Thinking of doing freestyle WW instead of counting calories
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nataliew12
Posts: 32 Member
I don't know which would be easier? I'm just tired of counting calories!
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Replies
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From what I've heard in another thread about WW Freestyle, it works if you can "eat to satisfaction" their free foods. I think if your issue is making unsustainable food choices more than overeating, it should work as a program. For me, I need to log, as I'll overeat anything and portion size has been my problem.18
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nataliew12 wrote: »I don't know which would be easier? I'm just tired of counting calories!
Can you trust yourself to keep actual serving sizes -- 3 oz of protein, a small serving of carbs, etc. -- and only to satisfaction and not to fullness?7 -
Ok thank you for your replys! I have been watching freestyle youtube videos and they make it look so easy haha I will prob stick with counting calories.4
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nataliew12 wrote: »Ok thank you for your replys! I have been watching freestyle youtube videos and they make it look so easy haha I will prob stick with counting calories.
Is counting calories really so hard?14 -
Weight Watchers is a good program if you are willing to be restricted by what you eat. But Freestyle still requires counting points instead of calories. If you are truly tired of counting calories their Simply Filling plan might be good for you. In the end it still boils down to calories. But Simply Filling restricts your menu more and allows less tracking.
I personally like the nutrition info provided on myfitnesspal and my budget does not allow a monthly fee for WW. I incorporate many recipes that look interesting to me from WW or low carb sites. I just count calories for them.8 -
I found WW to have value in the 90s, when tools like MFP were not available. It's no longer a good fit for me.
Also, in order to have a service people will pay for, WW needs to add a layer of complexity, and this complexity is unnecessary for the goal of losing weight.11 -
I gained on Freestyle (I did it with a friend at the start of this year when I chose to lose the final pounds to goal). Not much, about 2kg over the course of a month and a half. Chicken is free. I can easily overeat grilled chicken. I ate lots of grilled chicken with free vegetables. Yet, I was gaining. Constantly under points, too. Then I would have a small serving of, say, cake and that would blow that day's points and some of the next day's too, so what I ended up feeling was penalized for having indulged in something tasty I wanted to eat. The amount of points allotted for the same amount of calories is very disparate depending on what food it is.
What boiled it down for me was: I was eating what WW wanted me to eat. I was penalized when I ate what I wanted to eat. I would never sustain changes if I let someone/something else make the decision for me of what I wanted to eat.
So I went back to MFP (it had worked gloriously when I lost the bulk of the weight). Immediately, I noticed a difference. For me, I was happier. I could have potatoes without guilt. I could have carbs without guilt and sugars. I could eat what I wanted and I was happy. That's important to me -- sustainable changes that turn into building blocks for a future I will not only be able to hold to, but enjoy.15 -
Just an FYI - WW is discontinuing their Simply Filling Plan. Freestyle is the only plan on WW.2
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Just an FYI - WW is discontinuing their Simply Filling Plan. Freestyle is the only plan on WW.
That’s sad to hear. I think it’s a good tool for when you are weary of tracking and need some guidelines to help keep you within a calorie deficit.
For what it’s worth those little colored containers for Beach Body are basically the same eating plan as the Healthy Guidelines that WE uses. And the recommended servings closely align with DASH for those following a diet for high blood pressure.
I do think it’s interesting to look at different approaches to achieve a calorie deficit. Many strategies have merit.6 -
emmamcgarity wrote: »
That’s sad to hear. I think it’s a good tool for when you are weary of tracking and need some guidelines to help keep you within a calorie deficit.
Back in 2010 when I started on my weight loss journey I started with WW online. I didn't need the meetings but it was a way to track what I ate and helped guide me to better choices. After I'd lost 30 lbs with it I plateaued and started to look into more detailed tracking methods. I also found I wanted more awareness of the nutrients I was getting and how they impacted the way I felt. I tried a couple before settling in with MFP which I've been using for over 7 years now. It helped me lose the last bit that I wanted to and has been invaluable to me for maintenance.
