Convert from Weight Watchers

I too am a WW Convert- I actually reached goal weight with WW but was then put on some medications that made me gain weight- I then got married and gained the newly wed 9 and my eating got out of control so i ended up gaining everything I lost back plus some - however, I continued to attend WW. I stopped attending over the past year because I could not fit it in with my schedule and i wasn't seeing results. I had been doing the plan for so long that I too, figured out how to cheat and still fall into my points. I loved my leader, but after going for so many years, i had heard all of her stories and tips so many times, that I could teach the class. In my last few years of going, i was actually gaining weight- I can honestly blame some of it on chronic medical issues, but when it comes down to it, I have to take responsibility. I like MFP because it does show me all of the things WW does not-with points plus you do calculate the points based on protein, calories, fat, and fiber, but you do not see them staring you in the face, nor do you see the sodium and sugar. I can now see that maybe part of why I was gaining was because I was going over in sugar and sodium but under in calories and fat. Now I am trying to get a more balanced approach. I am still skeptical about some of the nutrition info that I find on here- some of it seems a little low, while others seem high (especially in the fruit and vegetable categories), as well as the amount of calories burned for some activities, but I have seen more success in a shorter amount of time. I have resumed my journey this week and have already lost weight in the past 3 days. I think sometimes we get in a rut and need a change of pace which is why I am liking this site so much.I wish all my WW converts much success and know we can do this!

I converted over 2 years ago, it def maskes the calories. My doctor told me to track my calories and stay away from weight watchers. Im 5.5 and need to lose 30lb also. Feel free to friend me I will help support you in your efforts

Also a convert, I made life time. I have gained weight back plus some. The hardest thing for me is to log in veggie and fruits because in WW they have zero points. Veggies and fruits have calories so I log them in. Welcome and" If you bit it write!" WW saying.

I tried a 12 week challenge with WW. I put on 2kgs. I know I only control what I put in my mouth and what exercises I choose to do. However when I did it, they did not give you the tools you need to count the "points" in food, that was extra money. Also, I found it all too soft for me. If I had a bad week, I don't want someone patting me on theback. I want someone to say, 'dah, you did bad, you know what you did, lets start again this week'. So I rebelled... so yeah, I put on 2kgs and WW got a couple of hundred dollars out of me. Seems fair :grumble:

I am from Ww too, but had a very difficult time with the new points. In six months I lost 18pounds then my mom told me she saw this TV show up thingie on mothers day. I am the only one with a smart phone and downloaded it at the table. What this up was saying my lunch was half of what I should eat, my points was only a third. I have been more focused here and gave lost 14 pounds a lot quicker. The last Ww meeting I went to the leader thought the program finally clicked for me. I didn't have the heart to tell her it wasn't the program that clicked, it was another program. So...welcome and good luck with your weight loss!

Welcome, I just cancelled my WW too, I didn't lose anything on it and I felt like I was eating way too much especially all the free fruit and vegetables. Good Luck and feel free to add me

I started and started over on WW many times myself. I'm 51 and after the years of yo-yos and frustration, came to the conclusion my motives were all messed up - I needed a lifestyle change for my health. I don't want to end up diabetic with all its complications, have osteoporosis, or have hypertension like my mom. I do have a congenital heart condition that is not weight related. My kids are age 20- and 17 and I'm quite simply too young in that sense to not take care of myself. So -- while I've done MFP on and off for a couple years, I've made it part of my lifestyle for 6 months now. I use the calorie recommendation it sets for me, and exercise almost daily. I like the reports feature that lets me see a week at a time how I'm doing nutritionally. I don't let one day or one meal derail me -- words and phrases like "cheating" "off the wagon" "starting over" "messed up" -- etc. -- are not in my vocabulary anymore. I eat pretty much what I want, aiming for nutritious choices, portion controlled, and try to stay "in the green" nutritionally each day. If I want a serving of Oreos, I have them and track it. If I want pizza, I have it and track it. My goals aren't based on number, but on persistence and focusing on the big picture.

What I realized about WW is that the only measure of success that was "official" was the number on the scale. They talked about and "celebrated" other measures of success (measurements, how clothes fit, etc.) but those weren't recorded. My weight also fluctuates - I go down and up for awhile, then drop, down and up, then drop ... this doesn't look too pretty on WW charts. In 6 months on MFP, I've lost 16 lbs and counting, which doesn't sound like much, but I've also been working out with a trainer and going to the gym at least 5 days a week (whether I want to or not), and have lost 32 inches -- which has amounted to 1-2 pants sizes and 1 shirt size. I feel better than I have in years, I'm stronger, sleep better, have more energy.

Good luck and feel free to add me as a friend. :-)

Hang in there Kimberly....you can do it.
I quit WW for the same reasons.

Have patience, and trust in yourself.

Judy

I go to meetings and I have never been encouraged to use artificial sweeteners and fillers. Some people choose to do it, but that is their prerogative. I think the WW approach is portion control, so you can eat whatever you want in a reasonable portion. Also they new points plus system doesn't even factor in calories, it's based on carbs/fiber/fat/protein so healthier foods are generally lower in points.

I was generally referring to the Weight Watchers brands of foods that are full of fillers so you can have cheese for one point or crackers for 2. I realize they are in it to make money; they just don't need any more of mine. I am glad you find support at the meetings. I am not denigrating any method that helps you; I was merely explaining why it didn't help me.

So yes there are people on WW and even MFP who make terrible choices, but that is not because they are following the plan. It is because they do what they want to do. Many MFP members only consider their total calories for the day and not the nutrition. That doesn't make MFP bad, just as it doesn't make WW bad, they both have bad members.

I agree with you here, too. I know my efforts are, right now, to eat what's right for my body. I am not an all-organic-or-nothing kind of gal. I can't afford that! However, I do know that getting rid of the fake stuff and the fillers has helped heal some of my relationship with food. I'm ready to fix a lifelong love-hate relationship with myself and food. I just don't think WW worked for me in that regard.

This thread makes me happy. I felt guilty for leaving WW because it was such a big part of my life. Well, if it was so great, then why wasn't it working? I agree. Too many ways to cheat. Zero points on fruits meant that I was eating an extra 500 calories a day in "free" fruit.

Heather in KS