Weight watchers?

Shull_rachael

I'm seriously thinking about joining weight watchers. Has anyone had any luck with there diet plan? Thanks in advance!

Althefitnessguy

I tried it and it is almost the same as MFP except they let you pretty much eat as much fruit and veggies as you want. I don't know if that has changed since. MFP checks in on the sugar intake from fruit so I think it is a little bit better.

cblue315

I did Weight watchers for two years. Lost a total of 40 ish pounds. It works but it is pricey. After being on MFP for a year and a half I am down an additional 80 pounds. For me it was just too easy to over eat on fruits and veggies. They do have calories and should in my opinion be counted.

Catfishbabs

WW is the very first diet I did after my 3rd child was born. I lost 35 lbs in 6 months and became a lifetime member. It was about 27 years ago. I was able to maintain for a couple of years but then because of life events I regained all plus some. I always went back to WW and it always worked to lose but I would regain plus. Now instead of 35 lbs to lose I have 75 but will be happy with 50 if I feel good and am fit. I was actually thinking about going back because they have an updated plan coming out next week. I joined MFP in Oct because I wanted to start sooner and now I am pretty happy here. I have lost 10 lbs. I am have 1200 cals per day and I eat 200 to 300 exercise cals on top of that. I main reason I wanted to go is for the face to face meetings so I may go to a couple meetings with different leaders to see if I lake any and rejoin for a couple months. If I do I will still record my daily food into MFP.

Catfishbabs

Oh and I never liked the points plan. I always did core, now known as simply filling where you did not track points. Eat core foods, stop when full. If not a core point count towards a weekly point allowance. That allows for treats, or not so healthy foods in moderation. The very first WW plan I used was an exchange plan which I liked as it encouraged healthy eating and eating from all food groups.

MrsMES10

If you're thinking of joining, wait until next week. New plan being rolled out with a different points formula. I think they are calling it "smart points."

Shull_rachael

Thank you everyone! After looking at how expensive it is I think I'm just going to do it myself

sarahfolts

I have done it in the past when they would run a special for $19 a month online. I looked last week to join again and it was $40! So I'm just going to continue to count my calories

Shull_rachael

sarahfolts wrote: »

I have done it in the past when they would run a special for $19 a month online. I looked last week to join again and it was $40! So I'm just going to continue to count my calories

If it was $19 I'd join but not for $40

bfanny

I did it 8 years ago, lost 40 lbs, I'm a lifetime and by keeping the weight off I get meetings + E tools FREE (close to 7 years)
So YES I'm a WW success Story, tried many "short cuts" before but didn't last...

Misspinklift

I was on it for 3 years. On and off of course. It is good as a start up. I didn't like it because a lot of the healthy protein were too high for me to eat. I also stop losing weight and I knew it was time for a change since it wasn't working for me anymore. It is good teaching the tools and tips, but I wouldn't stick to it forever

Shells918

I lost 80 pounds on WW 15 years ago and was a leader for a bit. It, like any other program, can work, if you follow it. The points can be confusing, but it does teach you about portion control and not just giving you meals. I learned a lot of recipes, and about a different way to live. Unfortunately for me, life, stress, medications have gotten the better of me and I've gained half of the weight back. I did try to go back to weight watchers, but I just wasn't motivated to follow the plan this time. Now I am doing things differently with medical support and struggle due to some medical issues, but I still think it can be a good plan for those who like a group setting and the support that weight watchers can bring to you.

Ruckussjr12

I am currently doing weight watchers. Just started actually today back to MFT because for some reason WW just isnt doing it. I have been tracking and excercising and using my fitbit, but i think somehow WW give me to many points each day. Its just not having the effect i want. Also its not free.

On the other hand my mom is loving WW has lost over 40 lbs in about 6 months and is just doing amazon with it. So i think it just depends on your style.

I do better knowing im eating less calories than i am expending and she loves the points.

ald783

Is WW running a promo? I'm only curious because there have been a lot more WW-related threads than usual lately (I don't mean that in a bad way.) I personally find the actual tracking and points vs. calories to be pretty much the same, so if you are doing online only, I'd suggest MFP. The WW meetings can be helpful if you are looking for something in-person.

melonaulait

WW definitely works, because when I was on it like 8 years ago I did lose about 35-40lbs and got to my lowest weight since elementary school. But now that I'm on MFP I'm much happier and don't need to abide by anyone's rules...

bfanny

ald783 wrote: »

Is WW running a promo? I'm only curious because there have been a lot more WW-related threads than usual lately (I don't mean that in a bad way.) I personally find the actual tracking and points vs. calories to be pretty much the same, so if you are doing online only, I'd suggest MFP. The WW meetings can be helpful if you are looking for something in-person.

LOL I don't think so since the Promo here is not usually good however I don't see people mentioning MFP on the WW boards...

ald783

bfanny wrote: »

ald783 wrote: »

Is WW running a promo? I'm only curious because there have been a lot more WW-related threads than usual lately (I don't mean that in a bad way.) I personally find the actual tracking and points vs. calories to be pretty much the same, so if you are doing online only, I'd suggest MFP. The WW meetings can be helpful if you are looking for something in-person.

LOL I don't think so since the Promo here is not usually good however I don't see people mentioning MFP on the WW boards...

