Any former Weight Watchers followers?

DelilahCat0212

I did their online program, the old program and the new program. When I was on the old program I lost the weight I wanted to loose quite quickly, slowly gaining it back over the years I went back to WW only to find that their points program changed. After being on the program for over a month I only lost 2 lbs. I found it difficult to stay within my points and not be hungry. A friend told me about MFP and after one week I lost 3 lbs. and wasn't hungry at all. A friend I met on MFP told me the following:

There's a general suspicion that WW changed their program because people who lost what they needed to lose just stopped using the program, and ppl that paid for the mats and knew the formula stopped paying monthly. So they changed it so u lose slower or not at all and people on the onld one would gain a little and come back to meetings.

Then it was clear to me...this had to be the case because there was no other explanation for why I wasn't loosing on WW. I guess it all boils down to $$$. I hope this helps

Yes! This! I have been saying this all along and felt like a conspiracy theorist! Glad to know I wasn't the only one thinking this way!

Shirley61

I did WW many years ago and was successful. I am a Lifetime member but after the third time going
back I just couldn't do it anymore. My mind was not in it. When you are lifetime they seem to not care to
help you anymore. I guess they think you know it all. So I came here and lost 24 pounds but have gained
back some but I am still keeping accountable everyday with tracking my calories. I love the people on here
so that keeps me coming back. This site does work and there are always challenges here to keep you
interested.

thomassd1969

I have tried WW several times only to gain the weight back, I was basically paying someone to weigh me. The meeting advisor was a very nice lady but the subjects of the meetings were always the same. Never any new information that I hadnt heard. The meetings always had the women complaining about the same issues. I wanted to find a site that had a diverse group that had great support. My friend suggested this and I have loved it so far.

toxicmikki

The worse part about it is because I wasn't losing the weight on the program even though I was doing everything correctly I felt like there was something wrong with me. I became really discouraged and depressed and was just about to give up all together! I'm so thankful that I found MFP!

I did their online program, the old program and the new program. When I was on the old program I lost the weight I wanted to loose quite quickly, slowly gaining it back over the years I went back to WW only to find that their points program changed. After being on the program for over a month I only lost 2 lbs. I found it difficult to stay within my points and not be hungry. A friend told me about MFP and after one week I lost 3 lbs. and wasn't hungry at all. A friend I met on MFP told me the following:

There's a general suspicion that WW changed their program because people who lost what they needed to lose just stopped using the program, and ppl that paid for the mats and knew the formula stopped paying monthly. So they changed it so u lose slower or not at all and people on the onld one would gain a little and come back to meetings.

Then it was clear to me...this had to be the case because there was no other explanation for why I wasn't loosing on WW. I guess it all boils down to $$$. I hope this helps

Yes! This! I have been saying this all along and felt like a conspiracy theorist! Glad to know I wasn't the only one thinking this way!

Horseyrider

I've always been one to eat healthy. I found that WW left me hungry much of the time, but I figured it was something I would have to endure in order to get to goal. But then they changed the points system yet again, and for me, having zero points for fruits and veggies created havoc with my counter. I'm a small person and every bit makes a difference. I actually gained while being OP.

The thing that got to me was reading excited posts on the forums that went something like "I made a great dessert with FF Cool Whip, Snackwells, and FF pudding...." IMO, none of them are even food; so what was I doing there???

I was sick of white-knuckling it, and wanted to be with people whose bottom line concern is good health. And I love the way the database at MFP has much of the home grown foods we use. Good clean honest food, like your grandmother would recognize. Thank goodness.

mgkramer

I too am a Lifetime member of WW - and I agree etools should be free for Lifetime members. I started on WW back in 2000 and lost 25 pounds in four months (too much for me) by nearly starving myself and eating below my 18 points per day. over the following year I gained it all back. Rejoined, lost 22 more pounds, blah blah. I hated how everytime the system would work for me, they would change the program. Remember when they added in the 35 weekly points you could use up (like at hte end of the week) that totally threw me, I dont' know why, but it did. Then they changed it the PointsPlus and I just lost interest. A friend of mine showed me MFP and I love it. Yes, it's still counting, but I feel the support from friends is much more helpful on this tool. I LOVE the barcode scanner (not sure if WW has that yet). I only wish the entries were more MFP provided and less member provided as the discrepancies in the calories is huge. But I prefer MFP to WW!

soph501

I did the Propoints plan last year and lost 4.5 stone (63lbs) in about 8 months. I've come to MFP to help me keep track and lose the last stone (14lbs). From all the people I've spoken to about propoints, it's either worked really well for them or hasn't had any effect at all.

leeshamonster

Yes, I did the old plan in 2009, lost 20 pounds and then stopped tracking. I tried the new plan off and on a few times, the most recent being in february. I lost 9 pounds in 3 months. I just keep going back and forth with those 9 pounds. I exercised, I ate tons of fruit and veggies, and I even tried drinking 100 ounces of water daily. It just didn't work the way I wanted it to anymore.
The reason why I switched is because calculating the points was getting so annoying. I didn't want to make my own meals because I had to sit there and ADD UP EVERYTHING, measure out the whole pot of whatever I made, and then divide by servings for EACH of the fat, fiber, carbs, protein. Too much work. WAY too much for me.
This is FREE and I like logging on my phone. Plus I can add friends, and that makes it sorta fun for me.

