WeightWatchers Online. Does it really work?

hsh0927

I'm strongly considering signing up fr WeightWatchers online with my tax return next year but I'm wondering if it's really worth it. I want to do it for more personalized help with losing weight instead of using sites like this where I kind of just hope I'm doing it right. So, I would love to hear from people that have used this version of weightwatchers & if you liked it or not OR if someone you know well has used it and what they have said about it

Lucia_Armstrong1973

I have actually gone to Weight Watchers and used Weight Watchers online. Sorry to say, it is a lot like this site. You still have to keep up with amounts of foods you eat, you still have to track your food, and you still have to decide what you will and will not eat. The only difference is that instead of calling it what it is--calorie counting--you count points. I will say that the work has been done for you as to which foods are healthier than others because in the point system, carbs, fat and protein and fiber have all been taken into account. If I had to choose, I'd go to the actual meetings, they're much better for support and encouragement than the online version.

Personally, I find MFP to be a lot easier to use. There are more exercises to track from and the best part is that you get to use it for free!

kardowling

Yes it does work- I lost 48 lbs on it 5 years ago, BUT it is expensive and there is not this wonderful support group that is here for free. Save your money for new clothes not WW!

sylvuz323

I lost 63 lbs when I joined WW online, but it's really no different than what you are already doing here on MFP. It calculates points based on Fat/Fiber and Carbs. So you will need to calculate points for your food choices. I actually left WW since MFP was free, I'd say save your money too.

hsh0927

Thanks! I might save the money and invest it into a meal supplement program instead...I've heard only good things about a couple of them

carlye14

I joined weight watchers online in August and used it for a month and I lost 4 pounds. It works, but it is costly. I like MFP better because it is free and I have more support on here:) Also, a lot of my family members have done the meal delivery services(a few different brands) and have said that they did not taste good, so I never bothered with those.

LovelyLibra79

I actually heard its no different than any other calorie counting system, just with a big price tag.

SMarie10

I don't know why you would use anything but MFP - you have all the tools you need at your disposal and a great support system if you get some good friends here. Supplements don't replace clean eating - you might be better off spending money visiting with a nutrition specialist if you don't know what or how to eat to lose weight.

mamagooskie

That was how I got my start at losing weight. I joined, lost 40lbs in 4 months.....then found MFP, I like MFP it better all around, the support (aka members) are WAY WAY WAY better here, the recipe builder and features are better, I like counting calories way more than points since I think it is more accurate and I lost the rest of my weight with this wonderful site.

Personally I say save your money, use this site to the fullest and every month take the money you would spend on ww online and buy yourself something!!

nursenikki829

Save your money... I have used that twice (after each of my first 2 babies). Nothing is as good as this site!

Juliane_

I've done weight watchers for YEARS. I lost weight on Winning Points which was the program in 2000 or 2001. I maintained my weight throughout the years keeping points in mind.

When Points Plus came around I was so excited because I loved the concept BUT it's not working well for people that have "less lbs to lose". I think they let you have too many calories with Points Plus. In my humble opinion Flex/Momentum worked much better.

I'm now looking into different ways to lose weight from pregnancy. MFP is one option but I'm having a hard time thinking in terms of Calories vs Points so it's an adjustment for me. I want to move towards eating more whole foods instead diety/processed foods.

My final point is that if you are following Flex/Momentum you will lose weight no problem. But Points Plus is a waste of money.

MeganRhea_x

I did weight watchers online earlier this year before I found my fitness pal. It is great and you can definitely lose weight with it but honestly it's so much like this site and this site is free! I stopped weight watchers because I couldn't afford it anymore and this site has completely taken its place.

RobinLoren

I also have done Weight Watchers and I lost 20 pounds on it earlier this year within a couple months. To be honest, like others said, it is the exact same thing as you find here. Literally, the site is almost exactly the same only you are using the points system instead of calories. The major thing I can tell you that I learned from WW is to really look at the fat, carbs, fiber, and protein of your foods. The system works off of keeping your fiber and protein high and your fat and carbs lower. This is because fiber and protein are more flling. The system encourages you to eat lots of fruits and veggies and to really read packages. The biggest thing is not to just look at calorie count, look at what is actually making up the calorie count! Other than that, you can use this site and do the exact same thing!

FuzzieJelly

Yes I love WW.

PBJunky

Weight watchers will be a step back from MFP concerning knowledge about nutrition and how it all actually fits together...

Zee48

Weight Watchers is a wonderful, healthy weight loss program but it is NOT a quick fix. There is no such thing and as with any change in diet I strongly suggest consulting your doctor to determine what is a healthy weight for you and a healthy loss rate for you. If you really follow WW you learn how to eat properly getting the nutrition you need. Activity/exercise is also an important aspect of weight loss.

How ever you choose to do it please make sure you approach it in a healthy way and don't expect it to just melt off. The fat cells didn't get there over night, in a week, month or even probably 6 months and to expect quick weight loss is to set yourself up for failure. Set small mini-goals that are attainable and reward yourself (non-food reward) with each accomplishment. Expect ups, downs & plateaus along the way and many times your clothes will be falling off you without the scale showing a reduction.

Best of everything to each of you as you strive to get your bodies in a healthy condition.

Oh yes, I lost 45# in one year 6/2008 - 6/2009 on WW & back in 1976 I lost 45# counting calories under the close scrutiny of my GYN and comparing the two (I actually found my original foods list) I can see many similarities. Main difference in counting calories is this is free. We do the work though it is not MFP or LoseIt or Weight Watchers that loses the weight for us.

Zee48

Weight Watchers is a wonderful, healthy weight loss program but it is NOT a quick fix. There is no such thing and as with any change in diet I strongly suggest consulting your doctor to determine what is a healthy weight for you and a healthy loss rate for you. If you really follow WW you learn how to eat properly getting the nutrition you need. Activity/exercise is also an important aspect of weight loss.

How ever you choose to do it please make sure you approach it in a healthy way and don't expect it to just melt off. The fat cells didn't get there over night, in a week, month or even probably 6 months and to expect quick weight loss is to set yourself up for failure. Set small mini-goals that are attainable and reward yourself (non-food reward) with each accomplishment. Expect ups, downs & plateaus along the way and many times your clothes will be falling off you without the scale showing a reduction.

Best of everything to each of you as you strive to get your bodies in a healthy condition.

Oh yes, I lost 45# in one year 6/2008 - 6/2009 on WW & back in 1976 I lost 45# counting calories under the close scrutiny of my GYN and comparing the two (I actually found my original foods list) I can see many similarities. Main difference in counting calories is this is free. We do the work though it is not MFP or LoseIt or Weight Watchers that loses the weight for us.

I forgot to add that I am now using MFP to count calories because I let life get control & I gained back 25# from January 2010 when my DH passed away through May 2011and I just couldn't afford the WW fees any longer. Then one of my WW friends told me about MFP & I came to check it out. I have lost 6# so far counting calories & eating the way I learned to eat on WW so I am combining the best of both worlds. I have made it through Thanksgiving, Christmas, my birthday and now looking at New Year's day and I have approached each with the best intentions and being proud of myself for the choices I made, even when I slipped. I am accountable to myself daily for my actions and have joined a couple of group challenges to give me the group support I need. I also still participate in the WW message boards with two wonderful groups of ladies.

We can do this.

rml_16

I lost 36 pounds and kept it off for a couple years with WW online, so I'd say so.

Although, it was a different program than the current one.

whtlatina1214

it is the same as this website exactly except instead of showing the calories everything is points to me it is worst than mfp you dont have people supporting you unless you sign up for meetings and website to seperate fees and very expensive in my opinion .. i got a discount when i signed up and i did 1 month free with 2 months for 50 but the normal fee is not that at all ... i wouldnt bother stick to this website...

rml_16

I don't know why you would use anything but MFP - you have all the tools you need at your disposal and a great support system if you get some good friends here. Supplements don't replace clean eating - you might be better off spending money visiting with a nutrition specialist if you don't know what or how to eat to lose weight.

WW actually offers a lot more direction on healthy eating that makes sense and isn't just something someone on the program decided is what you should do, but based on actual science. It's a very good guide for those who need to learn more than just "eat less, move more."

That said, once you have all the tools, it doesn't hurt to apply them elsewhere for free.

Mrs_Moe

If you want more personal support, going to the WW meeting would be more beneficial than WW online. The online WW tool is pretty much like MFP. I lost and kept off ~40lbs using WW. For me the key was I started the program and did one full cyclce ( 12 or 14 weeks?) going to the meetings. Although I hated the weigh in, I learned alot of good things in the meetings. It helped me learn to eat better, healther foods that are satisfying ( not depriving) and keep me "full". After that I did WW online which is great but expensive....and then I found MFP, which is awesome and free! And basically I don't need to count "points" because I know know the right way to eat.

TheCats_Meow

I signed up for WW's 3 years ago and lost about 13 lbs in 2 months, but I quit.

I went back about 2 months ago for online only and very quickly figured out it wasn't going to work for me this time around.

1) There's the whole point conversion thing. I don't want to have to put in 4 different numbers just to figure out how many points for one serving. I needed something more cut & dry. Simple is best (for me) so I stayed here & cancelled WW's.

2) There's really not a whole lot of support on the community message boards. I found a lot of the message boards to be catty & juvenile, even when in regards to a topic posted about weight loss/nutrition/exercise, etc.

3) MFP is free. Seriously, try to beat that.

SLaw4215

I have used Weight Watcher on-line and the only difference between MFP and them is WW charges you a monthly fee. :flowerforyou:

floridagirl7264

I was doing WW online. The price is $17.95 each month. I stopped using it because I hated figuring out points. Yes they have a new points plus calculator, but it still is a pain in the butt to enter in fat, fiber, protein and carbs to end up with the correct points. They are revamping the points plus again because people are getting frustrated with little to no weight loss. The biggest problem is free fruit and veggies. People are eating too much fruit. They forget that fruit has calories. You can use the community even if you don't subscribe. One other thing: Those commercials showing Jennifer Hudson slimmed down are a farce. She lost her weight on the old points system. The old points system you had less points and fruit and veggies weren't free.

simplycee

I use WW and MFP. I actually like going to the meetings and the support and accountability that goes with getting on the scale. It is worth it for me. To date I have lost 58 pounds. Since my insurance pays for WW I figured I would take advantage of the benefit.

Cynduck

I have done ww a few times and done well. Honestly I looked at joining online yesterday and didnt because I realized I get the same things here for free. Like others have already said, the community there isnt very nice.

cbu23

Going to sound like a broken record...Yes it works, but it's the same as this site. I think it 's a little more of a hassle. You can't just look at somethings calories, you also have to convert it to points. The in person meetings may be more tailored to you, but the online version is just like here. Asks you current weight, goal weight, and those type questions to come up with your plan. Stay on here and save the money!

cafel3

I lost some weight on WW too, but I prefer looking at both the calories and the ingredients in food without having to rely on a secret formula to figure out a food's "points".

_VoV

The newest WW program encourages veggie and fruit consumption by making them 'free' foods. Of course, all calories count including these, but I understand what they are trying to do.

I would say this site is better because there are no gimmicks. Still, I think that you could use the WW idea of eating lots of veggies and fruits (but counting them). They really help fill you up and get all those micronutrients you need to keep the cravings at bay.

mysteriousmillie

I'm a bit late posting this reply really, but I started WW online in 2 January (although signed up before that date just didn't do anything with) and so far am 9lbs down which I am really happy about. Have now cancelled my subscription as tis £10.95 per month but I have found an app that does the same for £2.99. HOWEVER, I have recently joined this amazing website, so that I could find NI to convert to points should I need it.

But I decided to do an experiment for the past 2 days of comparing my daily points used compared to my calories consumed - both days I have used my full quota of points but have been 400-300 cals below what I should be consuming according to MFP - which I thought was extremely interesting - I guess its telling me that I should up my intake of veggies and fruit - neither of which I am brilliant with all of the time. I might do must MFP next week and compare a week on MFP with a week on WW - and make note of any differences in terms of weight loss, energy levels etc etc.

hannata86

I'm from the UK, our points plan vary slightly but the theory is the same... on the older plan it was based on cals/s fat and I had great successes with it, but the newer Propoints (carbs, fat, fibre, protein) was a complete bomb for me.

If you want more info on it you should scoot over to the minimins forum http://www.minimins.com/weight-watchers/ there are lots of helpful members there on weightwatchers.