If you have switched from Weight Watchers to calorie counting only, what made you switch?

KM0692 · May 2017

What made you decide to quit WW? I am *still* torn between the two. I know that I eat healthier on WW, but I also feel restricted (1/4 of my daily points on a 150 calorie granola bar??). I don't have a huge amount of weight to lose, but it would be nice to get it off one way or another.

Ready2Rock206 · May 2017

Exactly what you mentioned - the new program is super restrictive and punishes you for things you shouldn't even be punished for. I don't believe in demonizing foods and the new program sorta does that. Plus calories are something I can easily calculate and know what I can eat in a day - the way the latest points are calculated it is really not as easy to plan your day.

Nbaker0909 · May 2017

I didn't like the new points system. It was way too restrictive and I wasn't losing weight. I lost and gained the same3 pounds for months!! I switched to MFP and dropped 20 quick, only 6 more to go!

sbro32 · May 2017

I think there's good things about both options. I lost weight successfully on WW and just through calorie counting using this app. I love the weekly accountability factor with WW; knowing I was going to walk into a meeting and be weighed every week really had me staying with the program. Now I just use FitPal, because A.) it's free! And B.) I've gotten better at being accountable only to myself over the years. Also, I think it's a bit simpler not to worry about points. I hope whichever you choose finds you successful and happy!

Alatariel75 · May 2017

The fact that the Points calculations became less about actual macros and nutrition and became some super judgy calculation based on sugar and sat fat (which may be appropriate to check, but for weight loss is largely irrelevant).

It's no wonder people aren't having success with it - for weight loss it doesn't matter if, for example, something is only 2g sat fat if it's got another 30g of other fats - that will drive up the calories and the new calculation doesn't even acknowledge that.

The cost, the really crappy community interface, and the fact that the meetings were the same stuff over and over.

tinkerbellang83 · May 2017

If any of you are interested in the wedly accountability thing I've a weekly weigh in group here http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/118368-friday-weigh-ins-2017

Although it's called Friday weigh ins, the thread is open all week in case people have another preferred weigh in day and I have a progress thread in which I post stats for the month - Weight/Target Weight and Total Lost/Maintained/Gained.

HoustonStrongMT · May 2017

I lost weight on weight watchers but was always hungry and felt like I was eating a lot of empty calories (processed food). I switched to a paleo type diet about a year ago and feel better and am not starving all the time but it wasn't very conducive to WW. It is conducive to MFP for me anyway.

tinkerbellang83 · May 2017

*weekly.

DapperDassie · May 2017

Well first of all if both work well for weight loss but one if free and the other costs that in itself seems like an easy choice. I lost my first 10 lbs on weight watchers, gained 5 of it back, and then lost the rest using mfp (33 lbs now) I love counting calories because it gives me the most freedom of any plan I've ever been on. I've come to see it as a science which really helps me all or nothing/binge eating mindset I've had about losing weight most of my life. I got a fitbit a few weeks ago and I look at my calories out and calories in and at the end of the week calculate my total deficit for the week and am able to pretty well estimate how much I am going to lose for the week. I love it. With weight watchers it was pretty much always a surprise what was on the scale. Weight watchers is good for teaching portion control and it's a good start in some ways, maybe an easier transition but in the end you lose weight because you're eating less calories and if you can just count calories for free I would rather do that

DapperDassie · May 2017

Literally the only thing I miss about weight watchers is the acknowledgment. It's really nice having someone congratulate you for losing .002 lbs haha and it was nice getting the stickers and having them clap for you. But not worth it just for that.

choppie70 · May 2017

I thought it was too restrictive as well, and I felt like I was deprived, which leads me to over eating! I am trying to get over "guilty" eating, and learn how to eat in moderation. I felt that WW was feeding into my already unhealthy relationship with food.

I also, having done calorie counting first, then trying WW with a friend, I did not understand the point system. I did not buy in. My daily banana was 0 points, but close to 100 calories. 2 bananas would still be 0 points - 200 calories. But, my granola bar, that is 190 calories was like 6 pts! So technically, I could eat bananas all day and have 0 pts, but still gain weight because I was eating too many calories!

sallyallison906 · May 2017

I gained half a stone using WW. I found the programme far too restrictive and again, like others, would overeat. I was very successful with Slimming World but having moved I don't rate the consultant in my area. So I have returned to MFP

animatorswearbras · May 2017

I did WW 6 years ago and switched to MFP a year later, I just find MFP easier (and cheaper), the main thing that helped me with WW was keeping a food diary and I do that here (I also always felt alot hungrier on WW). Basically do what works best for you. I prefers MFP's flexibility and the community is great.

wizzybeth · May 2017

Mostly money. But also because of the mfp app being so awesome. I would not like the new points system either

Fitness_and_FODMAP · May 2017

I used to do Weight Watchers when they had the Core Plan, once they got rid of that I said I'm off - I hated Pro Points and decided to calorie count and have done so ever since ... I lost 67lb on the Core Plan, but gained all of it back, then started calorie counting and lost 164lb in 2 years (2012 to 2014) and have been maintaining that loss ever since.

