Weight Watchers? About to try it, anyone have any advice?

Tribbey143

I am thinking about trying weight watchers. I wanted to know if anyone on MFP has used this tool, what worked and didn't worked. If you have any suggestions please share. thx!

fatboypup

it works, I lost over 50lbs on it last time I was on a diet ....... had a fridge full of blue ribbons and several lil awards on my keychain then I had my gallbladder removed totally trashed my diet and gained it all back. Then this past January I figured it was time to drop the weight for good but I knew how to without paying WW $13 bucks a week to use their scale.

xAdrianax

I lost the same aount of weight last year with WW last year (27 pounds) but it took 6 months, MFP has taken 3 months this time!

shelleycolton

Hi,

I started my weight loss with MFP last January and got some really great results, by July though my weigh loss and mostly my motivation was not so good so joined WW, I tried the new ProPoints, I lost a stone, but really found it quite hard to fit into my life. Mainly because now there are so many things you need to input to work out the points, you constantly need the calculator with you, food shopping was a nightmare because its not practical to calculate the points value of everything, also when I was on the go, you can't just pick low calorie food and think it was low points, i got caught out so many times. I lost a stone but it was at a rate of 1lb a week and I got much better results sticking to the calorie goal on MFP. So back in January I fell off the WW programme and put that stone I'ld lost back on. I'm back on MFP though and getting the results again, feel much better. I think this time if my motivation faulters I will look at the support here.
Hope this makes sense.

cabul3

i have followed ww for 12+ yrs on and off. it used to work, until they introduced a new program in december, which didn't work for me at all. MFP is free and at least as good, if not better!

catwrangler

I've done WW about 3 times and it worked OK. But it only works if you journal, which is what we do here for free

IMO, I gained back after leaving WW because I didn't make excercise a part of my life until recently.

sharidiane

It works, I lost 35 lbs. BUT ... I felt that I was always trying to 'game' my points - eating crappy, processed 'diet' foods instead of making healthy choices, so I could eat more. So when we moved across country, I had really bad habits, and really bad sugar cravings, and the changes did not last.

I am much happier with MFP. I feel like I am actually eating WAY more than I did on WW. I'm also not really eating 'diet' anything, or fat free anything. I pretty much eat whatever I want, albeit in tiny portions if necessary. Just my experience.

So, I know a TON of people (including me!) who've had success with WW. If I could do it again, I would try very hard to educate myself on nutrition to supplement it, in order to make a lasting change.

KatiO11

I did WW for a full year and lost 15 lbs. while not really following all of the rules to the letter. I came back to WW in March, but have struggled to lose and keep off 10 pounds. I just joined MFP yesterday and I liked that when I came in under calories, that it told me I'd lose weight and weigh X amount in 5 weeks if I kept it up. At WW, you are encouraged to eat all of your points! Even eating under my points, I didn't lose most of the time.

LosinMama2b

The first time I did WWs I lost 75lbs...but that was the old program. I gained it all back after several successive injuries and terrible eating habits so I decided to try out WWs again since it worked the last time. The Points Plus program did not work for me. Its too flexible...giving you 30 extra points per week and fruits and veggies were free...I just ate too much fruit and veggies...and then the 30 extra points was crazy and I used it to splurge all the time...that's more than a whole day's worth of points! The old program was much tighter, you'd get your daily pts, but could "bank" two points (not eat those two points) to save them for the end of the week. At which time you'd have 10 flex points to use for a splurge...notice the difference? 30 extra points vs 10 extra points? So needless to say the second time through WWs didn't work for me, and that's when I found MFP...I've lost 5lbs since starting MFP...lost nothing on WWs.

CarterLakerGirl

I did the old WW plan back about 11 years ago, lost 75lbs, then gained it back again afterwards. Started the new "point plus" program this Feb and lost 25lbs so far, problem I'm having is that I'm still hungry, the allot you so many "points" a day and you can earn extra points by exercising and also have an extra 49 points a week to do what you want with it. But the key is to journal everything that you eat. You have to pay least 13 to 14 dollars a week to weigh in. It's a good program, but it's not for everybody. Good luck!!

kimberly702

I did do weight watchers several years ago and lost about 20 lbs in about 7 months. It was alright, and I have a few friends that are doing it currently and they find it somewhat difficult to follow and one friend was even gained some weight because they had her on too many points or so she thought. From my experience MFP has been the best thing EVER! What I follow is just eating lots of veggies/fruits and everything else in moderation w/small portions, watching calories and getting exercise! Best thing about MFP is it makes you aware of what you are eating and if you're getting enough exercise.

Rilke

Honestly, tracking your food on MFP is the same basic concept and it's free. Also, my two aunts who tried WW had the same problem someone mentioned above: they found themselves eating crappy low point foods instead of healthy foods. It was too much after awhile, and they gave it up.

ApproachingDusk

I agree with shelleycolton. I had a very similar experience. I started WW before my wedding and lost 48 lbs for the "big day" which was 5 yrs ago so it was the old points system. It was a good program and it worked, but after a while I really lost motivation. They were just rolling out the web aspect of the program when I stopped so I've never used it.

