Any former Weight Watchers followers?

mialegg

I switched last week from Weight Watchers to myfittnesspal because I just felt like I needed a change. So far I really like it and this week I lost 4.2 pounds :happy: I know that is a bit much, but I'm sure it's because it's my first week on something new and the losing will start to slow down. Just curious if anyone else has switched and if so how you feel this is better (or not) from that Weight Watchers.

AwesomelyAmber

I lost 63# on WW back in 2001. I love their programs and think that they really do work... however I stopped going because I couldn't see paying $12 a week to weigh in in front of a complete stranger when I could weigh myself for free. I still use many of the tools that I learned from WW though. Back then I needed others to show me what to do... Now, I need MYSELF :flowerforyou:

angeldaae

I switched from WW to MFP because the new PointsPlus system just was not working for me. The P+ calculations just didn't make sense to me like the old Points did, and so I had a very difficult time following the plan.

I am just counting calories now, and I have lost 10 pounds in 4 weeks.

KL124

I switched, and I like MFP way better. I think the website is way easier to use, and I like that it also has a tracker that I can use on my iphone. Weight Watchers didn't work too well for me because I eat tons of fruit, and I also eat too many carbs. I could eat 600 calories worth of carbs and max out my points for the day, or I could also eat 1200 calories worth of fruit without using a single point. That's just me though

dianemass

I have always done Weight Watchers, but I agree,,, why weigh in front of someone you don't even know and pay them $12. You can do the same here at MFP and get support, motivation and people to cheer you on along the way. It works for me! I have lost 7 pounds.... but slow and steady wins the race !

Diane

myfitnessnmhoy

My wife was into WW for years, paying for their online system. I don't think she ever actually attended a session, she just used the "points" system. Her eventual source of frustration with it was that "points" kept changing so all her expensive tools kept becoming obsolete, and she had to keep paying a subscription fee to calculate "points" and keep up.

Other than that carp, I will say - it works. I used her tools to calculate "points" for a while and kept track of mine on a spreadsheet, and lost weight. They do a good job of simplifying weight loss, but in the process you never really learn GOOD eating from them, and you're dependent on them to some extent to keep the weight off (yes, you learn good versus bad foods, but in order to make good choices long after you've lost the weight you still need to keep track of your food, and the only way they want to teach you is via "points" so you keep coming back).

The only real difference between MFP and WW-Online is that MFP uses an industry-standard measurement of energy (kilocalorie or "calorie") and gives you tools to track carbs, fat, and proteins and allow you to bring them in balance. It takes a little more work than "points", but you learn more about your food in more detail. And you can keep doing it after you've lost the weight without paying a membership fee, and using information found on every nutrition information label (not just the labels from the companies that pay licensing fees to WW and can show "points" on the label).

I like what WW is doing, and they are honestly helping people. But I like MFP's educational approach much better.

jackiecroberts

I am a lifetime member of WW who got to my goal weight only to slowly gain it all back. I reached my goal before they changed the program to their current one, fruits free etc. I loved their program, but the cost, even their e tools is not free to lifetime members which I think is a mistake. I have found much better success with the old fashioned way of losing, eat less and move more. It is WAY easier to track food on your smart phone and MFP. I also love the community of friends that I have met and think it is about the same as attending meetings and weighing in in front of someone. I really look forward to posting my achievements here!! Hope you are having success. I know this is it for me, I am losing for good and it is NOT coming back!!!!

iwantahealthierme13

I tried WW. Only lost 6 pounds in 2 months and I was starving myself. Always hungry, I also ended up with low-grade anemia that was back in 2002 or 2003. Since then I've gained about 40 pounds and lost about 25

Now on MFP I've lost 5.4 pounds in just under a month and I never go hungry.

