Weight watchers, opinions?

My_Fitness_Journey2020

Hey guys,

I struggle with keeping up a healthy eating habit, and I am trying to find a way that is a little easier to keep to. I get overwhelmed by trying to set a meal plan up and sticking with it, especially on a tight budget. I am just trying to find anything that will help me eat healthier, and I have heard about weight watchers in passing, but not enough to know if it is a good choice? Anyone have any success from using weight watchers or any negative opinions on it?

skrlec70

Hi ,

I just cancelled WW on line, wasn't for me after 6months and 10pds I had had enough, its not enough food, I did MFP and WW for 4 days. logged In both, WW shirked me 400 calories a day. No wonder I was starving all the time
the only way I lost weight was with them is when I ate no carbs.
not for me , MFP is a godsend for me.

silken555

If you have a tight budget, I doubt WW is for you. There are a lot of people who are successful on it, it's once they stop that is the issue. All WW is is a low calorie diet (the points keep you to about 1200 cals per day). You still have to meal plan on your own. I would personally recommend just sticking to a calorie deficit and training yourself in how to meal plan. There are lots of sites out there that may actually help you with that.

Good luck!

kpchefai

I agree with above poster. I was only successful on WW if I ate low-no carb which is not sustainable for me. I definitely lost weight but not consistently and while WW has improved in the past few years I feel it is still missing a lot. I have been way more successful on MFP. And, of course, the added bonus is that MFP is free. My gym membership and WW were both costing me $40/month each. I definitely chose the right one to ditch.

nutmegoreo

I have tried both here and WW online. Both have worked for me when I actually follow the programs. I found that I was hungry much more with WW, depending on my food choices. I like MFP because 1) I am not hungry as often, 2) it is free, and 3) the database is much larger (although that can be bad as well, just watch that the foods you enter are accurate, or that you use the entries that do not have a * beside them).

Mygsds

Hello, welcome here. I too was a Weight Watcher member for about 8 months. It is very misleading because you don't count fruits and vegetables and taught to stay within your points. That being said, there was no accountability how you got those points. I have learned that everything has calories and count them. This is a wonderful site for information and all kinds of wonderful recipes and people are so knowledgeable. I will never go back to WW. Buy your self a good food scale and weigh everything and log it. Database is very good... If I can help please let me know. Best to you.

nicolemontagna22

I agree with the first poster. I was granted a number of points. Tracking side by side with WW and MFP I was maxing out my WW points but only at 950 calories. Not healthy at all. If I ate super low carbs and lie fat I could get 1200 calories in for my points but you need carbs and fats in a healthy diet.

wheird

My opinion on weight watchers is that is can be a great diet plan for people who are very overweight and aren't interested in learning about nutrition or tracking calories very closely. It is very simplified so most people are able to do it without any confusion.

On the other hand, someone with only a few pounds to lose, 5-20lb or so, may not find it very successful as these people generally need to track calories much more accurately to ensure they are eating below their maintenance levels.

My_Fitness_Journey2020

Thank you everyone for your replies, wow, I guess that everyone seems to have the same opinion on it. I think I will just stick with MFP and work on getting better at planning out my meals myself. I appreciate all the feedback

silencioesoro

I lost 92 pounds on it, it was easier for me when I was younger - less to have to worry about, just make sure I eat my points and that was it. I never was hungry, I managed to learn to love my workouts and how to mind my foods.

It's just the matter of learning how to transition the points into actual caloric numbers, like 1 point is about 50 calories, give or take. This was before the new points-plus thing.

It's really about how it could work for you, it's not for everyone.

My_Fitness_Journey2020

I lost 92 pounds on it, it was easier for me when I was younger - less to have to worry about, just make sure I eat my points and that was it. I never was hungry, I managed to learn to love my workouts and how to mind my foods.

It's just the matter of learning how to transition the points into actual caloric numbers, like 1 point is about 50 calories, give or take. This was before the new points-plus thing.

It's really about how it could work for you, it's not for everyone.

