Not counting smart points (Weight Watchers) anymore

ritzvin

I never did weight watchers - so no experience there, but to me it seems silly to learn and track some imaginary-somewhat arbitrary points system that someone came up with rather than just using the actual calories and grams protein, fat, fiber, etc - whose numbers have actual meaning.

I do pay for the premium version on MFP. I like being able to set a minimum grams protein and fat to go over and have 100% exercise calories go to carbs (keeping my minimum grams for protein and fat constant), and a few other modifications it allows.

BarneyRubbleMD

LB30 wrote: »

klr4589 wrote: »

I do love that weeklies keep me in check so I don't go too crazy on weekends. On MFP if you exceed your calories, there's really no accountability as it starts all over the next day.

Actually you can see weekly totals on MFP. On the website it is under Reports, and on the app it is under Nutrition. You can see your totals for each day, and the average for the week. I use that feature a lot as some days I may go over and other I may be a bit under. It helps me to see if I have some leeway to work in a weekend treat or not.

Thanks for this info! I knew it was on the app but didn't realize it was on the website version too. It's convenient to be able to keep track of how I do week-to-week, especially if I should go over my target calories sometimes and like to know that I'm still at my desired weekly deficit.

Tried30UserNames

I've been a huge WW fan (and Lifetime member) for years. I've done the food groups and all the varieties of Points. I think the Points system was brilliant psychologically, for me anyway. And I'm realistic enough after 40 years of dieting to know there's never going to come a point where I keep weight off and don't need a support program.

This latest incarnation has ruined everything. I hope they learn soon that they have destroyed the best program out there and make some drastic changes to it. I always liked the freedom and flexibility of eating within my Points (calories) without having to follow a specific way of eating (low carb, low fat, low sugar, whatever). Now, you pretty much have to be low fat and lower carb with excessive fruit consumption to get a healthy number of calories. I was eating about 800 calories to stay within their new Points because I prefer to eat higher fat and can't handle the sugar load of fruit. 800 calories is not good.

Unknown

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hannamarie0098

I did ww for ages and had great success at first. In the 18 months leading up to my wedding I lost around 90lb. Once the plan changes to smart points everything changed. I muddled through for a while with limited success but I found I felt very restricted and deprived as many others have said. When I became a vegetarian and the vegan I found the sp plan impossible. I felt that it demonised carbohydrates which left me struggling to stay within points despite eating very few calories overall, as well as eating insufficient protein as many vegan protein sources come with a carb hit too. I miss my ww leader and the group, I thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from their support but in the end the plan was just no good!

WilmaValley

Lots of great pros and cons for WW, thanks everyone!

perkymommy

honeybee739 wrote: »

I have been paying about $20 per month to do Weight Watchers online.

I've lost count how many times I've joined this program.

Every time I join, I quit and tell myself I will never join again.

Points frustrate me. The program changes every few years and that frustrates me. Now the new "smart points" is pretty much a low/moderate carb "clean" eating diet, which I do agree is a healthy way to eat, but sometimes it's not easy to do on a daily basis, and I find it restrictive.

Back on "point." So, this past week I said, Screw it. I am going to track on MFP and exercise every day. And it was Leslie Sansone walking DVDs mind you, so nothing crazy.

I lost 2 pounds.

Lesson- I can do MFP for free. Calories never change. I lost 2 pounds because I ate at a deficit and exercised. I don't need to pay for a program to lose weight. And the biggest bonus was, I ate food I LIKED. I didn't feel like I was ON a diet. Just eating a bit less of the foods I enjoy and eating more fruits and veggies vs chips...but I still had chips one day!

Any other similar revelations out there?

I do WW in addition to MFP and WW gives me less calories for sure. Even though it's on the points system it's around 1000-1100 cals per day they give me and I lose faster when I stick to WW. But MFP works as well, a little slower but it works, so I'm thinking about canceling my WW subscription too. I keep joining and re-joining WW. The worst thing about WW is they count certain things as zero points when they have calories on MFP.

perkymommy

ladyhusker39 wrote: »

That's the overall impression I get about the current WW program.

WW works. I lost weight on it 12 years ago and kept it off for years. I didn't keep tracking my food on there after I got comfortable at my goal weight and that's where I messed up and the weight started coming back gradually. I'm sure it's the same as MFP. If we get to goal here and then stop weighing food and tracking it the weight will creep back on over time.

lschou

Completely agree, weight watchers online is too expensive when you can use mfp for free. Keep tracking!!