QueenKatherineElizabeth

I tried WW in 2009. I had lost 10% of my body weight when I was doing there program. I thought it was ridiculous though to pay every week to weigh in front of a stranger also. However I still kept the books but I doubt I will try it again. MFP is great and I have lost terrifically with this program that I can't believe this site is free. I'm so glad this site is free and has so much support!!

bizgirl26

Former WW here as well. I did gain the weight back but it was very successful for me as I lost over 60 pounds. I just found that I was not following the program anyway but watching what I eat and why pay that sort of fee ? I like MFP. It teaches you to be accountable for your own actions and not depend on anything else. Free is always good in my books.

xaveria2

I tried the points program in 2009 for 6 months and didn't lose any weight. My body doesn't tolerate carbs or sodium very well and that seems like what most of the diet was. When I was in 5th grade I was on the really old WW diet and did well but the weight loss didn't work once I stopped going to meetings. I am doing better with MFP than with anything I have tried in years.

PolacaFL

I lost weight with the old WW point system and the new WW points. The switch at first was frustrating but I kept at it until it made sense again. Myfitnesspal just seems more pratical and FREE! Every label has the calories and other information such a sugar and protein and you don't have to pull out any tools to calculate point.

sammi402

I just switched last week, though I had been doing them both for a while. For the most part, they seem the same to me. Still tracking, logging, and counting. The difference is that now I'm not paying. Love free stuff.

lisseth82

I like the user friendly tool of MFP but I follow WW method on not counting "some" fruits and vegetables and I'm still able to lose

Muddy_Yogi

I switched quite a while ago because I didn't want to pay to lose weight. I thought, I should be able to do this myself. I got fat all by myself right??? LOL

What I have found is that WW just showed me how to eat things High in fiber but not necessarily good for me. Which I suppose could happen here as well with Calories but with the forums, I have learned to really look at my labels. I eat a lot cleaner now than I ever did on WW.

slepygrl

I did WW back in 2007/08 I worked the program for 6 months. I busted my *kitten*. I stuck to the plan, I ate right, exercise EVERYTHING and only lost 20 and I was exhausted all the time. I eventually went to the DR. Told her what was going on. She said I needed to find an exercise that didn't tire me out so much. That was a hard blow. I was so mad. I worked so hard and that's the best advise she could give me. I was sooo mad! So I left the DR. and WW. And never looked back.
I'm doing much better on MFP then I ever did on WW.

fishfish3

I used to love WW. Lost 41 lbs years ago following the program, but having babies ruined that. Ha! When I tried WW again after having children, it never clicked for me. I was ALWAYS hungry. So I always failed.

Now I eat low sugar / low carb, tracking with MFP. Never hungry, and the weight is falling off. Much happier! (And I'm not wasting my money on meetings that annoyed me.)

allifantastical

I have done WW several times over the years and I really like the program, but I think it is very expensive.

I hate chocolate/desserts, but as soon as I start a diet I crave nothing but sweets. I have decided I am going to make a life style change instead of a diet. I am going to eat what I would like but make healthier choices and watch my portion size. Instead of eating 2 plates full, just eating 1.

Before I never really incorporated fitness into my diet and I have joined a gym and am working out every other day.

It is all about creating new habits and re-learning things.

cfloyd72

I used WW more than 10 years ago and during the following 6 months only lost 10 pounds. I didn't like weighing in front of someone and the money got to be too much. I started MFP last year and have been going on and off since then. I have found that measuring my food and exercising everyday not only helps me to lose weight (down 31 lbs so far), but also makes me feel so much better and have more energy. This is also the best way to change eating habits to last the rest of your life.:laugh:

skendrick0601

I am a former WW. I was successful on WW. My schedule is such that it is very hard to make meetings. When a friend told me about MFP I tried it and loved it. It's very similar to the WW Points+ Plan but you count calories instead of points. I don't agree with fruits being 0 points on WW.

WW is a good program. However, if you can do it yourself, save some money and give MFP a go!

Kimmer2011

I lost about 80 pounds on WW (at work, so it was free) in 1997. Then I quit doing it (after about a year) and gained it all back, plus some.

I lost about 100 pounds on WW online in 2005. Then I quit doing it (after about a year) and gained it all back, plus some.