I had to keep my points calculator with me at all times, especially when shopping. I had the books, info on my palm (yeah I know, so 5 yrs ago) and generally kept them with me at all times, but would still sometimes get stuck with trying to figure out points for what I was trying to eat when out to dinner with my hubs.

It really did feel like I was paying $12 a week to use their scale and have someone preach at me. It works but for me it was a little more annoying to do with the extra nutrition/points conversion you had to do.

But I do have to say with the way they have changed the online program it really looks pretty awesome. My coworker is doing it and since Feb he's been VERY successful. I've looked at the online thing when hes done it at work and it looks pretty darn similar to what MFP has going on, just a slightly different format with the points instead of calories.

But you know what, to each their own because what works for me on here might not work as well for you. WW might work out well for you, and you can always cancel it if its not the right fit.

I would however just stick to MFP because its pretty much the same concept and its FREE!

GeekGirlOnAQuest

Unless you need the accountability of going to meetings, I would say don't waste your money and stick with MFP. I did WW for years, but online only because I don't live near a center. Now that I've found MFP I'm quitting WW once I save all my recipes I got from their website! Counting points is more difficult than calories, because as someone else said you need a WW calculator now that they changed the program.

I find the support on here to be better than the WW boards, and there is definitely more of a focus on nutrition here than at WW. But I know some people lose better with the support of in person meetings and needing to weigh in each week. WW will work, it just takes getting used to the program. For me, it's much easier to track on here (and the food database is much better on MFP) so I have no problem leaving WW behind.

Good luck whatever you decide!

jk051861

I am a WW lifetime member. That means I lost to my goal weight and am going to weigh in at least once a month. MFP website is really nice and similar to WW. But the big thing for me is going to the meetings. You see other folks who are doing the same thing you are. You hear their challenges and share in their successes. It makes a real difference for me.

WW counts points where MFP counts calories. Tracking can be annoying either way. But at meetings the leader has an agenda. You learn serving sizes, you learn what foods will keep you going longer, you learn tricks to dealing with sabbotaging friends and family, etc. Some members are real cooks, where others are more into exercise.

Most importantly, WW stresses healthy weight loss. yes, it's slow, but you will tend to make new habits instead of dieting. Members have goals within a healthy weight range, not skinny, which many young women on MFP seem to want.

Anyway, that's my opinion. Yes, it costs money, which is more motivation to hit your goal and get to lifetime status. I no longer have to pay as long as my weight is within 2 pounds of my goal weight. In the last year I have only paid one time.

jenhenning219

i am on the weight watchers points plus program but i dont pay for it i have the points plus calculator on my phone and i journal it on here, goes by fats fiber carbs and protein, i like it so far but i also cook my own foods most of the time so i know what goes in my body plus i like that the fruits and veggies are free

Riebop

It works, I lost 35 lbs. BUT ... I felt that I was always trying to 'game' my points - eating crappy, processed 'diet' foods instead of making healthy choices, so I could eat more.

I was on WW for a while and I did this way too frequently. With the new program and all of the fruits and most veggies being 0 points, I've seen alot of my online WW friends struggling. There's this mentality of it being "free" food so I can eat all that I want of it. One of the reasons I left WW was because I was tired of going through the extra step to find out what the point value was and tracking became a pain.

WW definitely works. Like tracking calories, there's alot of trial and error to determine how much and what you can eat to lose weight. IMO tracking on MFP is alot easier since there are more foods in the database.

4himalone

I have done WW many times and it works....ANY plan works IF YOU WORK IT!!! That being said, I found this site and I LOVE it.

I was ALWAYS looking for the 'magic' diet. I did not want to exercise or eat right. I wanted what I wanted when I wanted and did not want to 'work' for it.

Wake up call.....I have MS and recently diagnosed w/ diabetes. Then something clicked....calories in and calories out...it it THAT simple. WW and all the other diets know this.

MFP is great b/c it charts all your calories in and out....all your other nutrients too! Support is great. Great folks here!!!!

I am 52. I try to do some sort of exercise daily. I LOVE yoga. I have Leslie Sansone walking dvds. I love Turbo Jam (only can do the 20 min ...but I will do the longer ones someday!). I take the dog out on 1-3 mile walks and I JOG some of the way.......hell, I JOG!!! Huge for me!!!!

Yes, WW works but it is just another program. If you make it a lifestyle change, it will work.

I am tired of following programs. MFP has been a god send. Calories in calories out.....that simple!

VeganGal84

I loved WW for a long time. I lost 76 pounds in two years, so it's slower than some diets, but it was a great way for me to learn about portion control and "everything in moderation".

I switched from WW to MFP not because WW didn't work, but because my mind was ready for a new challenge.

bmmadden

I did the WW program on my own by ordering the books under the old program and lost 65 lbs in about 7 months then divorce happened flollowed by a new relationship and eating out alot with my new relationship and another baby happened, so my new mother in law tried it again on the old program going to meetings and I only lost about 25 lbs in 6 months that time, so then I found MFP and I dont feel like I need WW at all and can save money and I havent heard the best things about their new points system