Struggling with the weight watchers mentality

Some people from WW, still track points. Not sure if this would help you, but check out this thread:
https://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/822101-is-there-a-way-to-track-ww-points?hl=tracking+WW+points&page=2#posts-13974527

I think the new WW program not counting the "points" in fruits works wonderfully for people who have a significant amount of weight to lose. I've seen people at my meetings lose 30 to 50 lbs on the new "zero point" fruit/veggie program.

But, if someone has fewer than 20 lbs to lose...those people (like me) really struggle and stall.

I do WW and MFP. WW because it "rewards" healthier eating (basically so long as you keep within a certain caloric level you can manipulate MFP so that you can live on 1200 calories a day of Twinkies and Fritos.) and MFP because with only 15 lbs to lose, WW's new program was just too nonrestrictive forrme.

I am one of those people who can eat 4 lbs of grapes...!

I struggle with the idea of WW giving fruits and veggies 0 points. They have calories. It's a fact.

Me too. SO many of my calories come from veggies.

fruits make up a few hundred of my cals daily!

I've done WW over the years and finally reached my "goal" (very tip top of my height range) in 2005. Due to an Achilles' tendon injury a year or so later, I was unable to exercise/walk for two years and gained a significant amount of weight back. Long story short, I returned to WW, began losing weight, then discovered MFP a few months ago. I struggled with the same issue as you. I tried to reconcile the two programs, found I couldn't, and decided to count calories and stick with MFP. I immediately began losing more weight, upped my exercise, and finally found the right formula. I do go to WW once a month (for free because I am a Lifetime Member and have been within my goal weight). At this point I am 13 lbs below my WW "goal" weight and feel terrific. I like WW and do believe the "no counting" of fruits and veggies is good because it gives you the feeling that if you are hungry you can eat a healthy snack instead of a crappy one. But, as others have said, there are calories in these foods -- and I can easily eat two bananas an a couple of oranges a day -- but that would put me outside my MFP guidelines. Happy to be your friend in MFP if you want to send me a request. I keep an open diary.

I have to say I've been to weight watchers most of my life, and I truly believe they've made me paranoid over food, and counting calories. Then I started losing weight this time all on my own, I didn't count 1 calorie. I knew what what fattening, and what was healthy, I just had to concentrate on the volume, to my activity in the day. I bought myself a tiny bowel, and a side plate, and that's what I ate off, and it works.

Now that I've lost nearly 14 stones (336 pounds) in weight the last stone (14 pounds) is the only time I've had to be more precis with my food, hence joining this site to count for me during the last stone.

you have done beyond amazing

My mother in law and sister in law have been doing Slimming World, which is very similar to WW. One of my male friends also did it, and the thing I really cannot stand hearing is "it's free".

Their mentality (especially my mother in law's) is to eat as much as possible of free foods, whether they want it or not. Personally, I might like fruit, but I can't spend all bloody day constantly munching on fruit like they do. I want to eat food that I like, when I like, which will include fruit and vegetables, but requires moderation. I watch them sit and binge on food because "it's okay- IT'S FREE!"

It does work for some people, but it's by no means a cure-all attitude to long term healthy eating. Sometimes I think these people have been indoctrinated into a cult and "it's free" is their holy chant.

The whole concept of WW is backwards. It's just a way to make money by selling overpriced and highly processed foods.

I've been working for WW for almost 20 years. If you have little to lose, count your fruit as 1 point each. They have a lot of calories, which mfp will tell you. That isn't free! Even the wintersquash, I count as 1 point. I do both plans, points, and mfp. It works for me, although does get to be a bit too much posting, in that case, I have to keep current w/the points system, but it's the calories that are the bottom line. By having the free fruits, WW wants you to grab that instead of Cheetos, but there is a limit to free. Limit fruits to 2/day, and you should be ok.

I've done WW many times and have always had success.

Oxymoron. You can't be successful MANY times with WW, and be here looking to lose weight. If WW weren't a gimmick, it would be successful for life, and teach us how to live without it when we were done with the program, not just how us how to do it while we're tracking then cut us loose to fail. (I did weight watchers, and became a "lifetime member")

If you're still in the WW mentality, as many are, count your fruits and starchy veggies like potatoes and carrots, peas etc and not your regular veggies, leafy greens etc. Many dietitians who tell you to track will also say that. Non-startchy veggies have so few calories, they are pretty much negligible when it comes to counting, but if you're going to have fruit, make sure you have space for it in your calorie count and macros, or do the extra exercise to make room; they have big calories, they aren't free.

I've done WW many times and have always had success.

Oxymoron. You can't be successful MANY times with WW, and be here looking to lose weight. If WW weren't a gimmick, it would be successful for life, and teach us how to live without it when we were done with the program, not just how us how to do it while we're tracking then cut us loose to fail. (I did weight watchers, and became a "lifetime member")

If you're still in the WW mentality, as many are, count your fruits and starchy veggies like potatoes and carrots, peas etc and not your regular veggies, leafy greens etc. Many dietitians who tell you to track will also say that. Non-startchy veggies have so few calories, they are pretty much negligible when it comes to counting, but if you're going to have fruit, make sure you have space for it in your calorie count and macros, or do the extra exercise to make room; they have big calories, they aren't free.

That's not true. Maybe she did it in the past to lose 20 lbs and then stop. It doesn't mean she wasn't successful in her goal at that specific time.

I followed WW 10 years ago and lost 70 lbs - got down to my goal weight. Therefore, I was VERY successful using Weight Watchers. The reason I am back here today has absolutely NOTHING to do with how useful or helpful Weight Watchers is for maintaining your goal long term. The reason I am back here today is 100% ON ME.