WW vs. MFP

I've done both and I am so used to WW that I prefer it even though I'm tracking on both. I haven't paid for WW meetings since 2005 or something like that. I was given the points finder and tools that I know worked for me and I am in full belief that once you finally decide to commit and get the work done, you'll lose the weight you want. I used my old points tracker and food journal and did not attend one meeting or pay one cent since I started to finally commit to this journey in 2007...I just dug out my old materials and have lost 150 lbs because I decided enough was enough and it was time to get it done. I still have about 40-50 more lbs to go, but I'll always believe no matter what "tools" you prefer to use, you'll get it done, but tracking your food some way, any way, that you prefer is ESSENTIAL.

HOWEVER, that being said, I found MFP earlier last year and I like the Community better and use that for support/ideas/motivation if needed or to come share my own experiences. I track on MFP on and off, but still track mainly my points on good old fashioned pen and paper because that is what worked for me. Try tracking both for a while if you have the tools already from WW, if not definitely MFP has worked for many as evidenced by all the posts here. I also think it is completely ridiculous that WW keeps releasing a "NEW and IMPROVED" points tracker plan.

Good luck - cheers!

I used WW a little over two years ago and lost weight fast but gained it all back.

I like MFP much better for these reasons:

1. It's FREE
2. I think the food database is much bigger
3. The community here is awesome
4. For me, it's encouraged me to work out more. I did not work out doing WW. When I first started, seeing all of MFP friends working out, it really pushed me.
5. WW says zero points for fruits and veggies, but there are a lot of calories in some fruits and veggies so I think it's doing a disservice to people who are counting them as nothing.

I agree with most of what has been said above, especially this. I was successful with WW a few years ago, lost about 50 lbs but then gained most of it back. I went to sign up again and discovered the "new" point system with zero points for fruits and veggies. Veggies maybe I can understand, but I usually have a big fruit smoothie in the morning and I don't think it makes sense not counting the majority of those calories.

I never went to meetings - did it all online - so this site works just fine.

The food database here is great. I don't think I've ever tried to enter a brand-name food and not found it in the database (usually multiple entries). And for homemade stuff there are great "generic" and "homemade" listings.

I did WW for a little last year and It's a good plan for some and I have known many who have done well on it. I however, was not a fan of the points system and found their website confusing. I see WW as a diet more than a lifestyle change because you need to know more about foods calories and macro nutrients (I think) to be successful in the long term. Another program that is more structured than MFP is Calorieking so if you need to learn more about calories, coping, controlling binging etc. CK is a good choice (although there is a fee it is very reasonable and the community there can be very supportive.)

Just my experience but I prefer either MFP or CK over WW any day.

MFP is free and from what I hear less confusing and more convenient. If you can do it without the meetings (hello, forums!), I think this site will work just fine for you.

Never belonged to WW....But I do use their frozen meals a few times a week.I love MFP,I see no reason to change.

I LOVED WW and have no problems with it....but it's not free, like MFP. MFP also gives you a great little community...all the time! Plus, I like that I can really look at the nutritional value of everything I eat. I notice things I would never have noticed on WW...like there are days when I eat WAY too many fat grams, and that most days I do not eat anywhere close to the amount of recommended potassium. It helps me make even better choices. I do miss being able to "save up" points for a special meal. But, I can totally live with that, considering I am paying nothing! I really love MFP!

WW online worked for me, for a solid fifteen pounds, but I got sick of paying for it because I could get the exact same tracking system elsewhere (I had a good support group at home, and did not need that encouragement). Their mobile app sucked massively and there is even a mobile app that tracks points plus free ... sigh.

Paying for it made me stick to it, but after I was done I had learned a bit more about portion control / impulse eating / etc, and I did a lot better when I came back to calorie counting.

I lost 35 pounds on WW and have kept it off for a year and a half. I enjoyed the program. I did online only, so I didn't attend meetings. It was $20.00 a month and there are forums and friends and blogs and a great online community. Just like here but this is free. So I switched.

I hope that this helps you. I wasnt able to read all of your previous replies though so, I am sorry if this is similar to what someone else said.

I was on WW about 2 years ago and I lost 40 pounds. It was a great program but, it should be with how much it cost me. It didn't make sense that I needed to pay to lose weight so, I quit going to meetings and tried doing the program at home...that went well for about 2 months but, I basically gave up because I had a really hectic life and I still liked to eat out with friends and I basically had to guess my point value. I rejoined the points plus program thinking it would be easier but, ti was basically the same thing for me.

I found my fitness pal in the middle of November (I believe) and I was amazed that this program is free. I also like having everything online or on an app on my phone so that I don't need to remember to bring a bunch of papers, books and tracking tools with me. I love MFP. I have only lost 6 pounds but, I started on the 27th of December. I feel great counting calories and when I go out to eat, I can go online and find the nutrition information and add calories or else most of the restaurants are already programmed into my fitness pal. It is so easy and it's incredible for tracking. Everyone here is much more supportive than I had ever imagined and I absolutely love it.

