Weight Watchers "Smartpoints" Refugee
gooz71
Posts: 97 Member
I cancelled my WW membership last night. I just couldn't wrap my brain around the new smartpoints program and was rebelling against it because I could no longer eat what I wanted without it being off the charts in points value.
I am so hopeful MFP will work for me!
I am so hopeful MFP will work for me!
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Replies
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was rebelling against it because I could no longer eat what I wanted without it being off the charts in points value.
Well, WW "points" are mostly based on calories, so MFP (which is also based in calories) most likely won't be much different for you.0 -
I left WW while it was still PointsPlus. Not because it was a bad program, but because I was tired of paying for something that was essentially calorie counting. I've heard a few things about Smartpoints....most of it bad.
Welcome and good luck!1 -
I stopped using ProPoints last fall; been at goal for quite a few years but didn't care for the new program. MFP is great, if you're used to tracking using WW app, it's very similar, but don't need to calculate points. Works for me! Plus you can't beat the price.0
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My bff started in January and is killing it on Weight Watchers! She has lost almost 27 lbs (of the 50 she wants to lose) since the end of January!!! I am actually contemplating joining too after seeing her changes but as another person said, it seems VERY similar to MFP and I don't want to pay for it.0
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My bff started in January and is killing it on Weight Watchers! She has lost almost 27 lbs (of the 50 she wants to lose) since the end of January!!! I am actually contemplating joining too after seeing her changes but as another person said, it seems VERY similar to MFP and I don't want to pay for it.
I am a member of WW in the UK. It really is healthy eating and it is the same as MFP. I log all my meals on both sites. I love MFP because I get a lot of support on here. MFP is calories and WW has Smart Points as well as No Count Foods. Both work, you have to choose the one that you prefer. Good Luck to everyone on your weight loss journey. I struggle but I am determined to succeed.
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I've never done ww but it seems like an unnecessary step to have to convert things to points:/ Maybe she's doing really well because of the accountability of the group? I think you could find ppl on MFP that are faithful loggers and will also hold you accountable if that's what you ask them to do;)0
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The new weightwatchers heavily penalizes for junk/processed food. They also put people on point goals that when worked out to a calorie equivalent is far too low for the person. I believe because the point system is so simplified, they leave a huge error margin to ensure people lose weight.
Welcome to MFP, you'll enjoy it much more here 2 -
I quit WW too about a month ago. I love Points Plus and hated the new Smart Points, I felt hungry all the time hated that I couldn't really afford to fit in even a cookie in my day.1
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The new weightwatchers heavily penalizes for junk/processed food. They also put people on point goals that when worked out to a calorie equivalent is far too low for the person. I believe because the point system is so simplified, they leave a huge error margin to ensure people lose weight.
Welcome to MFP, you'll enjoy it much more here
This is what I found as well...each point is now approximately 45 calories. My leader actually agreed that the point goals are too low also. Unless you eat salad, grilled chicken and no sugar most days, your points add up SO fast. If you have a "treat" like @Kellymw89 mentioned you are almost done for the day. I totally get that they are trying to steer you into a healthier eating but to me it just felt too restrictive. While it works for a lot of people, I just couldn't see me staying with it long term.
I will miss my meetings though, I wish MFP would start up local meetings/weigh ins.2 -
The wish for "local meetings/weigh ins" can actually happen daily on MFP for much cheaper $$! Collect yourself a group of like minded individuals as "friends" and get on that wagon together and keep each accountable. In the long run, I have found much to my disgust, whether WW or any other weight loss method; you are responsible for you and getting to a healthy weight and keeping it there. Hopefully, whichever way you choose to spend your time and dollars will work for you in the long run of life. It all boils down to the same idea - CICO.0
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I agree it all boils down to calories in/calories out. I just keep trying because I really want to lose this 2st weight.0
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The new weightwatchers heavily penalizes for junk/processed food. They also put people on point goals that when worked out to a calorie equivalent is far too low for the person. I believe because the point system is so simplified, they leave a huge error margin to ensure people lose weight.
