Weight Watchers or CC

honeybee739 · May 2016

Can anyone that has tried both or is currently doing the smart points weight watchers plan please tell me the pros and cons of each? Why do you prefer weight watchers vs calorie counting or vice versa?

I'm stuck in deciding which path to take. I cycle between weight watchers, calorie counting or low carb. I dont ever make a decision and stick to it, give it time to work. I've tried low carb and had the most success as far as weight loss went, but as soon as I went "off" the weight came back with a vengeance. I know I need a lifestyle and not a fix. I've heard that the new ww program is basically low carb.

Please help with your input. Any insight appreciated.

2essie · May 2016

I prefer calorie counting because that way I can eat whatever I want as long as I am under for the day. It seems easier for me.

drwilseyjr · May 2016

Weight Watchers is basically simplified calorie counting anyway, isn't it?

Jruzer · May 2016

Calorie counting is free and not copyrighted. It allows maximum freedom and flexibility. There's no argument to my mind.

honeybee739 · May 2016

drwilseyjr wrote: »

Weight Watchers is basically simplified calorie counting anyway, isn't it?

It goes into more than just calories. Focuses more on nutrients. So the healthier the food, the less point value. They recently changed how they tabulate the point value of a food. For example, calories and sugar are now taken into account to get the overall point value. Foods higher in protein but low in sugar are low in points.

One good point I read was that calorie counting never changes. But the weight watchers program does. But pros of ww is that some people say they are more inclined to eat their fruits and veggies on ww because most are "0" points where as with cc you can eat anything you want as long as with in calorie range.

k_nelson_24 · May 2016

I did WW about three years ago. I really think it is a personal preference. I prefer CC because its free and calories are displayed on pretty much all foods and WW points aren't. I will say, though, that my mother lost over 100 lbs with WW. It made it easier for her! I also liked the 0 point fruits and veggies rule.

lohlgren · May 2016

What works is what you are willing to stick with. They're all good programs. You need to stay on one long enough to really understand how to eat that supports your long term goals. Atkins helped me get away from eating massive amounts of starches for a 40 lb loss. The next 30 were with WW and taught me how to eyeball portions and be able to eat any food as long as I stayed within my points. I could track on a piece of paper without much thought and did for over 10 years. WW is great for ones needing more than 15 lbs to lose. But I struggled with maintenance eventually. It's not 'fine tuned' enough and had me under eating according to MFP. MFP is transparent, I know the formulas, tweak the calories to fit my needs. My 5 lb goal turned into 14 lb loss. And it was so easy because....wait for it....I stuck with it. I am slowly transitioning into maintenance and have all the information at hand on how to do it. So, OP, pick a path, they all lead to the same place, but not if you keep going back to the trailhead. (And personally, I recommend MFP-It rocks)

1Nana2many · May 2016

I've done both. Lost weight now with both. I am here on MFP and counting calories because I believe I can maintain it long term. It's free, it's portable, and I can have as much or as little contact with others losing weight when ever I want, even in the middle of the night. There's always advice, support out there if I need it and reading success stories keeps me going... As lohlgren stated, "what works is what you are willing to stick with."

perkymommy · May 2016

I don't know what CC is. I do Weight Watchers and have off and on for years. When I stick to plan I always lose. I've lost 25 lbs since the first of February this year. It started slowing down once I started on this site so I mainly stick to tracking my points on WW. Not everything works the same for everyone though. Maybe you could try each of them one at a time and see which one you like better.

honeybee739 · May 2016

perkymommy wrote: »

I don't know what CC is. I do Weight Watchers and have off and on for years. When I stick to plan I always lose. I've lost 25 lbs since the first of February this year. It started slowing down once I started on this site so I mainly stick to tracking my points on WW. Not everything works the same for everyone though. Maybe you could try each of them one at a time and see which one you like better.

Cc is calorie counting

erockem · May 2016

I was on weight watchers with my wife 17 years. Lost 60lbs in 4 months. Learned nothing. Gained up 40lbs back by the following summer. Started CC about 6 years ago dropped the 40lbs I gained + 20lbs more. Kept it off ever since. I make much better decisions about nutrition, health, exercise, etc.

emdeesea · May 2016

I started with WW then switched to calorie counting.

I didn't like WW for a variety of reasons but mostly the meetings were time-consuming and dull and expensive, and (in hindsight) taught me nothing at all about nutrition and portions. Not only that, it could be deflating to get on that scale, have done everything right the week before, and see either no loss or a GAIN. We were never told about weight fluctuations (even though I was aware of it myself). It was very success-oriented, and a little culty to me, to be honest.

I prefer MFP because I've learned a whole lot more than I ever would have with WW.

KristiMillner08 · May 2016

I love CC w/ MFP. It helps me see the nutrients I am eating (or not eating) and helps me find founds that I can substitute that are a better fit. It's teaching me what foods my body needs. I LOVE IT!

cwolfman13 · May 2016

I think the bigger thing is just to pick something and stick with it.

Keladelphia · May 2016

I agree with those that have said the one that will work is the one that you'll stick with but i'll give you my personal experience. I've done both WW and CC and had similar weight loss. The entire time I did weight watchers I was oblivious to the calories and nutritional makeup of food. I ate what I wanted but stayed within my points and lost the weight, however I was frequently hungry and miserable. I didn't really understand why I was so hangry at the time but looking back it's because less nutritious food was given higher points even if it wasn't that high in calories. For example (taken from livestrong.com) a 300-calorie breakfast that consists of Greek yogurt with berries has only 3 points, but a 300-calorie breakfast consisting chocolate chip pancakes with maple syrup has 11 points. I was still eating the 11 point chocolate chip pancake type foods and consuming nearly half of my day's points but only 300 calories! No wonder I was hungry all of the time, I was essentially on a VLCD.

This time when I lost the weight by counting calories and macros I could see very clearly exactly what I was consuming. I realized that even if I wanted to eat those 300 calorie pancakes that didn't have to be half of my day's worth of food, I could still eat another 1500 calories. This time when I lost the weight I wasn't hungry. I also started making better choices because I understood what types of food kept me full, gave me energy and gave me the biggest bang for my calorie buck. Counting calories and macros changed my whole viewpoint on how I fuel my body, it's a life lesson I NEVER would have learned at WW and it's something I believe has created a lifestyle change, not just a temporary change which is what WW was for me. Regardless of what you choose OP I wish you the best of luck on your journey!

Edit to add MFP is free (win!) and the support I receive on this site is more than I ever received at a WW meeting

MissusMoon · May 2016

From what I've read about the new Smart Points thing, I would stay here and count your calories. They are weighting certain foods ridiculously. One person said something that two of her favorite foods now have a point value that would end her day with points, but leave her at under 500 calories.

Counting calories empowers you to integrate things into your life and understand the overall process. MFP is free and teaches you a lot. Counting calories doesn't change it's formula based on what Oprah thinks is popular diet woo.

chocolate_owl · May 2016

honeybee739 wrote: »

drwilseyjr wrote: »

Weight Watchers is basically simplified calorie counting anyway, isn't it?

It goes into more than just calories. Focuses more on nutrients. So the healthier the food, the less point value. They recently changed how they tabulate the point value of a food. For example, calories and sugar are now taken into account to get the overall point value. Foods higher in protein but low in sugar are low in points.

One good point I read was that calorie counting never changes. But the weight watchers program does. But pros of ww is that some people say they are more inclined to eat their fruits and veggies on ww because most are "0" points where as with cc you can eat anything you want as long as with in calorie range.

I think you'd get a similar effect to WW by tracking your macros as well as calories on here. To meet your macro goals, you'll generally pick nutritionally dense items. Here's a detailed explanation: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/819055/setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets/p1

You can always try calorie counting to start since it's free. If you don't feel like you can stick with it or you're not seeing results after a couple of months, then think about investing in a plan like WW.

lynn1982 · May 2016

Calorie counting is free...

Also, low carb does not negate calories...

DrifterBear · May 2016

I did WW and am now doing CC. For me, it was a good journey. I'm not doing CC now because WW didn't work. I got a lot of value out of WW and quit when I no longer was getting value. What I like about WW is that their points are not just 40 calories per point. There's a secret formula based on macros that determines the point values. So 200 calories of chicken will be fewer points than 200 calories of chocolate. I saw both my fiance and I start to make better choices because in the example above, maybe the chicken was 4 points and the chocolate was 5. We often picked the chicken because it left more points at the end of the day.

Also, fruit and veggies are 'free.' They basically budget them in for you and then don't penalize you for eating them. Again, encouraging you to make better trade offs. If you were eating so many fruits and veggies that it impacted you're weight loss, they'd talk to you to figure out that you're eating 6 bananas a day and talk you about cutting down.

We adjusted our diet and I wasn't getting any value out of WW, so I switched to CC. It's really the same thing at the end of the day. Your body doesn't know what a 'point' is, but I found it helped nudge us towards healthier choices.

kirstinethornburg · May 2016

I am doing low carb and even after the weight has come off to where I want it I most likely will stick with low carb as a way of life.At the End of the day it is about finding what works for you and making healthy choices. Helathy choices and eating is different for each person. Weight loss is not one diet fits all

Balaru · May 2016

I'm doing MPG because WW is not in the budget right now and NOT is very similar. I was very successful on WW. I am a lifetime member, meaning I got to my goal weight and kept it off for six weeks. I actually kept it off for three years. When it crept back on I would head back to the meetings. Lost 20 - 30 pounds each time.

MFP is very similar. Hoping to have the same success with MPG.

Weight Watchers or CC

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