I've decided to quit Weight Watchers.

kyrannosaurus

So I've been attending Weight Watchers meetings for the last 3 months. The entire time I haven't been following the ProPoints program because it makes more sense to be as accurate as possible and count actually calories here rather than count a simplified points system (and their app is terrible!)

I was only attending the meetings so I'd be accountable to an actual person each week. I've been smashing my weight loss goals and have come to realise a lot of the stuff WW teaches is pure nonsense and they are really just trying to profit as much as possible and not help their members. So it's time to continue losing weight by holding myself accountable to myself.

rachelbouc

Congrats on seeing the light! Weight Watchers had me in their grips for 4 years! Yikes! I did lose 100 lbs with them, but I always would stop at 180 and then go back up while following the plan. I quit in March and have lost every week since then. Their unlimited fruit is a load of horse poo.

ModaVita

The most important thing is to find a system that works for you, and it looks like you have. Fantastic! I've seen WW be successful with lots of women I know. But in the end, whatever makes healthy sense for a lifetime is the best choice.

eved305

I've never done it but have friends that are doing it. They don't seem to be losing much. That's ok but they all seem to have a ton of points and I don't get the unlimited fruit and veggies. Do fruit have zero calories for them? Do they explain that?

kyrannosaurus

eved305 wrote: »

I've never done it but have friends that are doing it. They don't seem to be losing much. That's ok but they all seem to have a ton of points and I don't get the unlimited fruit and veggies. Do fruit have zero calories for them? Do they explain that?

Yep, fruit has zero "points". The logic is that it will encourage people to choose fruit whereas if people had to count the points for it they might choose to spend those points on something less nutritious instead. So now you can eat your "zero point" fruit AND spend the points on junk.

harmar21

I'm not sure the fruit part, but most veggies are very low in calories so hard to overeat on. Also if you obese the calories from fruit/veggies is going to have such a small impact. But has way bigger impact of close to your goal. Also they probably want people to eat their fruits and veggies so if they assigned a point value to them some people may not want to "waste" their points on it.

I don't know approx 1 point equates to in calories, but even if they assigned 1/4 point to fruit/veg to get people to realize it really isn't free

alone_aqua

Agreed. I definitely think if you are starting from ground 0, WW can be a great way to learn the basics of nutriton, do's, don'ts and how to make choices. However, it's like all things- the closer you get to reaching your goals the higher the intensity required. It may no longer be enough to eat 5 servings of fruit and take on dozens of grams of sugar when you've only got 5-15 lbs. left to lose.

rachelbouc

Because of the fruit problem some member do one of two things; switch to the older momentum program which counted points for fruit and vegetables, or the double track by counting points and calories. Double tracking is a waste of money in a way if you believe in CICO. Calorie counting is free and Watcher Watchers is not. Although, double tracking helped me see the light with my problems with Weight Watchers.

eved305

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kyrannosaurus wrote: »

So now you can eat your AND spend the points on junk.

This is so what I was thinking reading the response. They did not think this through.

HeatherCrazyCat

Awesome news, kyrannosaurus!
I hope that using MFP instead continues to work well for you.
I don't attend slimming clubs because they're far too restrictive for someone with dietary requirements (I'm a lacto vegetarian) - making my own choices and holding myself accountable for making the right ones is far more fulfilling :-)

spatulamom

I think Weight Watchers is a great program (I lost 70 lbs years ago on the Flex Points - I think that's what it's called) but I've tried going back a few times since and it just doesn't click like CICO has. So much is free now (fruits and veggies) and I think that does hinder people at times.

Your profile pic looks amazing! Congrats on your progress so far!

Monklady123

I also am a former WW member. I lost 50 pounds years ago when fruit was *not* free. Although, back then I would often not count the points for one apple as an afternoon snack, so I guess I was ahead of the game. lol...

I still don't think the calories in one apple will set anyone back. But -- the way the "free fruit" thing is misleading is when people do things like make a smoothie with two bananas, strawberries, and a bunch of miscellaneous frozen fruit. Then they don't count calories for that. But that would be quite a few calories that aren't recorded and if a person is closer to their goal those smoothie calories could be doing some damage.

I did like the accountability of weighing in at meetings, and it worked much better for me than WW Online did. But at this point in my life, with two kids in college I just didn't want to pay for that. But for some reason I seem to have more motivation this time all on my own, so MFP has been great.

Muscleflex79

I was also a member in the past for a brief period of time but quit when they suggested that I stop lifting weights so I can lose muscle and therefore lose weight on the scale - no thanks!!

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ManiacalLaugh

Muscleflex79 wrote: »

I was also a member in the past for a brief period of time but quit when they suggested that I stop lifting weights so I can lose muscle and therefore lose weight on the scale - no thanks!!

Ugh - well, sure. And if I sheared off all of my hair, I could lose a few ounces - but it wouldn't make me look or feel better.

I think WW is a decent tool for those going into it without a clue (assuming they have money to burn on it). It can teach the fundamentals of staying accountable, how to lose at a healthy rate, and introduce the basics of portion management. As far as its impact on the body, I don't believe there are any of the unpleasant side effects that are in so many other "diets" either.

I just think for someone who has already been measuring by CICO and has played the game more than once (like many of us), it's a huge waste of money and a bit of a waste of time.

JRitaK

I seriously cringe to think how much money I have wasted on WW since I was 17 years old. I restarted their program four times. FOUR. Then I discovered MFP, which is FREE, and have pretty great success in the past 6 months. WW helped me most the first time I did it. After that? I just wasn't dedicated and I was throwing money down the drain continuously. At least with MFP if I slack off I'm not wasting money.

SherryTeach

I have never done WW, so I don't want to be judgmental about it and I'm sure the program has worked for many people. But it seems that assigning points to food and making losing all about points, prevents a person from learning about nutrition, which includes understanding calories, macros and micro nutrients.

David_2015

Monklady123 wrote: »

I still don't think the calories in one apple will set anyone back. But -- the way the "free fruit" thing is misleading is when people do things like make a smoothie with two bananas, strawberries, and a bunch of miscellaneous frozen fruit. Then they don't count calories for that. But that would be quite a few calories that aren't recorded and if a person is closer to their goal those smoothie calories could be doing some damage.

I think it's because you're given (my sister told me this) say 26 points which equates to 1040 calories, so you're under the recommended 1200 thus even if you don't count fruit n veg you're unlikely to be *that much* over.

rainbowbow

SherryTeach wrote: »

I have never done WW, so I don't want to be judgmental about it and I'm sure the program has worked for many people. But it seems that assigning points to food and making losing all about points, prevents a person from learning about nutrition, which includes understanding calories, macros and micro nutrients.

As above, it also causes confusion with regards to nutrition content of fruits and veggies. The number of people who come here on MFP after doing WW saying things like "fruit and vegetables have no calories" because they are 0 points in WW.

booksandchocolate12

I switched from WW to MFP due to two things: (1) cost and (2) WW’s crappy website and app. I got tired of paying for tools that worked only part of the time.

The program itself is great. I had no problem losing with the “free” fruit. Maybe because there is no such thing as “free” fruit. People who work the program that way are doing it wrong. Nowhere in the materials does it say that fruit is free and you can eat as much as you want. It says that fruit is zero points and should be eaten in moderation/to satisfaction. If people want to gorge themselves on watermelon and then blame WW because they’re not losing….. *shrugs*.

shetripsalot

I did WW, online only - no meetings, five years ago & lost 70 lbs in 6 months. While I was successful at losing weight & still maintaining to this day, it wasn't a lifestyle that I wanted to commit to. After many trials & errors, I have finally adopted a lifestyle that works for me.

Good luck on your new adventure!

belinda_73

the monthly fee seemed steep to me, then people complained about them taking money out even after canceling the membership. I totally get the weighing in part tho. When I was seeing a trainer who weighed me every week, I tried so hard to be at least a lb less than the week before.

zanyzanycrazy

Once they updated MFP, I officially decided to quit WW. I went for the support, but I think the community on MFP provides way more support. Plus I was missing meetings because of my busy lifestyle. I did learn one thing that I hadn't thought about and that was moving leftovers to the "fruit and veggie" drawers and moving the fruit and veggies into the main part of the fridge so you are more likely to eat it. I guess something good came out of my 4 month membership:)

KarenJanine

Muscleflex79 wrote: »

I was also a member in the past for a brief period of time but quit when they suggested that I stop lifting weights so I can lose muscle and therefore lose weight on the scale - no thanks!!

:noway:

Muscleflex79

KarenJanine wrote: »

Muscleflex79 wrote: »

I was also a member in the past for a brief period of time but quit when they suggested that I stop lifting weights so I can lose muscle and therefore lose weight on the scale - no thanks!!

:noway:

karenjanine - that was my reaction too! I couldn't believe they were actually recommending that! when I told her I loved lifting (heavy) weights and would not be stopping, she said I should at least lift light weights

daniwilford

I have done WW 4 times in the past and lost weight every time. I never made it to goal so I lost money every time too. My cousin actually recommended MFP to me, so I had a immediate accountability partner. I use some of the things I learned in WW still today but I have learned more studying the MFP forums for free than I ever learned at WW meetings.

happyhomemaker88

booksandchocolate12 wrote: »

I switched from WW to MFP due to two things: (1) cost and (2) WW’s crappy website and app. I got tired of paying for tools that worked only part of the time.

The program itself is great. I had no problem losing with the “free” fruit. Maybe because there is no such thing as “free” fruit. People who work the program that way are doing it wrong. Nowhere in the materials does it say that fruit is free and you can eat as much as you want. It says that fruit is zero points and should be eaten in moderation/to satisfaction. If people want to gorge themselves on watermelon and then blame WW because they’re not losing….. *shrugs*.

happyhomemaker88

I've done weight watchers before both the flex points and the points plus. I seemed to lose more on the flex point system. But in weight watchers defense, they told me, and I also read it in the literature they gave me for points plus, that you should keep your fruits and veggies to 3-5 servings per day and you should only have one banana per day because of the high calorie content. People are misinformed and sucked in by the FREE fruits and veggies thing and are then disappointed because they over indulge and then don't see the progress they want to see. BTW, I love MFP and am having great success with it abs would recommend it to anyone over weight watchers. Their app works better and I've yet to scan something that didn't give me the info I needed. It is awesome!!!

lifecherished

I am currently taking advantage of weight loss referral from my GP. At the beginning of the year, I lost a stone with WW through the first referral. I'm a Gold member but that was awarded at Christmas 1979 and I've been back at goal once in my mid 20s and once in my mid 30s but only halfway there once since.

Of course, the programme has been revised and updated over the years as more is understood about nutrition. I even got part way through training to be a WW Leader in my 30s but I hadn't learnt how to maintain my weight loss.

My GP referred me for a second time but WW won't allow me to take up the offer (incomprehensible as the NHS is paying). So my for second referral, I've joined Slimming World (SW) but can't get my head around their programme and tracking through their website is a nightmare as their app doesn't include a diary element.

The WW eSource app is much easier to use. However, I've noticed that SW is more concerned with nutritional balance and non processed food. Their counted extras - Syns - are limited and this is where you will find processed and ready meals.

So I've come here to find a free place to log my intake, sync my FitBit Flex and just use up the rest of the SW referral weeks for checking in with weight loss as I'm not "jelling" with the leader, the group or the programme!

booksandchocolate12

happyhomemaker88 wrote: »

But in weight watchers defense, they told me, and I also read it in the literature they gave me for points plus, that you should keep your fruits and veggies to 3-5 servings per day and you should only have one banana per day because of the high calorie content.

Are you sure you read this in the literature? Do you still have it? Because that's not what it says in the good health guidelines. (weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=2071 ) It says AT LEAST five servings of fruits/veggies a day. Nothing about bananas at all. Elsewhere on the website it says that you should eat fruits and veggies to satisfaction, but doesn't tell you to limit it to 3-5 servings. Unfortunately, I have lost access to that section of the site, since I canceled my membership.

No offense, but I feel like the "one banana a day" thing is something that a leader told you. WW leaders are infamous for passing off their own personal "program tweaks" as gospel.

Liftng4Lis

Muscleflex79 wrote: »

I was also a member in the past for a brief period of time but quit when they suggested that I stop lifting weights so I can lose muscle and therefore lose weight on the scale - no thanks!!