WW or Calories In, Calories Out?!

What is WW?
Calories are just one component of a bigger picture. It's like saying "driving slower will make you a safer driver." It's "not wrong" but there's a deeper story around being a reliably safe driver.

If you are strictly just counting calories, with no regard for nutrient density, hormonal responses, inflammatory foods, keeping your metabolism guessing, etc. etc. you probably won't do well. Some people get lucky. And of course I'm not saying you have to know EVERYTHING immediately to make progress, but you need to begin knowing that the story gets detailed, and learn what you can when you can.

I like counting calories, once you get used to what calories are in your favourite foods it's pretty easy. I like the fact that i can have whatever I fancy. it works for my kind of emotional eating, in the past if I ate one chocolate I would feel guilty and eat with wild abandon the rest of the day, making bad food choices! Now I just think well that is 60 calories off my daily allowance so it's made me choose healthier food the rest of the time. I like greens (broccoli, spinach, asparagus, cabbage, courgette) a lot and you can have a whole lot of those! I also really like salad so make big salads and just add a dessert spoon of a really good olive oil and some apple cider vinegar. Also I was amazed to see how low in calories ham was for eg in comparison to a lamb chop! And I love the way the next day it all resets and I have 1200 cals to work with again! I find it fun. I have had great success with low carb in the past but it doesn't work for me anymore, I am not sure why, maybe it's hormonal but I just don't like it or feel good on it. Sorry haven't actually spoken about WW here I realise. I have done that in the past as well and it didn't work for me but can see how it does for others.

I would start with CICO,it's free(buy a food scale).. Actually,I would get a complete checkup at the Dr. 1st,to make sure that you don't have any hormonal or blood issues.
I didn't know for YEARS that I had Pcos,so my eating plan has to reflect that or,I'll struggle more than necessary.

Build muscle..I lose weight fast,now that I've found my groove,but when I build muscle,I look better in clostes and I don't regain as fast,when I'm slipping up.

As far as WW,I think that it's a good program for accountability,to have people to share in your journey. My friends and family aren't interested is discuss ing anything health related,so I found it good for that...I had a Saturday routine..We weigh in,gym,shop for healthy food,then meal prep...As far as the 'zero foods',they are counted in the 'total',some people just try to take advantage and wonder,why the scale won't move...It was suggested to eat a serving or 2,of the Zero foods,not gorge...If I were a binge eater,I wouldn't do WW.. because I might take advantage of how the program works.

Lastly,try different approaches to see what works for YOU! You will get very different answers on here.

I lost MOST of my weight on Keto, before Keto was a thing..it helped with my migraines and was recommended for my PCOS,but I can't eat that way everyday..Not because I don't think it's healthy,but because I don't like meat that much...So,find YOUR balance,and good luck!??

WW runs on the same principle as calorie counting does on MFP. I did WW in the early 2000's before MFP was around. I left just after they introduced the zero points food which I thought was a bit stupid. It was just a marketing ploy, in my opinion, to get us all to buy new books etc and I didn't want to continue as I had already learnt enough to carry on without paying to be a member. It was useful though as it taught me a lot about healthy food and was the best support I could find before MFP came around. Once MFP was created I joined and applied what I learnt in WW (about choosing a balanced diet etc) but the counting is the same only MFP uses calories directly. WW uses points but they are just calories that have been given points. I've found success in both to answer your question.

I've had success with both. I did very well with WW at first and there were a things I did like about it, but I could almost exactly echo TeaBea's comments. I hated that it was all about selling stuff, and in the end I quit because as they changed the program they demonized sugar and fat. I felt like I was punished for eating any dessert. I find calorie counting far more sustainable for me, because I don't have to almost entirely cut out the things I love.