New and possibly switching from weight watchers

julieplummer875 · June 2018

Hi everyone! I’m new here.

since December I’ve been doing weight watchers and have lost 33 lbs on that program. I enjoy it, but lately I’ve had a very hard time sticking to my daily points and I’ve been plateaued for about 6 weeks. I decided to try counting calories and watching macros to see if that would help me get these last 20lbs off.

Has anyone made the complete switch from weight watchers to MyFitnessPal and have been successful? So I’m liking this app way more than my weight watcher app.... just hoping I’ll get some better results (not to mention this is FREE).

cheryldumais · June 2018

I left WW after many years as an online member. I never really lost much weight on their program and when the new Freestyle Program started I dropped it and came here. I've lost a total of 104 pounds and am at a good weight now although I would still love to lose 10 more, lol. It took me 2 years to get to maintenance. This works if you find the path that fits you. Personally I believe I will stay at a normal weight now permanently. There are several people like me who have lost considerable weight and are maintaining. Welcome!

swimmchick87 · June 2018

I did very well on the WW points plus program for awhile. It was easier in the beginning because since I was so overweight, I was getting more points. As I got smaller, I of course got less points. Towards the end of my time with WW, I realized that with exercise I was often only netting 800-900 calories per day. No wonder I was starving and constantly "falling off the wagon!" I came here and was successful with losing many more pounds and found this easier to follow. Eventually I decided to "take a break" for the holidays and never fully went back, and ended up regaining my weight over the course of about 3 years. Completely my fault as I didn't continue to weigh and track. Now I know "breaks" don't work out for me.

Admittedly I haven't tried the newest WW program, but from what I've seen I don't feel that I'd be successful at all. It seems very restrictive as far as what you can and can't eat by making foods they've deemed "bad" way more points even when the calorie count isn't that high. I get that they are trying to gear you towards choosing healthier foods, but I like that MFP allows me to work treats into my calorie day rather than taking an "all or nothing" approach. My coworker ate a candy bar the other day and said it was like 1/3 of her daily points!

I also like the precise numbers approach to mfp. I don't want to be guessing at how many "free" foods (that still have calories) that I can eat. Especially if you're down to your last 20 pounds, it seems that mfp would be more precise and accurate to help you lose. Keep in mind that the last pounds will come off the slowest, so don't expect to lose as fast as you did in the beginning, but if you log accurately you can definitely lose.

The good thing about coming from WW is that presumably you're already used to and okay with logging everything you eat. If you don't already have a food scale to weigh your food rather than relying on measuring cups, that's a common mfp recommendation that I've found to be helpful.

elizabethmcopeland · June 2018

There is beauty in learning the macros and calories that are veiled behind points.

Knowledge is power and freedom.

Have fun finding what works for you!

AnnofB · June 2018

I've been using MFP since 2012.

I was a serial Weight Watcher for many, many years. Ironically I learned about MFP on the message boards on the Weight Watchers website. I had plateaued and decided to try something new. Came here and started counting calories instead of points and lost the last 16 pounds in 3 months.

My Pal's have played a huge part in my success. I'm grateful for their encouragement and support.

HTH

longbranch92 · June 2018

I lost 60lb on WW and I’m still an online member. I love the support on Connect. But I’ve hit a very long plateau so thought i would add something different to the mix. It’s only been a couple of weeks and so far it’s been good. I think there are several WW people who do both. Good luck on your journey!

allisonlane161 · June 2018

I'm lifetime at WW and still weigh in monthly and go to weekly meetings. My meeting is fun, lively, and 1/2 the town seems like it's there, so I'd miss them. I lost 96 pounds in WW and hit goal around two months ago. My goals have changed and calorie counting is more valuable to me, as well as nutrients and macros. I no longer use the point system and I consider myself very successful with Myfitnesspal.

julieplummer875 · June 2018

@swimmchick87 I agree with you! I mean I’ve loved weight watchers and the new freestyle program seemed/is pretty flexible with all the zero point foods.... but it KILLED me with the no sweets thing. When a candy bar is 11 points and you only get 23/day it makes you feel kind of deprived. So I started not tracking those foods because it made me feel guilty. Haha counterproductive I know... 🙄. 23 points left me feeling pretty hungry, especially on my work out days. I always went over and pretty soon just stopped tracking. 🙁 Miraculously in the 6 weeks of pretty much not tracking I’ve managed to stay the same weight. Now with this app I’m right back to tracking and it feels awesome! I had a candy bar this past week and still lost 1 lb with no shame! 😎 this app also seems WAY less glitchy too.

