Replicate WW with MFP?

goodchapman

Has anyone successfully replicated WW using MFP? I did WW 2 years ago and dropped 35 lbs, but I found MFP and I love the extensive database and tracking calories versus those complicated points. I also loved NOT having to track fruits & vegetables with WW, and would love to be able to replicate that with MFP, along with the "weeklies" given on WW for a splurge meal for a party or days when you go over. That aspect of the WW program kept me feeling motivated and like I was doing ok.

I was thinking this: on WW I would get 33 points/day (I'm a nursing mom trying to lose 2 lbs per week). At roughly 50 cals/P+, that puts me at 1650 calories per day not including fruits and veggies, because I don't want to track them and because WW doesn't count them against you. So that, plus 49P+ would be another 2500 calories to use throughout the week as I need them or if I want to relax for a dinner out or something.

Does this sound like it will work?

VintageFeline

Sounds overcomplicated to me. And why don't you want to track fruits and veggies? They still have calories, fruit in particular can be very high calorie and easily lead to unwittingly over-eating.

I'd just plug my stats in and see what MFP gives me, add a bit more for nursing and done. If you want to splurge at the weekend then eat less during teh week. I take a weekly view of my intake for this purpose (and is available under the nutrition tab).

goodchapman

I don't want to track them bc sometimes it's a huge pain to track every vegetable in a large salad, and I'd rather eat the healthy foods freely and not worry about them so much. It was my favorite part of WW, that I could eat limitless veggies and fruits and still lose weight. It helped me stay on track, so I wanted to see if anyone else has success doing something like this.

MFP gives me 1200, plus if I add 500 for nursing I'm at 1700. When I did this a few months ago and tracked all fruits/veg, my supply dropped significantly and I gave up. So I'm thinking if I eat healthy veg/fruit freely it might help. I'm guessing here.

TeaBea

Apples & oranges. WW doesn't have you track fruits & veggies because their "point" allotment is lower calorie (to make up for fruits & veggies you will be eating). If you could "guesstimate" a daily allotment for fruits & veggies (alone)....just lower the value MFP gives you.

Here's a link to a WW group - info might be helpful....but it's not really active

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/10133-weight-watchers-360-old-points-of-mfp

callsitlikeiseeit

if you had success with WW, then do WW

MFP is set up very different.

Ready2Rock206

I think mixing and matching your favorite parts of various programs doesn't lead to success. Each program has their benefits but are made to work as is. When you start drastically changing I think you lose a lot of the benefits. Just my personal opinion. I am doing WW right now because I eat like crap just doing MFP and I really like the focus of WW that I should eat less chocolate and more veggies. Currently I'm tracking in both places - it's a little bit of a pain but I'm at a stall right now and am trying to see where I need to adjust (other than the fact I need to eat about 1/2 of what I currently do! That part is obvious! LOL!)

goodchapman

callsitlikeiseeit wrote: »

if you had success with WW, then do WW

MFP is set up very different.

The WW app is terrible compared to MFP. When I did WW before, I didn't know about MFP's app. There is no comparison. I actually signed up for WW today, tried the app, became super frustrated in trying to find foods, and canceled my account.

goodchapman

Ready2Rock206 wrote: »

because I eat like crap just doing MFP and I really like the focus of WW that I should eat less chocolate and more veggies.

Exactly. I'll eat a 200 calorie candy bar instead of an apple and a banana. I'm trying to give myself some incentive to pick healthy things.

Owlfan88

You could try logging the fruits but not the vegetables. Most of the vegetables are low calorie enough to not matter that much, but really you don't have to log every vegetable in a salad. A generic salad entry will be close enough. I was using a generic one I found and wondered if it was really accurate. So one day I individually weighed out everything in my homemade salad. Yep, pretty close - and if it's off by ten calories I don't really care.
Good luck and don't cut so much that your supply suffers. I was lucky that I lost weight easily (without having to really try) while breastfeeding, but maybe it was because my kids liked to fall asleep on a walk. So I was taking 30-60 minute walks twice a day pushing a kid in a stroller.

goodchapman

Yeah, I don't have that luxury. I work FT. But today I started a 30-minute walking club at my office, so at least I'll have that!

