What is your opinion of Weight Watchers?

remoore23 · February 2018

I would like the opinion of anyone who is on Weight Watchers or has ever been on it. I am considering trying it again, but am unsure if it is the best option for me at this point.

About six years ago, I lost almost twenty pounds on WW and kept it off for some time. At the time I lost it, I was working as a janitor and so was basically walking six to eight hours per day, in addition to going to the gym, which I think helped me greatly to lose weight.

I’ve since become an accountant with a desk job and have gained about thirty pounds in the last three years. I’ve been exercising much more regularly for the last couple of months, like 3-5 days per week, but I find that I get frustrated after just a few days on a diet; it’s hard for me to function when my blood sugar is low and I hate feeling hungry. I’ve tried the South Beach diet, but the phase 1 portion is hard for me to follow; it’s so monotonous and heavy on meat and dairy and I just get bored and feel generally bad after a few days.

So I’ve been considering trying WW again. I don’t really want to pay money if it’s unlikely that I’ll get good results, though, and I have heard mixed reviews. I also think it’s changed since I was on it. I would love to hear the opinions of people who have tried it or who have had success with something else. Thank you so much for reading this and for sharing your thoughts. Have a great day

musicfan68 · February 2018

You're on MFP - why not just use MFP to track your calories and save your money?

janejellyroll · February 2018

Is there a reason why you don't want to just count calories? There are people here who have done WW, but given that this is a calorie counting website, I think many of the replies will be biased towards that method. It's how many of us found success.

trapperwv1 · February 2018

Works good but don't need added expense and time for the meetings even though that keeps it in your head. This is cheaper and less time consuming.

BethAnnieT · February 2018

I think whether you choose WW vs MFP depends on whether you need and/or enjoy the meetings. That's what WW offers that MFP does not. If you aren't into the meetings, just track on MFP. You'll get the same online experience as WW (tracking food and activity), with a broader social network and searchable knowledge/opinion base (forums etc.), but for free.

estherdragonbat · February 2018

I liked their older programs. In the 80s, I did the one with 'exchanges', where 1 slice of bread equaled a 4oz potato or a half cup of steamed rice, etc and you got so many bread, protein, dairy, fruit, fat, and (unlimited non-starchy) veg exchanges. I also liked Smartpoints (I think that was the one I did in the 00s), where high fiber foods got a lower point value, high fat got a higher one, but if you used 1pt=50 calories as a ballpark, you weren't far off.

From what I've heard, though, with each new rollout, the point values become less and less grounded in reality. Plus there's the cost.

remoore23 · February 2018

Thank you for your thoughts. I guess the reason I would think of doing WW rather than MFP is that WW kind of takes some of the guesswork out of what to eat and how much to exercise. One thing I remember liking was that it was easy to tell how much of a given food I should eat because its point value correlated directly with its healthfulness and usefulness in the diet. It led me to eat in ways I wouldn't normally, such as eating half a jar of unsweetened applesauce with a spoon when I felt really hungry but didn't want to use extra points on a snack, that I felt like were helpful. When I did it before, I actually did it entirely by myself, online, and never went to meetings. I guess I've just been frustrated that I can't seem to find the magic combination of food and exercise that allows me to lose weight without becoming uncontrollably hungry and uncomfortable. I can lose two or three pounds, but then I just start to feel extremely hungry and deprived all the time. Anyway, thank you once again for reading this and sharing your thoughts.

estherdragonbat · February 2018

I found that snacking on protein helped me a lot. I like cold veggie dogs (weird, but whatever). Yves veggie dogs in the family pack are 45 calories apiece. A piece of string cheese is 80. I also set less aggressive weight loss goals. When I could safely lose 2lbs/week, I set it for 1lb. Now, with 15lbs to the top of my BMI range, 25 from goal, I could still be on 1lb for a little longer, but I set it for 1/2lb. For me, it's a lot less painful that way.

midlomel1971 · February 2018

All I know is that when I did Weight Watchers I felt like I was starving all the time. For some reason, I don't feel that way using MPF and tracking my calories.

shagerty777 · February 2018

Find the Macros Inc group on Facebook, ask to join and never look at weight loss as "dieting" again! You'll find it similar to MFP (most of us use MFP as a tracker) but with food breakdowns that are realistic and not nearly as whacked as what you get here.

kommodevaran · February 2018

remoore23 wrote: »

WW kind of takes some of the guesswork out of what to eat and how much to exercise. One thing I remember liking was that it was easy to tell how much of a given food I should eat because its point value correlated directly with its healthfulness and usefulness in the diet. It led me to eat in ways I wouldn't normally, such as eating half a jar of unsweetened applesauce with a spoon when I felt really hungry but didn't want to use extra points on a snack, that I felt like were helpful.

I find this concept fascinating. I have used something similar to WW, not points, but suggested foods and fixed calorie goal. It was easy to lose weight, but impossible to keep weight off. What I hate about it, isn't that it sucks so much, but that it doesn't suck enough, so I tried again and again! I needed taste and freedom to make my own decisions - I needed to know what was required, not to be told what to do. But it took me so many years to figure that out. I was 43 when I found MFP.

