Just left WW for MFP -- anyone else?

jmort29

Anyone else recently leave WW for MFP? I just canceled my WW account today after using MFP for about a week. I lost 20 lbs on WW since last December but stopped going to meetings around April because I didn't like the vibe of the meeting or relate to the leader. I know I could find another meeting, but decided to quit paying the monthly WW fee and try MFP for awhile. I've also become interested in cleaner eating and don't feel WW supports that very well. Anyone have better success here than WW? I'm still looking around, so any helpful tips for this site are appreciated. For instance, is there a way to input your own food if you know all the nutritional info or can you only find things in the database? Haven't figured that out yet. LOVE reading all of the inspirational stories out here!

Chocolate_Queen

Hello!

You can add your own foods. If you go to the food tab and then click on My Foods you should see a create food button. The database is pretty comprehensive though. If you need any extra help, just short.

I've never done WW myself but know a few people who have. It seems to work well in the short term, but isn't a lifestyle change/choice for most. The points thing always seemed really confusing and restrictive to me.

A

sheneema

I have done WW before and keeping up with the points especially when eating out can be quite a challenge. This app is absolutely wonderful for that. During my first week I found myself making healthier choices because I had immediate access to the calorie count.

onpoint1920

I actually JUST canceled my WW online subscription yesterday. This app is actually 10 times better than the official WW app, which is sad - considering how much money we pay. I love this app/community and look forward to growing with it!

Punkedpoetess

Did that over a year ago, MFP works just as well for weight loss and the database is so much better in my opinion! Not so time consuming to log things in here. Also the online support is phenominal. I love my friends here, they are so supportive and better than meetings were for me.

candice382

I did WW on and off for 10 years. It could be so challenging to find the points for stuff. MFP has a much larger database, even generic foods. Plus instead of figuring points I could also keep track of how much protein, carbs, and sodium I was taking in a day. I feel I have a much better understanding of what I am eating ....and I am saving money. The time that I spent at meetings..(which I never got much out of) I now spend on my treadmill. Do not get me wrong...I think WW is a great program...but MFP has helped me stay on my budget and lose weight!

robinhardysmall

Left May 12th and never have looked back yet~ I have lost 18 pounds since May 12th with MFP~ on the new WW program- um...I gained because I ate too many fruits that did not get counted~ I love MFP!!

myf1101

I have cancelled weightwatchers and use this now. It works much better for me and I can still use WW recipes and use the create foods button to input the recipe and get an MFP accurate calorie, carbs, protein etc reading. This is great and I have lost 18lbs already since February and I have difficulty losing weight, my friends has lost 30 lbs in a similar timescale so weight loss is relatively easy on this site. Best of all is that it is free.

caraiselite

everyone i know that did WW put the weight back on! it sounds very frustrating. glad you like mfp!

heddylyn

I did Weight Watchers online until a friend of mine told me about this site. It is so much less confusing than WW and you can't beat the price! I've been in maintenance mode for almost a year now and I LOVE this site! Welcome and good luck!

RonneyKay

I too have done WW before, and it worked, I am not going to lie...

that being said, I think very person is different. I was following points and this time when I joined WW it just wasn't working, no matter how diligent I was. So, I spoke with my doc, and he put me on a low carb diet, which has done WONDERS allt he way around.

So I can't say I left WW for MFP but I can say that MFP has worked better for me than WW. And the support here is awesome. The people in my meetings were kind of stand offish, but that was just my own experience.

I really like it here.

Ronney

newmom_kali

What MFP? my bad myfiness pal

alevans1981

I have done both WW meetings and online. I didn't like the meetings and found them to be a waste of time. I like WW online, but it is not worth the monthly fee. I find MFP to be very similar to WW online. I am also interesting in clean eating and choosing the right foods. WW does little to encourage that. The points system is also very complex and almost mysterious. I found it hard to look at nutrition info and know how many points it was and how it fit into my day--especially after the switch to points plus. With MFP I've learned what to look for in the nutrition info--calories, fat, protein, carbs, sugars, and nutrients. I'm making choices based on much more info than I did with WW.

gydwhoa

WW never worked for me so I tried Dukan diet - it works. I finished the program and am at the maintenance part where MFP allows me to watch what I eat.

sa11yjane

Yup, lost loads of weight at WW and SW but the pressure of a weekly weigh-in was horrendous and no loss when you know you've stuck to it was so disheartening and would make me eat crap. On here, if I don't lose I just don't log it and just carry on logging my food and exercise; psychologically it doesn't bring me down in the way that a public weigh-in did (plus the 'look' from the consultant who didn't ever really believe that you'd stuck to it if you didn't lose).

All the very best on here. It's a brilliant site with incredibly supportive and encouraging people, some of whom I now consider to be really close friends; they are a real blessing to me on my journey x

PicNic00

Lost 60lbs on WW in about 2 years... Couldn't afford it anymore... Stop counting points, and gained 55 back in 10 months.
I've been on here since May and have lost 27lbs! and it's free!

kelgalon

I switched over last year and its been great for me! I definitely eat cleaner, drink more water, and don't feel as hungry anymore because I really had to look at what I was eating vs just low point foods. Best of luck!

findingme07

I was with WW last year, and while I was thinking of rejoining, I came across MFP and have been hooked ever since! Welcome!

Timalein

Hi! I've been doing this for a week (but I am still doing WW too). I lost 85 pounds on WW so I have a soft spot for them. You can add food in MFP but thus far I have found everything I have logged so far readily available in their database. I think both resources My Fitness Pal & WW are both useful, I'm just not ready to loose out on my WW resources, besides I will spend $18.95 on something, so why not something useful and calorie free
Anyway, best of luck to you !

caraguard

I cancelled WW a few months ago. I'm new to MFP and loving it! For starters, MFP's smartphone app is exponentially better than the WW app. Also, the MFP food database kicks the WW database's *kitten*!!

I did find WW challenging at times if I didn't mesh well with a meeting leader. And sometimes, depending on the leader, meetings could be a waste of time and not very motivating. So far, I like MFP better because inspiration and support are everywhere!!

Also, I find that tracking calories instead of WW points is faster and easier.

Feel free to add me if you want a buddy!

missymuffet459

I was not happy with WW in the least bit. Points are so ridiculous.

virgogrrl77

I did WW for a year and was successful at losing weight. I liked the accountability with the weekly weigh-ins and I did enjoy the support groups. However, as others have mentioned, the minute I stopped tracking I started putting weight back on. What I didn't like about WW was the lack of information on tracking macronutrients. My brain responds better to tracking calories, protein, carbs, and fats than points. I also I find myself selecting more healthful foods now than when I was doing WW.

Notthe1st

I just joined MFP yesterday, and will be cancelling my WW membership when I get the next "pass" in the mail. Good luck to us both!

jmac263

I did too and have had more success here and its FREE!!

iheartredsox80

I left WW and joined MFP just as you did, I did the online thing but didint see the point in paying money for the same thing this site does PLUS I get so much more support from my MFP pals, they are a good motivator even on the slump days! Feel free to add me!

newmom_kali

Anyone of you ever tried Beachbody?

lulu3561

I joined WW in January 2012 - I found tracking points easier to start off with and I have an app on my phone to scan items at the grocery store for the point value. In the beginning I started out slow and the points worked for me. Now that I'm more mentally connected on this journey I have found that counting calories and watching the nutritional value it has really helped me push forward. WW was never that big on exercise but now they are starting to push the "get active" plan. I don't feel a connection with any of the people at the meeting. I do still go to the meetings and weigh in it's the accountability factor that helps keep me focused and on track...plus it's nice to get the little tokens when you reach milestones. It's up to me to take the steps and do this but I just need a little guidance on my way.

lambch0ps

WW worked for me the first time - when I was 38 - fast forward 10 years later and I had put the 25 lbs back on and then some, following the maintenance plan, as well as several attempts to lose again along the way. Apparently my metabolism slowed way down but my target points did not - and it no longer worked. I kept using it online though because I didn't know about MFP and I know I had to track - before MFP I lost 10 lbs using WW online, but at 10 - 15 pts below my target (and forget the flex points - NEVER could use those), and with much lower carbs.

I found MFP through Beachbody.com after starting P90X and its awesome. There's some things that aren't as "slick" as WW, but there is much more of an ability to communicate with other people, unedited success stories, etc. And calories are oh so much more straight forward than points - I learned that the hard way for sure!

So, you have my welcome!

Timalein

Me too! It worked for me the first time (205 lbs down to 124). But now I am older (44 years old) and it is harder to loose weight this time around. I hurt my neck a few years ago and quite exercising but kept eating the way I was able to at that time because I was cycling more than 200 miles a week. hence the weight came back and I have had the hardest time loosing it especially around the belly. I decided to us this website (myfitnesspal.com) for free and am following the Flat Belly Diet by Liz Vaccariello (I downloaded the book and the pocket guide) http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=flat+belly+diet. I am following this plan because a girlfriend of mine did it at the age of 58 and lost weight and looks absolutely fabulous and I want to have the same success. So there is my motivation! I want to be healthier but I also want to be able to shop for clothes outside of the elastic pants department if you get what I mean.

mmhaller

Me too! I JUST cancelled my my subscription last week. I lost 25 pounds doing ww about 7 years ago and since then, very slowly, I've gained most of it back -- although differently if that makes any sense. I started feeling like the new system didn't work for me -- especially not counting fruit. I think that is great for people who are transitioning from really unhealthy habits but when I tracked a cup and a half of grapes on here I was surprised to learn they were around 150 calories! Not that I should avoid them, but this just seems better for me.

I've very excited to see what happen! Nice to meet all you expats (ok, I know that word doesn't totally work, but ... sort of?)

Tishaboo5

I was on MFP and decided to give WWers a shot with my co-workers. Although I lost weight, I don't feel that it forced me to eat healthier necessarily. I came back to MFP last week and have already dropped 3.6 pounds...and this isn't water weight!

The new Points Plus program does not make you count calories or track most fruits and vegetables. Which worked for me because I naturally choose grapes over chips anyways!! I was wondering if anyone here has tried MFP without tracking their fruits and veggies and had any success?