Department of Trading Up: Weight Watchers edition
Even the recession did not lay waste to Americans’ love of wine: per capita consumption continued to increase the past couple of years even if the average per bottle price declined. Over the holiday, I found a curious cause of cutbacks that actually led to trading up: the waist.
A relative told me that he (!) has been doing the Weight Watchers system of dieting and weight management for a number of years. In nutshell, Weight Watchers assigns foods and drinks “points” partially based on calories and lets participants eat what they want as long as they stay below the daily points threshold. But Weight Watchers recently recalculated their points system; and the new “PointsPlus” doubled the points of a 4 oz glass of wine from two to four. Sacre bleu!
As a result, my relative said that he was buying better wine since he was drinking less of it. Gone are the $12 malbecs of yore (he said he was getting tired of malbec anyway) and now he’s spending $19 or $20 on a bottle at his local store in order to hopefully get a better wine. He said that he is enjoying the exploration but doesn’t always think that he gets a wine that’s commensurably better even though he’s spending 50-80% more on wine.
What do you think: is drinking less, but better, the way to go for a variety of reasons? Personally, I always prefer more wine and better wine, but that can’t always be done…
On June 1st, 2011 at 11:22 am ,Robin C wrote:
Always wine I like whether more or less expensive, either smaller quantities several days a week or fewer times a week with larger quantities. The smaller quantities only works if I don’t like the wine much, so that approach is ultimately pointless.
On June 1st, 2011 at 11:22 am ,Lyman Dally wrote:
In general I find $15 is the new $9, with a small but perceptible rise in quality above $15. Still, from $9 upwards I find the best buys are from the Rhone region.
That notwithstanding I did manage to drop 16 lbs in as many months by cutting back on the wine consumption a bit (not to mention short runs and weights 2x a week). I try to make 1 bottle last 3 nights, not always succeeding…..
On June 1st, 2011 at 2:06 pm ,Sonshine wrote:
I tried doing the Wine Spritzers, adding the sparkling water to cut the calories. Two glasses of wine for the caloric price of one! Great concept, but definitely not the same.
On June 1st, 2011 at 4:32 pm ,castello wrote:
The better the wine the faster it goes…..till it’s gone 🙁
On June 1st, 2011 at 9:32 pm ,acorelli wrote:
Better and more is the correct solution.
On June 2nd, 2011 at 9:46 am ,EllenLV wrote:
8oz per day – 200 cals, it is part of my daily calorie count.
On June 7th, 2011 at 4:49 pm ,Juice wrote:
Eat and drink what you like in moderation, don’t count calories and get up off your butts and exercise. You’ll be happier, fitter, and still have all the wine you want.