Xx_Christie_xX

I did WW over 10 years ago - lost weight and managed to stick to it. I gave it a try with the new pro points and really struggled! I was hungry all the time maxed out my daily and weekly points. Which the psychologically made me feel like I had blown the plan. I find calories better - you know exactly where you are. I also work out 5 times per week so set a slightly higher calorie goal to allow for this.

smh_cliff

I did ok on pro points but eventually let it back on, was smart points when I rejoined and I didn't get on with that at all!

I'm finding this so much simpler. I pay for premium (the yearly subscription was about the cost of a couple of takeaways for me and my boyfriend so easily justified in my eyes and way less than ww over the year) so that I can set different goals for different days of the week, just like I would save weekly points for the weekend. I was always wary of calorie counting and thought it sounded a bit obsessive counting every grape or apple but in practice I find it easy, flexible and I am much more relaxed. Would recommend it to anyone who struggles to lose or maintain without logging something somewhere

sprinklemepink65

For those who love WW but not the cost there is an app for a one time fee of $2.99 on google play called itrackbites. Its identical to ww but only one time fee. Plus u can choose from smart bites (smart points) or classic bites (the old ww 123 momentum plan) or bites plus (points plus)

smh_cliff

@Delann17 this is the post I mentioned, you might find these experiences interesting

Nurturegirl

I've done Weight Watchers, 3 times that I can remember in the past. I always lost weight but never got to target. I particularly enjoyed the group meetings, as one of the leaders was inspirational and would always send texts, when I missed a week. I've been able to draw upon my knowledge gained from WW and healthy lifestyle courses I attended to make better food choices on MFP. I actually prefer counting all foods rather than treating some foods as free foods as WW does, as I know that some members ate unlimited fruit and then wondered why they weren't losing weight! I also find MFP easier to use than WW online and seeing the activities of my MFP friends in my newsfeed very motivational.

Bella070

I have to say that I have also been there. I have signed up and cancelled very shortly after a number of times.

I didn't like the point system. I felt hungry all the time and felt like I was unable to eat accordingly during my day. I believe in eating Whole Foods, like nuts and avocados, having healthy smoothies and protein shakes if you want that don't add up to a crazy amount of points.

I did love how it was easier to connect with people for motivation. I feel like MFP is hard to connect with one another for support and just to share our progress/journey with one another. That was one of the main reasons I kept going back. I loved how we could all connect and share and help each other out.

I don't agree with the approach of eating low fat, fat free, sugar free, all that crap is bad for you. Just eat the Whole Foods and less of it I think.

So I'm back on here and am trying to lose to get to my forever weight.

kristen8000

I've never done WW, but I'm a huge supporter of MFP.

My Mom, on the other hand, started WW in her late 20's. I remember going to to meetings with her before I started school. She had success while on the program...met goal, all that stuff...but ALWAYS gained it back, so I feel it didn't teach her anything. In the past 30 years she's done all the programs.

In 2011, I found MFP after losing 20lbs on my own and trying to figure out why the weight loss stopped. I found out I wasn't doing enough to create a deficit. So, after starting to log my food, the weight started coming off again, and I lost 50lbs. Met my current BF, moved, new job, etc. Life got away from me and I gained some back (15lbs). But, I knew what to do to get it off when I was ready, lost the 15lbs. Went back to my usual ways, gained some back. I'm now back to goal and realized with all the other times I lost, I really need to watch just as hard in maintainance as I do in losing. I do know that WW has a maintainance program, but I think you get in that mentality that you don't need to pay to maintain...MFP is free.

So, even though we've both had success on both programs and we've gained some back (Mom gained all her's back everytime she stopped WW, I gained 10-15lbs and it was easy to go back to logging food).

I will always support MFP, even if I'm sucky at maintainance! LOL

JustRobby1

I have never understood the point of paying money for WW when MFP is free, and perhaps more importantly, focuses on calories, which is what really matters, not "points".

MissyCHF

It's horses for courses, I have done both, but prefer MFP, I lost a lot of faith in WW when I saw their 'low fat' cakes etc. were almost 50% sugar.

corinasue1143

I guess I'm older than most. I remember when weight watchers was pretty much a one-size-fits -all 1200 calorie diet. If you didn't like fruit, you could just substitute ice cream or a candy bar. Absolutely nothing about nutrition or exercise, nothing about health or taking care of yourself. At 5'10" and probably 24, active farm worker and mom, I would diet 1 week, lose 10 pounds in that week, and spend the next couple of weeks in bed trying to eat back some energy. I'm still trying to eat for energy.

NurseKristi81

I am a WW lifetime member that I obtained back in 2010, held it for 6 years and now I have gained 30 pounds from getting married! lol I Like MFP much better if only I can get my head right with it and go! lol