Oh wow, that's awesome. I am just trying to find something that is easy for me to manage. Time and financial wise, right now I eat what every is the easiest or I skip meals and I know neither is a good way to go. It's good to know WW worked for someone .I lost nearly 45 lbs last year, and in the last few months I have managed to gain 30 lbs back, and I know a lot of it is stress and not eating often enough after losing my dad last year, the reality of it kind of all came crashing after I moved back in with my mom to help her out,and lack of motivation so I am just trying to find a way to jump back in without feeling too overwhelmed. I thought maybe a plan that is already semi laid out would help ease me back into it.

silencioesoro

It kinda is laid out, it's kinda not - it's still you needing to be accountable. If you don't have the money, I'd recommend sticking with MFP then watch Weight Watchers on Facebook or their site for food ideas. It really is all about having the right people to support you that helps the success more than anything.

dt3312

I looked into WW, but am on a budget and do not want the expense of paying for it.

nicolemontagna22

I personally think this site is a lot easier than weight watchers. You just search for the food or scan the barcode and it counts down your calories for you. And if say at the end of the day it tells you you have 200 cals left and a food says it's 150 calories you know I have enough for it instead of having to convert tint find out. The only thing that would be slightly confusing about MFP would be macros but if you are focusing on staying in calorie goal you should be fine and can play with the macros until you learn how to balance them.

Sara2652

Lost weight on WW but never kept it off but that is my fault. Rather then thinking 'Hmm, its really getting hard to stick to points maybe I should problem solve i.e. find an alternative solution" I went to "This is getting impossible, I don't want to and I want ALL the food NOW" which lead to guilt which lead to more eating. :grumble:

fireytiger

I know people who have had great success on WW and lost a great deal of weight, and kept it off. My grandmother in particular lost over 100 pounds about 5 years ago and has kept it off, despite all of her health problems (diabetes, glaucoma, congestive heart failure, you name it). I went on it and found moderate success, but I never stuck with it. Part of the thing that bothers me about it is that they treat all fats as equal, and science has proven time and time again that they are not equal. I could eat 20 grams of trans fats (which will kill you in large quantities), or 20 grams of mono or polyunsaturated fats (which actually are good for you), and the points would be the same, which is ridiculous IMHO. Also, what other people mentioned about how the points leave you eating lower amounts of calories a day than if you just kept track of your own, which left me rather hungry often. I prefer counting calories and keeping track of my own macros with MFP for free. ::)

gwynedde

I was on it for about 6 months and lost 10 kgs. But being a student with a low paying casual job it wasn't sustainable for me to continue it. At the moment I just buy the magazines and count the calories. It may be harder, but I feel like I have a better outlook on what is nutritious and I'm so much more accountable now.

Train4Foodz

The meals themselves can fit nicely as part of a balanced diet but as a plan I don't rate it.
When I did my strict diet I included WW meals(and Kerry Low Low) as a part of my diet, usually my dinner but always made sure that I balanced everything else out myself.

I don't rate any of these plans because I don't consider them a long term change, if you are an a 'plan' it implies that whe you have reached your goal you are no longer going to bother with eating properly.

So.. sorry for going on, I think WW meals themselves are good but the plan not so good... Each to their own..

alisha999

I joined weight-watchers in October 2013 because I'd heard many success stories which they do have like any other weight-loss program. However I already knew what I needed to do in order to lose weight and that was don't over snack and control my portion sizes (in my case)...but I tried it out anyway and only lost like 9 pounds in approximately 4 months. I then cancelled my WW membership and since have been losing weight on my own which I much prefer and have consistently lost 8 pounds a month I'd say don't waste your money (just my opinion).

My_Fitness_Journey2020

Thanks everyone for your opinions, I think I am just going to stick to MFP for now

PatrickB_87

In all honesty if your tracking your calories for weightless with myfitnesspal then you really don't need WW. In reality you will just be doing the same thing with them that you are already doing. Their point system (1pt=50 calories) is just calorie counting simplified (except for free fruits and veg). It does have the advantage of the built in support system (if your going to meetings) and weekly weigh ins. You can do the two together but I don't see the advantage unless you physically need the support of the people around you (but their are a lot of ways of creating accountability).

As someone who has done weightwatchers 3 times I just don't think its worth it. Each time I went back I drooped out all the sooner. It does work, since its calorie counting and maintaining a deficit. I lost weight on it (30-40lbs) but I couldn't keep it up. To me it felt like a diet, rather then what i needed and wanted which is a lifestyle change. I'm also a man and men at WW meetings are a rare things, and I simply never felt like I fit in. Plus as much as their was a support system every meeting was also a sales pitch (fair enough their a company) but it got old soon. As part of my lifestyle change I really need to re-learn how to eat and how to think about eating. Its not always easy to look at something and understand what I am eating, how many calories, whats going to bee a good decision and not. I never felt like the point system helped me do that since everything was replaced by a number. Now I can look at my calories, understand what balance of carbs, fat, and protein i'm eating, so that one day in the future looking and thinking about food in a health way will come naturally to me.

Anyways, just my thoughts on WW.

LouiseC1977

Just to add another voice into the mix...

I have used Weight Watchers in the past with great results; I lost 48lb before my wedding in 2012. I admit that I felt at times that I was not eating as much as I thought I should be and was hungry too, but I had a very definite goal that I wanted to achieve so I kept at it. It worked. But 18 months on, I'm back to where I was.

I've tried WW again but I'm found that I wasn't really 'feeling it'; there is something missing for me, and I think it's more about the balance of everything calories, nutrients etc, and so I looked to MFP. I don't know whether it's a new way of tracking that holds it's appeal to me (although I've had an account for a while) but I feel more in control of what I am doing, it's not just about counting points but looking at what I'm eating.

crudd123

I tried ww and I only could lose 25 pounds than I plateaued and nothing they told me worked to break plateau. I ended up quitting and gaining the weight back. They don't really teach you what to eat. They just said it 27 points worth of food. I'm doing the Curves diet now and they tell you exactly what to eat. It's working better for me than ww ever did.

Tigermum9

It wasnt for me xx

_Zardoz_

Weight watchers like any other thing can work for some and not others. My Father in law law lost 4 stone using weight watchers and has kept it off for 5 years. There is not one method that is perfect for everyone.

elisa123gal

If you are on a tight budget why pay for weight watchers when you have this? Put your money towards your food. Find an Aldi Grocery store..you will save 30 to 50 percent on your bill. They have fresh vegetables..oatmeal..eggs …yogurt…great frozen vegetables..and a line of reduced calorie foods for dieting. Also cheap spices, vinegar …and the quality is all very good.

I also did weight watchers years ago and felt so starved I hated it. I only lasted a few weeks I was so miserable. That was my personal experience. Other people love it.

beckytcy

I liked ww when I did it but it was subsidized by my work. If I had to pay for the whole thing myself, I don't think it would be worth it.

tech_kitten

Weight Watchers has helped a lot of people lose weight, but it's like anything else, it's only as good as your motivation to use it to obtain your goals. I personally don't think it's worth the money, there are so many free programs out there that you can just track your food/results in MFP and not spend money on something telling you how to lose weight. However, that said, some people need an organized program to motivate them, and if that's you, do it. Worst thing that happens is that it doesn't work and you try something else (and you're out however much money). I can't do WW because they focus on points, which completely confuses me as to how many calories I eat, and I would probably eat too many "free" or low point foods just because they have no/low points and my daily calories would still be over.

jaz050465

Sainsburys have on online plan in which you can count calories or use their meal plan or a mixture of both.

keziak1

Another WW veteran. I lost 30 lbs on the program but gained it back (my fault). I thought their database was great until I found MFP's which is better. Plus how can you beat free? One thing WW has is the meetings which frankly I think I could use. But this board has a lot of support and good ideas so don't really need to pay WW for that either.

craftywitch_63

WW costs money. Overeaters anonymous has free meetings, http://www.oa.org/membersgroups/find-a-meeting/ . If you can't find one in your area, they have real-time online meetings.

Mostly, though, WW is a "diet." The point system no longer uses calories as a base, it now uses fat, fiber and carbs so you have no idea how many calories you are actually eating. Some foods are free because they are low fat, low carb and high fiber. You really don't know how many calories you are consuming each day unless you log into another site such as MFP or Livestrong.com, both of which BTW, are free. http://www.exercise4weightloss.com/points-plus-calculation.html

I lost weight on WW too but I didn't really feel like I learned how to sustain the weight loss. Also, the "free points" system was a major obstacle for me. I could suck up my free 35 points the first day of the week, then, as one previous poster pointed out, starve for the remaining 6 days. And, I'm sorry, but lettuce just isn't an acceptable substitute for food!

Like MFP, you eat foods you like but the points are based on something other than actual calories, so they really are "judging" foods, attempting to steer you towards food they feel is "acceptable."

If you just really want to give money away, however, I can steer you toward a few good charities that can use it . . . :happy: