Help--Weight Watchers vs MFP

jadorade91 · September 2016

For the past couple months I've been logging my food into Weight Watchers. Unfortunately I have issues staying consistent with it as the Smart Points system is pretty strict--if I want to have a drink or two in the evening, it costs around 7-8 points which is almost a third of my daily points! Meaning I'm starving if I want to stay within limit, and I end up feeling like I "failed" for the day.

Since I just started using MFP, I've noticed I'm able to eat more and feel a lot better...It feels much more manageable...However, today for example, even though MFP says I've eaten within my calorie limit and will lose about 6 pounds in 5 weeks if I stay consistent (yay), my Weight Watchers app shows I've gone way over on points. It's disconcerting.

Am I still going to lose weight as long as I am within my macros and calorie limit? I've gotten into such a rigid mindset with the "bad" and "good" mentality of Weight Watchers points, I feel unsure. Should I just stick with MFP if that's what I feel best with?

Dano74 · September 2016

jadorade91 wrote: »

Should I just stick with MFP if that's what I feel best with?

You got it. Do what you feel is manageable and makes sense for you and your sanity.

macgurlnet · September 2016

It sounds like that Smart Points system doesn't work well for you...so I would say go with MFP and call it a day.

~Lyssa

akilia112010 · September 2016

You should always go with what you feel best. I've always experienced that "failing" feeling leading to binge eating or whatever just to turn around and feel even more disappointed than before. Honestly MFP helps me a lot more in sense that I'm not restricted to using a point system. You should still lose weight regardless if you're still in your calorie limit though.

RoxieDawn · September 2016

You will definitely lose weight following MFP method. I think everyone should stick with any method that they feel is best for their situation and moreover their sanity..

Losing weight is already hard and losing your mind while doing it is never a good thing..

You find a great deal of MFP members successful at this.

mph323 · September 2016

Wow, 7-8 points?? That's insane! I used to do points plus and a 5 oz glass of wine was 3 points (which was a higher points assignment than other food with the same calories). I think with the smart points system they're trying to combine CICO with balanced macros, but in my opinion I would rather be in charge of my own macros and be able to compare foods based on my own preferences. MFP works better for me.

jkal1979 · September 2016

I did the same thing you did, double logged on both apps. What did it for me was seeing how few calories I was eating while meeting my points goal. It didn't help that the points number seemed so small that it was stressing me out by lunchtime.

One word of advice: if you do make the switch, give your body a few weeks to adjust. I didn't lose for almost 3 weeks but once my body adjusted to more food the scale started moving again.

Ready2Rock206 · September 2016

The new WW program doesn't work at all for me. WAYYYYY too strict. Give MFP a chance - it really works when done as intended.

__Roxy__ · September 2016

I did WW for two years and had great success on it, but that was back in the early 2000s. Like a previous poster said - I could have a drink for 3 points or something like that. It's sounds almost like they are penalizing you for making certain food & drink choices. Not cool... just give me the facts (the actual cals and macros) and I will do the judging myself, thanks!

I just re-joined MFP today but when I did it last time, found it way less stressful and way more manageable than the "new" WW programs.

mph323 · September 2016

River_Goddess wrote: »

I did WW for two years and had great success on it, but that was back in the early 2000s. Like a previous poster said - I could have a drink for 3 points or something like that. <b> It's sounds almost like they are penalizing you for making certain food & drink choices. </b> Not cool... just give me the facts (the actual cals and macros) and I will do the judging myself, thanks!
I just re-joined MFP today but when I did it last time, found it way less stressful and way more manageable than the "new" WW programs.

Exactly!

