Weight Watchers while using MFP

gooz71

I am a Weight Watchers member and have been really enjoying it and losing weight...until they switched to smartpoints. I am so disheartened with the whole change for 2016. My problem is I love my leader and my meetings/weigh-in.

I've been thinking about using MFP to track my calories (and forego points system) but still go to the meetings and weigh ins. Does anyone know of others who do this?

kz_dc

I do this. I use MFP to track what I eat and watch my macros. I use WW for the community support and the weigh-ins. I don't tell anyone at WW I do this, as I think it would sound rude and divert most people from what they want to talk about (points). But it works for me.

sltpsu15

I don't know anyone who does this - but would it be worth the money for you to still go to the meeting if they are talking about a program you are no longer following? If so, then continue to go. If not...save your money. Maybe try it for a few weeks and see how it works.

I did WW years ago and loved it. I started again today and am not impressed. I see where they are going with SmartPoints - but think they missed the mark. Plus MFP's app and website in general are a million times better. I am going to give it another day and probably cancel and move to MFP.

Good luck no matter what you do!

Tisha247

Yes I've been using both MPF (I've had for years) and joined WW last year to lose weight but have struggled keeping within the new points system now that it's changed, I don't like it. I will continue though because going to meetings and being kept accountable is an excellent motivator for me.

JDCW47

I joined Weight Watchers for three months, beginning mid-October, and was just getting comfortable with their easy tracking system, when they changed. I cannot make heads or tails of the new system, and have given up trying to use it. They've tried to make it into an everybody-counsels-everybody social network, with emphasis on record keeping having been moved to the back burner, if it's still there at all. I will not re-join WW. Having found this site excites me, as it is as easy as the old online WW program.

trisha1298

I used to do WW and did both points and MFP calorie tracking for a while. I was doing WW in fall 2014 when all fruits & veggies were 0 points (is that still true?). I did a lot of work to figure out the calories to WW point conversion, and I basically found that my daily WW points equalled about 1000 calories, so WW relied on me eating plenty of fruits and veggies to make up for that difference.

I started counting calories alongside WW when I plateau'd- I think largely because I was eating tons of fruits and vegetables, so I was probably eating like 1800-2000 calories a day. After losing 15 lbs, I was not losing any more on the WW points system alone. So then I started counting calories, and limited myself to 1400 calories, and started losing again. I had a lot of success with calorie counting, and stuck around at WW for a while, but eventually I was disillusioned from WW. I was mostly going for the community and accountability, but my WW community was much older than me, and at a certain point I couldn't relate to any of them (there was a key discussion in which the leader told us that a pound of fat weighs less than a pound of muscle. I tried explaining that a pound is a unit of weight, so by definition they're the same, but no one agreed, and that was it for me). I do miss having a weight loss/maintenance community, and I'm still looking for an alternative.

I completely understand being frustrated with the new SmartPoints program. My problem with that is that you have "calibrated" your expectations of what you can eat based on the PointsPlus, and that was a lot of work! I remember how much work that is! Now you pretty much have to redo all of that work. I understand that WW is trying to steer you towards certain nutrition, and I think that is worthwhile, but it is frustrating as a WW member. Note: I did WW in high school as well, and when I left WW (after I hit my goal weight) I did not have the "tools" I needed to be successful on my own because everything I knew about food was in terms of points. Eventually I forgot what each food was in points, so I stopped tracking foods. If I had learned to portion my foods based on calories, I might have had more success because calorie amounts are available everywhere.

So, my recommendation would be to track SmartPoints and calories for a few weeks and see what you think. Maybe go one week on SmartPoints, then the next on calories, and see which you prefer. If the community and accountability from WW benefits you, then it is probably good to continue going. Good luck!

gooz71

trisha1298 wrote: »

I used to do WW and did both points and MFP calorie tracking for a while. I was doing WW in fall 2014 when all fruits & veggies were 0 points (is that still true?). I did a lot of work to figure out the calories to WW point conversion, and I basically found that my daily WW points equalled about 1000 calories, so WW relied on me eating plenty of fruits and veggies to make up for that difference.