I also already use a good scale so it’s been a pretty smooth transition for me.

Thank you for your insight!

allisonlane161 · June 2018

As a side note, I occasionally track my day in WW just to compare to my calorie tracking here. Today, 1276 calories tracked here for the day, equates to 20 points in WW...some days it comes up 23, some a bit higher.

julieplummer875 · June 2018

@allisonlane161 yeah I initially dual tracked to compare.... it was pretty similar aside from days where I ate a bit more sugar. On my sweet tooth days it had me at a pretty big difference. If i stick to zero point and high protein it seems to be pretty similar though.

Thank you for your insight!

elizawho48 · June 2018

I’m down 30 lbs - I lost half that with WW. I totally plateaued for 6 weeks when Freestyle started which totally frustrated me. I started tracking here as well and discovered I was barely netting 700 calories per day with my exercise. It was quite eye opening to me.

When I originally switched to MFP I was eating a much healthier daily calorie amount and finally broke my plateau and dropped a few more pounds. I opted to maintain my loss for a few months during a period of high stress; I’m just starting back with trying to lose again - and I’m using MFP. I’ve discovered WW points is a bit too much smoke and mirrors for me as an insulin dependent Type 2 diabetic. I need the hard data MFP gives me in carbs etc to fine tune my insulin dosing.

I also decided to slow down my rate of loss to make it more sustainable; that feels very doable and with much less pressure on MFP. Bottom line- this feels like something I can do for life.

GemstoneofHeart · June 2018

I really like the weight watchers recipes. They are usually tasty and low calorie and mostly easy to make. That’s the best part.
Other than that, why pay for something that is rooted in calories any way? All weightloss is calorie deficit, so you can do that for free with this app and a modest investment in a food scale. Just my two cents!

julieplummer875 · June 2018

@elizawho48 congrats on being down 30 lbs!!! Yeah I agree I think the calorie difference can be pretty huge between the two programs.... especially if you are working out! I’ve been plateaued on WW for 6 weeks myself.... one week tracking on here and I broke it by losing 1.2. I don’t think I was getting enough nutrition. I’m going to give it a couple more weeks before I fully quit, but I’m definitely leaning in that direction!

@GemstoneofHeart I really like their recipes too.... but you can find a lot of WW recipes online now too so that’s not gonna hold me back! I already have a food scale and I’m likely going to make the complete switch myself.

jrochest · June 2018

I was on WW since 2005, when I lost 60 pounds on the original points program; I've been on Points, Points Plus and Smart Points, and lost on each with varying ranges of success. But when I went back this February the new program just enraged me -- stupidly restrictive, uninformative (you don't know how many calories you're eating of the zero point foods) and completely unrelated to calorie counting.

So I quit, cancelled my WW membership and started here. It's wonderful, and it works. There are LOADS of us here.

sarahlouspencer · June 2018

I have just come from weight watchers this week! I lost 38lb and then as my points got lower and lower i struggled and went back and forth between 2lbs and its not even like I'm nearly at goal so slowing down, i still have a heck of a lot to lose.

I did a full switch because I feel mfp is much better for a sustainable lifestyle. I feel immensely more free and like I'm eating more but my choices are healthier so I have more energy and feel happier!

For example, on weight watchers half am avocado and a freddo chocolate bar are 5sp each. Identical. (I'm in the UK) but the nutritional values are clearly radically different.

It does not teach you to feed, take care of and sustain your body properly.

That's my feeling anyway
X

WynterDreaming · June 2018

I haven't made the complete transition, only because I paid three months up front on a special and I'm going to get my money's worth out of it by going to all the meetings. But while I see people raving about it, Weight Watchers just isn't sustainable to me. I was dual tracking every day for the last 8 days and while I lose weight, my total calories for the day very rarely got above 1000. It was more often around the 700/800 mark and I was miserable. I was crying, and just plain temperamental because I wasn't giving my body what it needed.

