weight watchers

Kimberlyann21

i am looking for advice...i know everyone is different and just sticking to a plan is better then not doing anything. but my question is do you think counting calories is better than weight watchers. i was really thinking about joining weight watchers. i would love to hear others ideas, opionions even what has worked for you...

ObtainingBalance

Weight watchers is roughly counting calories, they give you points and when you follow their guidelines you stay within the calorie range they have for you -- it's just less specific and not as many numbers to worry about. it's more simplistic.... but the weight loss is the same, u count points or calories. If you wanted you could get a meal plan from a dietican which would count servings of food groups.. it all kind of comes down to calorie estimates.

khadijak17

for me it has to be myfitness pal! first of all its free second of all there are so many topics and answers you can find right here amongst your mf pals! its entirely up to you to log on weigh in and post stories everyone is always here to help and give advice........counting calories seemed easier than getting used to a points system everywhere has calorie labels but you have to work out the points when with ww's.
However i do buy ww products like cookies. desserts their eclairs!! because of the lower calories but definetley MFP all the way x

Jstash88

I would agree with the above posters...that essentially WW and MFP are the same thing, but FREE is BETTER! I did WW for over a year and I can tell you that the community here is more friendly and encouraging.

Capegirl8013

The current WW plan looks at macros rather than at calories in terms of calculating points. To calculate points you need the fat, carbs, fiber and protein in a food. Everyone gets a particular target number of points per day, 49 "bonus" points per week and then you earn additional points based on your physical activity.

I successfully lost 50 pounds following their old plan which a little different (it used to calculate points based on calories, fat and fiber - they changed it about two years ago). When I stopped measuring and tracking food and went back to eating crap, the weight came back.

Now I'm following WW and tracking here too. I go to actual meetings (I'm a social person - I like it, it keeps me accountable and I get good food/recipes ideas there). I'm using MFP because I see it as a long term life-time solution rather than continuing to pay the monthly fees to WW.

As the first response said, it's basically the concept - tracking your food, holding yourself accountable, paying attention to what you're eating.

djtulppo

I was on weight watchers for many years and lost weight with it. I started counting calories instead when I made a visit to my doctor and she suggested myfitnesspal. I actually find I like counting calories better then the points. I can look at something and right away figure out the calories per serving instead of calculating it into points. I have been so successful since doing this I can't imagine going back to weight watchers. Giving them money when I can do this myself and keep my money works for me.

Good Luck, whatever you chose as long as it works for you.

LovelyVegetarian

I've been successful with WW in the past but I agree with the others that the concept is the same as MFP but it's not free! Also I find that sometimes it's crippling not knowing what the point value is of something. I had downloaded an app for my bberry to calculate the points if I was at the store or something but it's still a bit of a pain whereas NI is on everything.

I say save your money, track on MFP and have fun!

Yourkindagirl

I am a life time Weight Watcher. I am on Myfitnesspal because they changed the diet from points to points plus; therefore, I am unable to use materials because the new materials no longer support the old program. I lost 84 pounds on the old program, and I was much more successful on it (Although others are doing well on it). I decided to do what I know works for me. That is the old points system with Weight Watchers. I am on Myfitnesspal because I can still do the program, but log calories. I still eat my five fruits and veggies, 8 glasses of water, 2-3 servings of protein, my healthy oils, and take a multi vitamin like WW suggests. I combine both programs because I love the social aspect of both. I attend WW meetings, but I also hold myself accountable by interacting with friends here. It is the best of both worlds. I get great tips and motivation from both places. Personally, I wouldn't do as well if I didn't go in physically to weigh. If you are like me in that respect, you may want to just do both.

rayne133

What "she" said....literally. I started out with WW. It is GREAT, especially if you are feeling overwhelmed and your self esteem has taken on all the best MMA fighters and lost. I had been wallowing in the I'm dieting and not losing weight pool and had begun to feel overwhelmed with all the information out there, so I went to WW. I got my confidence back, I started losing weight.....I could almost justify the almost $50/month price tag. Then I found MFP and it is SO much more pocket book friendly. My waist is getting smaller and my wallet is getting fatter, and I like it like that. Bottom line, you have to do what you think will be best for you. If MFP is not enough, then I would recommend WW. Personally, I found the points system very easy to follow. (OH...I guess I should mention...all those exclusive "on-line tools" can be found for free is you google them. Points calculators and such. Also you can find the recipes with the points already calculated for free you just have to dig a little harder and hungrygirl.com has many WW related articles and recipes (she has a show on foodnetwork also.) The only down side that I can say about WW is that the bar code scanner is anemic. The food lists here are WAY WAY better and more complete.

My Humble 2 Cents

cebreisch

I actually log my food on myfitnesspal and then convert the info to points. With Weight Watchers, the points calculator likes low fat, lower carb, high fiber type foods. Generally, the myfitnesspal ranges aren't very far off of what the weight watchers points are, and I've been doing this since August 2011. I lost 11 pounds before joining weight watchers, and have lost a total of 106 now.

