Calories vs WW Points

slimndownat48
slimndownat48 Posts: 21 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
OK....so I am going to WW and I love the program..since March I am down 20 lbs.

In July I got a fitbit...and I love the way it works with MFP.
I know calories and points don't really work together....but I find it so confusing.

I completed my WW daily journal (used all my pts) then I completed MFP log and it said I was eating too few calories.

It just seems to me that if I used all my WW points - Should I not be at the high end of my calorie goal for the day?

I am not hungry - don't feel the need to eat anything.

Replies

  • RetiredAndLovingIt
    RetiredAndLovingIt Posts: 1,395 Member
    bump
  • rivka_m
    rivka_m Posts: 1,007 Member
    Are you 100 under (not a big deal IMO) or more like 500 under? MFP will publicize to your friends that you're under your calorie goal (so presumably it's a good thing) and at the same time scold you for not eating enough.

    I'd say that if WW is working for you, stick with it. As long as you're eating decent foods - but you can check to make sure you're getting enough protein, fiber, etc. That's what I'm using MFP for since I like the way WW weights foods better. It prods me into choosing better foods.
  • kjw1031
    kjw1031 Posts: 300 Member
    I was doing WW and eating my daily 26 points and few of my weekly points, and none of my activity points. I kept eating the same way and started entering my food here to see what info I could find about nutrition, macros, etc.

    I was really surprised to see that my points translated into about 1100-1200 calories. And extremely low fat - - - about 15 grams a day.

    When I did it the other way around - - - started eating per the guidelines that I set for myself here, (an average of about 1500-1600 calories with at least 100 grams of protein and 35 grams of fat per day) THAT translated into about 45 WW points per day. All of my daily, weekly, and activity points.

    IMO, WW really "dings" you on fat. In trying to keep my points low, I was sorely lacking in protein and fat in my diet. In seeking out low point foods, I found myself eating more processed foods. I'm now eating more "real food" and I feel great!


    As an aside, I'm not an angel, and it really irks me to have to give up 4 points for a glass of wine!
  • skrakalaka
    skrakalaka Posts: 338 Member
    Yes! Depending on what I ate I could use up all my points with 1100 calories on WW, I was tired and sluggish all the time and still didn't lose any weight. It was very demoralizing Here I get to eat around 1800. I feel much better, have more energy and actually get to track nutrients instead of "points".
  • cappri
    cappri Posts: 1,089 Member
    Interesting! I track using both WW and MFP and most of the time I have more points left than calories. My MFP is set for a two pound loss per week though, perhaps that is why? I figured it was the difference of counting fruit and veggies and not counting them that mostly made the difference.
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    On WW I was given 28 points plus 5 (I divided the weekly up in to 7 days) plus about 7 activity points daily. That's a grand total of 40... but I took a few MFP days and did the opposite - turned them into points - and got 58. WAY OVER. But then I lost 8.5 lbs in 5 weeks. I was sold. Quit WW right then.
  • cappri
    cappri Posts: 1,089 Member
    On WW I was given 28 points plus 5 (I divided the weekly up in to 7 days) plus about 7 activity points daily. That's a grand total of 40... but I took a few MFP days and did the opposite - turned them into points - and got 58. WAY OVER. But then I lost 8.5 lbs in 5 weeks. I was sold. Quit WW right then.

    How many calories converted to 58 points?
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    On WW I was given 28 points plus 5 (I divided the weekly up in to 7 days) plus about 7 activity points daily. That's a grand total of 40... but I took a few MFP days and did the opposite - turned them into points - and got 58. WAY OVER. But then I lost 8.5 lbs in 5 weeks. I was sold. Quit WW right then.

    How many calories converted to 58 points?
    About 2000. Net 1500.

    Because I run so much, I burn an average of 500 cals/day in exercise. I knew WW wasn't giving me enough to eat. I'd get 7 Activity points for running for an hour or more but I'd burn 800 calories in that time. Eating those 7 APs would mean about 250 calories in food.
  • viad25720
    viad25720 Posts: 57 Member
    I never tried it so I guess I can't knock it as the good saying goes, but I always felt like the WW point system didn't take into as much consideration of total body health/nutrition. I mean I could go eat all my points in candy bars and as long as I don't go over I am good, but it's all crap in. I know you could do the same on here, but at least I can track nutrients and such (btw, I do not do that lol).

    I never understood, besides the companionship and support why people paid for weight watchers, especially now that I have MFP-same thing but it's free and better IMO. :-)
  • cappri
    cappri Posts: 1,089 Member
    On WW I was given 28 points plus 5 (I divided the weekly up in to 7 days) plus about 7 activity points daily. That's a grand total of 40... but I took a few MFP days and did the opposite - turned them into points - and got 58. WAY OVER. But then I lost 8.5 lbs in 5 weeks. I was sold. Quit WW right then.

    How many calories converted to 58 points?
    About 2000. Net 1500.

    Because I run so much, I burn an average of 500 cals/day in exercise. I knew WW wasn't giving me enough to eat. I'd get 7 Activity points for running for an hour or more but I'd burn 800 calories in that time. Eating those 7 APs would mean about 250 calories in food.

    If you calculated the running yourself and used High intensity your Activity Points probably would have been closer to what you needed to eat. I've found that when I use the calculator and figure for heart rate and perceived effort when I log my activity on WW, my Activity Points match up to MFP pretty close.
  • cappri
    cappri Posts: 1,089 Member
    I never tried it so I guess I can't knock it as the good saying goes, but I always felt like the WW point system didn't take into as much consideration of total body health/nutrition. I mean I could go eat all my points in candy bars and as long as I don't go over I am good, but it's all crap in. I know you could do the same on here, but at least I can track nutrients and such (btw, I do not do that lol).

    I never understood, besides the companionship and support why people paid for weight watchers, especially now that I have MFP-same thing but it's free and better IMO. :-)

    Both are tools that only work as well as the people using them.
  • Werglum
    Werglum Posts: 378 Member
    I've found my 29 points are about 1100 calories then if I added in my fruit and veggies it worked out at about 1500 calories so it was much the same for me. I do find if I track the weight watchers way I tend to eat more fruit and veg than if I do calories alone. P.S. I don't go to ww meetings I just have the shopping guide and got my friend who goes to meetings to find out how many points I get - I don't have a smart phone and the internet at work is useless so I needed an on the go way to track.
  • cappri
    cappri Posts: 1,089 Member
    I've found tracking to be easier with MFP both on my phone and laptop just because the data base seems to be much, much larger here.
  • BondBomb
    BondBomb Posts: 1,781 Member
    WW wants you to be successfully losing weight. 2 lbs a week. That way you keep paying them. As a result they will keep lowering your points even if it's below your bmr. My weight watcher points were around 1000 calories a day. I was miserable but I lost weight. I would rather be healthy and lose slowly.
  • kjw1031
    kjw1031 Posts: 300 Member
    I never tried it so I guess I can't knock it as the good saying goes, but I always felt like the WW point system didn't take into as much consideration of total body health/nutrition. I mean I could go eat all my points in candy bars and as long as I don't go over I am good, but it's all crap in. I know you could do the same on here, but at least I can track nutrients and such (btw, I do not do that lol).

    I never understood, besides the companionship and support why people paid for weight watchers, especially now that I have MFP-same thing but it's free and better IMO. :-)

    Actually, WW does give you "good health guidelines" that you are supposed to use when making your food choices - - - 5-9 vegetable or fruit servings, 2 dairy, etc.

    BUT, I've done both as I said above and at this point in my life, I prefer MFP. I do like tracking things in more detail and the food database here is much better.

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