Weight Watchers?

I did WW several years back and it was great for me. I rarely ate the pre-packaged WW meals. They give you tools to help you track the 'points value' of food and how to earn more points via exercise. Back then, I rarely worked out, I just stayed within my points and did fine. I feel like it taught me how to eat well and how to fit in splurges if I wanted them. I kept the weight off for 6 years, then I had my kids. They've changed the plan up so much since I did it that I decided MFP was better for me at this point, but I'd still recommend it if you're looking for something different to follow.
It's not really that different from tracking food on MFP, I'll say - it's just learning points values and tracking it that way.

WW is just a different way of tracking. If you need an in-person support group, yes it is useful. It's just disguised calorie counting, though.

You do not need to buy their products. They will try to sell them, as the weight cycling industry always wants you to buy their magic stuff, but you can do just fine without it.

You don't have to buy the pre-packaged meals. Beware the "free" fruits, I think that sabotaged me on the new plan. I also find that the database on MFP is much more comprehensive and accurate, which is the other reason I was failing at the new plan. There is not much wiggle room for "guesstimation", I eat out quite a bit, and think my attempts to guess the points were way off. As you can tell, I'm not wild about the new WW program. But the weekly weigh-ins might be of help to you if you need accountability in that form.

I did WW a few years ago. You don't have to go to meetings or buy their meals in order to follow the program. I lost weight, but learned nothing about how to maintain that loss. It also costs way more than it's worth.

Weight loss = calorie deficit. Calculate your TDEE, subtract 20%, and eat that many calories per day. Don't make it more difficult than it should be. Weight loss isn't easy, but it is simple.

I've successfully lost weight twice on WW (I lost 30 lbs via online tools the first time, and maintained until I had a baby) and lost 35 lbs the second time (baby weight), but obviously I did eventualy gain it back the second time. Not because WW isn't a maintainable thing, though. Just because I got lazy.

I think it is fantastic. Yes, you do have to adjust to the points system but after a couple weeks it's a breeze, plus their app has a barcode scanner so you can scan in everything you buy regularly.

I have to admit the accountability is really huge for me. I'm not going right now, but I have to say just sitting in a room with real people and swapping tips and goals and such is very inspiring. Plus, I like the stickers you get with each loss, plus a key ring with little charms. Silly, but fun to collect and be proud of.

They do have SOME foods you can purchase -- snack packs or granola bars-- but they are by no means pushing them. They are usually on a table in a corner and you can buy them after the meeting if you want to.

Also while it's true you COULD overeat on fruits/vegetables with WW (except for starchy stuff like white potatoes and corn, fruits and veggies are "free" and don't count against your daily point limit), the fact is I ate much more fruits/vegetables on WW than I ever would otherwise, in a GOOD way. Sometimes with stuff like MFP I catch myself going "Would I rather have a 100 cal bag of delicious salty pretzels or an apple?"

The only reason I'm not going right now is I'm like a crow and like shiny new things--and I'm having fun checking out MFP and a local gym. But I have two close friends who have also lost 30-40 lbs each on WW.

I have been on and off to WW for 25 yrs. I would lose and then gain it back eventually. I never felt as supported there as I am on here by the members and the lecturer was always too busy to really give you much help if you had an issue.

I will never waste time going again even though I'm a free lifetime member so don't have to pay. I have lots more supportive friends on here and we look out for each other and it's free for us all. The new WW plan is what put me off the most. I think it's their worst one ever. I even worked for them for about a year way back. You are just as accountable here as there and you don't have to drive to go to a meeting and listen to stuff you mostly already know. Listen to the people that lost a lot on here then kept it off and follow their advice.

My planned reward when I reach goal on MFP is to go weigh in at WW, reactivate my free status, and just leave, smiling because I did it! It is the second best option to MFP to me, but one of my friends really like the meetings.

I have MUCH experience of these slimming groups. My condensed view on this is that they are expensive and can be counter productive. There is increasing pressure put on you to buy the products. WW many years ago (35yrs) was brilliant. It made you think about food and address what, when and how much you are eating. There was good group support without the pressure. On the whole I've found that far from helping remove me from using food as a crutch it made me obsessed with food. Slimming Wotrld is very similar. MFP is much better. You'll find the support and like minded people here. Just as a question for you and your counsellor- Have they ever been to one of these groups?

SleepyGirl2 wrote: »

Actually, I have found that WW pushes you more towards eating foods from their "filling foods" list which doesn't include ANY of the frozen or convenient foods. Yes, they are available for convenience and can be used but, I have never felt that WW was pushing me to use them. I've done WW many times over the years.

I agree. I never felt they were pushing their food on me either but the issue is you like me both have done it many times over the years as you just said. The point is why did we both need to keep returning if they are doing a good job teaching us how to keep it off? I've been to many hundreds of their meetings. Didn't keep the weight slipping back on after a while.

I am going to meetings right now and I use both sites for tracking. I just found the link to add points along with my calories on MFP and I am extremely happy that it works on my new computer.
I have an amazing leader and you can tell by her meetings and the additional Facebook page she has started. To be sitting in the meetings and see someone reach a 100 lb loss and I am not talking about one person I am telling you many, many throughout her meetings in the city. They continue to come and share their success. They don't stop going, and I think that might be the key as they continue attending meetings. I know they get it free at that point when they make lifetime.
I really dislike their phone app, as it is awful. I am so excited that I can track my points and calories together now. I think that is going to be key.
I need the meetings right now as I have met some great people and they have become friends to me. I think I need the meetings in my life as much as I like the computer I need human contact too.

Nicola8989 check out skinnytaste.com. It's a wonderful blog of healthy recipes that include the weight watchers points. It also includes calories and macro breakdowns. This would give you an idea of what you could eat for your points. It may even work if you choose to just use MFP because there are lots of great recipes already available with the calories listed.

I joined WW several years ago after the birth of my second child and got to goal and into maintenance after 3 months by following their program. I've been at goal ever since. I would never discourage anyone from joining as I do think the program works as long as a person follows it correctly and excercises as well.... MFP is good as well and is a free alternative to WW for those who would rather not pay to lose weight.

I love WW. I lost 39 lbs in 2014. About to hit another 4 for 2015! I'm lucky in the fact that my work pays for it as long as I attend the meetings. But I don't think I could have lost the weight with out the support I get at the meetings. Also, I don't eat any of the WW meals or snacks, and I don't feel pressured to either.