Right now, I don't want to pay for something I can do on my own. I feel like I have all the tools and accountability I need here on MFP, for free. I've lost about 140 pounds so far, and I'm currently lower than I was in 1997. I've been on MFP for a little over a year, and have definitely slowed down, but I'm not stopping the healthy living. I plan to keep going to get to a truly healthy weight, and STAY THERE. That ongoing motivation is something that WW couldn't give me--it has to come from within.

MsMargie1116

I did WW for years and lost lke 70lbs but had to quit due to financial issues... I've been off and on this website since 2009, used it along with my WW for nutrition info and stuff like that. I started using it regularly the beginning of this year and since 1/1/12, have lost a total of 50lbs!!!

cmurray234

Me. I like Weight Watchers and I didn't even mind the monthly fee...but I bloody well hated their food database. I was constantly trying to guess how many points an item had because it was either 1. not in the database at all or 2. in there with point values from 5 to 12 points. It took me too long.

I switched to MFP because of the food database alone. I still try to get 3 servings of fruit and 4-6 servings of veggies every day. Otherwise, the calorie counting is just so much easier for me.

finnlala

I was on WW for many years with a lot of success. However, after I had two kids in 16 months, I found that it wasn't working for me. So, I decided to give this a try and find that it is working. It's still slow and steady, but that's what I am looking for. I like not having to guess the points and find it easier to track with this. I need something to keep me accountable and this is it!

Newme012

I am a prior weight watcher. Like others, lost a lot on their plan and gained it all back (arggg). I think I eat more calories on MFP, which makes the loss slower, but more sustainable hopefully. Anyone else think they are eating more now than on WW?

PLAID1977

I lost 100 lbs. following the old WW plan (2009). I gained almost 50 of it back with my last pregnancy. Using the tools I learned from WW, constant nutritional research and excercise along with being held accountable for tracking here on MFP, I've lost 48 of those 50 buggers! I'm counting points (the old way) and logging calories etc. here on MFP. MFP has me set to eat 1200 calories per day but my point allottment of 27 points actually puts me more around 1500 calories most days. I've been consistently losing at that rate. Sometimes I excercise enough to net my calories where MFP wants them to be. Sometimes I don't. So WW is still helping me lose. Either way, you are counting..points or calories, it's up to you. The only difference is the cost and free is wayyyy better for me right now!

bjfrezell

I did weight watchers last year and lost 35 pounds but gained it back (through no fault of weight watchers).

I'm here now and doing better in terms of hunger. I feel like I make better choices using this site. I lost weight faster using MFP. Plus I like that it's free. There's a lot more types of food in the database here than on the weight watchers online site. And there's more support on these boards. My husband is using MFP now too.

jessieknh

I lost 40lbs on ww in 2008 and have kept it off and am a lifetime member. I don't mind the weighing in at the meetings. It made me try harder because someone else would know if I gained lol. I switched to MFP because it seems silly to me to pay for the etools when I don't have to pay for meetings etc.. I like he MFP ap on the phone and it's working for me as well as WW did.

ilovesparkle

I used Weight Watchers back in 2003-2004 and lost about 50 pounds. It came right back on. I hate having to calculate the points, but like the accountability the program had. I just prefer to do my own thing and not pay $40 a month

angeldaae

Anyone else think they are eating more now than on WW?

Definitely not. I have 100+ pounds to lose and was given around 40 points a day to start with. That's a LOT of food, plus free fruits and vegetables.

I am eating 1,500 calories a day now, and I eat much less food than I did on WW. That restriction is forcing me to make better food choices every day.

MammaC66

I lost 35 pounds using WW before finding MFP. I think WW is a good plan, but you have to pay for it and MFP is free. I also think the database here is much better than WW. A lot of the foods I eat were not in the Weight Watchers database and pretty much everything I eat is in this one. I really don't think I am eating much differently now than when I was on WW. I have been trying to eat healthier for several months now. I have lost 16 pounds in two month counting calories. I also agree with what someone else said about WW changing their system and you having to buy new expensive tools. I would rather just count my calories and learn to eat what is good for me in the right amounts. I don't plan on ever switching back to WW.