I like to pick up at packet of something and see the label say it's 160Kcal per portion and know that I'm taking 160kcal off today's allowance, whereas with WW you need a degree in mathematical science to understand their formula, or to pay for one of their Points Calculators - I would prefer to know exactly where my nutrition is going, not have to rely on someone else's formula to work it out for me.

The money I saved on not paying out £5 a week to get weighed has been used to purchase a set of my own scales and weigh myself weekly (£12.99), I bought a set of kitchen scales and weigh everything I put in my mouth (£6.99) and eventually I saved up enough to buy my first exercise bike (£242.99); WW would have cost me somewhere in the region of £500 if I was to attend every week for the 2 years it took me to lose weight, I still use the scales & kitchen scales that I bought back in 2012, but I sold the magnetic exercise bike for £100 last week and purchased a new aerobic exercise bike, as my fitness levels kind of outgrew it.

To be honest I object to having to pay to be told what I weigh, always have and always will, but I joined WW out of desperation to lose weight back in 2009, they do have their place for people who need that kind of group support and camaraderie, but I found out I preferred to go it alone and it was the best decision I ever made.

Gamliela · May 2017

I haven't tried it and I won't be based on what I've read about it. I don't understand not logging fruit and I would be wierded out by getting weighed in public. Plus the economic side of it. I like freedom to choose what I eat.

briohne128 · May 2017

I used to go to Slimming World so very similar. I stopped going cause I had abuse from other people who went, saying I was too skinny to be there, it also got pretty pricey and I way prefer just using MyFitnessPal (I've lost a lot more weight just using MyFitnessPal aswell!). I also hated the public weighing & people fake cheering and clapping

I still buy Slimming World frozen meals as some of them are super tasty! I also buy Weightwatchers cheesecakes and they are the BEST! 2 for £1.00 at Iceland

bluebell88xx · May 2017

I found WW was getting expensive for me personally. Also I didn't like being restricted so much with my points - like you say almost being punished for having a 150 calorie granola bar. However I will admit I lost a stone on WW but I am doing just as well calorie counting on MyFitnessPal. The data base is so good on here I feel its just as effective if not better.

Jriggs46615 · May 2017

I haven't been on WW in several years, but for me, I felt like I didn't truly learn anything. (Ex: I have two seemingly comparable foods in front of me. One is 4 points, and one is six. OK, but WHY? WHY is one 2 points more? That tells me absolutely nothing about making it in the real world.)

I've only been on MFP for a little over a month, but already, I feel as though I've learned so much by seeing the calories and other macros displayed in front of me. It really has made all the difference for me.

runningkel · May 2017

I've had success at both MFP and WW. Now that I'm close to maintenance (2 pounds from goal) I'm focusing solely on MFP.

First, it's free!

Second, I couldn't continue with SP long term. I had some short term success, but I agree with the people that said the new SP is definitely more restrictive. For instance, yesterday, I ate about 1500 calories here (well within my range and no junk/empty calories), went for a 6-mile run, and logged an additional 10k steps just doing normal life. That's a pretty normal day for me. On WW, I'd be at 44 SP for the day (when my goal is 30) and would run out of weeklies in about 3-4 days if I kept to that. I am looking for something sustainable long term and that means having the flexibility to have pizza or cake or a cheeseburger without having to eat solely "free" fruits/veggies for the rest of the day to compensate. Granted, sometimes I'd dual log and I would be within my ideal point range and on-track for calories, but that's when I was just starting my journey and was being very strict with my diet to get into the groove, so to speak.

Third, I don't like to think of foods as good or bad and I think the new WW plan vilifies food as "bad". Like someone said above...a granola bar or a 130-calorie greek yogurt is 6-8 points! I do try to get at least 4-5 servings of veggies a day and 1-2 fruit, but that takes planning. I hide veggies in everything (like adding cauliflower rice to my rice recipes) and I make the conscious effort to get my fruits/veggies in. I also try and make healthier choices about 80-85% of the time because I just feel better (running the day after a lot of greasy food is not pleasant).

Fourth, the MFP app/website allows for greater accuracy in logging. The WW site is very basic and crashes often. You can't add decimals and most of the measurements seem to be in cups. What if I'm having 4 almonds...that's not 1/8 cup and they don't allow for fractions of ounces and never grams. I know 4-almonds isn't a lot, but those BLTs can add up so I want to be as accurate as possible...that means weighing and not using measuring cups.

Finally, I never did the meetings, so I never got the party for losing anyway.

Bottom line...stick with what works for you. I'm down about 23.5 pounds and have 1.5-2 to goal. It's been trial/error what works best for me. I find this to be more livable, but you'll find plenty of WW lifetimers who've been on WW for 10 years and swear by it. Do whatever you can and will stick to long term.

inertiastrength · May 2017

Way back in 2013 I switched because the meetings were useless and rather than weigh in once a week and pay $13.00/wk with no knowledge of CICO (in detail anyway) I joined a weight loss challenge group here and got the same thing for free (plus more chatting and learning which I love)

If you have switched from Weight Watchers to calorie counting only, what made you switch?

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