieters must count their daily SmartPoints and must commit to this program which is time-consuming and not many people are willing to do that
- For some of you, the program might seem too expensive which is definitely a major turnoff. Although one’s monthly payment varies depending on the chosen subscription plan, the total price might be too high for people on a budget
- I am not really in favor of strict diets. However, Weight Watchers may be a bit too flexible for those who have self-control issues. For instance, I have a huge sweet tooth so it can be pretty tricky for me to stay away from sweets
21 Day Fix
- The program’s daily calorie estimate is quite low when you consider the portion containers
- For some people, the workout routines might be too intense, especially if they consume only 700 calories per day
- Unfortunately, it will only work as a short-term weight-loss solution
- It is an expensive weight-loss program that not all people can afford
What Foods to Eat
What Foods Can You Eat on Weight Watchers?
The program encourages dieters to consume healthy foods and put an emphasis on whole foods:
- Lean proteins – eggs, fish, tofu, skinless chicken, non-fat yogurt, shellfish, etc.
- Canned fruit – fresh or frozen but unsweetened
- Non-starchy veggies – asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, peppers, etc.
- Healthy carbs – sweet potatoes, oatmeal, brown rice, beans, and other whole-grain products
- Healthy fats – olive oil, avocado, nuts, etc.
During this diet, you should avoid consuming foods that are high in saturated fats and sugar, like chips, candy, cookies, and other sweets, processed meats, and sugary beverages.
What Foods Can You Eat on 21 Day Fix?
Like Weight Watchers, this program also promotes the consumption of healthy foods:
- Veggies – raw or cooked: spinach, broccoli, greens, etc.
- Fruits – strawberries, banana, grapes, mango, cherries, blueberries, etc.
- Lean protein – salmon, eggs, chicken breast, lean meat, cottage cheese, etc.
- Low-glycemic carbohydrates – beans, rice, sweet potatoes, whole-wheat bread, etc.
- Healthy fats – cashews, cheddar cheese, nuts, avocado, etc.
- Seeds and oils – pine nuts, flaxseeds, etc.
As long as you follow this eating program, you should avoid foods that are high in carbs, fat or sugar.
Final Thoughts: WW or 21 Day Fix?
Both these weight-loss plans reviewed today are popular and tried by thousands of dieters. Weight Watchers is a great option for people who’re looking for a flexible diet. It is an excellent choice for busy people.
On the other hand, the 21 Day Fix plan is more suitable for beginners who don’t have a lot of experience when it comes to working out. Unfortunately, both these programs are quite expensive. So, I suppose losing weight with these systems comes at a cost.
Bottom Line up Front: If I have to pick, I’m going with the more wholestic diet plan found in the Weight Watchers. Diet is usually the biggest barrier for most people. Otherwise, 21 day Fix is great program here if you also want to integrate exercises (understanding that proper diet is the most important place to start).
The single biggest barrier for most people is DIET. Weight Watchers has spent years mastering the art of letting people eat what they want, but get into the habit of TRACKING. Diet is also one of the highest impact avenues to losing weight long term. Start your FREE trial today and get their limited-time offer of 50% off now!
