Weight Watchers to MFP. Lots of points left.

lfrazier2482

I have been doing Weight Watchers for three months now. Between that and walking 4 miles a day six days a week I have lost 35 lbs. I decided to try out MFP because I am more comfortable with math than magical points. I have a lot of weight to lose so weight watchers current assignment is 56 points for my daily allowance. I haven't quit weight watchers yet so I have been double tracking. When I set my account up here I chose two pounds a week for weight loss and sedentary job. My MFP calorie goal was set at 1780 per day. I have been leaving an average of 100-200 calories on the board every day to account for possible portioning errors. When I compare the two plans I get confused. On average weight watchers says that I still have between 25-28 points left at the end of the day. That seems like a lot. I am not starving but I do notice that I am eating a bit less. I am just wondering if I did something wrong when I set it up or if anyone has had a similar experience.

PotentiallyCrazy

I was in WW for a few months, 3 years ago. I lost 24 pounds while I was in but didn't like their point system either. After I quit, someone once told me that 1 WW point is about equal to 50 calories. I don't think WW takes into consideration one's activity level -- they just assign a certain number of points somehow?

Weightwatcher72

I'm on WW and MFP together, I've manually reset my daily points to 26 ( it lets you), and weeklies from 49 to 10 - but try not to touch them! They're there as an overdraft feature if you like for me.

I had approx 7 stone to lose right at the beginning, I lost 8lbs on my own then entered MFP and WW, my initial WW points was something like 32/33 I think, but 56 seems very high are you sure you calculated everything in there correctly? I was nearly 16 stone at the beginning and my goal is 9stone 6lb

lemonlionheart

PotentiallyCrazy wrote: »

I was in WW for a few months, 3 years ago. I lost 24 pounds while I was in but didn't like their point system either. After I quit, someone once told me that 1 WW point is about equal to 50 calories. I don't think WW takes into consideration one's activity level -- they just assign a certain number of points somehow?

I remember this, I think it might have been the old system.The new one is much more complicated so you have to actually sign up to use it rather than just learn the formula and buy a calculator.

Do you eat a lot of fruit and veg, OP? I know these are 'free' foods with WW, if you're not counting them under the points system that could account for the discrepancy.

eldamiano

Ditch WW. It's a con. MFP will do just fine.

p4ulmiller

Don't worry about WW points. Your body doesn't.

RodaRose

WW is less precise and that is why you can leave points on the table. I tried doing them both at the same time for a little while and decided to stick with MFP because I like counting the calories.

13bbird13

I did WW for a year or so a while back, and it worked (unless you count the fact that I gained it all back again which is my own fault and not WW). I understand the PointsPlus system they were using at the time, but I can't imagine trying to do that and MFP simultaneously. I agree that WW is far less precise as RodaRose writes... no macros at all, which is okay for some but not enough info for others. I'd say pick one and stay with it. If you're currently paying for WW, if I were you I'd go with MFP.

WalkingAlong

I've double tracked before and points and calories just don't 'track' well together. I mean, sometimes you're out of calories but have points left and vice versa. A lot. It depends on your food choices because macros do affect points.

There is a script you can install that makes MFP do points in your food diary, if that helps. The thread is the last link in my profile, I think.

lfrazier2482

Weightwatcher72 wrote: »

I'm on WW and MFP together, I've manually reset my daily points to 26 ( it lets you), and weeklies from 49 to 10 - but try not to touch them! They're there as an overdraft feature if you like for me.

I had approx 7 stone to lose right at the beginning, I lost 8lbs on my own then entered MFP and WW, my initial WW points was something like 32/33 I think, but 56 seems very high are you sure you calculated everything in there correctly? I was nearly 16 stone at the beginning and my goal is 9stone 6lb

This isn't my first time on weight watchers. I did it a couple of years back. I don't remember my exact point total. It was significantly lower I think. They have revamped how they do points since I restarted. Currently I am 5'8 and 302 lbs. When I started I had 59 points and am now down to 56. I agree that it is a lot of points.

lfrazier2482

[quote="Do you eat a lot of fruit and veg, OP? I know these are 'free' foods with WW, if you're not counting them under the points system that could account for the discrepancy.[/quote]
Those free foods do add up quite a bit in my diet. It always struck me as wrong. According to weight watchers I could eat two cups of strawberries for zero points. If you go by calories it's 98. I think that is significant.