Welcome to MFP, you'll enjoy it much more here
I would disagree and say that it penalizes fat and sugar, neither of which are inherently "bad" nor do they indicate junk or processed food. Try a day on Smart Points where you want to work in avocado, coconut oil or nuts. Forget about having all three.
You can "game the system" as they say and find TONS of fat free, sugar free processed junk food and almost eat as much as you want with minimal point impact.
Carbs like your beans and rice are WAY higher in points than their favorite thing, "lean protein". You can eat twice as much meat calorie wise as you can rice, legumes or whole wheat pasta for exactly the same points. A vegetarian, for instance, could use the exact same amount of points as an omnivore but eat half (or less) the amount of calories.
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was rebelling against it because I could no longer eat what I wanted without it being off the charts in points value.
Well, WW "points" are mostly based on calories, so MFP (which is also based in calories) most likely won't be much different for you.
Actually, the new points system is extremely restrictive in comparison to simply counting calories. I did it for a few weeks after the transition from PointsPlus and found it extremely difficult to get by, whereas I had no issue before. Now that I'm calorie counting, I feel like I'm eating more than I ever have while still losing weight. It must be the way the new points system penalizes for foods high in fat and carbohydrates, or too low points targets, or the silly notion that you earn ridiculously high amounts of points for exercise yet are discouraged from eating any of them.2 -
emmincontrol wrote: »was rebelling against it because I could no longer eat what I wanted without it being off the charts in points value.
Well, WW "points" are mostly based on calories, so MFP (which is also based in calories) most likely won't be much different for you.
Actually, the new points system is extremely restrictive in comparison to simply counting calories. I did it for a few weeks after the transition from PointsPlus and found it extremely difficult to get by, whereas I had no issue before. Now that I'm calorie counting, I feel like I'm eating more than I ever have while still losing weight. It must be the way the new points system penalizes for foods high in fat and carbohydrates, or too low points targets, or the silly notion that you earn ridiculously high amounts of points for exercise yet are discouraged from eating any of them.
Exactly. Calories, oddly enough, are the smallest factor in point determination. There is no "45 calories to a point". There isn't any way to average out a point to xx calories with the way they're factored and favored based on protein, fat, carbs and sugar. It's all over the place.
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I also left WW when they changed to Smart Points. I have a sweet tooth, and my go to treats skyrocketed in points with the new program. I switched to MFP and have had great success!0
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I used Weight Watchers for about a month. I lost a little bit of weight, but I didn't enjoy the program. I like being able to track my macros and even my micros and Weight Watchers did not make that easy. For me it's not all about the calories it's also about the quantity vs quality. I also didn't like that they penalize you for blending fruit. I understand the concept behind it, that if you drink your calories you're more inclined to overeat. But I don't. If I have a smoothie, that's my meal. And I don't see the point in making it different if I take a banana and some blueberries and blend it with milk versus if I eat a banana and blueberries and a glass of milk.0
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I rocked WW when PointsPlus debuted. Then they upped the PP values of a lot foods and did Simply Filling. That's when things got really hard for me, so I stopped doing it. When I'm honest about my food intake, MFP works all the time.0
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was rebelling against it because I could no longer eat what I wanted without it being off the charts in points value.
Well, WW "points" are mostly based on calories, so MFP (which is also based in calories) most likely won't be much different for you.
Untrue WW centres high points are carbs now that's why I hate it. I can't eat what I do now on the sp ww plan id be way off they're points scale
I lost 12lbs in 6 weeks calorie counting.1 -
I think WW is great. I don't know what their current plan is like but I still think it's a great program for many. Whatever works and someone can stick too, right? I think the meetings can be great for those people needing in-person community and if they like their leader. All that being said - I quit also after rejoining a few times (couple times in person and couple times online). I didn't like paying for something and points were too virtual for me. I like HERE, free (although I did pay for the upgrade but it's so low in comparison) and I deal with calories. I love MFP and will be here for the long haul. 0
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booksandchocolate12 wrote: »I left WW while it was still PointsPlus. Not because it was a bad program, but because I was tired of paying for something that was essentially calorie counting. I've heard a few things about Smartpoints....most of it bad.
Welcome and good luck!