I did learn a couple things during the last week that I will take with me when I fully transition back to MFP, but not enough to consider spending more money than I already have. My relationship with food is complicated enough without being shamed for wanting some french fries, or a small coolata from Dunkin Donuts.

I'll take solid calorie and nutrition facts over the abstract idea of allotted points any day.

rmkrd · July 2018

“My relationship with food is complicated enough without being shamed for wanting some french fries, or a small coolata from Dunkin Donuts.”

YES!!

Jennacita · July 2018

I just quit last week. I joined WW in Sept of 2017 and found success first time ever. I slowly lost 17 pounds but I was double tracking here the same time. I've used MFP since 2009 with little success, not because of MFP but because I was tracking but not keeping myself in a deficit. I think the accountability WW gives is priceless but sometimes a girl wants a treat without it being your entire day worth of points. I have 20 pounds more to go to reach WW lifetime. That could take me a lifetime, lol. So due to the expense part of it I decided to cut the cord. I'm team turtle. I lose slowly but as long as it stays gone I'm happy.

Sweetsfreak · July 2018

Funny, I'm here for the same exact reason. I've been "on" and "off weight watchers many times. I lose 20 pounds, go off it, regain it, etc. The new program works but is very restrictive. I'm thinking I need a change.

cathyreames62 · July 2018

Congratulations on the 30 lb loss.
I did weight Watchers many years ago and lost a lot of weight and gained it back plus more. I find it to be a diet not a lifestyle. You need a lifestyle change in your food intake. A fitness tracker and an app like MFP is that in my opinion.
Good luck with continued success.
Cathy

Warriorprincess60 · July 2018

I'm a gold member on ww but decided to make the change and join mfp because of the amount of bit*ching that goes on there. The New points system left me hungry most days.

changeconsumeme · July 2018

I did well on WW Smart Points. Lost 54 lbs. I had been struggling with staying within the points allotment, then my doctor told me I wasn’t eating enough good, healthy fat. I had always hated that WW shunned pretty much all fats and carbs by giving them higher points values. So, I quit WW and went it my own on MFP.

I’ve always been on-off with MFP. I was stagnating a little on my own, so I tried to go back again to WW when they began Freestyle. I didn’t even last a week. Freestyle is TERRIBLE. How are you going to try to roll out a new program without any update to the science of why fat is not bad and carbs are okay, AND take points away from everyone? They thought that giving all of those free foods to you would give you more options, but there’s only so much of the free foods you can eat. Plus, you can’t just gorge on free foods and expect to lose weight! I saw so many posts on Connect about people not being able to lose and hating it. I doubled tracked here to figure out why I was so hungry all the time and saw that with all of the new point restrictions and even with all the free food, I wasn’t even netting 800 kcal a day! I quit again.

Came back to MFP and stagnated again. I think I’m a person that needs structure. It’s too “free” to eat whatever I want. I tend to go over more frequently. I had slowly lost another 15 lbs in my own, gained 10 lbs, then did keto for a couple months. Lost those 10 lbs plus 6. I started an intensive workout program and realized I needed the glycogen to perform, so I quit keto to focus on timed nutrition and macros.

I know there’s no real science behind meal timing, but it helps me focus on macros and getting enough of what I need so it works for me.

TLDR: WW needs to hire some dietitians and rework the program entirely.

KelliCruikshank · July 2018

allisonlane161 wrote: »

As a side note, I occasionally track my day in WW just to compare to my calorie tracking here. Today, 1276 calories tracked here for the day, equates to 20 points in WW...some days it comes up 23, some a bit higher.

KelliCruikshank · July 2018

I lost ten pound of the twenty five I wanted to lose on weight watchers then plateaued for five. Yes five. Months. So I came here.

After my first week I randomly took a day and put everything in my ww app and it turned out to be 35 points!!! I am worried. That wasn’t including the banana and the orange I ate either as they were free.

I am giving myself two weeks (which is next Friday) to weigh in. I am nervous. I just hope I didn’t gain.

Five days left until weight in.

