Weight Watchers: yes or no?

RestoringRyan · July 2019

I’m about 60lbs overweight and considering WW (formerly weight watchers.) But I’m concerned it may not be practical or sustainable. Anyone have an argument for or against the program? I could really use some advice. Thank you

lauragreenbaum · July 2019

I have tried WW many times over the years. It tends to work for the first few weeks, but for me only if I go to the meetings. The pay off comes when you get on the scale and see that you've lost weight since the week before. The person weighing you tracks it, so it's really about public accountability. The tracking seems easier than actually counting calories, but at the end of the day it's the same thing.

My advice is to save your money. Log your food on MFP and have an accountability friend who can see your diary. You and this person keep each other accountable. Good luck!

puffbrat · July 2019

I tried it several years ago. It wasn't sustainable for me. I found it difficult to take foods with labels showing calories and macros and convert those into points, especially in places where I didn't have internet access and do mental or paper tracking. Also, the free foods I think really set me back, because those still have calories that my body counts and I can still eat too many of them, especially when on a diet and feeling hungry/restricted.

estherdragonbat · July 2019

I've done earlier iterations of the program, when points were less divorced from calories and there were fewer "free" foods. These days, I find the cost a bit high and from what I've gleaned about the net, they seem to be penalizing too many foods that I consider dietary staples with points values disproportionate to their calories.

For me, at this time, their current program isn't a good fit.

Suuzanne37 · July 2019

I was with WW for a couple of years; I lost 40lbs and learnt a lot about logging and proper nutrition and received support from the meetings.

If you can afford the membership and like meetings, then go for it. If the option is online; it’s better to stick to MyFitnessPal.

BuddhaBunnyFTW · July 2019

I just eat vegan with no processed foods, and hit my calorie target everyday. I follow Dr. Greger's Daily Dozen and I'm never hungry. Often times I can't eat all of the fruit, veggies, whole grains, etc. because it's too much food.

LyndaBSS · July 2019

There are a lot of WW folks here. If you do a search for WW, you'll find many threads.

MikePTY · July 2019

The issue I have with the new weight watchers program is it makes too many value judgements about foods. "Bad" foods are penalized with high point totals, and "good" foods are made free. I understand some of the logic behind it, which is they think if you eat more "good" foods, you'll naturally eat lower calorie. But I don't think that works for a lot of us. For weight loss, a calorie is a calorie, and a calorie from a free food counts just as much as one with points. So it is possible on the new weight watchers program to either over eat or under eat depending on the type of foods you eat and how they are rated.

MFP is free, and can provide you with a lot of the same tools as WW. It is certainly not a perfect app by any means, but a lot of us have used it successfully to lose weight without needing to use an outside program.

33gail33 · July 2019

I joined weight watchers in 2009 and lost 37 lbs in 3 months. I only counted points and went to meetings for the first couple of weeks though, and by then I had learned the portions control and habits that I needed and the weight kept coming off until I intentionally stopped losing.
I kept it off for about 6 years until menopause and injuries derailed my exercise and eating habits. So yeah it worked for me really well. I found it easy to lose with it. It is harder for me now for whatever reason.

Watch_me_burnem · July 2019

Just cancelled my WW membership yesterday when I signed up for a year of premium here

CSARdiver · July 2019

Weight Watchers has the advantage of formal meetings and real physical connection, so if this is a motivator for you it is something worth looking at. MyFitnessPal has the advantage of being free (premium is always available).

MFP holds a distinct advantage of accuracy as it tracks the listed calories as opposed to a point system. This also holds an advantage as MFP takes into account your activity.

JeBeBu · July 2019

Suuzanne37 wrote: »

I was with WW for a couple of years; I lost 40lbs and learnt a lot about logging and proper nutrition and received support from the meetings.

If you can afford the membership and like meetings, then go for it. If the option is online; it’s better to stick to MyFitnessPal.

I am not being "judgy", honestly questioning why this would be flagged? I want to make sure that I am understanding the rules!

Terytha · July 2019

I must qualify my response with this info: I was 16 when I joined WW, and I'm in my 30's now.

