Myfitnesspal vs Weight Watchers
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I like both weightloss programs. I lost 57lbs on weight watchers a few years ago before I had my last baby. I loved the program! It taught me how to eat well, portion control, and how to exercise. I have not put all the weight back on after the baby, but I am not close to my goal weight either. The only reason I am not doing weight watchers now is cost.
Pros of WW:
1) the weekly meetings really helped provide the support and community I needed. I loved my leader! She made a huge different in my life.
2)49 (or 35) weekly flex points that feel like bonus rather than having a hard rule of same calories every day. That way I could eat more on the weekend and still feel satisfied and that I wasn't blowing my weight loss plan. I have struggled with that with myfitness pay.
Pros of MFP:
1)It's free!
2)Much bigger datatbase to chose from
3)No converting. It is what it is.
4) My husband and I can do it together and support each other without busting the budget!
I liked the community in both. I did etools with meetings on WW and found that very helpful. I struggle with losing my weekly points on MFP and I miss the "free foods." I need to work on "banking" my exercise calories for the weekend, but that is hard. I like to "spend" all my calories when I get them! Like money. LOL. If anyone has any advice for that, let me know. I would love some help on that.
Both plans are based on healthy eating. It depends on what you need and works for you. At the risk of sounding like a Nike ad... you just have to do it.0 -
All I can say is be glad you're on a weight loss journey in 2012 and NOT in the 70's- did you guys ever see the WW guidelines for the 70's? What a HOT mess that was:
http://www.dwlz.com/WWinfo/old1972ww.html
The liver and fish days? Yeah ... I wouldn't have done it then! Thankfully, it's much changed. :-)0 -
My sister and my mom are both on Weight Watchers. My sister has lost about 30 pounds, putting her down at I think 265 or so. My mom has lost about 5, putting her at I think 150. They've been on it as long as I've been on my diet, and I've lost more. But I think different ones work for different people. Personally, I don't like Weight Watchers for 3 reasons.
1) The points thing is the main topic and doesn't always line up with what you SHOULD eat vs what you CAN eat whereas MFP shows you all aspects.
2) WW tries to promote a lot of their personal prepackaged foods which frankly, don't taste all that great.
3) They log a lot of their fruits and veggies as 0 according to my mom (which I didn't look up but I'll take her word for it), but despite them being good for you, if you eat a ton of either, you will gain weight. Also, it seems to allow sandwiches for very few points, even on really heavy bread, which we know is fattening.
I'm not saying it's bad for everybody. It didn't work for me but it works for my sister.0 -
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...
I agree too - I've done WW on and off since having my daughter in 2005. The boards on WW online are negative and mean! I couldn't believe it sometimes. I'm new to MFP but have already gotten the hang of it and seen some results so I'm sticking with it!0 -
My sister and my mom are both on Weight Watchers. My sister has lost about 30 pounds, putting her down at I think 265 or so. My mom has lost about 5, putting her at I think 150. They've been on it as long as I've been on my diet, and I've lost more. But I think different ones work for different people. Personally, I don't like Weight Watchers for 3 reasons.
1) The points thing is the main topic and doesn't always line up with what you SHOULD eat vs what you CAN eat whereas MFP shows you all aspects.
2) WW tries to promote a lot of their personal prepackaged foods which frankly, don't taste all that great.
3) They log a lot of their fruits and veggies as 0 according to my mom (which I didn't look up but I'll take her word for it), but despite them being good for you, if you eat a ton of either, you will gain weight. Also, it seems to allow sandwiches for very few points, even on really heavy bread, which we know is fattening.
I'm not saying it's bad for everybody. It didn't work for me but it works for my sister.
All I'm going to say is that you just proved a couple of my points and leave it at that ...0 -
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.
How true this is! I feel the same EXACT way as you do!!!0 -
I just joined and my first meeting is on Saturday. My friend convinced me to do it and I figured maybe doing this with someone and having extra support would help me finally get past this rut I've been in. I'll give it a month to see how it goes.0
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I guess we will have to agree to disagree on the finer points of WW over a consistent healthy nutritional plan (I'm not saying you can't do this through WW, but why pay a company for it?), and a clear easy to use food diary such as MFP makes this easier, the iPhone app is why I have switched to this site.