13bbird13

There was a woman in my group when I was doing WW who actually had to cut way back on her "free" fruit because she was eating way too much of it and just about halting her weight loss. With all the sugars that are in some fruits, I'm not surprised. That's one way MFP improves over WW... but then again, hers was an extreme situation and most people might be just fine with their "free" fruit.

brightsideofpink

I think you're probably spot on with the 'free' fruits. Just a few servings of those could add up to several hundred calories easily. I also made the transition from one to the other. I was losing weight fine with WW, but like you enjoy the clear science and predictability with MFP and basic calorie counting.

Lorleee

WW takes the "work" out of calorie counting for you. I think it's a good program, I was just too cheap to keep it up. I think "free" fruit is a big mistake, though.

lfrazier2482

Not trying to pile on weight watchers here but another thing I noticed was I was averaging about 25% less protein than my RDA. When trying to ramp up my physical activity I think that is important. That wasn't obvious on weight watchers.

rivka_m

Lorleee wrote: »

WW takes the "work" out of calorie counting for you. I think it's a good program, I was just too cheap to keep it up. I think "free" fruit is a big mistake, though.

Agreed, WW makes it easier and I think is especially good for people who haven't tried losing weight before. I'm no longer on it because I can't afford it, but I liked it.

I think free veggies are great (since they don't include all veggies and it does promote vegetable consumption) but they need to tighten up on the free fruit.

carbacon

What is MFP? I'm clueless

m_tommiss

I was double tracking and found it confusing as well. I like MFP better because I can also track my sodium, sugar, protein, etc...I wanted to eat healthier not just lose weight so I chose MFP.
MFP= My Fitness Pal

TrainerLB

Your ratio of carbs, fats and protein (macros) is going to be different on MFP than WW. WW doesn't take into account macronutrients and goes for calories overall. You could eat exactly the same amount of cals on WW and on MFP, but if you're adhering to the MFP ratio of macros you might be taking in less carbs, but equal calories -- thus leaving you feeling hungrier.

WalkingAlong

I would say it's the opposite. WW assigns points based on macros. MFP is (for the vast majority) a calorie counting site. A calorie is a calorie. A point varies based on the macros in the food.

Liftng4Lis

MFP is free, why not just use it?

wmcmurray61

I tried WW and had the same problem with the "free" foods. I was eating way too many calories. I DID lose after I corrected that problem but I had to quit WW because I couldn't afford it when I lost my job. (This was a few years ago.) It's a fair program but they're not for everybody, that's for sure.

ms_laura26

I'm actually doing ww and mfp as well. For now anyways. Trying to decide which one to stick with. The problem I have with ww is that whenever I scan a product it never comes up or when it does come up, it's wrong. That's very frustrating. If i pay for a service I expect for it to work. Sometimes I'm too lazy or too busy to actually do that stupid calculator. The scanner on ww just blows. I'm liking the idea of mfp because I'm loving the scanner. I get 32 points and 1500 calories. I tracked both and was spot on. I even counted the free fruit on mfp. I lost about 15 lbs on ww in 2 months. I was thrilled but my laziness kicked in with that damn scanner and now here i am again. Idk what to do.
I'm confused with mfp as well. I was playing around with my goal weight and first it said 1500 calories to lose 60 pounds but when I put it to lose 20 pounds it dropped me to 1300. That's odd to me

ms_laura26

The thing I like about ww is that if I use all my points for the day and I get hungry I know I have that weekly surplus or I can have a piece of fruit and not feel punished.

tdhdee

I had to get out of the mindset of 'diet' and understand that this is a lifelong commitment on my part to be healthy. I did WW for 2 years on and off and lost weight but when I went for my last annual physical with a new doctor, he was not happy when I said I could eat all the fruits and veggies I wanted on this plan because they are 'free'.

Basically he told me WW is a great program and he endorses them but.... nothing is 'free'. Everything except water has calories. He encouraged me to rethink my 'thinking'. And I did. I found MFP through co-workers when we did our 'Biggest Loser' contest at work. I love it here. The only problem I find is the database is often inaccurate so I am very careful to compare some items and keep my own food list here for all fruits and veggies based on the USDA site. Also, eating anything with a label, I make sure when I choose that item here if it doesn't scan that it's accurate as well so that works fine for me.

