Weight watchers VS. Calorie counting

count calories.

I think with weight watchers you get concerned with points only and you may not end up choosing good quality foods. and its one extra step, instead of writing down calories, you have to calculate points on top of that.

And for me, I can eat more when I count calories versus weightwatchers points

calorie counting is so much easier less stress full javascript:add_smiley('wink','post_body') good luck x

Counting Calories.
Same here I rather count calories, I feel like am not in a diet but simply eating a bit less of what I love to eat.....

I'd say calorie counting is easier with a site like MFP. I did WW for two weeks and even though I lost 4.5lbs in my first week (as opposed to 3lbs with calorie counting) converting foods into points was time consuming. (I put that 4.5lbs back on after I gave up WW.)

MFP logs it all for you, and it's free!

I still buy many things from the WW range - they are lower in calories and healthier than most alternatives which makes my life easier.

That said, I still liked WW - but it is difficult getting to a class every week etc.

Calorie counting 100% for me, as this is something I will be doing probably for the rest of my life now! All be it not to the level I am now but to maintain I think you still need to keep track or at least have an idea of what you are eating. I think as a long term "lifestyle change" then calorie counting will play a key part in it. This is only my opinion, I think doing what ever works for you is the key.

Ben.

I prefer calorie counting. I've tried weight watchers, and it worked for a while, but in the end I get annoyed that a couple of calories can tip over into half a point or something! Or that having two glasses of wine together, saves points over two separately - it seems less accurate to me.

It's also strange how some items with the same calories have different points values. I know that's because WW take fat content etc, into account and try to get you to choose low fat options, but in the end a calorie is a calorie!

Calorie counting is also a lot cheaper!

Too true Sharon. It's nice to be able to eat satsumas in odd numbers. On weight watchers satsumas are 0.5 points for 1 or for 2. Why would you ever eat only 1 when 2 is the same points? Counting calories encourages a more common sense approach.

I did weight watchers for a couple of months and saw great results. I quit though because of the cost and trying to figure out the point value of everything i ate was too frustrating for me. This site is FREE and you can look up nearly everything and see the nutritional value of it. Not only that, i have the app for MFP on my Droid...last time i checked, Weight watchers didn’t have the app yet (for the Droid that is).

Basically its whatever your preference is. Weight Watchers does work great! It just wasn’t for me. Im having the same success here on MFP, plus i love the supportive people here as well!

MFP is FREE! I've never done WW. I've heard great things about it. MFP is FREE! Plus, it's the easiest diet I've ever been on. I don't feel like I'm dieting. I don't have to eat diet food. I'm learning about the calories in things and portion sizes. I'm making smarter choices. I want to exercise because that means I can eat more. I've got friends doing it with me cuz they can afford it too. We're all losing weight. We're all motivated. I love MFP!

i have done both.. and both work if you follow it. I prefer counting calories it is much simpler and the MFP website and app is far better thean WW, plus MFP is free!

I've done both. I did WW from Jan 09-Dec 09 when I joined here, I still pay WW and I go to the meetings for support and accountability. I lost 36 pounds from the dates above, joined here, I lost 30, then gained 11 back over the holidays. I started doing the new WW plan this month just for something different. I really don't find that big of a difference besides calories being more available and easy to find. Especially now in California where they are posted EVERYWHERE! I just like to mix it up when things get stale. I got tired of counting points, then I got tired of counting calories. The new WW program is so crazy, you count fat, carbs, protein and fiber, after a year of counting calories I've been in a total mind warp where I don't even look at calories. I also find both WW and MFP so easy with my iPhone app. I can enter the stuff, create a food and store it. With that WW isn't much harder then MFP.
Best of luck!

The programs are very similar, except MFP is free. And this is coming from one who recently canceled her WW membership to join MFP! They both work but MFP has been so much easier for me.

same thing here. is there a way we can caluclate it on this site though, i love this site

It will take a year to get it out of your system but you'll find calorie counting is much healthier and will lead to better success.

WW can be starvation. For me 18-21 points = 1000-1200 calories regardless of exercise (exercise = 2 more points but 500 calories burned is more like 5 WW point) plus if you don't already have the points memorized in your head, it’s an extra step.

For over a year I calculated the WW points and mut a note on MFP. Finally that’s out of my system and I see how much better it is to go by calories.

Get it out of your system. I finally did and am eating a much better balance and am moving away from my fat fear (olive oil, avocado, nuts) etc. that is instilled in the points system when those are essential fats.

If it means anything, I never paid for WW I just used online calculators and found out the 'rules' from my mom. I've also never been overweight so WW can be helpful for people who have made bad choices and want to join something popular to get on the right track.

I have been to WW, and lost a large amount of weight. you then become a long term maintenance member, and it will not cost anymore for the term that you stay within a specific set weight.

The problem with constantly counting points is that it is easy to slip back to your old habits, and put the weight back on, whereas calorie counting is easier as the calorific value of food is on the back of 97% packaging, so you can alway keep an eye on it.

I have also been to slimming world, which was bizarre, as they allow you to eat lots of rice, pasta and potatoes as syn free foods etc, and I couldnt grasp that either.

I think if you view yourself as a beautiful, expensive well oiled, high performance car you cant go wrong..... put the best fuel into it, not too much oil of the head gasket will go, and only top up your fuel when you need to with good fuel.... then run the car or it will seize up, and need extra work done to it! Fuel for thought? Im a Bentley Continental! :laugh: