does weight watchers work?
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I, too, am a WW Lifetime Member, but after three or four years of WW, found I knew nothing about "nutrition," only point values - and the point values were from when I initially joined.
WW changes the program every January. Sometimes, it's a small change, sometimes is an extreme change. I stopped going to WW meetings several years ago because I just couldn't grasp their latest and greatest program at that time. It was just too extreme for me.
WW doesn't require you to purchase prepacked foods, but, like others have stated, there are WW foods you can buy the grocery store.
MFP has taught me a LOT about nutrition, the quality of food, the benefits of exercise, etc.
WW was what I needed in the very beginning. MFP is what I need now.
Good luck on your journey!!
You got this!0 -
Good advice so far! I've lost a lot both ways.
The act of paying for a program can sometimes make me take my eating a lot more seriously, even though it's not much money (like $45/month) so sometimes I go for a few months and try their new programs.
The meetings are good for education and support and accountability. And recipes and food ideas. It's nice to have a 'pro' for advice for things like plateaus. They won't feed you b.s. like 'starvation mode' and 'building muscle', in my experience.
I don't like their web site or cookbooks.
If you don't/can't cook, their new Simple Start program might actually be good for you because it gives you a booklet of simple meals to fix and eat the first few weeks, so almost no counting or planning.
Your base points aren't really a feasible calorie level without several portions of fruit, so overeating by overdoing fruit isn't all that likely, unless you really try. For example, if I just ate my base points, I'd only be eating around 1000 calories so if I eat 300-400 calories of fruit a day, I'm right up to a healthy calorie level that still has a deficit. And it's nice to have a world of snacks that you don't have to track. It sure encourages you to eat more produce.0 -
For me, WW drops calories too low (especially when you get close to goal) and this leads to a lot of hunger issues and ultimate failure after awhile. I find that MFP combined with a Fitbit (to get a handle on TDEE) allots me more calories so hunger is not an issue and I still lose weight.
With WW, I would initially lose weight then stall then regain.
Not happening with MFP and the Fitbit.0 -
I started WW in October 12 weighing in at 230 left WW in June of 13 weighing in at 172. Started actively here around the time I left WW and have lost roughly 15 pounds. Just using the rough estimate of numbers that I gave you shows that , for me, WW works far better for me then MFP has and probably ever will. I also find that the support for WW and the number of people doing WW is far greater then MFP. If money is an issue stay with MFP if not I would recommend WW for the structure and discipline that it takes. I am not saying that MFP will not work or hasn't work for many people it just hasn't been what I was hoping for for me.0
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I lost 60 pounds on WW - I think it is a GREAT program for someone who is just starting out in the weight loss journey, you learn portion control and you really are able to eat anything as long as it fits in your points.
I quit last year when I got stalled out and nobody could give me a good reason as to why I wasn't losing, I was still logging and I was exercising like crazy. Now I truly believe I wasn't eating enough, not that I was going into the so called "starvation mode" but I was just too active for the amount of calories I was allowed within my points. Actually that and the fact that there is no way for you to figure out your macros are the 2 things I do not like about the program. There is really no reason why they shouldn't be able to provide reporting that shows you how your points break down by protein, carbs and fat at the end of the day. I also didn't like that the only solution for me was to purchase their Active Link so that I would no how many activity points I earned in a day....that tool only works with WW and you have to pay $5 extra a month for it, if you quit WW it is useless because you have to have a membership, when they really started pushing that tool I quit.
I think if you can afford it, and you have a meeting right there at work you should give it a shot - what can it hurt? Just do it for a month and see how it goes.
As for not cooking, you CAN learn how to use a crockpot - that is as simple as it gets and hard to burn things. All you do it throw the ingrediants in and walk away for 4-6 hours. ANYBODY can do that.0 -
I've never used it but I have several friends who have. Personally, I think it's a waste of money and a sales pitch. Skip the 'point' system and just log food on here. This worked for me:
Log your food. All of it, for 2 weeks.
Look at what you're eating. Cut back to the amount of calories that MFP says you should be eating. You wont be eating much, because what you have been eating is packed with too many calories. You then have to figure out what you can eat that will keep you full and satisfied.