VykkDraygoVPR

It sounds like it would be a good way to accidentally overeat.

It shouldn't be hard to count a salad. If you make them yourself, just add it as a recipe or meal. If you make it pretty much the same each time, it should be close enough. If you buy them pre-made, just scan it and log it that way.

As for fruit, it just takes a few seconds to pop it on the scale and log it.

goodchapman

But can you really overeat vegetables? I get the fruit thing.

Anyhow. Thanks! No one seems to be enthusiastic about a WW/MFP mash-up.

VykkDraygoVPR

goodchapman wrote: »

But can you really overeat vegetables? I get the fruit thing.

Anyhow. Thanks! No one seems to be enthusiastic about a WW/MFP mash-up.

It all depends on the vegetable, or what you are counting as a vegetable (such as fruits like tomatoes, or avocados). For example, the 103 grams of baby carrots I ate today were close to 109 gram Gala apple I had (42 calories versus 57 calories). Not a lot of calories, but enough to make a difference at the end of the day.

If you don't want to log stuff like lettuce, I don't think that would matter too much.

Ready2Rock206

goodchapman wrote: »

The WW app is terrible compared to MFP. When I did WW before, I didn't know about MFP's app. There is no comparison.

I totally agree with this. When I did WW before and didn't know MFP the WW app was great. Now I know MFP and the WW app drives me nuts. I actually log some stuff in the MFP app and then use the numbers from here to calculate there because their database is so very limited. But if you're mostly eating whole foods or the power foods as they call them then it has everything you need. Once again it's pushing you to eat a little healthier because it is so much easier to log that stuff.

KateTii

goodchapman wrote: »

not including fruits and veggies, because I don't want to track them and because WW doesn't count them against you

goodchapman wrote: »

But can you really overeat vegetables? I get the fruit thing.

It's very hard to overeat vegetables, but it's easy to overeat if you don't count vegetables.

I include treats in my daily plan. But I also have vegetables with my lunch and my dinner. The vegetables I eat in one day equates to roughly 120-160 calories. If I didn't log my vegetables, my goal would say I still have 120-160 calories left in a day and I would either bank those calories for the weekend or I would have a treat. Then I would actually be OVER my goal and would either a) slow my weightloss or b) put me into maintenance.

So while the vegetables are fantastic and low calorie, it's not the vegetables that are the problem. You need to hit your goal that MFP gives you (it's not a limit) and if you don't log everything you won't know how close/far away you are to the goal.

Dan_Runs_In_Sandals

I've done WW before and almost got to my goal weight (within 5 pounds) on it, but stalled out and regained, which happens all the time. I almost joined WW again mainly because the meetings help me feel accountable, but as soon as I started using the MFP app I found it so much better and easier, and it enabled me to track nutrients like fiber and sodium. Now I can look at my fiber and sodium intake on most days and see if I'm on track, since there is no fiber in meat, cheese, fat, etc., and most processed/fast food is high in sodium. If you track your fruits and vegetables on MFP, the reward will be to see your nutrient values balance out, especially fiber.

goodchapman

These are all really good points. I'm going to try it anyhow, setting MFP to 350 cals lower than it tells me to, and then allowing the resulting negative/red amount to reach 2500 for the week and not tracking my fruit/veg. If this doesn't allow for some weight loss, I'll do MFP strictly speaking. It'll be an experiment.

barryplumber

They set you up for failure, so you'll go back for more after you hit goal on thier under stated calorie food. After you hit goal and start eating at what you think is maintenance. The fruit and veggies you eat will put you on a calorie surplus. Failure.

lynn_glenmont

goodchapman wrote: »

These are all really good points. I'm going to try it anyhow, setting MFP to 350 cals lower than it tells me to, and then allowing the resulting negative/red amount to reach 2500 for the week and not tracking my fruit/veg. If this doesn't allow for some weight loss, I'll do MFP strictly speaking. It'll be an experiment.

Give it a try and see if it works for you.
I actually think the bigger problem may be if you are nursing now and weren't when you were on WW, you may be creating too big a calorie deficit. I don't think your supply problem before was because you were tracking fruits and veggies; I think it was because you were creating too big a deficit.