The funny thing is, on WW I was overloading on 'free' foods to keep full and it wasn't working out well. I felt hungry most of the time. Fruit and veggies usually only stay with me for short periods of time and then I'm hungry again. I didn't want to eat too much protein because it took too many of my points. Counting calories is easy, free, very do-able for me and I enjoy the basic simple math and knowing where I stand on a daily basis for my food intake. No issues. I'm losing weight.

I'm so over giving other people money to lose weight. Ultimately it's me who will win the battle or suffer the consequences. I am happy that I did that plan because it was the first time in my life that I stopped and really analyzed what I was eating and how food effected me in various ways from mood to sleep to gaining or losing weight. But now I am satisfied with MFP and have benefited from it since February of this year.

dimalone570

I, like so many others on this site, started with Weight Watchers and had some success, but I didn't like the cost involved! So began my journey with MFP (years later.) I have lost 42lbs in 6 months so far on MFP alone, but have slowed way down on the loss with maybe only 10 lbs lost in the last 3 months. I have only 30 more lbs to goal weight! I hoped maybe switching to a free on line "version of weight watchers" would help jump start my weight loss to previous level of success--along with adding some exercise (I work at a desk and lead a sedentary lifestyle,) So I've begun tracking both, but trying to use only WW. My problem is that I'm finding HUGE discrepancies between calories and points. Yesterday, I maxed out on points, but had only 996 calories, so I wonder.........how does everyone feel about going too low on calories--is that diet sabotage? I'm finding WW generic program much harder to use than MFP, so wonder if I should drop WW altogether.......Thoughts---tips anyone?

lfrazier2482

After all this talk I have decided to quit weight watchers. I can see how it is helpful to some. If it works for you then more power to you. I just prefer doing the math. I also think that MFP does a significantly better job in keeping my nutrition balanced. Thanks to everyone for their comments.

leighn62

I am going to start the Points plus plan and I have no intention of paying for anything. There are point calculator apps all over the internet for computer and phone which is what I am using. It told me how many points I get and calculated the points of each food. I tend torwards lower carb, so I think I will like this plan very much. Years ago I did the OLD weight watchers points system and loved it. Some said that WW doesn't take macros into consideration but I was surprised to see that the Propoints calculator doesn't take calories into consideration at all, just Protein, Carbs, Fiber and Fat. I am very excited to start. MFP fits perfectly with WW because it is so easy to find the macro info in your diary and plug them into the calculator. The 2 of them are great together.

TR0berts

carbacon wrote: »

What is MFP? I'm clueless

MFP = MyFitnessPal, the website you're on.

VeryKatie

I did both for a while too. I actually found the opposite as you. I would have eaten my 26 daily allotment for points but only be at about 1000 - 1100 calories for the day. I actually found I had to distribute the weekly points to each day to make sure I got 1200 calories.

If I'm being honest, I'm not sure how well MFP works. I know it does, I've seen success, but my motivation has nearly disappeared so I self sabotage all the time. Not good.

maxit

Chiming in - I have been "double tracking" WW and calories for about 4 months. I had attempted restricting calories in the past, and couldn't stick. WW alone was great until I started a lifting program and upped my walking throughout the day to 4-5 miles, and soon realized that I needed to pay attention to macros and also eat more. Currently with points plus - 1 point is 38 calories. WW "rounds" so 100 grams of something might be 2 points, but 200 grams in one sitting might be 5 points. At the minimum, which is where I started (age, gender(, 26 points only comes to 988 calories - way under what a person needs to live. So having fruits and most vegetables count as zero makes more sense. In addition to "daily" points there are "weekly" points amounting to an additional 1800 calories to use as one wishes. In addition to the points program, there is also a "simply filling" program that doesn't involve any kind of counting but does require menu choices within a particular group of foods that are mostly whole, natural foods (with some notable exceptions - low fat cheeses, non fat other dairy, and "light" breads, for example). So, I guess the bottom line is that one does what works - I will be discontinuing WW next month.