Counting Vs. WW

I have done both, and personally I prefer MFP. First of all it is free, but beyond that . . . I prefer knowing at the end of the day what my actual calories were, I like tracking sodium, fats, carbs and protein. I like the trends from the progress reports. I never had time to do WW meetings. I was successful when I followed WW, but I so prefer MFP for what I have already stated, plus the exercise and fitness advice. I think I am in love with this site!

I have belonged to WW in the past, and at one time when I was very motivated I lost 40 lbs. The program works as long as you follow the guidelines. I quit because I wasn't committed to it any longer, and gained every pound plus some back.

The reason why I think WW is really great for anyone is that it teaches you to make healthier choices. Like you said, you are trying to get your 5 fruits and vegetables in each day, and if I had never been a WW member I would have never found the importance in this.

I believe that some of my success at MFP and counting calories is due to my participation in WW and learning the healthy guidelines. That background has helped me choose better food for my body, helps me choose food lower in calories, etc. I also learned portion control and I weigh and measure everything, just like you have to do as a WW member in order for the plan to work.

I think that WW is a great program, and I know that a lot of people use MFP simultaneously. For me, I just didn't see any point in tracking points and calories, and didn't want to pay for a membership any longer.

As for going over your calories, some of the things that you learn in WW really helps you stay on track. I plan my meals out as best I can the day before. Sometimes my schedule changes or I decide to go out with friends or family, but I can usually pick something when dining out that has about the same amount of calories as the meal I had planned. If it appears that I am going to go over my calories for the day, I just plan a little more time a the gym.

Planning ahead is really what saves me from self-sabotage as well.

I hope this helps. I'm a big supporter of WW, especially for people who are new to weight loss and changing the way they view food. Remember, it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change.

Also remember, a serving of fruit/vegetable is only a 1/2 cup.

I participated in WW twice in my lifetime. Overall, WW was good for me, I found that I was not committed to the program and it became a financial henderance when I began to plateau with my weight. When I started to gain the weight back, I choose to discontinue to program. I suggest that you do all you can that works for you. I have been watching my weight since I was in high school and learned that being on just one program has not kept me committed because I would always gain the weight back or I will gain more weight before I started. This time, I'm changing my LIFESTYLE because I'm ready to change me for the better.

I have done WW in the past and found that while I always stayed within my points allowance, I was not always making wise food choices. Using this site seems to make me pay attention to the quality of the types of food I am eating by making wiser food choices.

I totally agree... Weight Watcher's meetings always seemed to focus on how to feed your bad habits without going over points.... low cal, fat free, and sugar free, and not always healthy. I love MFP and have had much greater success already than the same amount of time on WW last year, and this is FREE!

I'm doing WW right now; I need the meetings. While I like them both, I prefer MFP. :flowerforyou: