Weigt Watchers vs. MFP.....any thoughts?

I'm new to MFP, but I have done WW before and already I can see some differences.

Since MFP tracks everything for me..I'm not really seeing much of a difference as far as ease of tracking/calculating. I am entering in my foods now just as I was when I did WW. One thing that I liked better about WW was that fruits and veggies were free (at least when I was doing it) and now with this plan I have to count them...it sometimes makes it harder to stay within goal.

As UKMarjie said, I do look at MFP as more of a change in lifestyle and I can see more what I am eating and how it's affecting me..where as sometimes that was harder to do with WW. WW I have to say, I never really learned what was good and what was "bad" as easily. I never really got the hang of how many points something was worth, and it's easier for me to look at something and know how it'll affect my daily goals on MFP even if I am not around the app at that moment. For example: If I know I have about 150 calories left then I can look at something and know if it'll fit. If I was on WW and had 2 points left but was not around an app, book, computer, etc. then I may or may not know if something would fit in that 2 points.

Also...it's free :P

WW helps you learn what to eat, portion control, how to be successful. WW offers support and accountability by way of meetings in addition to the online message boards. I also find that while there are many knowledgable people on the MFP message boards there are just as many promoting false information as truth.

That being said, MFP is free and WW is not. I had a lot of success with WW, but couldn't afford it anymore. I use the information I've learned via WW to continue to be successful while tracking with MFP.

Edited: When I said learned "what to eat" I meant more like "how to eat" I should be eating more whole foods, fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, and limit processed foods, sugar, and alcohol. I never had an experience with WW telling me "what to eat" like a Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem would do.

I've done both. I have had success doing weight watchers and doing it alone... now maintaining I have never done, but then I have always had a major life event that has really thrown a wrench into things. (ie; pregnancies, cancer) That said, I also always looked at it as a diet and not as a lifestyle change. Truly. I know I don't need meetings or counting points to do this so I am not joining weight watchers this time. And I like FREE! Haha! However if you need the accountability that weight watchers offers (which is not a bad thing!) then go with that!

I was debating on same thing before I finally chose MFP. I really researched both. I went to both websites and went to all the links and compared each. The only differences I came up with was meetings & points VS calorie counting. The rest of the tools are almost the same. That being said, I opted to save my money.
Which ever you choose, Good Luck on Your journey!

I am a very picky eater so WW worked well for me. The old system helped me lose 70 pounds. Thought of changing over to the new system but why fix whats not broken. If you stick with WW you do remember the point value of your regular stuff so I only have to use my points calculater when buying / eating new things.

I just joined MFP today so I can't tell you pros / cons of this. I did however find it important to have the actual box with the nutritional value in front of me while entering my breakfast this morning, which kind of seems like a pain but I guess that it would get easier with time.

I tried WW for awhile, and I wasn't losing weight how I wanted to. It also has a subscription fee. The community was good, but I feel even closer to my MFP friends than the WW ones. I will never regret cancelling WW and moving to MFP. I've lost more weight, felt better, and found new friends on MFP.

For the record, I had online WW. I can imagine if you went to WW meetings in person, you would find it more motivating!

Those who post here will tell you MFP is better. Ask the same question on an WW forum and you will get the other answer. Posters have self selected.

As for the WW culture, it varies widely. I have been in meetings with Nutrition Nazis and I have been in meetings focused on how to eat more junk foods within your point limits.

MFP is FREE
WW uses points and you therefore do not get knowledge of the true calorific value of foods
WW online takes your money and just leaves you to it - no email encouragement - nada (I know I tried)
WW classes only get to chat about things once a week unless you call your class leader personally
MFP lots of positive and supportive friends from all around the world and someone available 24/7 for support or answers to questions.

No contest MFP all the way

WW was a part time job in my opinion. It felt more like an obligation. This is fun. People on MFP are VERY supportive and we celebrate virutally.

I can plan my day, easily log things, learn by checking the boards and share the path of health with fellow like minded people. I love MFP and promote it ALL the time! It is by far the best thing ever for me.

I just don't understand why fruits and veggies are 0 points on weight watchers. You can get fat from eating too many of those, they do contain calories and those calories do add up.

I have often wondered that myself...

I did WW years ago. I think I lost 30 pounds or so doing it on and off for a few years. Although it isn't what they wanted, I found that I ate a lot of pre-packaged stuff that had points values on the front of the box b/c it made it easier to track. Also it drove me crazy trying to get to in so many oils in a day or what not. And it definitely never sunk in to my brain enough that it would be something I could just continue for the rest of my life and once i stopped going to meetings, I gained it all back. And let's not even mention the one woman who monopolized EVERY meeting on Saturday morning telling us absolutely every little thing that she ate and did that week (and she was on maintenance).

Now MFP...I have been doing this for about 11 months and have lost almost 60 pounds. I haven't once felt deprived about anything. I have changed the way I think about food and will try to make what i eat something i still enjoy, but better for me. Yes, I can have a turkey burger instead of a regular burger. But even more important, when I do want a regular burger, or pizza, or cake...I have it! I do my best to fit it into my macros for the day and exercise more if I need to. This isn't a diet. This isn't something I am going to stop doing one day. And it works. And MFP is FREE!

Most of all, MFP has the best, most supportive people on it.

I have done both - in 1998 I lost over 100lbs with weight watchers and have kept all but 30 lbs off (after having children). I would say you need to figure out what type of program would work best for you remembering in either program you have to commit to making lifestyle changes. When I was 100lbs over weight I had to start at the beginning - learning to make better choices, direction in how many calories to eat, what types of excercises to start with. Weight watchers helped me learn all this and now I have applied that to journaling on MFP. I still to this day get in 8 servings of fruits and vegetables, healthy oils, excercise, water, and choose whole grains over processed foods. I use MFP now to understand the calories I am eating and how many I should eat to lose weight and how many to eat to maintain, how my excercise impacts how much I need to eat. I was having trouble keeping up with points with two young children and being free is an added bonus!

I've done both. I didn't lose much, if any, with Weight Watchers. I like the simplicity of MFP and the constant access/availability. Plus I don't have to figure out any points. Calorie information is more easily available.

In summation, MFP is simple, free, friendly (well, now always the forums ), easy, free, quick, accessible, free, and did I mention free?