I could continue to pick apart your comments and contradictory reponses but frankly I don't feel the need.
My knowledge of nutrician and exercise has taken my own body down to low % bodyfat and six+ pack territory, without the need for any type of extreme regime.
Over Xmas I didn't bother logging food or do any exercise for three weeks and I lost weight (not my goal actually) as it is now second nature for me to eat healthily and in moderation.
When so many comments have highlighted weight gain straight after leaving WW then something isn't working.
I wish everyone on here and WW the very best as getting down to your respective weight goals is brilliant not just for looks but for self esteem and many many other postitives.0 -
Prefer mfp. Works better for me and daily support instead of weekly which REALLY helps, a week is a long time x0
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I was on WW for a while but getting to the meetings was a hassle I just didn't want to bother with. I also realized that if you follow a healthy, well balanced diet, you don't have to worry about messing with the points system, since technically this is what the point system is all about.0
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I was with WW last year, but it was costing me nearly £20/mo, so I decided to ditch it and pay my gym membership instead. It did work for me, however MFP has, like others said, a fantastic community, much more supportive than WW one (speaking from my experience only).
I like the iPhone app for MFP as well, which allows me to scan food.0 -
I guess we will have to agree to disagree on the finer points of WW over a consistent healthy nutritional plan (I'm not saying you can't do this through WW, but why pay a company for it?), and a clear easy to use food diary such as MFP makes this easier, the iPhone app is why I have switched to this site.
I could continue to pick apart your comments and contradictory reponses but frankly I don't feel the need.
My knowledge of nutrician and exercise has taken my own body down to low % bodyfat and six+ pack territory, without the need for any type of extreme regime.
Over Xmas I didn't bother logging food or do any exercise for three weeks and I lost weight (not my goal actually) as it is now second nature for me to eat healthily and in moderation.
When so many comments have highlighted weight gain straight after leaving WW then something isn't working.
I wish everyone on here and WW the very best as getting down to your respective weight goals is brilliant not just for looks but for self esteem and many many other postitives.
No matter what diet you're doing, if you stop doing it you're going to see a change. I maintained my WW weight loss for two years after stopping the program. Every person is different and every person is going to have a different experience. Some people can eat more than others and see larger losses (even people of the same gender, height, age and weight). There's so much more to weight loss than a simple calculation of calories in/calories out. If the strict idea that 3,500 calories = 1 pound gain or loss then it would hold true for EVERYONE. And it doesn't. One person could eat 3,500 extra calories and maintain while another might gain 3 pounds. And the opposite -- one might have that deficit and lose 3 pounds while another maintains.
There was nothing contradictory about my statements about the program. It's a simple eat healthy, eat less and move more program no different than MFP. You're just counting differently.
I totally understand why someone would choose MFP over WW (it's free, for one). But bashing the program that you still, even after having it specifically explained to you, don't understand (or at least are pretending not to understand, but I think you just don't want to admit you're wrong) is obnoxious.
You've never been to a WW meeting. You've pulled one statement off the website and twisted it to mean something it doesn't say and then based your opinion of the entire program off your made up interpretation.
You must be a really fun person to be friends with. Seriously.0 -
You've never been to a WW meeting. You've pulled one statement off the website and twisted it to mean something it doesn't say and then based your opinion of the entire program off your made up interpretation.
You must be a really fun person to be friends with. Seriously.
You know this how?
Hahahahaaa brilliant... and you call me obnoxious!0 -
I only get 1200 calories too and when I don't exercise it is difficult for me to keep to the 1200 and be satisfied. Have to choose wisely, lots of fruits\veggies with high fiber content and fish or shrimp done simply on these days is a good way to get a good dose of filling protein without high calorie count. No room for extras on those days!0
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I am doing both ww and mfp. I lost 18lbs with ww last year and gained almost all of it back once the ww plus program started. I like how ww gave us weekly points to take from does mfp do something like that as well? I'm only allowed 1200 cal a day and I always go over on the days I don't work out. I'm not sure if I'm doing it right. I'm always starving.