I would say that WW and MFP don't even compare since WW costs money, you have to track on paper (unless you pay for the online program), it's harder to count points than it is to count calories and MFP is just much easier.

I wish you the best of luck!!!

I have used WW online, honestly you are better off using MFP. You will get the same kind of support and encouragement, but you will gain the knowledge of how to control your diet. With WW it is easy to fall into meal plans that add up your points, but if you don't learn how to do the nutritional leg work for yourself what happens when you quit WW? Or do you plan to keep going back to them with your money, forever?

I did WW for a while too. The meetings are not convenient and I really didn't feel like I connected with the others in the meeting. I have done MFP off and on over the last year but have not committed to weight loss whole heartedly until now. My first week and I am down 2 pounds with 60 pounds to go. My goal is 1 pound a week. I am tracking all my food and working with a health coach at the gym. I meet with her every six weeks for measurments, weigh in and a new work out. My goal for 2013 is to be down 52 pounds by December 31, 2013.

I have had three friends who did WW and were all success stories, but when I finally jumped on the weight loss wagon (a year ago), I was forced to keep a log of all of my foods and exercise (I'm in a research study) and while I am lazy about looking up foods and then writing them all down (tried that, didn't work), I found it somehow easier to look them up on here and plug them in. What is the difference between writing them by hand and typing them into a computer or app? A lot. I don't always carry a paper food log with me, whereas I always have my phone with me. Yes, lazy...I know.

Also, I think the whole scheme behind WW is their math. You're literally paying for their math. It's all the same...you're dealing with smaller numbers (and for some that may work) but I personally prefer knowing real calories in and out. And the thing about not having points with fruits and veggies is kind of wonky. A banana is generally between 80-100 calories and you're not going to count that? Granted, a banana is good for you, but it's still calories.

I have learned to make healthier, lower calorie choices so I can still eat the volume I want to eat, but not spending all my calories on something that isn't worth it. For example: I tried spaghetti squash for the first time last week. Love it. I will definitely be using that as an alternative to pasta/rice from now on. Less carbs, lower calories. Yay.

Like most diet plans, Weight Watchers works if you follow it. If you need in-person accountability, it's great for that! Knowing someone is going to watch you step on a scale and then (gasp!) write your weight down can be very motivating for some. If you don't need that kind of motivation though, I think MFP is better. Here's why:

1. Cost. This is obvious, but $40/month (for WW meetings and online tracking) vs $0 for MFP.

2. Points vs. Calories (or carbs or whatever you care about). Weight Watchers Points (or PointsPlus) are cumbersome. You can't just look at a food label and know it's 3 points or 8 points. I mean, over time, you start to get a sense for it. Maybe you'll even memorize the foods you eat most frequently, but to be sure you're getting it right, you'll be constantly looking things up - in grocery stores, on menus, etc. I find that to be a chore. With MFP, the calories you count are the same calories listed on every food label. Easy peasy. (Still a chore to track, yes, but LESS of a chore.)

3. Nutrition. Yes, WW encourages you on paper to eat a balanced diet, but those meetings are often filled with women (and they ARE mostly women) obessively talking about how many "points" are in X brand of tortilla or giving you some weird recipe for a Fat Free Cool Whip based dessert. I always felt like I got a lot of advice to eat weird, low fat versions of real food. It's like a constant game of how to cheat in bad food and still lose weight. Does it work? Sure, if you are honest about your points, but beware the food gaming and focus on eating real food - whether you choose WW or MFP. (At least, that's my advice, but who the heck am I??)

4. WW Brand Snacks. Indeed, they push their bars and shakes and "2 Point snacks" in their meetings, sometimes even passing arouns samples. To each his/her own, but that's not my thing. They taste OK, but they are never filling and always felt like a waste of points to me. Meh.

Anyway, good luck. Pretty much ANYTHING will work while you do it. The key (I think) is to find something that will work for you forever - because if it's just something you're planning to do temporarily "until you lose the weight," you're setting yourself up to regain. I have lost around 50 pounds with WW in the past and gained it ALL back and then some.

I did consider going back to WW but it costs way too much money I have to say I joined MFP at the end of sept and I have lost the most weight I have ever done. I like MFP because it is very simple to use and it does make you burn kcal via exercise and I think that is the important difference between MFP and WW.
With WW it depends who your 'leader' is. I had a great one and she really pushed healthy living and not the products but she left and the new lady was a disaster! She didn't even talk about WW it was always about her little girl. I found this infuriating as I was paying £7 a week for the privileged.
MFP I think is a good site helpful, friendly and most of all it works
oh and lets not forget its free as well
xxxx

I agree with you....