Thinking of ditching WW for MFP

sleepytexan

The two can go hand in hand. MFP is just a journal. It's what you make of it. I realize WW does points but it's all the same in the end. MFP has a community too. It just comes down to whether you think looking people in the eye every week is more motivational to you.

I will say one thing about WW though. I followed it for a decade (not a real member, learned it from my mom) the most success I've had was joining MFP and the Eat More to Weigh Less group. Check it out.

Good luck.

I used to be a WW leader and lifetime member. The biggest downfall with WW is the lack of explanation about "exercise points". WW is really, truly geared to people who do not exercise at all, or just exercise a little. WW encourages saving points for special occasions, and back when I did it you could collect up to 32 exercise points per week. Honestly, I probably earn over 200 per week (I am a dance instructor dancing about 20 hours/week, plus heavy liftnig, paddlebaording and cycling), but on WW, that was "not allowed", so what happens with very active people is they end up eating too few points (calories), coming to a stall on the weight loss, cutting back further, still not losing, getting frustrated and giving up, binging and gaining again.

Because WW is trying to sell you their "secret" points program, they don't really want you to know that you can do this yourself by just counting calories (some people also like to watch macros too) -- but you can do that on here and get everything you need from food labels and the MFP database.

To the point of the poster above -- many people (and especially very active people) do need to "Eat more to weigh less", and the group on here is fantastic in explaining that (I will not reinvent the wheel here, just go to the group and read the stickies). This does not mean eat more as in "eat everything in sight", it means to be aware of your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and eat more than that. There are many many overweight people restricting their calories for long periods of time but not losing. Why do you think that is? Hint: it's NOT because they're closet eaters cheating secretly. It's often bc their low cals have stalled them to the point that every little occasional extra causes a gain, but still they keep the cals low in general, only never can lose. Check out the group to find out much more.

WW points for a person my size is equivalent to 1200 calories a day. With 32 exercise points saved up in a week, maybe I'd get 1300 per day. Trouble is, my BMR is 1350, and I work out about 25 hours a week. I need about 2000 calories a day, not 1300. The more active I became, the less effective WW was for me. I was eating too little, constantly exhausted, poor skin and hair, generally *****y and STALLED. I even started gaining slowly over a year just from occasional "special" events where I would eat more than what my body was used to on the very low WW points system. Once I learned about MFP, started counting calories and eating more than my BMR plus exercise "points" (calories), I felt much better, got stronger, accomplished more, moved the scale and got what I wanted all along.

There are more specifics on my profile and some links if you're interested.

Blessings.

anndelaney67

ive just finished doing a yr on line with ww i lost 56lb but when i saw this plan, thought exactly the same just counting calories not points so am going to give it a go as like people say its FREE saves you 10pounda month ,gd luck

Donna6017

I'm a WW drop out. It is expensive to go to the meetings. I'm doing better on MFP. I feel I have more accountability on MFP because I check in everyday and I have awesome friends on here. On WW, I went to the meeting once a week. The daily check in here is better for me.

libbymcbain

Go for it. This is free and the advice is better. This helps you learn about what you are eating and doing, encourages you to find the things that work for you and isn't trying to sell you some secretive scheme you'll be tied to for life.

I to am a weightwatchers dropout. I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, and they aren't free and there are differences between different fruits and vegetable sin terms of calories/fibre etc.

Plus both the pc and phone based systems on MFP just work quicker.

collectingblues

I've liked MFP much, much more than I ever did Weight Watchers. Weight Watchers had me on a calorie level that was simply unsustainable, and I hated the approach that certain foods were demonized, and frankenfoods seemed to be promoted. With MFP, it's just like running a budget -- I get X calories a day, and I can eat them *all* and I can make better choices. WW was good at first for reteaching me portion sizes, but I ended up hitting a plateau that wouldn't break, despite what I did or tried.

I haven't lost weight as *quickly* with MFP as I did with WW, but I'm hoping that this time, the loss actually sticks. I feel much more empowered this time because I'm not relying on someone else to give me a points formula, and even as I've lost some weight -- not quite on target with my goal, but not all that far off, either -- I feel my fitness level improving. I couldn't maintain a 3.2 mph walking pace on WW, but now I can not only do that, but I'm actually *enjoying* couch to 5K. I'm also noticing good measurement changes -- I've lost an inch off my hips and waist, and my thighs are becoming leaner and much more muscular.

lily653

WW taught me how to eat correctly. I disagree with the post above me and WW taught me to eat more whole foods and lay off the processed junk. WW taught me to make healthier choices, to add activity, and to eat smaller portions. Also to pre-plan, track, and get in important things like healthy oils, dairy, a multi-vitamin, etc. And foods were never demonized to me, quite the opposite actually. I learned I could eat the foods I loved, but it moderate proportions so as not to over do it. The only reason I left WW was because I couldn't pay for it anymore and because of the solid foundation I recieved there, I felt comfortable leaving and doing it on my own via MFP.