Make one change, such as skipping that morning doughnut and having something healthier for breakfast. I make oatmeal made with whole rolled oats, fresh fruit and Splenda. It takes 3 minutes to cook, while I make my morning coffee! I put 1/2 cup frozen berries in the microwave, with a little sweetener, just until thawed well. I boil the oats on low for 3 minutes. Mash up my berries with splenda, then add my oats. Toss in a few nuts or dried fruit, but measure them as they have more calories. It's easy, and delicious! I found that I was full until lunch time, instead of starving 1/2 an hour later. After that one change, I eventually started cooking omelets, scrambled eggs, etc. I still prefer that oatmeal though!
If you're not already, commit to walking (or whatever) at least 30 minutes per day, minimum of 3 times per week, but you will lose weight faster if you can exercise some how, daily. Lifting on non-walking days is a great way to get into shape. Go at any pace, just do it! Eventually you'll feel better and start going longer, faster, or trying different exercise. Walking is also free! I now walk and run both and I'll be 53 next month!
Then look at your lunch meals. I was eating canned, frozen, prepared 'diet' meals that had about 5 Tablespoons of food in them, and tons of sodium. I found a better and more filling alternative with 2 slices of Healthy Life bread (35 cals per slice!) turkey, lettuce, tomato, and great value spicy mustard. I sometimes put avocado on it. Yum! I add as many fresh, chopped veggies I want to go with that, and a few Tablespoons of ranch for dipping, if I'm in the mood for it. Again, just like breakfast, I was now full and not hungry until dinner time!
Dinner. Grill it. Grill it all. Bake it, Prepare it every couple of days, such as bake or grill chicken so you can make many meals with it. I buy frozen chicken breasts and cook them from a frozen state in the oven until cooked. I then use it for wraps, stir fry, homemade soups, chicken salad, salads, and even to put in pasta. Skinnytaste.com has a LOT of healthy recipes that taste REALLY good and are so much better for you. Most of them are revamped, regular recipes that most of us are used to having, and the recipes are FREE! Eventually you'll get used to cooking.
Grill kabobs with red peppers, onions, mushrooms, and the lean meat of your choice. Serve it with brown rice (or even the instant, 90 second pouches of brown and wild rice, etc.)
Snacks: If you need any, eat a boiled egg, just the whites if you want to feel full with fewer calories, jello with REAL redi whip, fresh fruit, a banana with 1 tablespoon of almond butter. What I try to do is eat something that will satisfy hunger, cravings, yet nourish my body. Even carrots taste super sweet, once you cut out the sugary crap you've been used to eating.
Weigh your food! Don't just measure it! Scooping 1/2 cup of oats into a measuring cup vs. weighing a serving, can make the difference between 50 extra calories you can use for something else.
Once a week, I eat some garbage. Yep, high calorie crap. It may be a Butterfinger blizzard (small or medium), it might be a chocolate covered doughnut, an ice cream cone, a candy bar, a serving sized bag of chips, cookies, etc. Just don't buy a WHOLE package of the above! Stop at a store and buy ONE single serving!
Sorry for such a long rant, I just wanted to show that you can eat healthy foods, have the occasional 'treat' and still lose weight. You don't need weight watchers, fads, or have to work out every single day.
I hope this helps. YOU can do this!0 -
I've done weight watchers and it doesn't work well for my training schedule ( Marathons) but I know a lot of people who have done it and do really well.
In fact one of the most inspiring people I know has had A LOT of success with it. See her blog below if you feel so inclined.
http://jamiejohnston.wordpress.com/0 -
WW absolutely works. I lost 50 pounds a few years ago with WW. Where I messed up is once I became a Lifetime Member, I quit going. Wrong!!!! So now I have to start over, but that's my fault; it would have been free for me to keep going!
WW was great for me because it held me more accountable. When you know someone else is going to be weighing you in, you are more likely to "be good."
By the way, you don't have to cook to diet. I cook on Thanksgiving day...that's it!! I lost the whole 50 eating out every day. It's about portion control and good choice as with any plan.0 -
Weight Watchers definitely works if you follow the plan. I have had even more success with MFP because I didn't have to stop because I couldn't afford (it's free), I can modify my settings to my needs (such as monitor sodium and carbs) and it based on the exact same science except MFP doesn't take everything and put it into some equation to create a points system, making it more complicated than it has to be. Still like WW but don't feel it is necessary with MFP.So we have a weight watchers meeting at my job and people have talked about it and how much they like or dislike it. I'm trying to get help with my weight loss and one problem i have is that i cant cook to save my life! Seriously I burn water!!! I would say that's probably one of the reasons I am the way I am, that I cant eat healthy!! So I figured maybe try weight watchers, but I hate spending money on something that doesn't work. I tried to Google it and I got mixed reactions to WW. I dont even know how this all works, I mean people were talking about food they provide and how its not very good. Well I get that its healthy food so its not going to be as good as that unhealthy doughnut but I prefer my healthy food to at least taste a little good. So who is ever on WW or have tried it in the past can you shed some light on how the whole thing works. Thanks :-)0
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My favorite part of WW is you get more food. With there system all fruits and most veggies are FREE, so you aren't counting those. Basically you can snack on them anytime you are hungry without going over your daily allowance.0
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Weight watchers is an excellent program that teaches portion control and highly encourages you to eat veggies and fruits.
It's not magic by the way that WW has most veggies and fruits at zero points. WW gives you less calories per day than fitness pal would, but makes up for it by allowing you all the veggies and fruits you want. The reason of course being that veggies and fruits are good for you and it's hard to over eat them. I dare you to try and eat 800 calories worth of brocolli.
I started off using weight watchers and transitioned to fitness pal after. The only two things I don't like about weight watchers is the cost and always having to convert everything to points. I'm going to be calorie counting for life so I might as well save $20 a month and start counting actual calories.
Would I recommend Weight Watchers to a friend? yes, in a heart beat. Great program.0 -
To answer your question, yes, it does work.
Weight loss is calories in vs calories out. That doesn't change if it's WW, MFP, Jenny Craig, or something else. Weight Watchers just hides calorie counting in their Points system, but that doesn't change it.
I found more success and visibility into my eating/exercise patters here on MFP because I'm tracking calories, not some made up marketing formula. I learned more about what I'm eating and how I'm using that energy by just tracking the calories and other nutritional information. Bonus points for MFP being free. All I was really doing on WW was paying someone else so I could count calories.0 -
I know a lot of people will promote MFP because it's free and WW is kinda spendy. For me, spending that extra cash and having to weigh-in once a week in front of someone else really helped me. It also made me more aware, as many other people have mentioned, of what's in the foods (not just how many calories) and portion sizes.
A lot of people also complain about the "free" points of fruits and veggies. You're really only supposed to have 5 servings (I believe it was 5) of them, and those servings are worked into your daily points allowance already.
One thing that I never liked about WW is that it always seems to be older ladies who are there, which obviously has nothing to do with the program itself. At all the meetings I went to (even in different towns), it was about 1/4 middle-aged women and 3/4 borderline-elderly. However, they were mostly all very nice so it wasn't really that big of a deal ... it can just be nice to have someone similar in age to relate to.
Anyways, I would say it's a good program if you're kinda new to the whole "weight-loss/lifestyle change" or if you need it for more accountability. WW can teach you some really useful tools that you can then take and use on your own.0 -
My favorite part of WW is you get more food. With there system all fruits and most veggies are FREE, so you aren't counting those. Basically you can snack on them anytime you are hungry without going over your daily allowance.
The problem with this is that you CAN overeat on healthy food. While they may be "free" points-wise, they are NOT free calorie wise. Yeah, most veggies are low in calories, but some fruits can pack a hefty punch. If you eat all of your points then start eating fruit because it's free, you can overeat calorie wise and still gain weight.0 -
This......Any diet program would work. When i did weight watchers 6 years ago I lost about 70 pounds. Problem was i stopped the program and stopped counting calories and the weight came back in a matter of minutes. Any program you do, you need to remember that there is no magic formula they are trying to sell you. They show you how to eat smaller portion sizes, get your fruits and veggies, and offer you ways to eat healthy.
