Weight watchers VS. Calorie counting

Haleynb818

Just wondering, what is everyone's take on Weight Watchers compared to calorie counting/my fitness pal? Which one do you guys think is easier/produces better results?

KtChiCa

count calories.

I think with weight watchers you get concerned with points only and you may not end up choosing good quality foods. and its one extra step, instead of writing down calories, you have to calculate points on top of that.

And for me, I can eat more when I count calories versus weightwatchers points

BlueEyedMomma88

Never tried Weight Watchers but I LOVE Myfitnesspal!!

cutetiger71

calorie counting is so much easier less stress full javascript:add_smiley('wink','post_body') good luck x

laddyboy

Each WW point is a range of calories...like 4-7 calories per poing but I don't remember exaclty. MFP is calorie for calories. I would always hit a sticking point when I did WW. Not with MFP. Calorie counting is better IMO.

Maghenta

Counting Calories.
Same here I rather count calories, I feel like am not in a diet but simply eating a bit less of what I love to eat.....

RaeN81

Counting calories is easier and doesn't cost anything. Weight watchers does factor other things in though such as fibre and fat. You can easily do this yourself with calorie counting though as long as you read nutritional information carefully and you choose nutrient dense foods.

CarthagoDelendaEst

I'd say calorie counting is easier with a site like MFP. I did WW for two weeks and even though I lost 4.5lbs in my first week (as opposed to 3lbs with calorie counting) converting foods into points was time consuming. (I put that 4.5lbs back on after I gave up WW.)

MFP logs it all for you, and it's free!

I still buy many things from the WW range - they are lower in calories and healthier than most alternatives which makes my life easier.

That said, I still liked WW - but it is difficult getting to a class every week etc.

oysterboy

I've done both and found that it makes no difference. They're just different ways of helping you to eat less.
It's difficult to get out of the weight watchers mindset once you've done it. I keep having to remind myself to record vegetables which I didn't do on WW as they are 'free'.

Ben2118

Calorie counting 100% for me, as this is something I will be doing probably for the rest of my life now! All be it not to the level I am now but to maintain I think you still need to keep track or at least have an idea of what you are eating. I think as a long term "lifestyle change" then calorie counting will play a key part in it. This is only my opinion, I think doing what ever works for you is the key.

Ben.

Jasmine_Moonstone

I am doing Weight Watchers. I personally find it easier myself. I have tried counting calories before & it was not easy for me. I find that WW's works really well for me. I have the books & I am doing it on my own without the meetings. Yes it is harder without the meetings, but it can be done. I think it depends on the person.

Also WW"s is also about teaching portion sizes & eating healthier. It makes me think before I eat anything weather it is actually worth the points or not. I absolutly love my WW's. I have in the past lost & maintained after coming off. I just have to keep in mind what I am eating & watch portion sizes.

sharonpryke

I prefer calorie counting. I've tried weight watchers, and it worked for a while, but in the end I get annoyed that a couple of calories can tip over into half a point or something! Or that having two glasses of wine together, saves points over two separately - it seems less accurate to me.

It's also strange how some items with the same calories have different points values. I know that's because WW take fat content etc, into account and try to get you to choose low fat options, but in the end a calorie is a calorie!

Calorie counting is also a lot cheaper!

cmpettey

I think it is different for different people. Weight watchers points would be simpler for people who don't have access to a computer several times a day to log foods. They have face to face support and there is something to be said about having to weigh yourself weekly in front of someone else. On the other hand, I like my fitness pal because I do have access to a computer several times a day and the computer does the math for me. I love the recipe feature too. As for which provides the most weight loss? That I don't know. I guess it depends on how honest you are with yourself and how well you do the program. I have had a lot of success with weight watchers counting points when I was being honest with myself, not when I wasn't. I think that is the same with my fitness pal.

oysterboy

Too true Sharon. It's nice to be able to eat satsumas in odd numbers. On weight watchers satsumas are 0.5 points for 1 or for 2. Why would you ever eat only 1 when 2 is the same points? Counting calories encourages a more common sense approach.

lizzys

i love weight watchers .fruits and vegs are free now . so you will get tham instead of whats going to cost you points. it more balance than calories. its fun , its healthy, and after a while its easy. i use mfp to help with weight watchers i stop smoking and want to eat everything in the house my food diary is open on mfp so it keeps me from doing that i like weight watcher being over weight is so unheathy that if you find a diet that works for you that takes of the weight do it

qtwells82

I did weight watchers for a couple of months and saw great results. I quit though because of the cost and trying to figure out the point value of everything i ate was too frustrating for me. This site is FREE and you can look up nearly everything and see the nutritional value of it. Not only that, i have the app for MFP on my Droid...last time i checked, Weight watchers didn’t have the app yet (for the Droid that is).