Same here. I was sick of paying money for it.2 -
Good Luck Everyone.0
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I'm currently on WW and considering quitting as well. I've lost 20 lbs doing WW alone and then found this site and started doing both. I'm going to give this site a month just to see how well I do and then I may quit WW. I've done it off and on for many years though.2
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was rebelling against it because I could no longer eat what I wanted without it being off the charts in points value.
Well, WW "points" are mostly based on calories, so MFP (which is also based in calories) most likely won't be much different for you.
It's completely different now low carbing non processed foods they're trying to teach people to eat as natural as possible 'clean' or you'll use all your points up
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I cancelled because I absolutely loathe Oprah. Her smug and horrible face started showing up on every piece of material they handed out.
Well, that and the fact that from May 2015 - February 2016 I had spent $500 to lose 9 lbs. Boo.1 -
I cancelled because I absolutely loathe Oprah. Her smug and horrible face started showing up on every piece of material they handed out.
Well, that and the fact that from May 2015 - February 2016 I had spent $500 to lose 9 lbs. Boo.
Anyone notice that Oprah isn't on the new commercials?? Guess she ate too much bread lol1 -
I had weight watchers a long time ago. I didnt like the points system much. It was expensive and I didn't lose any weight on it. I canceled after 3 months.0
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I was doing WW and did really well on the ProPoints system but like many, found the new Smart Points system far too restrictive. I qork 12hr days in an office, I love that I can have an oreo or curly wurly with my cup of tea in the afternoon and not be "punished" for it, which is what was happening on WW xx0
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I've done WW before but found it was just not sustainable - fine if you want to live on green salad and carrots, otherwise just not enough of what I want to fill me up. I've lost weight and kept it off (mostly) through logging here, and I can make good choices - or bad ones - but they are based on what works for me. And before I take that extra biscuit I think about the impact and either take it - and work it off - or not. With WW I was going to be early because I didn't have any points left!0
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emmincontrol wrote: »was rebelling against it because I could no longer eat what I wanted without it being off the charts in points value.
Well, WW "points" are mostly based on calories, so MFP (which is also based in calories) most likely won't be much different for you.
Actually, the new points system is extremely restrictive in comparison to simply counting calories. I did it for a few weeks after the transition from PointsPlus and found it extremely difficult to get by, whereas I had no issue before. Now that I'm calorie counting, I feel like I'm eating more than I ever have while still losing weight. It must be the way the new points system penalizes for foods high in fat and carbohydrates, or too low points targets, or the silly notion that you earn ridiculously high amounts of points for exercise yet are discouraged from eating any of them.
heh, you ARE eating more than ever. My mom has done WW for YEARS off and on; her last go-around was about 1.5 years ago. I was appalled at how few calories she was eating; she was oblivious because her brain doesn't "math" well (mine doesn't either haha, but better than hers does). So I Googled and found the formula to convert points to calories... at 58 years of age, 300 pounds and 5'8" tall, her points allowance worked out to 1084 calories a day. Can you even imagine?!! (well I guess you probably can). I was so sad and angry for her. No wonder she was always "failing" and falling away from the plan. The sh**ty part was the continual self-flagellation for it. "*I* am a failure. The program works if you DO it, *I* am just not good/smart/dedicated enough."0 -
I'm really surprised your mom was on such a low points value. The lowest WW points was 26 per day (about 1040 calories), plus 49 points for the week (to be spread out however you like) (280 per day if you spread them out evenly) plus all the fruit/veg per day (I'd say another 250 calories for that) so the minimum points were 1320 calories PLUS fruit and veg. And people on 26 points generally had little weight to lose.
When I was 300 pounds, 5'4" and 52 years old I was on more than 40 points per day (so 1600ish) PLUS the weeklies and the fruit and veg - so around 1800-2000 per day.
It worked brilliantly for me. I swapped to a calorie counting site (not MFP - a paid for site with a much better database) only because it was cheaper. I miss the flexibility of the weekly points and feeling unrestricted when eating fruit and veg. (The recommendation is to eat fruit and veg to help you feel satisfied and bulk out meals - not to stuff yourself with mango.)1
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