Counting calories vs weight watchers

I've tried both, and I actually like WW better because I find it easier to keep track of points. I try to eat lots of salads and lots of fruits. With mfp, all fruits and veggies have cals that you have to record. With WW, they are 0 so, for me, it is easier!

I tried WW several times but the most I ever lost was 10lbs and I never kept it off. I'm not sure if it was the points or what - I had all the different methods to figure out points and meal ideas but I just couldn't stick with it...maybe it was the weekly weigh in and having others (the workers) witness if I didn't lose

I have been much more successful with calories. It's been over a year and I'm still losing consistently and keeping it off (56lbs currently). The only person who witnesses my progress is me and I am not accountable to the workers. I also find calories easier to count and keep track of for some reason...maybe because I understand to get the numbers...I never quite figured out how they decided points.

So, I would go with MFP over WW but that's just what's been successful for me.

I just dropped WW because it wasn't working for me but at the same time, my sis who joined with me lost 20 lbs in 3 months. I prefer MFP because its more specific, can log my activity with my Fitbit device and I can concentrate on my balance of carbs, fat and protein based on my level of activity from day to day without actually having to do the math myself.

I used to do WW then I found it annoying to have to convert everything to points and add them. I also don't think the new plan where you don't count fruits or veggies is great for weight loss. I can flat put down some fruit and not having to track it wouldn't be good for me. You might have better self-control so maybe it is good for you.

I like here but I only use it to track. The actual eating plan I use is from a MD. I just needed somewhere to plug in his info and track the food.

I know WW is easier for some people because the points are easier to count/keep track. But I couldn't deal with the calorie variation. My points target could equal 1200-1500 calories depending on what I was eating, which meant some days I was ridiculouslyhungry. I like calories because I also like to keep track of protein, fat & carbs & you can't do that with points.

It did a little figuring the other day - what WW tells you to eat (points wise) and what MFP tells you. WW said I can have 26 points daily with a few extra for the week plus activity. I figured out that 26 point was approximately 1150 calories and I lost weight the best at 1500 calories. So for me WW wouldn't work, it would be to restrictive and I'd feel like a big fat mess. I need to eat to feel in control, keep my stress down, my happiness up and everyone else well being in tact.

Now, my mom, on the other hand, followed WW (the old points, she did it on her own, she's a lifetimer from 20 years ago) and lost the same amount of weight than I did since Jan. 01 12. It worked for her but I think she needed to eat less since she's only 5'4 and I'm 5'11.

I'm in maintenance now on MFP, I can eat 1850 calories and pretty much maintain a 2-3 pound +/- weight. I think WW would have me at 1650 for maintenance and that's too low. I'd lose like wild fire and be under 140 in no time.

I have lost weight far easier on this site than I ever ever did at Weight Watchers or any other slimming clubs. I think its because I have a calorie amount for eating - not points or green things - and as long as I stick within the alloted amount I can eat what I like - nothing is red or forbidden. I know that I shouldnt eat certain things, but if I do, then I have to watch the other things I eat for the rest of the day.

Also there is no point in cheating this app - the only person you are cheating is yourself. When I have attended slimming clubs, there has always been a kind of game played - eg wear heavy clothes to start and then less and less (till you get weighed in summer top and shorts in the middle of winter ) or eat lots on the day after the club and starve yourself the day before weighing..... I also think the clubs dont offer a way of eating for the rest of your life - though they claim it - you just get bored with counting points after a while.

This app has taught me that portion size is the king - I have not really changed an awful lot of what I eat but my portion sizes have plummeted - and I am still not hungy - I was just eating too much.

I don't like how WE gives you fruits and veggies for "free" in the real world, they still count.... it just doesn't sit right with me

Especially the fruit!

I've tried both WW and MFP and have had more success with MFP (especially when I finally purchased an accurate HRM for calculating exercise calories). I think it's actually easier to count calories since most of the foods are already in MFP's database. I create my recipes on Calorie Count (their way seems easier) and add them here under "My Foods" to add them to my diary.

I was a member of the online WW for years. This works just as well and it's freeeeeee.

I don't like how WE gives you fruits and veggies for "free" in the real world, they still count.... it just doesn't sit right with me

The reason the fruits and vegetables aren't counted is to insure your taking in enough calories.

WW class some foods as free. As the old saying go's" there's no such thing as a free lunch" .WW dos'nt work for me, wheras MFP does.

I use both WW and MFP. I count points but then log my food in MFP, so I can see how many calories I'm consuming and what my other metrics are. There is also a plug-in you can use for Firefox browser which will display your WW points (old or new points) in your MFP food diary - very helpful.
As far as not knowing how many calories are in something vs. the points - you should be able to easily see that on the label, and as far as fresh foods - just enter it in MFP and it will show you how many calories it is and you'll know the points.
There is no reason to pay for WW unless you want to go there for meetings or to get weighed in. You can still follow the program and the points if you want to.
I use both because I like seeing the calories, etc on here, but I find it easier to count points vs counting calories. I've been on and off WW for so long that I pretty much know the points in something just by looking at it at this point.

By the way, I do NOT follow the points plus program. I am still following the old points system, and rather than eating the same number of points every day, I'm following the OLD weight watchers point ranges. So for my current weight, I get like 22 to 27 points per day. I don't use flex points or extra points during the week.

And for the record, WW DOES work. You need to work it for yourself. If you think of it as just a diet, when you stop "dieting" you will gain weight back. You need to learn how to eat properly for the rest of your life in order to maintain the weight loss.
the first time I did WW, I lost 70 lbs and kept it off for about 2 to 3 years. I gained it all back because I stopped trying or caring - not because WW failed me. I wouldn't be doing it again now if I didn't believe in the program.

I don't like how WE gives you fruits and veggies for "free" in the real world, they still count.... it just doesn't sit right with me

Same here. I thought it was very odd when I heard that they have "free" foods. What about the sugars, carbs, etc?.... I guess I'm all too accustomed to tracking my macros/micros for WW to make sense to me.