Joining MFP after cancelling WW
MistbornVin
Posts: 29 Member
After a couple of months pondering, I've decided to do the above. I've decided that WW isn't working for me. I've joined them, stopped using them just to start up again with WW and have not successfully gotten my weight to where it should be with WW. In other words, it's a waste of my money. WW does have a good program for some and yes, it does help people lose weight. However, I'm starting to view WW in a more negative light than I have before. They indirectly track calories, which I can do for free on MFP. I'm also starting to see them as too corporate for my liking in my dieting aspect of things. Example: They have their version of a fitbit called activelink. The charge for activelink is $40 plus an additional $5/month to take the data off of it and convert it into activity points. MFP on the other hand, I can link up my fitbit and MFP automatically adjusts my caloric intake for free. All I had to do was purchase the device. If WW isn't partnered with a certain company, WW won't bother to put the points values in their database for said company. WW's points values allows for there to be a barrier so that you don't have to necessarily focus on the nutritional content of food. MFP, on the other hand, you can't avoid looking at it. In other words, WW does not provide holding yourself accountable, but MFP does. This is just a short list on why I'm going with MFP over WW.
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Replies
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Welcome!! I think you will enjoy MFP and will see results..
I know of a lot of people who have become Disillusioned with WW recently..0 -
Welcome to MFP. I have never tried anything like WW or whatnot, and am just new here, almost a week, but am already loving the community that this has to offer. Hope you hit all of your goals and have some fun doing it.
PS: I love your screen name/profile name thing. Excellent book, as you can tell from my own
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:flowerforyou:
I am a 2 times life-timer WW .....it was a good plan for me back then....MFP is great for online support....random people giving high fives & atta boys!!....complete strangers all united for one common goal!!!....it makes you want to do good!!????????
WW is still a good program....but I've come to know....that no "food is free"....they all have cals....
It's the same....
-water
-moving
-cal deficit
Just harder as you age??????????
Add if you need support....good luck on your journey...????????0 -
Welcome to MFP and good luck on your MFP journey! Fitbit linking with MFP is the best, you will like it.0
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I became a WW lifetime member in 2004 after losing 90 lbs but I am not a big fan of the newest version. (I gained some of my weight back last year after 2 kids and a busy Etsy business so I'm here to lose around 17 lbs.) I recently cancelled my online WW subscription in favor of MFP. The data base has all of the foods I eat regularly which makes life easier for me and I love that I can see breakdowns of macro and micronutrients. Not to mention I am saving money. Anyway, welcome to MFP and good luck to you! 0
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I am wary of any of the weight loss companies, it's just a multi million dollar business to them.I don't like the way they use so called celebrities to advertise, you will see far more inspiring stories on here!
Welcome and I am sure you will find sustainable results on here????0 -
Thx for all the welcomes!0
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Welcome! WW also didn't work for me. I cancelled as well and came over to MFP. Haven't looked back since!0
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Welcome back, I too am an ex WW...really this site is AWESOME< and its FREE!!!!!! So much better than WW.0
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I did the same thing. Here on MFP, people hold you accountable. I have used some of the tips that I learned on WW, but am finding MFP more user friendly. Welcome!0
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MFP works for a reason. A huge scientific study a couple of years back looked at thousands of people attempting weight loss and all the different components of their various approaches, from membership in weight loss programs, to exercise strategies, to support groups, to diet types (e.g. low carb, low fat etc.), to gender, to you name it. Do you know what the number one correlate of successful weight loss was? It was simply keeping a diet diary to track intake and learn nutrition, and that one element blew all other factors of the water when it came to pounds lost. MFP is simply the best diet diary out there.
The WW business model, and that of pretty much all weight loss systems, is based on creating a barrier to knowledge and true diet tracking that is hinted at in the OP's post. The reason for this is simple, it is very profitable to keep you dependent on them. The less you really understand about nutrition and what is in your food the more likely you will be to stay with the company or fail to keep your weight off when you leave them, producing even more profitable return customers. From complicated point systems to pre-packaged foods, these companies rely on making you believe that nutrition and weight loss are too complicated for the lay person. If you actually go to a board certified nutritionist you don't get a point or color system or some sort of prepackaged food...you get educated and started on building a food diary.0 -
I like MFP much better than WW too. I really wanted it to work for me but I like tracking calories instead of points. I use bodymediafit fit so I like knowing the numbers and my daily deficit. I was also tired of paying for WW too. Good luck
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Hi, and Welcome! I'm new here too, and did the same thing about cancelling a longterm WW membership and joining MFP instead. I feel much more in control with MRP, I was able to adjust my goals for carbs, protein, fat etc. which is something WW did not allow. I love the way it links with Runtastic and other aps and devices, plus it is free! I was diagnosed with celiac disease 2 years ago and WW plan did not have good options for me. This site is great, and I've already lost over 5 pounds! Good luck to you0
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Yep, have to agree: WW wasn't for me. I lost ten lbs on it last year (the most I ever lost in many stops and starts) but gained it back. Not WW's fault - but - MFP is a lot more transparent. I like tracking my foods, their actual calories, and the level of support here. It's a lot more user-friendly. I linked my Jawbone to MFP and it's working out well. MFP is a much more positive experience!0
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Loveee MFP compared to WW -- I cancelled my subscription in May and have not looked back (I successfully lost 25 pounds on WW and gained it back). Love free and love the community here. I think having to do all the math with the points is what frustrated me the most. Calories are on most everything these days and easy to track. Welcome to MFP -- I think you will like it here 0
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I'm an ex WW member myself, I was on it last year, was able to lose 10lbs, then gained it back (plus a bit more) when I stopped using it. I think that using the points systems instead of reading the nutritional labels is what the problem was. Welcome to MFP I'm sure you will like it here, and you will get to your goal and have a good support system. Good luck.0
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HI!
