Why Weight Watchers Didn't Work for Me!

meli_loses_it
meli_loses_it Posts: 16 Member
in Introduce Yourself
My name is Melissa and so far, I've lost 8 pounds on MFP in less than 2 months.

I was on Weight Watchers for 3 months and lost 6 pounds. Some people have great success on Weight Watchers, but I didn't. Why? On WW I was obsessed about my points for the day, I believe I had 33. I didn't concern myself about my nutrition. I only cared about not going over my points. I ALWAYS felt starving. I did not change how I ate, I just tried to have smaller portions. So if I wanted to eat a super cheesy pasta dish from a chain restaurant, I'd starve myself before or eat veggies all day.

Joining MFP has really changed the way I think about food. I can see how much protein I'm consuming, how many carbs, fat... I am more aware of what I'm putting into my body and I am more aware of what my body needs. Sure, I can make sure I'm don't go over my calories or am always under, but I now know that if I want to live a healthy life style I need to eat better foods and I need to make sure I'm eating enough, especially if I'm working out.

IDK I just love MFP. I feel like its soooo easy to use and I'm just really glad I stopped paying money for a plan that wasn't working for me and switched to MFP.

I'm looking to gain more friends on this site because I feel that the friends I've acquired have REALLY helped my stay accountable and have motivated. If you can relate to my post or you would like some motivation too, please add me :)

-Melissa:heart:
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Replies

  • sunnyside1213
    sunnyside1213 Posts: 1,205 Member
    I agree. This site is awesome.
  • Cillygirl
    Cillygirl Posts: 13
    I can always use some new friends! Adding you :)
  • wickman_4
    wickman_4 Posts: 4
    WW didnt help me much either. Thank you for sharing. :)
  • Deltafliers
    Deltafliers Posts: 201 Member
    Feel free to add me. :o) I am going through a period of readjustment (my husband just came home from overseas not to long ago, so new routine); if that doesn't bother you then add on. :o)

    If you like the weight loss here, check out fitbit.com. The calories I burn in my normal day get added automatically to my exercise calories and I find the whole experience is much more accurate and effective. :o)
  • Desterknee
    Desterknee Posts: 1,056 Member
    I'm already your friend but YES! woohoo!

    I considered WW before I joined MFP and this post makes me glad I didn't waste my time.

    Rock on
  • IronSmasher
    IronSmasher Posts: 3,908 Member
    It's very easy to get sucked into eating snacks and things that are only half a point-one and a half points, but offer not satiety or nutrition whatsoever so of course you end up being hungry all of the time.

    The same thing can happen to people just logging calories on here.
    Plus they ruin the database for the rest of us by creating half assed entries.
  • KittieLea
    KittieLea Posts: 1,156 Member
    I agree! I lost 40 pounds with WW but kept gaining 10-15 back because I was constantly obsessed with points and calories instead of nutrition!
  • meli_loses_it
    meli_loses_it Posts: 16 Member
    I'm already your friend but YES! woohoo!

    I considered WW before I joined MFP and this post makes me glad I didn't waste my time.

    Rock on

    My mom did WW years ago...lost sooo much weight, and then just gained it all back and then some. They just don't help you focus on nutrition. It's a numbers game.
  • IronSmasher
    IronSmasher Posts: 3,908 Member
    Oh, and you don't have to pay for basically scales rental.