I learned nothing useful. In order to hit my points target I stopped eating bread, cheese and pasta, lost the weight, quit WW, started eating bread etc again, eventually hit nearly 300 lbs in my 20's. Trying to do what I did as a teen never worked for me again because they never taught us how to eat, just how to calculate points, and that system keeps changing.

I've learned more in four months on MFP than I learned in two years of WW, and I'm much happier not having to cut out foods I love.

deetails26 · July 2019

In my personal experience: I did it for about 6 months and lost 30 lbs, fell off the wagon a bit, and wanted to try it again but decided to both count my points and my calories and came to find out I was averaging eating around 800 calories/day if I followed their point system. I decided to come to MFP and count my calories and have since lost 20 more and I'm a lot happier eating more food and saving money.

thatsitgethealthynow · July 2019

It’s not for me. The app is user friendly and I find it to be idiot proof, but I don’t like the points system and I found it harder when going out and what not. Most menus these days have calories listed and I found it easier to track later than WW.

Vanessa1166 · July 2019

I did WW back in 2007. I lost 100 pounds and made Lifetime. That was back when everything had a point value. I just can't get on board with all the zero point foods. Food has calories and should be counted. I am such an all or nothing person. Don't tell me something is zero points..i lose all control but that's my problem. I know a few people that love the plan and have no problem sticking to it.

Sunshine_And_Sand · July 2019

I did weight watcher after my first was born. This was back when you could choose between core and flex points. I found it easy and sustainable on the flex points system. Back them there weren’t nearly as many zero point foods, and points for treats weren’t over inflated compared to the calories in them.
I haven’t really liked any system they’ve had since flex points though. Nothing since that has been sustainable for me. They used to do one free meeting to let you get an idea if you’d like it or not, so maybe see if that’s still a thing and check it out. This would give you an idea of what foods are high points and if it would make you feel like you are being punished for the foods you like.
Also, WW is expensive so I wouldn’t commit to anything without at least finding out a little about it first.

cheryldumais · July 2019

I'm almost 63 and can share a few thoughts about WW past and present. I used to have a very high opinion of the program back in the late 70's and early 80's. As the years have gone by it seems like it has become more and more gimicky. I have to be honest and tell you that I never reached goal with WW even when the program seemed good.

At the age of 59 I decided it was worth another try to lose. I quit WW online, found MFP and got the same support I had with WW (actually it's better) and have been able to build a program I can live with. None of this cost me a penny. I finally reached my goal a couple of years ago here at MFP. I am maintaining. What I have learned is that you need to build a food style that you can live with while you are losing and that you can remain on for the rest of your life with a slightly higher calorie intake.

What works for one person may not work for you. Be wary of any food program that says you can eat as much of anything that you want. All food has calories - even lettuce although it would take alot of that to make you fat, lol. Some folks may lose on programs with free food but most of us will just overeat those foods. Do what works for you but forget about a magic diet that you go on, lose weight then go back to eating the way you used to. You have to make a permanent change in your eating habits to lose weight and keep it off.

There are many of us who lost weight and kept it off here. Several have lost 100 pounds or more. Use the forums and find the eating style you can live with for the rest of your life. If I can lose weight at 59 after a lifetime of being obese anyone can.

jeannette7156 · July 2019

Love this

NovusDies · July 2019

I suspect if you are committed to change you can make WW work. If you are not committed to change nothing will work. You can easily get on MFP and game your calories with generous eyeballed portions and bad database entries and get nowhere.

I have done both and I like the precision that calorie counting provides. It is just easier for me to relax when I know I am in a calorie deficit. I like that I can customize my own plan as long as I eat the correct number of calories each week.

I also do not require extrinsic motivation so WW has nothing to offer me.

MelanieCN77 · July 2019

I think if you're at the start of losing a good amount of weight and you don't overthink it, WW works well. It's down the line it can start to be a bit too restrictive. It guides choices with its free foods, which could be helpful in developing a palate for what we might call "healthy" foods if you've got into some kind of habit or rut. At some point though you're probably going to want more direct control.

Weight Watchers: yes or no?

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