I like MFP because it's free and it meets my needs as far as tracking my food. However, what I don't like is that I've seen a lot of false information given as truth on these message boards which can be very damaging to someone who is new to the process.

Both will work for you, but only if you are truely honest with yourself about what you're putting into your body.

CM9178

I've been doing Weight Watchers for about 4 weeks now. The first week I lost 3 lbs, the 2nd week (week of Thanksgiving) I only stuck to the diet for 2 days and lost a little over 1 lb, last week I lost 1 lb, and when I weighed this morning I've GAINED a lb. What's going on!! I stuck to my diet every day this week and hadn't even used all of my extra weekly points yet.

I'm so confused by my progress on WW and I'm thinking about trying out MFP. I've done the calorie counting thing in the past and never had much luck with it. I think my problem was I had no idea how many calories I should actually be eating. At about 1300 calories/day I had gained 2 lbs in 1 week.

Some basics-- I'm 24, 5'4", and 150 lbs. I've lost about 35 lbs within the last 2 years but I can't seem to consistently lose. I'll lose 15 and then gain 5 back. My goal weight is 135 and I'm afraid since I've already lost a bunch it's going to be super hard to get the last 15 off.

Has anyone done WW in the past and had better luck on MFP? Or does anyone have any suggestions for me?

Sorry, but what exactly are you confused about regarding your weight loss with Weight Watchers? In 4 weeks, including the week of Thanksgiving where you only stuck to it for 2 days, you've lost 4 pounds! That is great weight loss.

The fact that you are up a pound this week could just be related to water retention. What did you eat yesterday? I know if I eat something high in sodium the day before my weigh-in I can be up as much as 2 or 3 pounds! And then the next week, that "gain" comes off, along with more. I've been doing WW for 40 weeks tomorrow, and I've lost 36 pounds so far. Some weeks, I only lose .5, the next week 1.5, the next week 0, etc. I've had a lot of weeks with no weight loss, but the next week makes up for it, and it all evens out. If it averages out to 1 lb per week or more, than you are doing it right.

While doing WW, I am also using MPF and logging on here, and I really like it. I follow the points I'm supposed to eat, but log everything as well, so I can see how many calories I'm eating. I put my information in to MFP so I can see what they recommend that I eat, and it pretty much exactly matches my WW points for the day (points are based on other things besides calories, so obviously that number may fluctuate a little bit).

I know from previous experience, with WW you really need to stick with it for at least 10 weeks or more before you really get the hang of things. If you give up at 4 weeks, then of course it isn't going to work. But based on your weight loss so far, I don't know why you'd give up - 4 lbs in 4 weeks is great.

Here's what I suggest:
Stick with Weight Watchers
Be happy with 1 lb/week weight loss
Log your food in MPF as well (enter your info in to see what MFP says should be your goals also).
If you are using the Firefox browser, there is a plug in you can use, which will show you your WW points on your MFP food diary. Search the message board, you will find the info about it.

Good luck!
(forgot to mention, yes I go to get weighed in at WW and pay the $14/week but that is just to keep myself accountable - I don't stay for meetings.. If I just had to weigh myself at home - I know I would never stick to the plan. I need that accountability and it is too easy to lie to yourself when there is nobody else watching your scale. Then, rather than paying for WW online tools, I use MFP for free.
Personally, the $14/week to go get weighed in, is worth it.)

collectingblues

on WW, that was "not allowed", so what happens with very active people is they end up eating too few points (calories), coming to a stall on the weight loss, cutting back further, still not losing, getting frustrated and giving up, binging and gaining again.

WW points for a person my size is equivalent to 1200 calories a day. With 32 exercise points saved up in a week, maybe I'd get 1300 per day. Trouble is, my BMR is 1350, and I work out about 25 hours a week. I need about 2000 calories a day, not 1300. The more active I became, the less effective WW was for me. I was eating too little, constantly exhausted, poor skin and hair, generally *****y and STALLED.

That was exactly what happened with me! When I stuck to WW religiously, I only got at max 1,300 calories a day -- and my BMR is around 1,440! I was able to actually lose weight when I started dating a guy who ate often, but healthily, and in large quantities. When I kept up with him, but ate half, I lost more weight, probably because I was eating more... When we broke up, I went back to the WW limit again, and not only stalled, but gained.

Screech008

I agree with everyone else - MFP is a great thing. I have it on my smartphone and can input my food and exercise immediately so I always know where I stand during the day. WW was too much thinking for me...and points were more abstract for me than calories. I also go to TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) weekly as an additional tool. I like TOPS because it's a much lower cost alternative to WW or other weightloss venues.

The thing about TOPS (and WW if you attend the meetings) is that you have the accountability of the scale weekly. I need that. I need to know that someone besides me knows what's going on with my weight and I like having the actual living breathing people around me to talk to, in addition to those on here. If you join MFP, feel free to friend me - I would love to have more "friends" to support me and for me to give support to too.