Logging the food with MFP helps to make sure you're eating a better quality of food since you can see the nutritional info more clearly.

matchbox_girl

I joined weight watchers for, oh, about a week. Went to a meeting, was no impressed. I felt like I got the same pep talk and motivation on here, but for free! And the app for MFP is so much simpler with scanning the bar code. WW had nothing in their system and unless the food had a nutrition label it was very hard to document correctly. Points were a lot of work to put together....

I dropped WW and came back to MFP where I lost 15 pounds in a couple weeks, but then gained 5 back during the holidays. My motivation is zilch....so really that's kind of the underlying decision. If you prefer meetings, I guess WW.....I personally love MFP so much better.

RoadsterGirlie

I started out with WW Points Plus in January 2011. I didn't know about MyFitnessPal, or I would have started with that, had I known it was free.

Regardless, I lost close to 90 lbs on WW, so yes it does work.

I tried switching to MFP, but counting points to me is easier than counting calories because I've been doing it for so long.

I do like MFP's message boards, which I why I stick around here. There seems to be a wider variety of folks here than on the WW message boards...

RoadsterGirlie

Oh, and I have an Online only membership. I don't need to pay more to go to meetings and listen to people whine about why they can't do it. Just being honest and keeping it real...

rose313

I like MFP better because WW doesn't count fruits, but fruit has calories. I am a believer in logging EVERYTHING. That's probably not a very good reason to dislike WW but I just can't wrap my head around not logging something.

cjdol628

I did great with weight watchers when counting calories was part of the equation. Now, with the new points plus program they don't count calories. They count fat, protein, carbs, and fiber. I tried it on and off for months and got no where. So, here I am giving MFP a try. I figure something is better than nothing, especially if it's free!!

browneyedgirl7928

I would agree with the above posters...that essentially WW and MFP are the same thing, but FREE is BETTER! I did WW for over a year and I can tell you that the community here is more friendly and encouraging.

This is so true! I have posted a few things on the WW boards and good lord, they bite your freaking head off for every little thing. I'm still currently a member, but looking to quit because I am not getting anything out of the meetings anymore. I play on my phone more often then not. I only go because they have a really nice wheelchair scale. I'm looking to buy my own or better yet, just go weigh in once a week at the home medical store where my new chair is coming from. If their scale is in working order then I'll just weigh there for free. Any time you can save money I am ALL FOR THAT!!

fun_b

For me it is because I used to hate having to figure out how many points I was eating. I find counting calories so much easier and with the app on my phone, I can log the calories anywhere.

fit4lifeUcan2

I started with MFP first but didn't lose weight for the first 3 months so went on WW online and started to lose fairly fast without feeling hungry. After I lost about 40 plus pounds I started to track here as well to see a comparison of tracking calories plus the points and I continue to do both and continue to lose weight at about 1 pound or more per week.

Akumu

I would agree with the above posters...that essentially WW and MFP are the same thing, but FREE is BETTER! I did WW for over a year and I can tell you that the community here is more friendly and encouraging.

I agree with this. I was on weight watchers but came here on a friend's advice, and because it was free. I also think the community here is better, and more focused on exercise and nutrition, and less emphasis on diet products.

otkbrat

Counting calories on here is cheaper with the same result basically.

islander029

I've had some luck with Weight Watchers. I lost 11 pounds in the first 2 months. Results like that probably wont be often, but it gave me a good headstart and lots of motivavtion. I just found this site a few days ago. I'm still learning it, but so far so good!

EatClean_WashUrNuts

Personally....keep your money, hold yourself accountable. I would have to guess that 95%, if not more, join weight watchers with the mindset that it's a short-term lose weight then get off it program.

Your diet is a lifestyle. Not a stop-gap. Make a better choice, in my opinion.

Ready2Rock206

I lost 40 lbs on ww - stopped following it, gained it all back - started WW again w/the new program - lost ZERO. Came to MFP - started losing again (see the ticker) - and it is free, better community, and super easy to use.

firelle

I lost a little bit on WW years ago and it came back with a vengeance. I did this for 2 months and lost 16 pounds.

Do this. Also, you learn more about the nutrients instead of a number on prepackaged food.

sherrirb

I did WW before coming to MFP.

1. MFP is free - WW is an expensive 20 min pep talk once a week. MFP has lots of people who will help, WW you have to buy all their books.
2. MFP: read labels and the calories per serving are easily located. WW: you have to use a goofy calculator to find the points value to anything and EVERYTHING.
3. MFP challenges and friends keep me accountable - WW meetings did nothing to keep me accountable, only made me feel guilty at weigh-ins if I didnt lose.
4. MFP friends are awesome encouragement!!! WW was not encouraging for me at all; guilt is not an encouragment. The meetings are too large of a group to really connect with anyone in particular unless you are bringing friends with you.