Myfitnesspal vs Weight Watchers

I've always avoided weight watchers, lighter-life etc as primarily their goal is to make money not to help you lose weight. They stop earning money when you have lost the weight you require so i have always been a little dubious regarding their methods which appear to change every 6-12 months or so

I have just been thinking that about Scottish Slimmers which I've been with for a couple of years. I just joined MFP last week having got the app after Christmas. MFP is so easy to use and also gave me I thought less calories. I've just looked today and realise I have been using too many 'checks' (as SS calls them) - 1 check = 25 calories. So I have been allowing myself 10 more checks a day for months, which is 250 calories a day - no wonder I was struggling.
However, although I was wrong about the allowance, it has made me think. SS counts a lot of things as 'no check ', only realised a few weeks ago when the class leader let it drop that that just means it's under 100 calories. So I could be eating no check stuff all day and rack up a whole load of calories! Also you're allowed a daily amount of milk or cheese and other items - all add up. I had come to the conclusion that it is in SS interest to add in those hidden calories as the more you struggle, the more you will go to class/sign up online.

I've had great success with weight watchers, but if the money get's tight as it sometimes does for me since my husband lost his job - this site is exactly what I was looking for and I don't have to worry about missing a meeting because I either don't have time that week or I'm running short on cash. Good luck to you.

hiya! i did weight watchers online a few years ago and it worked pretty well. however, mfp is doing the trick a bit better, and it's free. i don't miss ww at all, and i actually think the community is much more active and supportive than ww.

I totally agree with the fact that the community is WAY better with MFP...

Have done ww online before and did lose weight. But mfp to me is just as good if not better because its FREE!!! And who doesn't like free stuff? What I also like about mfp is its like a fitness version of facebook. I have mfp buddies and we see each others posts and can comment. It's like an everyday meeting!

When I see a company like Weight Watchers putting their 'weight' behind a fast food company like McDonalds then you know their way of thinking is flawed!

Yes, there are success stories like every weight loss / workout program but their philosophy is along the lines of eat small meals and reward yourself with a huge piece of chocolate cake then the majority of subscribers are on the wrong losing track.

Weight loss is all about education otherwise the weight will be put back on just as quickly.

If you drop your calories by 300 - 500 calories a day below what you use through the day you will lose weight (for the majority of people) and this site and the apps takes some of the headache out of the whole process.

Stick with MFP and be strong and you will reach your goals in the end! :-)

Ditto everyone else. I think they are both effective. Calories are just easier and quicker to calculate than points. I get that their points help give you priority to high fiber foods but you learn than pretty fast when counting calories. The message boards at WW are AWFUL!!!!! Mean and snarky and lots of people eating "frankenfood" just because its low points. I also like the mobile ap for MFP. The database is better. I mean everything. Can't think of one benefit of WW.

I also didnt' like that WW was so wine unfriendly. It was proportionally waaaaay more points than I thought it should be (new points plus program). Also new program wasn't good for me because I LOVE fruit. I could eat too much on that program.

Ditto everyone else. I think they are both effective. Calories are just easier and quicker to calculate than points. I get that their points help give you priority to high fiber foods but you learn than pretty fast when counting calories. The message boards at WW are AWFUL!!!!! Mean and snarky and lots of people eating "frankenfood" just because its low points. I also like the mobile ap for MFP. The database is better. I mean everything. Can't think of one benefit of WW.

I also didnt' like that WW was so wine unfriendly. It was proportionally waaaaay more points than I thought it should be (new points plus program). Also new program wasn't good for me because I LOVE fruit. I could eat too much on that program.

The old program was MUCH better. Five oz of wine was 2 points back then.

I did WW for several years and that is DEFINITELY not the company philosophy. People need to educate themselves before trashing something they don't understand.

Direct quote from their website:

"The ProPoints plan is a fantastic counting system that allows you to eat what you like, when you like..."

Where does that say, "Eat small meals and reward yourself with a big piece of cake"? I don't see that.

Weight Watcher teaches healthy eating. The nine Good Health Guidelines are all about nutrition. You're supposed to fulfill those before you have a "treat." And how in the world is that any different from calorie counting? You're still eating "what you like, when you like," aren't you? Just tracking it in a different way.

