Weight Watchers new plan & MFP

fittocycle

Is anyone doing the new Weight Watcher's plan and also following MFP? I was wondering how it compared in terms of calories.
Thanks so much!

willimh

Good question. I would like to know the answer to that myself. LOL, I may have to go and sit in on a WW meeting to find out what the deal is.

MISTTIMG

I think WW's new plan is adding more foods that are zero points, like apples and banana's. but it's still based on limiting calories. Just guiding you into eating healthier.

nelsaphine

A couple of my co-workers are doing Weight Watchers and today is the 1st meeting on th new program. I'll ask her tomorrow and know more...they seem very excited about the change because it's been the same thing for a while.

fittocycle

Thanks, everyone! I can't wait to hear about how they compare.

mhotch

Instead of concentrating on calories, it is concentrating on healthy intake. Points are based on fat, fiber, protein, and carbs. The daily point allowance is more generous than the previous programs, but so are some of the point values of many foods. Higher protein and fiber makes a food more point friendly, carbs and fat increase the point value.

Mattelabraham

a co worker is at weight watchers; i might be able to get the information.

aaddaammggoolleeaaffss

If you have any specific questions let me know and i'll ask my sister, she has been a WW leader in Toronto for 3-4 years now and was in the WW magazine as well once she reached her goal weight

nelsaphine

Is anyone doing the new Weight Watcher's plan and also following MFP? I was wondering how it compared in terms of calories.
Thanks so much!

So this is what I got from my co-workers:

I don't know if you are aware of how the plan works now but...you know veggies are all free to them...well now so are all fruits. So they can have as much veggies and fruits as they want! Of course with this change, the point value in other things has changed. For example, one of my friends has a bagel with peanut butter every morning and it used to count for 3 points. Now it counts for 5 points so what she did now is reduce the amount of peanut butter used, but now she added a banana to her 'meal' because now it's free. Sounds pretty good right!

Audi68

I did Weight Watchers a couple of years ago and lost about 25 pounds and then slowly added it all back on plus 10. When I decided I need to do something again I joined again but was unable to really commit to it, partly because the whole point thing really drove me nuts, always having to whip out my little calculator to figure stuff out, and the 0 - 1 point foods I ate too much of. Just because it has 0 ww points it still has calories. The calories in verses calories out is much easier to follow and they won't be revising it any time.

Also, the cost of this site over ww is much cheaper LOL.

Just my opinion, everybody need to find what will work for themselves.

pitapocket

We start the new plan on December 23rd. I'm a lifetime member doing maintenance. I'll let you know what I find out. I use the free online calculator to figure out my points for what I chart of MFP. I then record this on the bottom portion of my food diary under food notes. i.e.
Brkft. 3 points
lunch 5 points
dinner 7 points.
snacks 5 points = total 20 points.

It may give you an idea of the point difference on your favorite foods.

Current Calculator
http://meganandjack.com/points_calculator.htm

ProPoints Calculator (New Plan)
http://www.wijvallenaf.nl/Weight-Watchers/ProPoints-Calculator.html

mhotch

"[/quote]So this is what I got from my co-workers:

I don't know if you are aware of how the plan works now but...you know veggies are all free to them...well now so are all fruits. So they can have as much veggies and fruits as they want! Of course with this change, the point value in other things has changed. For example, one of my friends has a bagel with peanut butter every morning and it used to count for 3 points. Now it counts for 5 points so what she did now is reduce the amount of peanut butter used, but now she added a banana to her 'meal' because now it's free. Sounds pretty good right!
[/quote]"

It is not so much "eat as much as you want", its a free food to eat to satisfaction. WW counsels you to eat until you feel satisfied and not to you are full. This is to prevent overeating. The free foods help when you are low in points and feel hungry. It encourages you to grab a piece of fruit or fresh veggies instead of processed garbage, which can be low in calories but also low in nutrition.

IrishChik

I am a lifetime member of WW, and sadly gained the weight back. The online program, per month, is cheaper than going back to the meetings and paying the lifetime member fee. I have to lose about 40lbs to get close enough to goal to go for the free lifetime membership.

I wanted to sign up for the online, but I read etools has not been updated yet and I rely on my iPod Touch to input food. I love the MFP application, but points have always been easier for me to count. I have most of them memorized, but now that they include carbs and protein in figuring out the points value I know a lot is going to change.

With the old points, most vegi's were O, a few were 1. Same with fruits. I think a large banana was 2pts. Now, all of those are free.

vedamax

I signed up for WW PP on a cash back deal. I've used WW before but not for while, so I though I'd try it for free. Three weeks of using it and I haven't lost any weight. Been following it as advised. Went onto the forums and a number of people switch back to the old WW system and have lost weight. Not sure if I was doing something wrong, but many people on the WW forum reported weight gain or no weight lost at all.