I started counting calories alongside WW when I plateau'd- I think largely because I was eating tons of fruits and vegetables, so I was probably eating like 1800-2000 calories a day. After losing 15 lbs, I was not losing any more on the WW points system alone. So then I started counting calories, and limited myself to 1400 calories, and started losing again. I had a lot of success with calorie counting, and stuck around at WW for a while, but eventually I was disillusioned from WW. I was mostly going for the community and accountability, but my WW community was much older than me, and at a certain point I couldn't relate to any of them (there was a key discussion in which the leader told us that a pound of fat weighs less than a pound of muscle. I tried explaining that a pound is a unit of weight, so by definition they're the same, but no one agreed, and that was it for me). I do miss having a weight loss/maintenance community, and I'm still looking for an alternative.

I completely understand being frustrated with the new SmartPoints program. My problem with that is that you have "calibrated" your expectations of what you can eat based on the PointsPlus, and that was a lot of work! I remember how much work that is! Now you pretty much have to redo all of that work. I understand that WW is trying to steer you towards certain nutrition, and I think that is worthwhile, but it is frustrating as a WW member. Note: I did WW in high school as well, and when I left WW (after I hit my goal weight) I did not have the "tools" I needed to be successful on my own because everything I knew about food was in terms of points. Eventually I forgot what each food was in points, so I stopped tracking foods. If I had learned to portion my foods based on calories, I might have had more success because calorie amounts are available everywhere.

So, my recommendation would be to track SmartPoints and calories for a few weeks and see what you think. Maybe go one week on SmartPoints, then the next on calories, and see which you prefer. If the community and accountability from WW benefits you, then it is probably good to continue going. Good luck!

gooz71

Thank you all for your input. I'm just so disappointed that they changed it to smartpoints. I also totally understand what they are trying to do, but it is basically now a lower carb diet. If you have a birthday party to go to and have a piece of cake and ice cream your points are basically blown for the whole day.

jeepinshawn

I understand the need for accountability, but for me just watching my numbers on MFP were enough to keep me accountable, but I don't understand why people go for the meals and what not. Your not going to buy WW meals forever so you aren't really training yourself how to eat in a post WW life. IMO weightloss is all about calories in calories out, it is incredibly simple, no need to complicate it with points or special foods. I lost 100lbs using MFP and I never had to give up cake, ice cream or nachos.

SideSteel

jeepinshawn wrote: »

I understand the need for accountability, but for me just watching my numbers on MFP were enough to keep me accountable, but I don't understand why people go for the meals and what not. Your not going to buy WW meals forever so you aren't really training yourself how to eat in a post WW life. IMO weightloss is all about calories in calories out, it is incredibly simple, no need to complicate it with points or special foods. I lost 100lbs using MFP and I never had to give up cake, ice cream or nachos.

The point system is a basically a simplified version of calorie counting.

SideSteel

I'm going to go against the flow here.

You've already been successful with WW. Give the new system a shot.

If it doesn't work or you hate it, try mfp.

newheavensearth

I'm tracking here but thinking of just attending meetings. I'm losing more weight per month on MFP , sticking to my plan better, and enjoying greater flexibility than on this new WW plan. I don't have time or desire to keep relearning new plans. You have to choose what's doable for you.

RetroPolkaDot

gooz71 wrote: »

Thank you all for your input. I'm just so disappointed that they changed it to smartpoints. I also totally understand what they are trying to do, but it is basically now a lower carb diet. If you have a birthday party to go to and have a piece of cake and ice cream your points are basically blown for the whole day.

That's when you use your extra weekly points. You go the party, enjoy the cake and ice cream and know you haven't blown it because you have the extra bank of points to use. Then the next meal you get right back on track. That's what those extra weekly points are there for.

Zee48

I am a paying on-line member of WW and use MFP for the calorie count. I didn’t think I’d like the new Smart Points plan because I have a problem with some of the ‘new’ philosophy and the person it is coming from but decided WW worked before and has been working since the 1960’s and it hasn’t failed yet if the plan is worked properly. I do like the MFP site because I can get a real idea of what I’m taking in by looking at the caloric content of the foods. I new Smart Points system is more intense because the system changed but everything changes.

I don’t hide the fact that I use MFP and have several friends who use both – some are even WW employees.

Don’t look at the daily points as having been blown because you have a piece of cake & ice cream – gosh that is what the weekly points are for.

Please, give it a try – really give it a decent try and don’t write it off so quickly. Take advantage of the meetings and your wonderful leader & WI and counter that with MFP. Run both programs side by side – journal your foods and exercise/activity on both and I believe you will be pleasantly surprised.

FrancineJM61

What ever works for you is the best way to go. I dislike this new program. I will give it a month. if I don't lose Ill go back to the old plan. The points on this ew program have gone up so much you are eating so much less. You have to depend on veggies. I don't like like there new spokes person.

