Weight Watchers VS Calorie Counting

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  • gypsyangel12
    gypsyangel12 Posts: 1 Member
    I've done both and either works for me. I like that MFP is free and has a huge, although not always accurate, database. The thing I really miss in MFP is the ability to "bank" some calories each day--like the WW weekly points--toward giving me some flexibility on other days. I know that I can do this "unofficially," but would like to track and use "officially" as you can in the WW online system. I haven't found an online calorie-tracker that allows this flexibility other than WW.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    I kind of do that. There is a nice chart of 30-day average calorie burn and intake on the Fitbit profile page that I've used a lot in the past. The MFP 'reports' page of calorie burn is nice, too. I can see my daily intake sort of oscillate around my goal. It's not so much banking calories, though, as just letting them vary according to my appetite and other conditions from day to day, but trying to hit near my goal deficit over time, on average, or near it.
  • chargraves
    chargraves Posts: 65 Member
    I lost (and continue to lose) most of my weight as a WW meetings member since Feb 2013. I started out only counting points and occasionally logging in to MFP for macro checks and curiosity about the number of calories I was eating. To make a really long story short, I now still go to WW meetings, follow the WW program’s food and exercise guidelines (daily # of veg/fruit, dairy, water, healthy oils, 30+ minutes exercise, etc) but I count calories instead of points.

    I have a really great leader and a big diverse group where I learn a lot but as I inch closer to goal the points+ daily target of 26 was too low to be manageable for me. I let MFP set my goals based on 1 lb a week - lightly active and it greatly improved my quality of life! The only issue that I struggle with is how to translate my Activelink activity points earned into calories. WW starts with a much lower daily total to allow for how people manage zero point fruits and veg and usage of the 49 point weekly allowance. I have been playing it safe by only eating back any points over the 5+ thresholds and calculating any over 5 at 35-40 calories added back.

    TL/DR: I still go to WW meetings but use MFP as the tool to log my food and set calorie targets.

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