Weight watchers VS. Calorie counting

megers68

I've lost around 10 pounds on WW, but recently I had stopped losing even though I had followed the plan to a T. I was running 3x's a week and counting points (after 2 servings of fruit I was even giving them a 1 point value because I had heard that many people made the mistake of abusing the free fruit & veggies rule). I started using MFP again and saw that what I was eating was around 1,000-1200 calories a day. I'm 5'10" and pretty active, so I think that that's why I stopped losing weight. We'll see if there's a difference on MFP!

Pebble321

I went to Weight Watchers years ago and found that I lost a lot of weight, but I didn't stick to it in the way I have with MFP.

I found that WW seemed to make me obsessive about points and food whereas with MFP I log everything but I'm more relaxed about what I eat. Maybe it is just that I'm at a different point in my life, because the approach is pretty similar.

I found the weighing in pretty handy for accountability and some of the lectures were OK - but I wouldn't bother with it now, I think I know enough about WHAT to do, I just need to keep on doing it.

jsheppeard

I have been using MFP for about 10 weeks now and I have lost 20 pounds as of this week. I have never tried WW but have considered it often. I like how MFP is free, and I agree with everyone else with WW I think you get concerned with the points not so much the nutritional value of your food. I like with WW the fruits and most veggies are "Free" which is why I was considering WW, but I think would rather just keep track of what I have been eating, and I have noticed even when going out to dinner i make even healthier choices with the database for MFP. I have it on my Iphone and use it all day long before I decided to go...what will it cost me. But I also work out 6-7 times a week burning anywhere from 450-700 calories within an hour. I like how I can keep track of my cardio I am doing.

lyttlewon

Calorie counting. I was always starving on Weight Watchers and so I would binge, because, I was starving! Also from everything I am learning it is calories in, calories out. Their fat/carb/protein/ formula doesn't really make much sense to me.

holtzgirl

I'm starting to really like this more because I don't feel like I'm dieting AT ALL! I feel great, and I don't kick myself when I go over calories! I love the fact that at the end of the day, MFP tells me what I'd weigh if I continued eating how I did on that day. I don't like to necessarily know that all the time, but I still love this, and I feel much better about it! It amazes me how many calories are in things. I now see why I've gained weight over time!

magerum

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?

MFP makes you count to 2000. Weight Watchers makes you count to 20. It's the same thing really.

Mrshunts

Was a WW member for a little over a year.......AT FIRST its really great, its new , its interesting, its different.....

I agree with some of the other comments, its gives you too much wiggle room to eat any and everything and you're not concerned with the quality of your food. WW also does not give you your nutritional intake such as, fat, carbs, sodium etc.....

I started MFP probably months if not a year ago, but started WW instead because i felt trying to count calories was too hard....

BUT now i feel the exact opposite. Counting calories is much easier to me now......I don't have to use a calculator or my phone app to figure out how many points is in EVERYTHING that i eat, as the WW database is horrible, and not updated enough........

I also think you tend to over eat a bit on WW because it gives you your daily points, which you eat all of, then most people eat their activity points, PLUS you get an extra weekly allowance of 49 extra points to eat.....

SO FAR being on track with MyFitnessPal I'm loving this site and the information ..... only big transformation was to remember to count my fruit here....as on WW veggies and fruits were free, you don't count those.

I actually just canceled my membership maybe 2 weeks ago now.....

Saramarieadams

I have done both. They are essentially the same thing. I find MFP is much more handy. You can quickly look something up, and you can even scan food. Also MFP promotes healthy whole foods and exercise. I drink a smoothie every morning, and that is one of the best things you can put into your body.
Weight watchers does work, I had success with it. If you follow it, you will lose weight. But... If you follow MFP you will also lose weight. My recommendation is to use MFP first, and if you need a stricter regimen and guidelines- go to WW.