The pro about weight watchers (if you do it in person in a WW Center) is the lectures and community aspect.
The cons about weight watchers is the overall cost. There is nothing you can achieve at weight watchers that you can not already do here on MFP for free. No matter what program you do decide to do, you will have to make a conscious effort to eat better, exercise more, and change your lifestyle.
I wish you all the best and good luck!0 -
This is the main difference I find in WW and MFP. Some people need a face to face group and person for accountability. WW is the number one rated weight loss center for a reason. But as previous posters have stated all of them work if you work the program and if you don't give up trying to find your path in whichever road you decide to use. Best wishes to you on your journey.The pro about weight watchers (if you do it in person in a WW Center) is the lectures and community aspect.0 -
Find what works for you!
I do Slimming world and MFP..... And running!
I do NOT go with Slimming World's whole "free foods" and "super free food", its a falicy and i've seen people in tears wondering why they put lbs on in group then you hear how they loaded up massive plates of "free foods" that end up being very high in kcals.
I use Slimming world to support others and be supported. Yes its great getting people on MFP and facebook saying oh well done on weight loss... WTG!!! Great job! Etc. But its even better working with others and seeing the results in real life, see the real smiles and tears of success.
I used MFP before on an old account on its own and followed my kcals, lost loads of weight but I never learned from that experience on how to maintain because my view on food and my mindset hadn't changed. I still hated exercise, even at m lowest weight!! Slimming world and the forums have completely changed that now, I see food differently, before I was a fat guy in a smaller guys body completely unprepared for maintainance.... Now I have the food knowledge and a love for exercise.
I ran my first 5k last month and I never thought i would be able to do it! I wouldn't have done it at my lowest weight, but now I can do it only having lost 43lbs. I have a long way to go, but this time my mind is already set for maintaince.0 -
The problem with this is that you CAN overeat on healthy food. While they may be "free" points-wise, they are NOT free calorie wise. Yeah, most veggies are low in calories, but some fruits can pack a hefty punch. If you eat all of your points then start eating fruit because it's free, you can overeat calorie wise and still gain weight.
This x1000000
Seen it time after time at slimming world groups, theres no such thing as free food! MFP will show you where WW and SW fails.0 -
It works in the same way counting calories works. Save the money.0
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How much fruit would you eat in a day if you were trying to learn to eat healthy and lose weight? 400 calories maybe? That is well within what they 'budget in'. Your points goal isn't your calorie goal. And if you don't lose on the plan as is, they tell you to take a look at your fruit intake and see if it's reasonable.If you eat all of your points then start eating fruit because it's free, you can overeat calorie wise and still gain weight.0 -
It works in the same way counting calories works. Save the money.
It works in the same way except if you want more inclusive face to face support.
I'm very lucky to have a family who are 1000% on board with supporting me and changing their ways too... Not everyone is so lucky and the extra support from a group sitting can keep you on track.
I love all my MFP friends, but its no comparison to suceeding alongside human beings face to face.
If money is not an issue then why not? If support isn't something you need then why bother?
Find what works for you.0 -
Exactly!! And sometimes we really need to evaluate it when we use money as an excuse not to pay for WW. True some really can not afford WW but others can if they evaluate how much extra money they spend on fast and junk food or other none essentials. Ask yourself am I worth it?It works in the same way counting calories works. Save the money.
It works in the same way except if you want more inclusive face to face support.
I'm very lucky to have a family who are 1000% on board with supporting me and changing their ways too... Not everyone is so lucky and the extra support from a group sitting can keep you on track.
I love all my MFP friends, but its no comparison to suceeding alongside human beings face to face.
If money is not an issue then why not? If support isn't something you need then why bother?
Find what works for you.
Again, find what works for you and whatever plan you use, never give up until you find a lifestyle change for you. Keep pressing forward!0 -
It all works. People just have to follow it and follow the suggestions.
+1
Weight Watchers works only if you do as well. Weight Watchers worked for me but MFP also works and it's free. If you want to spend money then buy some exercise clothes and a food scale and stick to MFP.
I was in WW for years. always got to my goal eventually. Went through a variety of changes to their program. I had a wonderful instructor and made a bunch of friends who lasted for a while, one of whom, I'm friendly with for over 15 years.
MFP, I've been here for about two years, lost the weight I wanted to, went through the death of my mom and have changed my lifestyle approach to nutrition and fitness. Doesn't cost me a thing except for what I put into it.
six of one, half dozen of the other.0 -
WW worked well for me the first time I joined, after my first baby. Years later, I tried it again several times with no real success.
Why did it work in 1989? Because initially it was based on exchanges, like the Diabetic diet. You ate a balanced diet of Protein, Fat, Carbs, etc. You were limited to 3 servings of starchy carbs per day, and 6 servings of Protein, and 3 servings of Fat. Add in 2 milk exchanges and 2 fruit, plus unlimited non starch veggies, and it was a solid health plan. I lost all my baby weight plus more, and changed my eating habits so I kept the weight off for many years.
Then they went to the Points system and basically you could use all your points on donuts if you wanted. Gone was the nutritional counseling. I was so frustrated as to why I couldn't lose weight when I was staying within my points. No one knew anything about Insulin resistance, or PCOS and their effect on your diet. The original exchange program was much lower carb and higher protein than the average diet, and that is why it worked so well for me. Took me joining MFP to find out that bit of info.
MFP is better in the regards that you count calories and macros. Much easier to find that info on a label than how many WW points is costs.
If you need the accountability of weighing in every week, and the group meetings, then give it a go.
But whatever you try, nothing will work without YOU working it. There is no magic program.0 -
I had great success with the old WW system (when it based points on calories, fat and fiber) but the new system bases points on fiber, fat, carbs and protein and this didn't work for me at all. I actually GAINED weight. I think it was the "zero point" fruit on the new system. I eat a lot of fruit.0
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If money is an issue another program to try is TOPS. I tried it but it was too social for me. I was not looking for a social club.0
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WW worked well for me the first time I joined, after my first baby. Years later, I tried it again several times with no real success.
Why did it work in 1989? Because initially it was based on exchanges, like the Diabetic diet. You ate a balanced diet of Protein, Fat, Carbs, etc. You were limited to 3 servings of starchy carbs per day, and 6 servings of Protein, and 3 servings of Fat. Add in 2 milk exchanges and 2 fruit, plus unlimited non starch veggies, and it was a solid health plan. I lost all my baby weight plus more, and changed my eating habits so I kept the weight off for many years.
Then they went to the Points system and basically you could use all your points on donuts if you wanted. Gone was the nutritional counseling. I was so frustrated as to why I couldn't lose weight when I was staying within my points. No one knew anything about Insulin resistance, or PCOS and their effect on your diet. The original exchange program was much lower carb and higher protein than the average diet, and that is why it worked so well for me. Took me joining MFP to find out that bit of info.
MFP is better in the regards that you count calories and macros. Much easier to find that info on a label than how many WW points is costs.
If you need the accountability of weighing in every week, and the group meetings, then give it a go.
But whatever you try, nothing will work without YOU working it. There is no magic program.
I totally agree with this. I lost about 20 lbs. on the 'old' WW program, my DH lost 55 lbs. And we kept it off for 5+ years. I looked at the new points system when my neighbor began WW, and I tried it for about 6 weeks. For me, it wasn't worth the money. Too free-floating, and non-nutrient oriented. MFP has been what I needed to lose 21 lbs. - and it's free.0 -
I'm sure it works, but it costs money when you could just enter in your calories and exercise in MFP.0
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I did WW in high school. My least favorite part of it was the meetings. In particular, the mantra "it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle!" No, it was a diet.
Leader: Isn't it great that you can lose weight and not be hungry!?
Me: (Raises hand) No, I am hungry all of the time.
Leader: (Dumbfounded look; a soldier has broken rank)
Another lady: (Hand shoots up) ME TOO.
Leader: (Fake understanding nod and nervously moves on to the next topic.)
I may have been too sassy for Weight Watchers....0
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