I went to WW too for a few months, lost a few lbs, but was very frustrated with the points system. It is indirect and not very helpful when I started exercising heavily (long distance running).
They promote light exercise, when I tried to track my fitness points, no one could help me. I feel I need to be eating healthy to support my exercise, and my low points allowance left me so so hungry!
Besides- it is sooo expensive! I also tried the Livestrong App, but a friend brought me to MFP- I love it!!!!!!
Welcome!0 -
I did the same thing. Weight watchers was a good starter tool. MFP is better because it's free, and the support system is awesome. You'll like it. Plus, i didn't like the way weight watchers calculated some food. Nuts shouldn't be 3 points for a 100 calorie pack....0
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Fishshtick,
Great post! Thanks for sharing this valued info.0 -
At the end of the day MFP and WW are all about holding yourself accountable.
Ultimately, you make the decision what to put in your mouth, or to get up and go for a walk rather than sit on the couch.
Whatever tools help you best to make better decisions, I'm all for.0 -
I just cancelled my WW subscription for the 2nd time. The first time I lost 25 pounds. I gained all of that back, plus some. This time I lost 16 pounds, but couldn't maintain it, so gained back 9 pounds. I like MFP, because I know how many calories I'm eating all the time. It's also nice to see the other numbers WW encourages us to ignore, such as sodium and sugar. WW is more one-size-fits-all, but that doesn't fit me. I don't like dairy; I never have. On WW, if I didn't get two servings of dairy a day, they made it sound like I would die. I also didn't like the way the person weighing me in passed judgement. I know they say they don't, but they always asked what I did differently if I had a gain. If I knew that, I wouldn't have gained! I honestly think it was all that "free" fruit I was eating. I also found WW very restrictive. I like to eat out, and it was hard to plan eating out on WW. If the restaurant wasn't in their book or on the app, there was no way of knowing what to put. If I guessed, I usually guessed incorrectly. If I looked up the nutritional information on the restaurant's website (if it was there), I'd have to figure out how many Points or PointsPlus the meal was. Who wants to pull out a phone at a meal, to figure out the Points or PointsPlus values before ordering? That was a lot of work.
Personally, I'm glad I left WW. I think going to a nutritionist and tracking my eating and exercising with MFP, I'll be more successful than I was either time I was on WW. Plus, you can't beat free! 0 -
I have made it as a lifetime member with ww altho I clashed with them on determining my goal weight . I got to where they told me to get to but couldnt maintain it and subsequently gained most of it back . I am here after downgrading my membership and have learnt a lot more on here from other people than on the ww site so am gonna cancel my membership altogether . Just my five cents.......Good luck on your journey0
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I have switched from WW to MFP today, glad I'm not the only one! x0
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Another lifetime member of WW so it's free but I'm not wasting my time with them anymore. Been there done that for decades. This is free for me too and tons better support! They were always a let down. I've met just as many friends to walk with on here than I did there in all those years,0
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Hey m joining mfp again after a gap of 2 months. This time I have to stay on track. Have 4 months before my son's 1st bday and I have to lose weight. I uqve joined zumba 3 times a week for an hour. The remaining days I plan to gym, and also start the 30 day shred. Hope I do loose weight. Any encouragement will b much appreciated 0
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I did WW and it worked at first, but then it just became aggrivating. I have had more results on MFP then I ever did in WW.0
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I was on Slimming world and lost 10lb but I realised that MFP could do the same thing - with no red or green days, but just sensible eating. It is all about knowledge and making the correct decisions - It's going to be a long road but I think I am more in control on here, provided I am honest and fill in my diary.0
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I think I'm going to like MFP better than WW too. I like having my fitbit adjust my caloric intake for me and for free none the less! Which is way better than having WW calculate points values for me for $5/month. I also like seeing the pie chart to break down sugar, protein, and fat for me too.0
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