Does weightwatchers really help?

I joined WW - lost 40 lbs stopped going due to my schedule, gained it all back. Joined again w/the new program (which is changed again - they change it frequently) and lost a big huge ZERO pounds. Came here, started losing again. If you're just going to do the WW online, you're better off here. If you can go to meetings and get a good leader it can be helpful, IMO.

This is almost the same thing only its free and all the support that you get on this site makes up for the meetings!

I did weight watchers in college and lost about 15lbs. I'm a picky eater and ate several things I shouldn't have, but I'm sure I could've lost more had I tried a little harder. I had the kit so I didn't pay for the online version.

MFP logging tool is soooooooo much better than WW and its FREE! IMO the support on the MFP boards is better too, used to be a fan of WW but not since finding MFP. It may help if you really need to pay for someone to weigh you but apart from that you get everything you need on here!

I lost about 10 lbs in the first month of Weight Watchers. The first week of the 2nd month, I gained 2 lbs (I also happened to be having my Aunt Flo visiting). The meeting facilitator called me out on it during the meeting. I was so embarassed. When I got to my car I cried and then canceled my membership. I don't need to be shamed into losing weight.

HOWEVER, I've heard that my experience is not the norm. I find this site to be much more encouraging and helpful than many of the tools Weight Watchers has. AND, I don't have to convert anything to points.

OMG! That is horrible. Really a good leader makes a HUGE difference. I tried a couple different leaders and some are so much better than others.

And the WW boards are vicious. People complain about the bullies here, but I've never seen anything here like over there.

Good morning. I too used WW and lost 50lbs over a year. Unfortunately nearly all of it has been put back on. I think sorting your head out is the most important thing to do and once this is done, it doesn't matter which program you use. I stopped WW after getting fed up that the online tracking system kept crashing and too often the food I was looking for did not exist. Another problem for me was that they kept changing their rules which confused a simple brain like mine.Although a newcomer I like this site MFP for its simplicity.

I joined WW in 2011. I live almost 30 miles from the nearest meeting (rural living) and had a hard time making it to the meetings. While I was going to the meetings, i lost wieght. I changed to the on-line only program and it still worked, but I lost interest. I just learned of this website today in the current issue of Consumers Reports Magazine. There is a very good article comparing several weight loss programs and diets. It seems there is more on-line interaction on this site then I experienced on WW. I am excited to be part of this community.

I joined WW in 2011. I live almost 30 miles from the nearest meeting (rural living) and had a hard time making it to the meetings. While I was going to the meetings, i lost wieght. I changed to the on-line only program and it still worked, but I lost interest. I just learned of this website today in the current issue of Consumers Reports Magazine. There is a very good article comparing several weight loss programs and diets. It seems there is more on-line interaction on this site then I experienced on WW. I am excited to be part of this community.

Excited to have you!

I have an on line membership with weight watchers. I'm going to cancel it today. I like MFP and can't see paying for one.

I have joined and quit Weight Watchers more times than I can count. Honestly, to me, the best part of the program is the meetings and having a stranger weigh you.

They have been changing the program very frequently it seems... that would be frustrating to me. I think that different programs work for different people.

I know that for me, Weight Watchers allowed me to eat things that were really not great for me and still lose a few pounds. It is an easy system to manipulate (points, I mean). That does you no favors in the long run.

I started South Beach last January and I love it. I eat better food and though I have only lost 33 lbs, I have lost 4 clothing sizes... My highest loss with Weight Watchers was 26 lbs (over a much longer period of time) and I only dropped 1 size with that.

Every person is different and different things work better or worse for different people. I think MFP is a great, free resource.
Good luck with whatever you choose!

I did it twice (after my first two children were born). I lost six lbs the first time and four the second time. I did everthing I was supposed to, tracked what I ate, etc. I went to meetings the first time. I was really disappointed that it did not work for me. I also couldn't stand the meetings. I was a lot younger than the people in my meetings and found I couldn't relate to them (or them me).

I know lots of people where it worked, but it is too expensive for me to try a third time to only lose six lbs. MFP seems very similar to WW so I will see if this will work for me instead.

Good luck!

I have done WW a few times over the years. I had considered joining again, but have decided against it. In the past I would still eat fast food because it was within my points range. I decided to make total lifestyle changes and focus on healthy cooking. I feel that MFP will help me achieve those goals better.

WW ready meals are great for their clearly labelled packaging, so you know how many calories you're eating and how the meal is balanced. They also tend to have a good calorie range of meals including some that are far lower than any other ready-meal range I've found, though the portions are small so I'll cook one along with a load of veg to fill it out (if I'm having a lazy day and want something that I don't have to think about). However, the support that you get at WW meetings is IMO no better than what's available on MFP forums, and you can also add supportive MFP friends for support on your home feed. (I really like the people that I've become friends with since starting MFP.)

WW works, so does MFP, both encourage you to change your eating habits long-term, though I think that MFP has a greater focus on exercise logging etc. If you like weigh-in meetings enough to pay for them, then WW might be for you, however I'd only consider it if I'd exhausted everything that MFP offers (for free) and found it lacking,

I do both. I started with MFP but after 4 months only lost 6 pounds but had regained that same 6 over and over during those 4 months. Joined WW and lost 6 pounds the first month plus a few more. I'm now down 60 lbs doing both WW and MFP. I like the support here better than on WW. You see more success stories here which I find very motivating. I track on WW plus MFP. I plan on staying with both till I hit my goal weight then just do MFP to maintain.

I do the very same thing. I joined WW in March. I had not been tracking WW for the past 6 months or so, just MFP. Through a lot of family stress at the same time, I've been losing/re-gaining the same 2-3 lbs since August. However, after talking to WW councilor & my trainer on Monday, I'm tracking both this week, concentrating more on WW. Hoping this will break that cycle & I move forward.

I forgot to add that the reason I choose not to sign up again this time is because a lot of the foods that I'm eating are mostly zero or very low point foods since I'm going more veggie. It just didn't seem like it would work well for me.