ETA -- Never mind -- didn't add anything.

arditarose

goodchapman wrote: »

But can you really overeat vegetables? I get the fruit thing.

Anyhow. Thanks! No one seems to be enthusiastic about a WW/MFP mash-up.

Yes. I go as far as weighing my spinach. I eat hundreds of calories of vegetables per day, and my deficit is only 300 calories.

goodchapman

When I did WW I was also nursing (baby #2) but lost my supply bc it came off too quickly. So yes, ok, definitely too much of a deficit then.

This time, I'm trying to avoid messing up my supply by eating tons of fruits & veggies. But now that I re-read all these comments and my rationale, Am I setting myself up for losing my supply just simply based on my daily calorie goal of 1650 plus 350ish in veggies/cheat foods? That's still 2000 calories/day. Trouble is, I have no idea how many to eat. It's some mysterious number. If MFP tells me I need 1200 calories, plus I add 500 for nursing, so I eat 1700, I'm going to lose my supply. If i eat 2000, I'll lose my supply. If I eat more than that, I won't t lose weight.

This is frustrating. I just want to fit into my clothes. After 3 kids, my body just wants this fat off my abdomen.

amandaksbrewer

goodchapman wrote: »

But can you really overeat vegetables? I get the fruit thing.

Anyhow. Thanks! No one seems to be enthusiastic about a WW/MFP mash-up.

I'm doing weight watchers meetings and myfitnesspal tracking. I just seem to need the accountability. But the tracking is so much easier on mfp.

Anyway, I track fruits and vegetables, and then for my extra 49 pts (my favorite part of ww), I eat some of my earned calories. It's going ok for me. I'm ok with a slower rate of loss though. 0.5 to 1 lb a week.

Good luck!

areallycoolstory

i was trying to do some kind of mashup when I was on ww. it was a while ago, but i was trying to use the database on mfp to figure out how many calories in a point or something. sounds like you figured that out:-) but it sounds like the main feature you are looking for is a splurge day. you could always just eat under your mfp cals to save some for a weekend meal. or just not log one day per week and eat whatever you want. or use the calorie formula you came with, and keep doing what works for you. that includes not counting fruits or veggies. you can always adjust if it doesn't work. there are lots of things that some folks find essential and others find unnecessary. weighing food is a good example. some swear by it, others don't bother.

goodchapman wrote: »

... I'm going to try it anyhow, setting MFP to 350 cals lower than it tells me to, and then allowing the resulting negative/red amount to reach 2500 for the week and not tracking my fruit/veg. If this doesn't allow for some weight loss, I'll do MFP strictly speaking. It'll be an experiment.

Nothing wrong with an experiment:-) hope it works:-) good luck:-)

PinkPixiexox

I did Weight Watchers for 4 months and I lost 25lbs - but after a while, things stopped making sense. The leaders refused to tell me the calorie value of my 'daily point allowance' - instead telling me to fill up on fruit and veg as it's 'free'. Alarm bells started ringing for me there. After picking it apart with my trainer, we worked out I wasn't consuming any more than 1100 per day including my fruit and veg (as per their recommendation). They shun calorie counting even though scientifically, logically and historically - you need a deficit to lose weight - instead they simplify the process with 'points'. In fact, what they are doing is covering up an ENORMOUS and frankly, hugely unsustainable deficit. They do allow you 49 extra points per week to 'cheat with' - this is probably down to the fact that we are under eating per day that those optional 49 are there to keep us sane and functioning.

I never once used my 49 'cheat points' because I'm not a fan of the term 'cheat'. I stuck to my daily points, lost a good amount of weight which I'm greatful to them (but mainly myself) for but then burnt out completely. I know I'm probably a very rare case but I just wasn't eating enough and these daily 'points' ruled my day.

I found MFP and my whole outlook on weight loss has totally changed. I am so healthy and physically strong now I eat at a really sensible and sustainable deficit.

If anyone has luck with WW - Please understand this is MY opinion. I am not stating this is the case for everyone. If it works for you then fantastic and good luck with it. IMO, MFP is the best yet

NoIdea101NoIdea

goodchapman wrote: »

When I did WW I was also nursing (baby #2) but lost my supply bc it came off too quickly. So yes, ok, definitely too much of a deficit then.