FitPhillygirl

Lifetime WW member here, 16 pounds under my set goal weight. Tried the new SP program only to find that it was putting me 450 calories below what I actually should be eating for my maintenance and activity level. That was with the 36 points per day that I was given and using at least 3-4 of the 28 weekly points that I was given. I'm using MFP again because I need to keep my calorie level up. I think the new WW program is ok, though, and people will definetly have success with it. I was earning at least 10 + FitPoints per day with my Fitbit. So if I do decide to track points again instead of calories I'll use them as well to make sure I'm getting close to the 2,000 calories that I need per day to maintain.

RetroPolkaDot

I do both because I like to see both numbers so I track calories here. I count SmartPoints on paper.
I, personally, like the new smart points. I don't find it overly low carb. I suppose it depends on what you like to eat. I still eat all my favorite things in moderation. One thing I don't do is waste points/calories on inferior food. Example: I could try to work in a low fat ice cream more often but you know I'd rather skip it and instead indulge in a premium ice cream less often. I know that I will have some disappointment in the low fat ice cream.

gooz71

RetroPolkaDot wrote: »

I do both because I like to see both numbers so I track calories here. I count SmartPoints on paper.
I, personally, like the new smart points. I don't find it overly low carb. I suppose it depends on what you like to eat. I still eat all my favorite things in moderation. One thing I don't do is waste points/calories on inferior food. Example: I could try to work in a low fat ice cream more often but you know I'd rather skip it and instead indulge in a premium ice cream less often. I know that I will have some disappointment in the low fat ice cream.

They went low sugar/low fat/high protein. Low sugar=lower carbs usually. Anything with sugar or pasta in it has gone way up in points. It's just crazy. Might as well go Paleo.

RetroPolkaDot

I am aware of the changes. I still get in bread, pasta, rice/grains, and potatoes in proper portions.
My doctor recommended that I limit added sugars in my average day to day diet so the new points really helps with that. In fact it gave me the kick I needed to make the changes.

Did you even give smartpoints a try or did you just decide that you were not going to do it no how, no way?
why not give it a try for one week?

gooz71

RetroPolkaDot wrote: »

I am aware of the changes. I still get in bread, pasta, rice/grains, and potatoes in proper portions.
My doctor recommended that I limit added sugars in my average day to day diet so the new points really helps with that. In fact it gave me the kick I needed to make the changes.

Did you even give smartpoints a try or did you just decide that you were not going to do it no how, no way?
why not give it a try for one week?

I did give it a try but was running out of points so quickly it became very frustrating. I'm going to talk to my WW leader this week and get her thoughts. I really like her.

sandie25610

Whatever works for you!!! Thats the right plan. I never cared for WEight watchers myself. The only thing it did was introduce me to starvation.

JMSSMSMommy

I just logged my smart points of 30 today and also logged it in My fitness pal - came out to approx 1600 calories. On the old program, I was getting 26 points and with the food I ate - I would only log 1150 calories. Not sure if I am eating 'too much' but gonna give the new program a try. Granted 1600 includes 4 servings of veggies and one serving of fruit today.

RetroPolkaDot

gooz71 wrote: »

I did give it a try but was running out of points so quickly it became very frustrating. I'm going to talk to my WW leader this week and get her thoughts. I really like her.

I know in my meeting the things people have been talking about really going up in points are things like coffee creamer, sweetened yogurt, ice cream, and some cereals.
I don't care for most breakfast cereals because they get all soggy and gross and I don't really like yogurt. I did cut back on my coffee creamer because it doubled in points and that was not worth it to me. I cut the amount I use in half and I won't lie it took a bit of an adjustment but I'd rather use those points on a serving of cheese than all the creamer I had been using.
One thing I did for a while, on Points Plus, was track upside down. Instead of starting with breakfast, I started my days with dinner. I'd track from 4pm until 4pm the following day. I found it was easier to lighten up breakfast and lunch than it was to lighten up dinner. On Points Plus I was frequently running out or extremely low of points by dinner time. I find that I don't do that as often on the new points.
Yes, talk to your leader or bring it up in your meeting. This weeks topic is about tracking so it would be a great time to discuss it because maybe others in your meeting are struggling as well.

cebreisch

I'm actually really thinking about doing this. I've been converting the MFP info to WW points until the "new points" conversion thing came out. Today, I went to weigh in and they said that what they want you to really count now is: Calories, Saturated Fat, Sugar, and Protein. The leader said that fiber was still good and all, but they were more interested in making the program more protein friendly, and less friendly towards sugar and fat. An nutritionist I went to said that if you focus on proteins, then the fats/carb's will take care of themselves, but I'm not sure I like the new way WW is doing things. I'm really looking at just going for weigh in's and support and just tracking on MFP from now on.

cebreisch

gooz71 wrote: »

Thank you all for your input. I'm just so disappointed that they changed it to smartpoints. I also totally understand what they are trying to do, but it is basically now a lower carb diet. If you have a birthday party to go to and have a piece of cake and ice cream your points are basically blown for the whole day.

I think you hit the nail on the head with this. I was having regular Greek yogurt and some "protein granola" for about 7 points before, and now it's like 10+. Lunches that I was having for 18-20 points are now closer to 25-30. Before, I was mostly going on my MFP numbers anyway - and in the converting of the points, was losing 1 to 1.5 pounds a week on average.

Just really disheartened.

PepeLPew

Hey all,

Great conversation here. I've been on ww for several years and am trying out the new smartfit points. It's clear that they've definitely increased for certain items. I also find that I am gaining way more activity points. With my fitbit curve hr synced after a day of teaching and walking I'm a usual 15 activity points. This seems unusually high. Previously a latte with half cup of 2% was maybe 3; now its 5 points ?!

I am currently logging with fitbit and ww app over the course of next month. If I do not see any results I will switch to mfp.

morgan292929

I had just joined WW back in Sept after my sister had success with it and I did loose 9lbs in my first two weeks and was feeling really good with the points had illy daily routine and meals almost figured out then they go and "reinvent" their system, found it hard to track, my regular food went waaay up to the point I got so frustrated I cancelled and came back here-now wondering why I ever left

gooz71

cebreisch wrote: »

I'm actually really thinking about doing this. I've been converting the MFP info to WW points until the "new points" conversion thing came out. Today, I went to weigh in and they said that what they want you to really count now is: Calories, Saturated Fat, Sugar, and Protein. The leader said that fiber was still good and all, but they were more interested in making the program more protein friendly, and less friendly towards sugar and fat. An nutritionist I went to said that if you focus on proteins, then the fats/carb's will take care of themselves, but I'm not sure I like the new way WW is doing things. I'm really looking at just going for weigh in's and support and just tracking on MFP from now on.

I tracked in MFP and WW today. Granted I had a bad day of eating (because I'm stressed about it..go figure) but MFP gives me 1,700 calories a day. WW gives me 30 smartpoints a day (plus weekly of 42). If I divide up my weekly I can have 36 a day. I figure if I give myself a few extra points a day it may be more like the points plus was for me, so if I bump it up to about 40 a day it might feel more "doable" for me. That would equal what MFP tells me to eat. It won't come off as fast as WW but that is okay. I'm going to see what my leader says when I tell her about the 36-40 a day.

bbeck9900

I'm surprised no one here has tried the Simply Filling WW technique. Look into it, it is great. It hasn't changed. I go to WW meetings for the accountability. I like weighing in every week. But I have decided to go back to logging in on MFP. I usually follow simply filling, but been having issues lately with the recognizing when you're full part of the program. I wanted to go back to recognizing portions, etc. and I would rather track calories than count points. I say do what works for you, even if it is a mix up of a couple plans.

suziecue20

I used to do the simply filling WW thing and it worked for me. The only things I don't like about WW is the money it costs and the hideous meetings. Lining up like cattle to be weighed is just not my thing so I did it online and was happy with that.

When I did it you could swap from the Pro points to simply filling daily or weekly. Is it still the same with the new smart points?

Back in the day [1970s lol] if you wanted to lose weight you went to the doctor and he/she [more he] gave you a 'diet sheet'. This stated that you should eat lean meat, fish and shellfish, fruit and low carb veg, cut out cakes, pastry, biscuits, sweets and chocolate and cut right back on bread, potatoes, rice, pasta and dairy. Sounds like WW smart points to me - NOTHING is new lol.

RetroPolkaDot

The other option you have is if Points Plus really worked for you just go back to that. You'd have to track points on paper instead of using the WW app and you have to use a calculator to figure out the points. There are ones online just google weight watchers points calculator. you should be able to find a points calculator on ebay if you don't own one.