I don't think I could have start with it though. I think I would have found it all overwhelming and given up. WW was an easy way to keep track of what I ate, encouraged exercise, and it worked well enough for a while that I was able to turn it into a habit. After months of that I was ready to take on learning a more detailed and precise approach and sought that out, but I did find it very useful for a while.
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Meetings and an in person weigh in really help me. I am not a fan of paying 45 a month but the benefits seem to outweigh the cost for me. People on Mfp are very against WW but you need to do you.4
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emmamcgarity wrote: »Weight Watchers is a good program if you are willing to be restricted by what you eat. But Freestyle still requires counting points instead of calories. If you are truly tired of counting calories their Simply Filling plan might be good for you. In the end it still boils down to calories. But Simply Filling restricts your menu more and allows less tracking.
I personally like the nutrition info provided on myfitnesspal and my budget does not allow a monthly fee for WW. I incorporate many recipes that look interesting to me from WW or low carb sites. I just count calories for them.
I'll have to look into the simply filling plan, thanks!1 -
WillingtoLose1001984 wrote: »Meetings and an in person weigh in really help me. I am not a fan of paying 45 a month but the benefits seem to outweigh the cost for me. People on Mfp are very against WW but you need to do you.
I was going to try it on my own without going to the meetings .I'll have to look into it more. thanks!0 -
Thats what i was going to try was the freestyle. So many great youtube videos.emmamcgarity wrote: »Just an FYI - WW is discontinuing their Simply Filling Plan. Freestyle is the only plan on WW.
That’s sad to hear. I think it’s a good tool for when you are weary of tracking and need some guidelines to help keep you within a calorie deficit.
For what it’s worth those little colored containers for Beach Body are basically the same eating plan as the Healthy Guidelines that WE uses. And the recommended servings closely align with DASH for those following a diet for high blood pressure.
I do think it’s interesting to look at different approaches to achieve a calorie deficit. Many strategies have merit.0 -
Points are harder to count than calories. You have to take the fat, carbs, and protein (3 things) and then convert them with a calculator into points... why not just enter calories directly. It's one thing. And no calculations.5
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Weight Watchers just uses points, which is far less accurate or sustainable that counting calories, but you do what you need to do.0
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Both work but for me psychologically MFP is easier to deal with. I can have a little more indulgent treat or choice without feeling like I blew it, which often resulted in a binge, or having nothing but tuna and salad for the rest of the day. Just understand that zero is not free. Everything has calories. Salmon and corn are zero, but certainly have calories.3
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WillingtoLose1001984 wrote: »Meetings and an in person weigh in really help me. I am not a fan of paying 45 a month but the benefits seem to outweigh the cost for me. People on Mfp are very against WW but you need to do you.
People will, understandably, tend to support what they've found works for them.
I think that the biggest push back about WW on MFP is that you're paying, still counting, AND you're committing to a system that is designed to influence your decisions as to what is good/appropriate food and what isn't.
Some people use MFP in conjunction with named diets or food eating plans, and for these people WW would be a potentially interesting alternative if the costs in question and choices they're forced into align with their lifestyles and preferences.
Many other people, myself included, have found freedom in knowing exactly what they're eating and being aware off and able to make their own trade-offs as to what is appropriate for them at any particular point of time.
For them WW just introduces cost, confusion, friction, and imprecision, thus we often opine that it is NOT necessary.
Plus public weigh ins (and shamming) which given how water weight fluctuates end up forcing people into larger deficits in order to consistently see results on a week to week basis when larger deficits are not always the most appropriate option.
If you're losing a half lb a week, 2-3lbs a month, you're almost guaranteed to have a higher week to week weigh in at some point of time within any random 30 day span. Given that most women fluctuate 2-3lbs (some as much as 10lbs) based on time of the month, this is even more true for women than for men.
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I guess what I don't get about WW or other point systems is the ambiguity and needless complexity.
It's as if I told you to start a financial budget, but instead of giving you $100 to spend on clothing. I told you to buy a shirt, which could range anywhere from $20-200.
I get using WW prior to smart phones, but after? Other than the social aspect I don't see the draw.5
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