This time, I'm trying to avoid messing up my supply by eating tons of fruits & veggies. But now that I re-read all these comments and my rationale, Am I setting myself up for losing my supply just simply based on my daily calorie goal of 1650 plus 350ish in veggies/cheat foods? That's still 2000 calories/day. Trouble is, I have no idea how many to eat. It's some mysterious number. If MFP tells me I need 1200 calories, plus I add 500 for nursing, so I eat 1700, I'm going to lose my supply. If i eat 2000, I'll lose my supply. If I eat more than that, I won't t lose weight.

This is frustrating. I just want to fit into my clothes. After 3 kids, my body just wants this fat off my abdomen.

You are making this pretty confusing. It really doesn't have to be.

Enter your stats into MFP. Take that number and add what you need nursing. Eat whatever you want ensuring that you are weighing all of your foods and keeping a log so that you know you are not going over that number that MFP, plus nursing, has given you.

Either that, or go back to WW. If you make things more complicated than they need to be, of course you are going to get frustrated! And unfortunately it may lead you to giving up.

kittengirl1983

Just to say - a point is closer to 40 calories than 50. Otherwise you'll be adding extra calories vs what you were eating on WW.

I followed WW for a long time too and got to goal weight once (sob) - I have a spreadsheet now that allows me to look at average calories for the week, as I still like the WW flexibility of having more calories for the weekend. I look at my average calories over the week compared to my average calories if I were doing WW (29 daily points + 7 weekly points allowed per day x 40) = 1440. As a challenge at the moment I am trying to eat an average of this or less although I am MFPing my fruit and veg and with WW that would be allowed over my 1440 per day.

I hope that makes sense!
Basically, calories are going to be a lot easier once you convert to them instead of points, I just compare them for fun/challenge :-)

unigirl143

I combine the daily log on mfp with a counter like http://www.webmilhouse.com/pointcalc.php to calculate my points. The mfp log lets me see the calorie intake I have (i still cant shake looking at calories) and my other calculator keeps me on track with points. I calculate the points for meals I regularly eat and just plug them into my diary.

Mezzie1024

Just food for thought: I logged 535 calories in fruits and veggies today. If I gave them to myself for free -- even if I gave myself an extra 350 calorie deficit per day to allow them -- I'd have gone over.

As far as extra weekly points go, I eat at maintenance regularly for breaks or treats. I rarely save up for a day of indulgence, though I do if I know it's going to be such an indulgence that I would otherwise go over my maintenance calories for the week.

WBB55

Eating as many fruits as I can is a recipe for maintenance for me, personally.

Daisychain65

If I understand correctly the problem is that you don't want to fiddle about logging individual veg and fruit. I'm the same. My solution was to add three a new foods which I didn't make for public use but I can pick up easily, mixed veg, mixed salad and mixed fruit. I just added together the calories etc for the things I generally eat and got an average number. That way if I have a salad etc all I have to do is measure the total weight. It's obviously not as accurate as doing them individually but I'm 60lbs down so it's been good enough

jkal1979

goodchapman wrote: »

I don't want to track them bc sometimes it's a huge pain to track every vegetable in a large salad, and I'd rather eat the healthy foods freely and not worry about them so much. It was my favorite part of WW, that I could eat limitless veggies and fruits and still lose weight. It helped me stay on track, so I wanted to see if anyone else has success doing something like this.

MFP gives me 1200, plus if I add 500 for nursing I'm at 1700. When I did this a few months ago and tracked all fruits/veg, my supply dropped significantly and I gave up. So I'm thinking if I eat healthy veg/fruit freely it might help. I'm guessing here.

The more you track on here the easier it gets because you are adding more items to your recent and frequent food lists.

What has helped me a lot is saving meals. My salads are usually the same so the basic things like the veggies and chicken that I put in them are saved as a meal so it only takes one click to add multiple items to my diary. From there I just adjust the portion sizes as I add them into the bowl.

I did WW before and when I switched to MFP it was a real eye opener to see how quickly those 'free' foods added up when I weighed and logged them on here. They aren't limitless either. Their recommendation is 5 servings (1 serving is 1/2 cup for fruits and veggies, 1 cup for leafy greens) a day.