Basically its whatever your preference is. Weight Watchers does work great! It just wasn’t for me. Im having the same success here on MFP, plus i love the supportive people here as well!

melodyg

I've had similar results doing both (lost about 25 pounds in about 8 months both times... my body sucks at dropping weight!). That being said, since MFP has such a great database of nutrition information, I prefer counting calories. For one thing, it is FREE!!! For another, I felt that Weight Watchers encouraged "diet" foods (sugar free, fat free) and a "diet" mentality. The particular group I was with had a trainer who really over-promoted using Weight Watchers products too. I found it very discouraging to be in a group of people who were all dropping pounds twice as fast as I was... when I was following the program closer than they were (work group). I love having support here but not having to feel like I am in a competition with anyone.

teeminus30

MFP is FREE! I've never done WW. I've heard great things about it. MFP is FREE! Plus, it's the easiest diet I've ever been on. I don't feel like I'm dieting. I don't have to eat diet food. I'm learning about the calories in things and portion sizes. I'm making smarter choices. I want to exercise because that means I can eat more. I've got friends doing it with me cuz they can afford it too. We're all losing weight. We're all motivated. I love MFP!

Haleynb818

Oh thank you all! It's so nice to get everyones opinions! I think I am going to stick with MFP, as I easily get frustrated with point counting and all (Of course I'd like to save money too !! )! This is by far the easiest program ever. Thank you all!

JoanHolly

i have done both.. and both work if you follow it. I prefer counting calories it is much simpler and the MFP website and app is far better thean WW, plus MFP is free!

Moop87

I actually was on WW for about 8 months and lost 30 pounds. The only thing is my purse was a lot lighter too! Plus I got so frustrated with the task of figuring out my points all the time. I'm going to give this a shot. Any advise for me?

kiffypooh

I've done both. I did WW from Jan 09-Dec 09 when I joined here, I still pay WW and I go to the meetings for support and accountability. I lost 36 pounds from the dates above, joined here, I lost 30, then gained 11 back over the holidays. I started doing the new WW plan this month just for something different. I really don't find that big of a difference besides calories being more available and easy to find. Especially now in California where they are posted EVERYWHERE! I just like to mix it up when things get stale. I got tired of counting points, then I got tired of counting calories. The new WW program is so crazy, you count fat, carbs, protein and fiber, after a year of counting calories I've been in a total mind warp where I don't even look at calories. I also find both WW and MFP so easy with my iPhone app. I can enter the stuff, create a food and store it. With that WW isn't much harder then MFP.
Best of luck!

TaneeisFitforLife

I lost the majority of my weight on WW & for me the points wasn't as overwhelming as counting calories. Long story (it's in my blog) but now I count calories

Its up to you...either one will help you lose weight as long as you are working at them!

katherines2230

The programs are very similar, except MFP is free. And this is coming from one who recently canceled her WW membership to join MFP! They both work but MFP has been so much easier for me.

euca

I used to do weight watchers and it worked well for me but I decided to switch to MFP for a change (and because it's free) - however, I'm finding that I'm not losing any weight on MFP whereas that was never a problem with WW. I've been eating between 1200 - 1300 calories a day. Because I haven't been losing weight I converted my food over the past week to WW points (the old system) and found that I've been eating about 26 points a day which is much more than the 20 - 23 that I would normally have eaten so now I'm starting to think that this is why my weight loss is stalling.

karen415

same thing here. is there a way we can caluclate it on this site though, i love this site

Thomasm198

I still buy many things from the WW range - they are lower in calories and healthier than most alternatives which makes my life easier.

Same here. I buy a lot of stuff from the WW range.

I've never joined WW though. Why should I pay for something when MFP is free? (Go ahead, call me a cheapskate :laugh: )

I've done perfectly well with MFP (44 pounds gone since August 10th 2010)

heathersmilez

It will take a year to get it out of your system but you'll find calorie counting is much healthier and will lead to better success.

WW can be starvation. For me 18-21 points = 1000-1200 calories regardless of exercise (exercise = 2 more points but 500 calories burned is more like 5 WW point) plus if you don't already have the points memorized in your head, it’s an extra step.

For over a year I calculated the WW points and mut a note on MFP. Finally that’s out of my system and I see how much better it is to go by calories.

Get it out of your system. I finally did and am eating a much better balance and am moving away from my fat fear (olive oil, avocado, nuts) etc. that is instilled in the points system when those are essential fats.

If it means anything, I never paid for WW I just used online calculators and found out the 'rules' from my mom. I've also never been overweight so WW can be helpful for people who have made bad choices and want to join something popular to get on the right track.

MelanieHodgkiss1962

I've never understood the points system, I did WW years ago when it was much simpler, I'd rather calorie count anyday.:happy:

Jaypea15

I have been to WW, and lost a large amount of weight. you then become a long term maintenance member, and it will not cost anymore for the term that you stay within a specific set weight.

The problem with constantly counting points is that it is easy to slip back to your old habits, and put the weight back on, whereas calorie counting is easier as the calorific value of food is on the back of 97% packaging, so you can alway keep an eye on it.

I have also been to slimming world, which was bizarre, as they allow you to eat lots of rice, pasta and potatoes as syn free foods etc, and I couldnt grasp that either.

I think if you view yourself as a beautiful, expensive well oiled, high performance car you cant go wrong..... put the best fuel into it, not too much oil of the head gasket will go, and only top up your fuel when you need to with good fuel.... then run the car or it will seize up, and need extra work done to it! Fuel for thought? Im a Bentley Continental! :laugh:

Lessjoyce11

i personally like Fitness pal!... It is easy and of course free!