TeresaW1020 · July 2018

Hello! I was going to introduce myself but saw this thread and it fits perfectly with what I'm currently doing. I've been on Weight Watchers for over a year and a half and have lost 37 lbs. Honestly, I can't blame my lack of progress on WW! I have become very angry at myself and know that I have got to stop playing around and get this weight off!! So yesterday, I came back to MFP and plan to track my calories down to every single lick, bite, and nibble, including every 0 point WW food.

I love my WW meeting! My leader and friends, there are awesome and I do think that the plan gears me towards a healthy lifestyle. But it does annoy me that they avoid talking about calories. I know that losing weight is mostly about calories in vs. calories out. I want a lifestyle that is sustainable so I plan to work both points and calories and see what I come up with.

daynajason · July 2018

I was a WW lifetime member for 15 plus years. Lost 90 pounds initially and continue to rollercoaster by gaining and losing 10 to 15 lbs every year. Not sure why I keep doing that to myself, but the winter holidays get me every year and I find it hard to get back on track. Usually takes being uncomfortable in my own skin and tight clothes to get me back on track. This year I needed a change from WW. Love MFP! It's been working so well. I love all the food available in the diary to choose from. Because it's such an easy app to use, it's easier to stick with tracking daily. Only thing I missed with WW was stepping on a scale in front of someone. It helped to hold me accountable for the week. I got around that by weighing in in front of my husband. Good luck with the rest of your healthy journey!

jtomm2005 · July 2018

Started on WW in Jan 2016 list as much as 62 pounds by August last year enter Freestyle and found its not for me

Just started here over the weekend I’m tracking both ways to do a lengthy comparison but am already seeing something that may be part of my issue which was something I suspected when they changed.

Not dissing WW I wouldn’t be where I was without it but with my recent experience /findings I’m having a hard time convincing myself to go back

Please any of you on this thread are welcome to add me look forward to hearing your experiences

blujp · July 2018

I did WW when I was in high school (I remember having to track everything in a booklet lmao). I just signed back up recently - I'm still planning on using MFP tracking and maybe not be as faithful to the WW points but I think I just need the accountability of going to meetings and having a coach or whatever, because I'm super bad at sticking to tracking (I lost 60lbs a few years ago using MFP and it all came back 😭).

Disneymom70 · July 2018

I have debated WW & MFP all day and decided to try this since its free. The plan is to need new clothes soon so I will save my money for that.

Shepherdchris · July 2018

julieplummer875 wrote: »

@swimmchick87 I agree with you! I mean I’ve loved weight watchers and the new freestyle program seemed/is pretty flexible with all the zero point foods.... but it KILLED me with the no sweets thing. When a candy bar is 11 points and you only get 23/day it makes you feel kind of deprived. So I started not tracking those foods because it made me feel guilty. Haha counterproductive I know... 🙄. 23 points left me feeling pretty hungry, especially on my work out days. I always went over and pretty soon just stopped tracking. 🙁 Miraculously in the 6 weeks of pretty much not tracking I’ve managed to stay the same weight. Now with this app I’m right back to tracking and it feels awesome! I had a candy bar this past week and still lost 1 lb with no shame! 😎 this app also seems WAY less glitchy too. I also already use a good scale so it’s been a pretty smooth transition for me.

Thank you for your insight!

TessMickens wrote: »

I haven't made the complete transition, only because I paid three months up front on a special and I'm going to get my money's worth out of it by going to all the meetings. But while I see people raving about it, Weight Watchers just isn't sustainable to me. I was dual tracking every day for the last 8 days and while I lose weight, my total calories for the day very rarely got above 1000. It was more often around the 700/800 mark and I was miserable. I was crying, and just plain temperamental because I wasn't giving my body what it needed.

I did learn a couple things during the last week that I will take with me when I fully transition back to MFP, but not enough to consider spending more money than I already have. My relationship with food is complicated enough without being shamed for wanting some french fries, or a small coolata from Dunkin Donuts.

I'll take solid calorie and nutrition facts over the abstract idea of allotted points any day.

Starbunny11 · July 2018

I'm a current WW member and have been missing MFP a lot... WW is just so expensive (especially if you do the meetings). I like that skin-in-the-game feeling of paying for something and it upping my commitment level, but at the same time...I'm STARVING ALL THE TIME. I'm trying to fill up on fruit and zero point foods, but I'm still hungry.

New and possibly switching from weight watchers

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