    Or get charged double the next time you turn up because you couldn't come last week because you work shifts?
  • rosestoy
    rosestoy Posts: 1 Member
    The key is finding something that works. To be honest sometimes you just need a change when you hit a stand still. I lost 30 pounds in 6 months on Weight Watchers but then hit a stand still. Most of the loss was in the first 3 months. I think I ate way too much of the free fruit. I lost all concept of calories. It worked when I had a lot to lose, but i needed a change. With WW I really did learn to eat better but I got frustrated with my lack of progress. MFP is great because it counts every item that goes into my mouth. It also does not give me a huge number of points because I am so overweight. 1200 calories a week and I have lost close to 1.5 pounds a week. I lost 15 pounds so far on MFP and love it. Plus I do not have to pay the WW fees.
  • bkennedy1981
    bkennedy1981 Posts: 10 Member
    :happy: Feel free to add me. I really love the tools on MFP. I also just recently starting using fitbit.com. My fitbit arrived Monday and i have been trying to beat my previous days totals every day.
  • hlinn01
    hlinn01 Posts: 36
    I felt the same way on weight watchers. I was just always obsessed with my points, and still enjoying all my favorite foods by basically starving myself so that I could enjoy the crud. Through MFP I feel I am learning how to eat and exercise to get healthy. Feel free to invite me as a friend.
  • screamforbetterthings
    screamforbetterthings Posts: 3
    My friend started Weight Watchers a couple of weeks ago and she's been complaining about the lack of results, and also being hungry most of the day. I tried telling her that tracking calories/carbs/protein etc. is a better way of doing it because with WW you have NO IDEA what kind of nutrition you're really getting or if you're eating way under your calorie needs every day. I told her that with tracking my food daily on MFP I'm never hungry and that I eat many times throughout the day instead of just breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert like she's been doing. She also will not eat as much during the day just so she can have a dessert. She says if she doesn't start seeing results on the scale soon she'll try a different approach!
  • tennesseeleigh
    tennesseeleigh Posts: 169
    I think WW is a great program but I had the same problem you had. To me MFP is a better fit because I can see my protein/fat/carb breakdown instead of just relying on points. I am defintiely focusing more on better food choices since I switched to MFP.
  • kdelost630
    kdelost630 Posts: 196 Member
    Yes! That is exactly why I switched from Weight Watchers (well, that and the payment thing). I feel so much more healthy knowing what I'm putting in my body besides just how many "points" it is. :)
  • bellecoccotte
    bellecoccotte Posts: 22 Member
    I'm glad that MFP is working out for you. Feel free to add me :)
  • rocknrolljunkie_
    rocknrolljunkie_ Posts: 12 Member
    I hear that sister, that's EXACTLY why WW didn't work for me!
  • princessage117
    princessage117 Posts: 171 Member
    It's not Weight Watcher's fault you didn't use your points for nutritious foods. At the meetings, they are always talking about power foods and healthy options. What you choose to do with your points is your decision.
  • TXBelle1174
    TXBelle1174 Posts: 615 Member
    I did WW for a year and GAINED 40lbs because I was trying to eat the most food and stay under my points.. which meants LOTS of pasta, rice, etc and almost NO protein/fat. Turns out I needed to flip it around and eat lower carb, higher protein... or at least different carb and higher protein. I have lost 35lbs in 6 mos on MFP. I am healthier than I have been in a long time. I have a long way to go but glad I am on the right track.

    Welcome! Glad you are getting the results you want on MFP!
  • StephanieCoiro
    StephanieCoiro Posts: 10
    About 2 years ago I had great success on weight watchers, I lost 30 pounds in 4 months and was thrilled! Then, they changed the points system and the same thing happened to me! I always felt hungry, I stopped losing and actually started gaining! There were some medical issues there but now I am heavier than before and went back to WW and I only lost 3 pounds in a month and while that is normal it wasn't what I was looking for and I didn't feel great at all.

    On here I admit I don't always follow the tracker but I love tracking my success with Gluten Free/Eating Clean and like helping others keep just as motivated. I am glad you found this site!!
  • meli_loses_it
    meli_loses_it Posts: 16 Member
    It's not Weight Watcher's fault you didn't use your points for nutritious foods. At the meetings, they are always talking about power foods and healthy options. What you choose to do with your points is your decision.

    You're right WW can't take all the blame, but I feel that they're program/website wasn't a right fit for me. When I would go to meetings we'd talk about all the foods we were tempted by and then I'd think about treats all day! IDK I know a few people that really did get healthy on WW, but it wasn't the right fit for me.
  • princessage117
    princessage117 Posts: 171 Member
    It's not Weight Watcher's fault you didn't use your points for nutritious foods. At the meetings, they are always talking about power foods and healthy options. What you choose to do with your points is your decision.