And this is exactly how MFP is different, and why so many think it's difficult and scary (even if it's both easier and more effective than what we're used to). You get a calorie target to hit, and you can fill it with what you want. The idea behind it is not just freedom, but to teach you about nutrition and practice flexibility. It takes away the idea that some foods are healthy and other foods unhealthy, instead it creates awareness of how different foods provide different nutrients in different amounts, and you discover for yourself why it's smart to eat larger amounts and more often of some foods, and smaller amounts and less often of other foods. If you track macros, and prelog, you will learn to compose balanced meals.

I guess I've just been frustrated that I can't seem to find the magic combination of food and exercise that allows me to lose weight without becoming uncontrollably hungry and uncomfortable. I can lose two or three pounds, but then I just start to feel extremely hungry and deprived all the time.

You have to find that balance through trial and error, learn to tolerate some discomfort, but understand when you're pushing too hard.

Getting too attached to named diets, like WW, makes you susceptible to things like this:

shagerty777 wrote: »

Find the Macros Inc group on Facebook, ask to join and never look at weight loss as "dieting" again! You'll find it similar to MFP (most of us use MFP as a tracker) but with food breakdowns that are realistic and not nearly as whacked as what you get here.

Ziggy2875 · February 2018

I used to like the old versions of weight watchers, part of the reason was there was no forbidden foods if you counted points, but the last two versions changed that you are punished for eating a piece of chocolate once in a while because of how many points it cost. If I eat a piece of chocolate or other junk food by counting calories, yes it uses calories but not to the extent of points that it cost with the newer version of WW. Don't get me wrong that I eat junk food all the time but once in awhile yes I want a piece of chocolate or a chicken wing.

dsboohead · February 2018

Points didnt work for me but MFP is great and tracking is easy here too! I like MFP even more cause its..........FREE!!!!

LZMiner · February 2018

Great program. Taught me how to eat sensibly...portion size and making good choices. Sadly, they don't have as comprehensive a data base as MFP and they're pricey for what you get. I did meetings and etools 10 years ago...loved it, lost 25 lbs and kept it off for 7 years. Then my weight crept up, 10 lbs and I rejoined. Lost again, but was spending so much $$ for meetings where the leader spent half the time telling us we needed more members or we wouldnt have a meeting. I can be accountable on my own now, and live the extra support from MFP.

Sp1tfire · February 2018

good for starting off, but i think after a year maybe most people could switch to calorie counting without spending so much $$$

wizzybeth · February 2018

remoore23 wrote: »

Thank you for your thoughts. I guess the reason I would think of doing WW rather than MFP is that WW kind of takes some of the guesswork out of what to eat and how much to exercise. .

There is no guesswork with mfp.

taluch75 · February 2018

WW= waste of money.....not a long term deal

taluch75 · February 2018

They don't teach you how to eat in a long term.....just about the money$

taluch75 · February 2018

+ not satisfying way of eating.......nothing like Ketogenic lifestyle! No strings attached, no cravings, no hanger feeling and steady energy!!!!!!

RaeBeeBaby · February 2018

This is ME and MY opinion, not anyone else's. Just going to come out and say it. I hated it.

Not just disliked a little, but truly feel it is one of the biggest scams around. I think it can be successful in the short-term for some people but I tried it twice with best intentions and was very disillusioned both times. Truly I have not known anyone who was successful long term on their program.

First time I bought into it with the points and all the gadgets, went to the meetings, lost a few pounds. I found myself annoyed that my co-worker with a lot more weight to lose got a whole lot more points than me. I get it. She had more weight to lose, but it felt unfair. I seemed to be hungry a lot of the time so I quit.

So, went back again for a second try a couple years later. Maybe I didn't give it enough of the old college try? Guess what? Now it's a NEW point system. Points PLUS! New and improved and much better (they said). None of my gadgets or books that I spent good money on apply any longer. I have to get new materials. I can stick with the old program, but now WW is geared to the NEW program so I really should get on board. Same (still overweight) co-worker loans me all her stuff so I can try it without buying it. I only lasted about 2 weeks that time. I felt hangry the whole time. The meetings seemed more about buying their junk and pushing chemical laden shakes and bars than being supportive. Interestingly, many of the same ladies were still there and everyone was still fat. Nuff said.

NOW they have a whole new program with a fabulous NEW spokeswoman who's making millions and can actually eat BREAD! Imagine that? BREAD? Oh wait, wait . . . . NOW there's a whole bunch of zero point foods that you can eat. What the heck?!

In a nutshell - WW is a multi-million dollar company (net assets of over 1.5 BILLION) who's bottom line is to continue to make more and more money for their shareholders and CEO's (and don't forget their famous spokeswoman). Same spokeswoman bought 10% of the company and made a $72 million dollar profit last year. This is why they keep changing things - to entice more people to join and spend their money because everyone wants a super-de-duper weight loss miracle and we keep buying it and the rich keep getting richer.

Here's what worked for me. Counting calories, logging in my food diary, maintaining a calorie deficit (really pretty easy) exercising as much as my old bones will tolerate and enjoying the community here on MFP.

All for FREE!

paperpudding · February 2018

I think WW is expensive and I don't like spending money and I don't have time for meetings.

However if people feel it is worth it to have real life personal support and enjoy the social aspect of doing it together, then the program itself is a reasonable approach.

What is your opinion of Weight Watchers?

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