MFP vs. WeightWatchers Online

sdare0104
sdare0104 Posts: 2
edited September 21 in Motivation and Support
Hi,
I was just about to join WW Online since they have a promotion ending tomorrow, when I stumbled upon this site via an app for my iPhone. Can anyone out there tell me how MFP compares to WW Online - the good, the bad, the ugly - or if there's no comparison at all (apples to oranges)?
Many thanks!

Replies

  • kcampbell453
    kcampbell453 Posts: 29 Member
    I was a member of WW online a few years back, and did like it. I guess the best thing that I've found between the two is this one is free! It seems to do the exact same things on MFP that it does on WW except the points. I personally like this site just as well, if not a little better. Hope this helps.
  • kendra1976
    kendra1976 Posts: 90 Member
    If you are comparing the full features online and phone app they are both very good. Personally I prefer MFP. I think it's a bigger range of people and I think it's more about learning new habits and lifestyle vs. living on a diet. I did start with WW in January and am recently 100% on MFP. I took the money I was spending on WW and joined a local gym. Now I log my calories, etc here. I am actually losing more on MFP than I did the entire 6 months on WW.

    I have the App on my iphone and access it all the time. I personally like referring to things as calories and not points. Yes, I still read the ingredients on a label, but it's easier to me.

    I also like the friends aspect on here. The forums are easier to navigate on here as well.

    Welcome, I hope this helps! :-)
  • tglab
    tglab Posts: 1
    I used Weight Watchers online and had good success, but I think MFP is just as good, in terms of tracking what you eat, how often you exercise, and your weight loss (plus it's free!). The only difference, I think, would be the support you would get from going to meetings in person, if that motivates you.
  • karenjoy
    karenjoy Posts: 1,840 Member
    MFP is free! bonus!

    It works, biggest bonus!

    Lots of support from other members, advice that is free and nobody is trying to sell you anything (at least not from here)

    I found that for the very first time this site has made me aware of calories, how many are in the foods I eat, and also exercise and the benefits. I have friends who do WW and to be honest, what they do is kid themselves, they eat lots of things that are 'free' they then don't eat all day before they go and PAY to get weighed and then eat a lot of crap afterwards, they are paying to kid themselves. MFP will work only if you are honest with yourself, if you are then this is a fabulous site. I have lost almost 3 stone since the end of February.
  • austinartgirl
    austinartgirl Posts: 26 Member
    The only thing that would sign me up for WW etools was if I was specifically following the Weight Watchers program. I was a paying etools customer for 10 years and I LOVE the myfitnesspal site. I actually think that this site is more streamlined and less clunky. That being said, if I was counting points I'd prefer to have a food journal that reflected a points intake. This site is fantastic AND its free.

    Weight Watchers is a fabulous program, and if you follow it AS IT IS WRITTEN, you will no doubt lose weight. I've kept off 80 lbs. since 2006. But I'm using MFP now because I needed something different.
  • svgarcia
    svgarcia Posts: 592 Member
    thanks for the info! i too was contemplating between the two!
  • spam4jc
    spam4jc Posts: 4 Member
    I've been a WW online and WW meeting member over the years. I think MFP can provide you as much if not more support as WW online and the database for information for daily journaling is huge for making recording easy.

    Overall, I believe face to face meetings will bring you the most success, but if it's too costly either financially or time-wise (WW closed all their meeting places close to me) then I'd suggest trying MFP first. If you have any special health concerns, such as diabetes, or have a partuclar interest in tracking carbs or any of the other dietary elements, then I'd really suggest MFP since WW relies heavily on its point system and keeping daily track of the extra items is a lot of additional work unless they've changed their set-up.

    In the end, it's all about your motivation and everyone has different needs. You just need to find the place that fits you.
  • elengofit
    elengofit Posts: 2
    I am sure different things work for different people. I have tried WW several times and it never worked for me. Jenny Craig did work for me as long as I was on the plan, then when I stopped, my weight come back on. I have been on MFP now since June and it is working. It is working S L O W L Y and someimes that is frustrating when some of my friends on WW are losing weight faster. BUT other friends who were on WW have gained all their weight back on, and I don't want to do that. This plan DOES work. I have a long way to go before reaching my goal, but I feel like I AM making some changes in my eating habits that will continue when my goal is reached. Adding exercise to my daily schedule is the hardest thing for me, but I am sure when I continue to do this, it will get easier and more pleasant for me.
  • Ready4Changes
    Ready4Changes Posts: 89
    I have had both. I honestly like this better. First it is free. Youcan still view the WW site and get recipes and other goodies. I prefer the support I get from here. I like how I can track my weight daily and I like tracking calories and not points.
  • YourFriendBecky
    YourFriendBecky Posts: 229
    Aside from the obvious issue of paying versus not paying (and by the way, WW Online has ads now, so why are they making people pay?)... there are two other big issues for me.

    First, I think people are MUCH more supportive on the MFP message boards. I can't tell you how many snarky message board posts I saw on WW... especially old timers commenting on newbie posts. It broke my heart, really.

    Second, I hated that WW points can be deceptive and you can be going along staying within your point guidelines but actually eating too many or too few calories. I want to know how many calories I'm actually eating, and I don't want someone else deciding for me which of those are "good" calories or "bad" calories based on fat and fiber.
  • sdare0104
    sdare0104 Posts: 2
    Thank you all. This is exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping to find to help me make my decision. I'll pass on the WW Online offer expiring Aug. 31 and try MFP for now. I already like the idea of tracking calories, not points. Thank you again!
  • Ready4Changes
    Ready4Changes Posts: 89
    sorry was testing my tracker and now cant remove the post lol
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