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.

New and possibly switching from weight watchers

Replies

Categories