Dumbell_Diva

Ive been a weightwatchers member since 1995, I did weightwatchers everytime I gained weight (after every pregnancy). To be honest I hated the points system and preferred the old system of counting carbohydrates, protein and fat selections every day. I found it to be really healthy and balancing and always ensured I would get the correct amount of nutrients. I think they phased it out about 13 years ago (?) but to me, that was the most successful and realistic diet Ive ever followed.

In September and October last year I gained 30lb suddenly and the new leader running the meeting was blunt with me, so I made a decision not to go back...and came here instead!!! Im so glad I did as Ive made some lovely "friends" on here! I get more support on here than I ever did at weightwatchers.

stephreed11

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

This!

Raynn1

I had lost 100 pounds on WW prior to my wedding 5 years ago.. After two pregnancies, two kids and a ton of weight gain, I had to make a different change.. WW just wasnt giving me what I needed once I kicked up my activity levels. I was struggling to make myself eat my activity points, therefore I was starving myself all of hte time..
I decided to quit my online subscription and started using MFP exclusively and while the numbers are slow to drop, my inches however are finally moving:)

WW did help me the first time around, but after reading up more on eating more, I realized the reason it took my almost 5 years to lose that weight was because I was eating so little..

stephreed11

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.

I agree. I was eating too little on WW, even with the bonus weekly points!

Dumbell_Diva

PS: I have to say that weightwatchers for me was only successful because of the leader and her clerk, I live in Cornwall in the country and the group was small and mainly lots of older women, and the leader was like an old aunt...such a smashing lady, in her late 60s. Her talks were amazing...all about hardship in the wartime and how they spent their days in the 1940s using lots of energy, she would tell us stories about using a mangle, scrubbing the doorstep by hand, beating the carpets, washing the windows and so on, even down to telling us about baking and walking miles to go shopping every day, she would explain that back then people didnt have washing machines, dish washers, blenders, everything would be done by hand which would burn up the calories...everytime I came away from there it was like I was transported back in time to some magical world, she gave us all such a zest for life!!! That is why she had so much success with the diet class, not because of the diet packs we were given, but because of the pep talk she would give. Her clerk was a lovely lady too, all through the class you would hear the "clickety-clack" of her knitting needles! Such a kind lady, and every christmas we would have a christmas party and a secret santa, They made such a lovely team!

stephc0711

I switched. I haven't noticed a huge difference, other than ease of use. My weight loss has been about the same all around.

Meganosborn1988

I lost 12 lbs with weight watchers, when they had the old system... it worked but i gained a lot back then had my daughter... I started MFP and honestly i think it is way better, because you can keep track of your calories a lot easier on your cell phone. I found that WW is a little too time consuming and also going to meetings can be a pain in the butt!!!!! And yes it cost a little too much when everything adds all up! I already lost 4 lbs on MFP and i feel great too, it encourages me to exercise so i can eat more

My vote is MFP

DivaMaria225

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:

i lost 20 lbs from WW prior to starting MFP. I agree...they taught me lots of good points like power foods (eat protein based foods to keep you fuller) but I actually didnt have any support.They weigh you and then you sit at the meeting nodding away...Why waste your money just to tell you what you can do at home!

DivaMaria225

I lost 12 lbs with weight watchers, when they had the old system... it worked but i gained a lot back then had my daughter... I started MFP and honestly i think it is way better, because you can keep track of your calories a lot easier on your cell phone. I found that WW is a little too time consuming and also going to meetings can be a pain in the butt!!!!! And yes it cost a little too much when everything adds all up! I already lost 4 lbs on MFP and i feel great too, it encourages me to exercise so i can eat more

My vote is MFP

Thats what I love about MFP...the exercise that lets ou eat back your cals!

Meganosborn1988

yes i agree! although i prefer MFP over WW.. i am still happy i tried WW.. i did learn a lot of helpful tips!!!

DivaMaria225

PS: I have to say that weightwatchers for me was only successful because of the leader and her clerk, I live in Cornwall in the country and the group was small and mainly lots of older women, and the leader was like an old aunt...such a smashing lady, in her late 60s. Her talks were amazing...all about hardship in the wartime and how they spent their days in the 1940s using lots of energy, she would tell us stories about using a mangle, scrubbing the doorstep by hand, beating the carpets, washing the windows and so on, even down to telling us about baking and walking miles to go shopping every day, she would explain that back then people didnt have washing machines, dish washers, blenders, everything would be done by hand which would burn up the calories...everytime I came away from there it was like I was transported back in time to some magical world, she gave us all such a zest for life!!! That is why she had so much success with the diet class, not because of the diet packs we were given, but because of the pep talk she would give. Her clerk was a lovely lady too, all through the class you would hear the "clickety-clack" of her knitting needles! Such a kind lady, and every christmas we would have a christmas party and a secret santa, They made such a lovely team!

sweet story!