Fitgirllife72 · September 2016

The new WW plan is horrible. I was on it for the first few months it was rolled out and grew tired quickly of not being able to eat anything with sugar in it without being drastically penalized for it in my points. I spent the first part of this year cycling between sugar binges because I felt so deprived. Also, it is ridiculous that fruit is "free". I would watch post after post of people whining about being in the "turtle club" meanwhile they would post a picture of 300-500 calories worth of fruit on a plate for their breakfast and label it "zero SP.". Yeah. Wonder why you are on a plateau and lose maybe .2 lbs a week at best. MFP is simple and straight forward. You put it in your mouth, you log the calories. Stay in a calorie deficit and you will lose. I am down 25 lbs since scrapping WW and moving to MFP.

blhomgren · September 2016

That's why I've hoarded my points slider and books from the flex points days...so much better than the newer programs!

nfpswife · October 2016

I just quit WW last week. I found it emotionally draining to constantly be battling the smart points and life. I literally cried when I saw that birthday cake was 56 points. I would have to use all my weeklies and dailies just to celebrate my son's birthday? No thanks. I was struggling with a Good food/bad food mentality and it wasn't worth the energy. I don't eat a ton of sugar in the first place, but not being able to enjoy breakfast or a glass of wine at the end of the day was too much. I'll stick with having a few high calorie days and moving forward with a healthy mindset.

thebrit · October 2016

I have struggled with losing weight for way too many years and always found myself back at WW, losing about 0.5 to 1lb on good weeks, staying the same a LOT.Sticking to it religously but never really getting anywhere. On MFP the weight is coming off so easiy, and its only since I've been logging everything I eat that I've realised how many calories I was eating in "free" fruit and veg all those years. Tell me I can eat something unlimited and I'll take full advantage who knew Brussels sprouts and carrots had so many calories? My mentality for years, created by WW had made me think they must be virtually calorie free. I knew bananas and grapes were high but would still eat tons just because it was allowed! Log everything you eat, don't deny yourself anything you love because that's what will keep you at it for the time needed. If you like the support of WW meetings then you could still do MFP and go to WW meetings, it can be your dirty little secret and as dirty little secrets go I can think of worse

ammie805 · January 2017

Lost 45 lbs back in 2011 using WW PP and exercising, then they tweaked program, said fruits were free (I was eating lbs of grapes at a time

hablondi · January 2017

I tried the new program last year and found it to be horrible. Seriously, there is something wrong with the numbers. At the time, it was less points to eat Chick-Fil-A fries than to eat their Superfood Salad. I felt horrible all the time and was eating clean, unprocessed foods. Just not enough of them. I was sitting at my sewing machine one day and realized I couldn't even remember how to thread it. I am a seamstress and design school graduate!

The next day I start to count points and calories in MFP. In order to stay in my points range, my calories were 980 for the day!!! I immediately canceled my membership.

And an aside, my mom hit lifetime with WW a few years ago. She goes back to meetings every once and a while. The leaders were actually telling people to use their old calculating tools if they had them. One leader who had been with them for over 15 years actually quit because of the new system.

Kelsey87Mae · January 2017

I felt the same when I tried weight watchers. I feel myfitnesspal gives you more room to make choices. It would seem that generally, if you make better choices food wise, it shouldn't cause problems with weight loss.

On the flip side, if you just eat all junk based foods for your calories, it may not help.

siraphine · January 2017

Weight Watchers was very cut and dry. No options or flexibility. I believe I read somewhere that "Diets are what 50s housewives did to lose 5 pounds after the holidays." We ain't 50s housewives and most of us have a lot more than 5 pounds, and it's long term weight. Diets are for weight you've had short term. Lifestyle changes are for weight you've had for longer. MFP is sustainable and gives you much more flexibility.

cambridgestylist · January 2017

I did WW in the past with success, just when I was thinking about going back I found MFP and I have to say I like it a lot better. I feel like WW is too focused on low-fat. With MFP I have been eating a little over the recommended daily allowance for fat and I am losing weight steadily without feeling like I'm starving all the time.

I agree that zero points for fruit is ridiculous. With MFP I find myself rarely eating fruit because I'm watching my sugar for medical reasons. I take a medication that can cause diabetes, I'm not low-carbing but just watching sugar overall. When you are calorie counting you really see how fast the sugar calories in fruit can add up!

CasperNaegle · January 2017

Yes stay in calories and you will lose weight, that's all the point system is trying to do.

successgal1 · January 2017

The MFP projection is COMPLETELY WRONG. Ignore it. I'm way past 5 week projections that would have me at 155 at least by now and I'm still at 165. Scale hasn't budged.

Help--Weight Watchers vs MFP

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