Decided to use MFP again as I have consistently lost weight with it.

jamben

Been on ww since 1/10, made goal. Now struggling big time with the new program????? Or its me, don't know whats going on. Came across mfp and love it, you can really talk and find out way more ideas here than ww. Anyone else having problems since the plan change?

fittocycle

This is just my take on it but I think it works best for people who tend to eat more processed food. It encourages people to eat more fruits and vegetables, which is great. However, if you've been doing that all along, then it's harder to see results. At least it was for me. I'm not sure the idea of making 29 points as the minimum for everyone is a good idea. I always thought that people who are shorter, such as myself, needed less points to begin with.
However, all this is just my opinion. I'm lots of people have had good success with the new program. For me, I like MFP better because I can not only track calories but also sugar, sodium, etc. And I love these boards too!

carolyne2

I signed up for WW PP on a cash back deal. I've used WW before but not for while, so I though I'd try it for free. Three weeks of using it and I haven't lost any weight. Been following it as advised. Went onto the forums and a number of people switch back to the old WW system and have lost weight. Not sure if I was doing something wrong, but many people on the WW forum reported weight gain or no weight lost at all.

Decided to use MFP again as I have consistently lost weight with it.

I did Slimming World for a while and they brought a new way of eating called Extra Easy, all fruit and veg were free, pulses, meat and fish. Mainly processed foods had to be counted and you were allowed a healthy dairy and a healthy fibre intake per day. Having looked at a recent WW magazine, the new way of eating seems very very similar to the Slimming World way, but interestingly I know may people on the new Slimming World plan that are having the same problem - not loosing weight and some are gaining quite a bit of weight.

I believe that you advised in Slimming World to have half of your plate filled with veg or salad and the rest with meat and carbs. Maybe this might help with the WW plan too.

Good luck with WW.

Sweetiegrl

I have been on the WW plan in the past, and I lost weight but I always gained the weight back and then some. I was so excited about the change in the program, (free fruits as well as the free veggies) I couldn't wait to join! Well, I did.....and I obsessed so bad over the food that first weekend after I signed up (in addition to paying for a month) that I did not go back...To me for some reason it was harder. Where I had recipes that I had gotten off the internet with points already calculated I was freaking out because I didn't know the points for some of the recipes yet and I didn't want to eat them unless I knew the points first.....That would mean going to the website and figuring the points through recipe builder.....Needless to say, it caused a few tense moments between my husband and I and I decided that WW's was no longer for me......In the mean time I joined a weight loss group at work and our registered dietician gave me some helpful tips and turned me on to MFP...so this is my first day and I have gone grocery shopping and my goodness! It was so much easier shopping this time around than it was shopping those couple of weeks ago for WW's......
Oh as the program use to be: Calories, Fat and Fiber, It is now based on Carbs, protein, fat, and fiber AND the only way you can figure your points is to spend 10 bucks on a points calculator....There is no longer a points finder ruler.....Sorry for gabbing so much....Hope this helps some of you.....

pitapocket

This site offers a free points plus online calculator.

http://www.calculator.net/weight-watchers-points-calculator.html

val95kb

I am currently in WW and using MFP. The new WW plan really does force you to focus on eating healthier and promoting more natural foods without looking at calories. However, high carb foods and alcohol increased in points under the new plan, so things like cereal and wine have increased in point values. If you’re a member, you are allowed to purchase one hand held calculator at $5.95, but after that they jump to about $11 for any additional calculators purchased. I have a smart phone and in addition to the MFP app, I also have found many free WW calculators out there that allow you to figure your daily points allowance and calculate food values when you have the nutrition facts available. I currently pay for the unlimited membership, which includes free access to the website and I can attend meetings at anytime, but as far as the food catalog goes, it is not very helpful and does not include many foods. That is where MFP comes in for me. I can easily find so many foods in this website that I would not be able to find on the WW website. I love that MFP gives the nutrition facts, and you can even modify what you see on the home screen, so I was able to add fiber to my home screen. This makes figuring out my WW points for my daily foods a breeze! If anyone is doing both, I recommend MFP to search for nutrition facts. It just makes everything so much easier!

MLG010105

I have been double tracking with WW and MFP for about two and a half weeks. If you follow the WW plan correctly, then you certainly stay within the proper calorie range. WW definitely leads me toward healthier decisions, though. I'm afraid that if I were simply using MFP, then I would focus on low-calorie foods, not necessarily healthy foods. WW helps me choose the foods that are good for my body, not just good for weight-loss.

SLD0125

I have been a member on and off with WW for 10 years, and Nov 09-now I had lost 108 pnds and that is with yo yoing 10 pnds for the last 6 months! So it works without a doubt! But so does any other diet followed properly. I am trying this out to save $$ for a bit but my WW meeting was like family, I miss them and hope to go back soon. ( A skinnier me would be nice too!)

I agree the new plan with FREE fruits and Veggies is nice ,but if you count those fruits and veggies as their point value like they were b4 you can WAY over eat even if in moderation!

curvykent

I'm on day 2 of WW. I decided to give it a try after a failed attempt at low carb. Low carb was working but then it just stopped. I was bummed because I felt better than ever on low carb. I was full of energy, didn't have any cravings, didn't have to eat as much and I was even sleeping better!

I've got a goal to lose 20 pounds by June and I went 7 weeks straight without a loss. Even with vigorous workouts 5 days a week. So, it was time to switch it up. I'm hoping WW works. I've learned so much here on MFP and over the last year have made a lot of healthy habits so I'm hopeful that WW is going to teach me portion control and balance.

mslesly

Just started the new weight watchers online. Still going to log into mfp to watch my calories. Wish me luck.