After opening a can of soup this evening and then looking at the label and seeing that it had “0 Weight Watchers points” (that’s zero points, for those who can’t read numbers), I got online to see how the Weight Watchers point system works.

They say that Weight Watchers is the most scientifically proven and most successful diet program, ever. In my clicking around, I came across these interesting web pages.

How to calculate Weight Watchers points per day (for your body and lifestyle):

http://www.ehow.com/how_5210442_calculate-watchers-points-per-day.html

Seems I “weigh in” at about 37 points per day, simply because I’m a big guy. I’m overweight, though, and for whatever reason, you get more points for more weight that you have, but I don’t like that, so I prefer to take some points off. Make it 32.

The Weight Watchers’ guide to fast food:

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=29971

Wow. So according to this, I can eat three five dollar footlongs (turkey breast subs at Subway) every day, or the equivalent, and lose weight?

Apparently, then, it’s all about the sides and the extras.