Spunky50

I am a former WW member and have lost weight following the program. I think it is a great program but once you've attended meetings for a year they start repeating the program. I figure if you haven't gotten the nutrition and exercise down in a year you probably won't get it!! WW is GREAT for people that don't know how to make the proper food choices and helps put them on the proper path to a healthy life style!! I finally decided focus on the health aspect and not worry about the weight loss so much, it's working for me!! It's taken me 1 1/2 years to loose 32 lbs but, I feel so very much better!! Good luck to all on your weight loss journey!!!

DivaMaria225

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I did Weight Watchers for 7 months last year and I got SO sick of it, I found it far too restrictive and the more I learned about healthy eating, the more I realised that on Weight Watchers, you can eat any kind of crap as long as you're under points. I quit, I did nothing for a few months, I gained 10lbs because I fell back into bad habits. I absolutely LOVE MyFitnessPal - I've been following it properly now for 3 weeks and I'm down 6lbs already. I had a big loss the first week too, mostly water weight I think, but I love how this encourages healthy eating and exercise and bettering yourself. With Weight Watchers, everything was about that damn scales. I know people who used to starve themselves for two days before their weigh-ins and then hit McDonalds afterwards. How can that be healthy! I'm not entirely knocking it, I did lose 39lbs while on it, but I think it took me a long time to realise that it was ME doing the work, not the class. I used to completely pig out on the weekends using my 'spare' points, and with this, I don't do that because there shouldn't be any spare points. Everyone's entitled to a day off, but I think this is better because it's not actively encouraged every week.

I still have to train my brain to stop pointing everything, but I'm getting there ;-)

Plus, MFP is FREE
[/quote]

That is what I did..would eat in moderation, starve 2 days before the weigh in and then pigged out for 3 days after that! Now wheres the education in that!?

turcbbop

i am sort of doing both still.. just weight watchers was hard to get all the info from each food item all the time.. with this its all about calories!

Evkor

I do love WW but have lost and gained the same 20lbs over the years. With MFP I like to make a village of daily like minded people. So if you like please add me. I am hoping calerie counting might work better for me and to also know carbs and sugar consumed.

ktsail

I just canceled my WW monthly pass today. I did Weight Watchers eleven years ago and had a lot of success. When I decided to lose weight again this time, I tried WW again, and lost and gained the same three pounds over the span of three months. The new Points Plus system did not work for me. So, I am trying this and I hope that I will have more success with this program.

mimiislosingit

I did WW off and on for 19 years. About 10 years ago I lost 70 pounds. Their program worked for me, but the cost kept rising and the system kept changing. Really when you come down to it, watching your calories, getting in activity, drinking your water and having a support system is what it's all about! I don't have to drive anywhere, try to keep up with the changing rules, etc...! And, honestly, the support here is so much better!!

MauC25K

I tend to switch between MFP and WW ... I think my main issue with WW is I play games with my points and eating just to have a good weigh in. I really would like to even it out more and eat well all through the week not just starve myself for 2 days, have a good WI and then eat for 2 days. It seems counterproductive and I just keep gaining and losing the same 5 pounds over and over again. Mostly though I need a change so i'm back to MFP. Hope this gets off my last 15 pounds or so ... plus this one is FREE.

TODJ06

yes i agree! although i prefer MFP over WW.. i am still happy i tried WW.. i did learn a lot of helpful tips!!!

I prefer MFP over WW too.

I was on WW for 6 months or so... and I didnt really receive the support I was wanting (online).
Plus I was also paying for the service and it wasnt giving me the benefit I was wanting.

So, I quit WW, and ironically the next day a friend of mine sent me a MFP link.... almost a year on, I am still here.
Not only is it a free service, but it has a greater/wider amount of people who can offer advice, listen to you moan and be friends with.

MFP works for me and im not going back!

If anyone would like to add me, feel free too!

Cheers all.

p.s.. Im a 32 y/o mother of 4, studying law, and trying to find time to sleep and exercise!!!!!

KodiCoop

I switched because I found myself getting really bored with WW. I kept eating the same things day in and day out. I started going to meetings but when I went, I was always the youngest person, which I didn't like. I need people I can relate to and 70 and 80 year olds aren't it.

Patsy165

I wish I could have all the money I have given to WW back! I lost about 45 lbs. on the old point system but have been playing around with the same 5 pounds for a year and a half on the new program. I would stick to it faithfully WW, but I had gotten so good at cheating that it really wasn't working for me. I have been doing MFP for a few weeks now and have almost lost those 5 pounds, but think I can keep going this time! I need to be accountable for EVERYTHING that I eat. There is no such thing as "free" calories and I am loving the challenge of this new program. It just makes more sense. The database is so much more complete, and you can do it even without a computer or phone (reading labels and writing it down on a piece of paper!) PLUS it is FREE!!!!

wendyrvp

WW simply did not work for me. I think it is a great program for many people but required way to much food for me to lose weight. I stuck to it strictly for 4 months, worked with the leaders to make adjustments, and only lost 2 pounds. I did really like the in person support, but need the weight loss to work.