    You're right WW can't take all the blame, but I feel that they're program/website wasn't a right fit for me. When I would go to meetings we'd talk about all the foods we were tempted by and then I'd think about treats all day! IDK I know a few people that really did get healthy on WW, but it wasn't the right fit for me.

    Sorry for sounding snarky, I am also enjoying MFP along with WW, you are right, it's not for everyone.
  • eclipsejamie
    eclipsejamie Posts: 2
    I agree with the responses to this message board. I did WW on and off for years with some success but got tired of stressing about points as well. I do enjoy seeing my calorie/fat/protein/carb intake; makes me want to make better choices. And I'm not going to lie MFP is free and 1000+ calories mentally seems more satisfying then 30+ points.
  • 18guyhornet
    18guyhornet Posts: 195 Member
    My wife and I both did WW before I joined MFP - I lost 20 lbs and just plateaued. Since joining MFP I've lost another 10. The difference I see is on MFP the focus is on being healthy, not just loosing weight. You are asked to make conscious decisions about how you feed your body rather than counting the minutes before you can consume more points. As a result I am loosing weight AND I feel better. I have energy because I'm not starving!
  • Mamasota
    Mamasota Posts: 144
    It worked for me for a while and then I plateaued for 3 months and no one had any suggestions for me except to keep on counting points. It's so much more than points. Slow weight loss is good but no weight loss when counting every point is terrible -- but they still get paid! I wanted WW to care about me and I finally realized that the only person who had to care about me and my weight was me.
  • yavrig
    yavrig Posts: 28
    10 years ago, a nutritionist told me I had to lose weight. DUH! As if I didn't know that! Anyway, she told me the 3 keys to lasting weight loss, as supported by some studies (I forget the names) were: 1) keeping a food diary, 2) exercise 3-5X per week, even if it was only 10 minutes at a time to start with, and 3) support system/support group.

    I have lost all my weight on WW. It has worked for me because I already understand nutrition. The MOST important part for me is the support group. It's convenient that we have WW meetings at my work. Then I have a built-in, day in, day out support group, even when we're not having meetings. WW got me accustomed to tracking my food and has helped me with picking out light exercises to start with. I use MFP in conjunction to get more detailed data. No matter what you do, you will either be focused on points or calories. They are both numbers, just different numbers. With the WW Points Plus reshuffle, fattier foods having the same calories than a bigger plate of better-for-you foods have a higher point value. They have done this to help people make healthier/better choices. Remember, not everyone is as savvy as we MFP users.

    What can I say? I'm a tools/data-junkie. I track my food on MFP, I go to my WW meetings and get weighed there. I use mapmywalk.com to track my walks with the GPS in my phone. I use calendar reminders to plan my workouts and to remind me to take my vitamins and cozi.com to plan my meals. I use Groupon and LivingSocial to get active and try new things like Bikram Yoga, CardioBarre, Boot Camp classes, etc.

    No matter what, you have to be focused. If you need tools to help you stay focused, do it. It doens't matter what tool(s) you use, as long as they help you get focused on your goals. :happy:

    Good luck everyone!
  • SyntonicGarden
    SyntonicGarden Posts: 944 Member
    I had success with WW until they changed the plan a few years ago. When I went back and looked at my books, I figured out why. I was eating 20 points a day, which at the time, calculated to about 1000 calories. I've been at least maintaining on here and am more aware of what I eat and am less likely to eat poorly. Being able to see other people's diaries helps too.

    Now I'm on this awesome site and can use the monthly WW payments on good, healthy food instead of on a website that wasn't helping me at all. :)
  • readyfor50
    readyfor50 Posts: 6
    Melissa, I cancelled my WW last night because I too felt that I wasn't really learning anything as to how to maintain a lifestyle, without counting points. I was really glad to see your post, I just joined MFP and I am really excited about changing my life for the better.
    Good luck to you, hope we succeed together :)
  • Kat8976
    Kat8976 Posts: 23
    I agree. I learned how to control portions while on WW but MFP has taught me portion control plus eating the right foods!! Plus MFP is FREE :-)
  • readyfor50
    readyfor50 Posts: 6
    thank you :smile:

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