Ha which WW boards do you post on? They've been my jam for years but they're much quieter these days. I got sick of how bad the WW app (and website) are and constantly whine about WW on the WW boards and switched to MFP, but then find myself getting defensive on here when people complain about WW.

bfanny

Yeah I heard so many complains about the new app, I'm lucky I'm still using the old one, anyways I can track in paper, that's how I got to my original goal in the first place! And also many posters moved to Facebook and thats why is quiet

QuilterInVA

Since the new program and the new app isn't going into effect until December 6, there is nothing to complain about at this point. The new SmartPoints calculations are going to take into account saturated fat and sugar so there are going to be lots of complaints about the increase in points for junk with little nutritional value.

Jussilu

Also, weight watchers is about the leader .........there are good ones and not so good ones. I find that makes a difference.

bfanny

QuilterInVA wrote: »

Since the new program and the new app isn't going into effect until December 6, there is nothing to complain about at this point. The new SmartPoints calculations are going to take into account saturated fat and sugar so there are going to be lots of complaints about the increase in points for junk with little nutritional value.

"some" people got an early app update

bluepoppies777

WW was really the only diet I have ever had success with, but each time I stopped going to meeting I would gain all the weight back. I joined MFP in October and used the $ I would have spent on WW on a monthly gym membership. I am way more successful now than I ever was on WW. Have lost 20 lbs since first week of October! The more friends you add in MFP, the more motivation you will have daily! You will see how many are working out and eating under their calorie goal and you will want to do the same! Feel free to add me as a friend, it helps having a group for support!

Shull_rachael

bluepoppies777 wrote: »

WW was really the only diet I have ever had success with, but each time I stopped going to meeting I would gain all the weight back. I joined MFP in October and used the $ I would have spent on WW on a monthly gym membership. I am way more successful now than I ever was on WW. Have lost 20 lbs since first week of October! The more friends you add in MFP, the more motivation you will have daily! You will see how many are working out and eating under their calorie goal and you will want to do the same! Feel free to add me as a friend, it helps having a group for support!

I was thinking about using that money for a gym also! Maybe I should!

kz_dc

I go to Weight Watchers meetings and really like it. I don't do the points plan (I do a keto diet instead) and I use MFP to track my food instead of the WW app. But I like the structure of the weekly weigh-in, and wanting to get a "congrats" from the lady who weighs you and updates your weight in the book. The meetings are pretty corny, but hey, sometimes corny works.

kyrannosaurus

I went to WW meetings to keep mysf accountable. Apart from weighing in each week in front of another person, I think the whole program is stupid. It's more complicated to calculate the points than it is too count calories. The points are less accurate too. I got to my goal weight just counting calories here and not counting points despite going to the WW meetings. I was the first person my leader had apparently ever seen get to goal in her meetings and I wasn't even following their program.

shelleysykeskeene

I lost 12 kilograms on WW, I gained it back slowly over the years and after the birth of my son because I stopped tracking.

The nice thing about weight watchers is you do start to think about everything as 'points' so you do end up tracking in your mind so you are actively thinking about everything you eat and you can 'save' points for special occassions. If you are one of those people who simply cannot do a strict diet like Weigh less it does help you feel like you have more control and you feel less deprived.

However they don't count certain things like coffee, tea, sweetners, some veg etc which MFP does so MFP is more accurate. I go to meetings but I go for support and for the weigh ins - knowing I have to weigh and my leader is going to see the loss or gain weekly keeps me accountable. It is not a bad diet on the whole, any diet that gets you thinking about what you are eating and gets you started with tracking accurately is a good thing. The problem comes in when you see it as a short term thing - its not. This is a lifestyle change - you will do it daily for the rest of your life no matter what plan you choose.

2essie

I went to WW when they did calorie counting many years ago. I loved it and found it worked for me. They then changed over to points, which I never did understand why. The calorie count was on most foods I buy, but then I had to start converting that to points. I gave up. I Did manage to keep the weight off for many years and it is only the last few years, as I got older and finished a very active job, that the weight went back on. I have been with MFP over 3 years and find it to be working just as well as WW, but it is free

OJLight

Hi ... I was going to join WW again !!! But thanks for the advice above ! Think I will stick to MFP, although it been ages since I actively started tracking calories !! Will take a bit of getting used to but I really want to lose at 15lbs !!!

starspeckled

I love weight watchers. However the past week they have absolutely ruined their app and website. Go to their Facebook page, people are LIVID. I just cancelled my membership and am headed back here. After using the food database on MFP, you will be disappointed by the small database Weight Watchers has.

Their plan worked (can't speak of the new one they rolled out today), but the tech issues are unbearable. Good luck!

booksandchocolate12

starspeckled wrote: »

I love weight watchers. However the past week they have absolutely ruined their app and website. Go to their Facebook page, people are LIVID. I just cancelled my membership and am headed back here. After using the food database on MFP, you will be disappointed by the small database Weight Watchers has.

Their plan worked (can't speak of the new one they rolled out today), but the tech issues are unbearable. Good luck!

This is exactly why I canceled my membership and came here!

MySophieSue

I have had success with WW in the past but MFP is great and I like being able to see nutritional values and where I need to adjust.