Like I said, EDUCATE YOURSELF before spouting off.

I joined Weight Watchers in June 2008 and lost 46# in one year - slow and easy by eating right and exercising. I attended meetings faithfully for 1 1/2 yr but after my DH passed away I lost interest in many things, including eating healthy and taking care of myself. I love WW and if you read the materials it does teach you to eat right but you have to follow the plan. The only difference in the way things are calculated is WW uses points and the rest of the world uses calories. Still considering the fat, fiber, carbs, proteins, sugars & sodium plus getting plenty of water for hydration & elimination so it doesn't matter which way you choose to lose as long as it is healthy. I don't attend meetings and haven't since November 2010 when they brought in the New PointsPlus plan. Now they have an update on that plan and many people are struggling. My theory is we don't like change.

I am still posting with my friends just like I do here but I am not a paying member and am over goal so do not have the LifeTime privileges either.

It doesn't matter which plan you use as long as you eat healthy and exercise. Use you own best judgement, along with the advice of your doctor and just take care of yourself. No plan works unless you work it.

I also didnt' like that WW was so wine unfriendly. It was proportionally waaaaay more points than I thought it should be (new points plus program). Also new program wasn't good for me because I LOVE fruit. I could eat too much on that program.

The old program was MUCH better. Five oz of wine was 2 points back then.

Wine should be free, considering that grapes are fruit! LOL

Ha!

I actually don't like wine at all. I've tried to like wine, but it didn't take. But so many people do that it got talked about A LOT.

But I agree the new penalties for alcohol are a bad idea, as well. I guess making up for the free fruit? I mean, a glass of wine a day is supposed to be good for you, so it shouldn't be discouraged.

I have often wondered how WW would actually transfer over to the real world anyway... Real world meaning the packaging for food doesn't have the WW points value on them unless it is WW food....

My OCD says I shouldn't work with something like that and stick to good old calorie counting.

I did WW and am now doing this for a week. MFP all the way!!! WW just didn't work for me. I didn't like that fruits and veggies were zero also i found myself buying a lot of their food which is expensive. the formula is simple you lose weight when you burn calories not points.

Shrinking Ninj, I agree with you completely: WW points tracking doesn't help with the real world.

I agree. WW is good, but if you do the meetings and go online with the e-tools it is an extra charge. I would rather put that money toward gym membership or Zumba. I like the community better too - I don't think with WW you have "friends". That part is more similar to Faebook. I have had far better success with MFP than with WW. I love it!

What she said:flowerforyou:

I did WW for several years and that is DEFINITELY not the company philosophy. People need to educate themselves before trashing something they don't understand.

Direct quote from their website:

"The ProPoints plan is a fantastic counting system that allows you to eat what you like, when you like..."

Where does that say, "Eat small meals and reward yourself with a big piece of cake"? I don't see that.

Weight Watcher teaches healthy eating. The nine Good Health Guidelines are all about nutrition. You're supposed to fulfill those before you have a "treat." And how in the world is that any different from calorie counting? You're still eating "what you like, when you like," aren't you? Just tracking it in a different way.

Like I said, EDUCATE YOURSELF before spouting off.

I was making light of some of the previous adverts shown by WW on UK tv, that certainly had people tucking into cake... not spouting off or trying to offend.

However my main point was they are endorsing parts of McDonalds menu, is this really a good policy for a company concerned with healthy eating?

I certainly don't eat what I want when I want, I think, plan, eat and make gains and losses I require.

So I guess you never eat cake or ice cream or chocolate?

You have a set number of Poiunts with WW that you are not supposed to go over. The "what you want, when you want" means that you can eat the foods you like and eat when you are hungry. You still plan.

You've taken one line from the website and decided you understand the program. You don't.

I've eaten cake but usually after a workout, I actually ate ice cream yesterday as wanted more fat in my diet (good for the hormones) and I regularly eat 85%+ chocolate for much the same reason as the ice cream but also has similar characteristics to dark green veg.

It's just my opinion that their philosophy is flawed.