I too get 1200 cals. It is very difficult to stay within that number and be satisfied on days with no exercise. Try choosing fruits and veg with high fiber content and fish or seafood prepared simply to give you a good dose of filling protein with fairly low cal counts. There is no room for extras on those days! Good motivation I guess.0 -
I love both weight watchers and myfitnesspal. I don't follow both religiously but I do get great things out of both and feel that I benefit from both. I love the logging for when I burn calories or lose weight and the encouragement I get, as well as the great support I get from the weight watchers meetings I goto. Either way what ever works for you stick with and enjoy it, taking it one day at a time.
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I'm on day two and in love. I've been eating 1000 calories and doing good. I love the projector that says "if everyday were like this you'd weight..." I'll lose 12 pounds in 5 weeks! Weight Watchers Points Plus Online was terrible. I tried it once I saw some of the Jennifer Hudson commercials. I did it for like 3 months (NEVER once went over my points) and gained 2 pounds. Plus, the database barely had anything in it. So unlike the MFP database. Also, I ate whatever fruit I wanted on WW. Now, since on MFP, I've seen that I can't just have 4 apples a day! No wonder why I gained weight... On WW, I was led to believe I could eat whatever I wanted as long as it within points. I ate pizza, ice cream, pasta, etc. ALL WITHIN MY POINTS. It doesn't work. The "if it's to good to be true, it probably is" applies to WW. But, with MFP, I have to have my food intake match the amount of calories, carbs, fat, etc., instead of just having 1 thing to match it with: points. I don't know how Jennifer lost so much weight; she must have exercised for like 6 hours a day. And the people here are so nice!!!
I've combined some of the things from the Special K diet with MFP. For breakfast I have Special K. I have the amount that Special K recommends to have. For my snacks, I have special k chips. On the special k plan, they say to have chips with grapes. So, I've started doing that. For lunch and dinner I have Lean Cuisine. It's a good idea because it's real food and you're not depriving yourself.0 -
I'm doing both right now. I came to MFP because I work out a lot and I don't feel ww works as well for those who have less to loose and are really working out (I burn about 3000 cal per week). I was already eating a lot of whole foods and avoiding processed foods etc, so mfp seems to really be working out better for me. I just cancelled my ww etools b/c this is SO much better.0
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I did really good with WW with their OLD program, but after they switched to the Points Plus, I got sick and tired of "free" fruit and couldn't eat another piece. haha I am having better luck with MFP, so far. Good luck!0
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Weight Watchers is all about Points. This does NOT teach you how to really eat healthy foods unless you are committed to learning more than WW teaches. I have met SO many people on Weight Watchers who have no clue as to how or what to eat, and no idea how to do anything without WW. It really has become a crutch for some of them - they can't go off the program. Maybe they're not doing it right, but when I hear over and over again, "I can't eat lunch - I'm saving up my points today so I can have cheesecake at dinner," well, let's just say I am LESS than impressed with that program.
I agree - I think MFP does a way better job at giving us the tools to learn how to eat healthy and be accountable for everything we consume - not just lose weight.0 -
My WW online expires tomorrow and I won't be renewing it..............0
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I've done both- honestly, I like MFP better because 1.) it's free 2.) you don't need conversion charts into points, etc- which to me- makes this a lifestyle change instead of a program.0
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I am currently tracking both and find it really interesting looking t the break down of foods groups. I know for certain I'm eating too many carbs and need to work on my diet to reduce them. I find when I'm on we I just look at points and sometimes eat rubbish even it's within my points. Ek0
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i do MFP, my friend does WW and both work as far as weight loss goes if you stick to it.
we have compared before and there are a lot of foods on here that are not in WW database so MFP can be easier to track, as its easy to find cals of unknown food items but on WW you have to enter cals/fat/protein/carb etc to calculate the points.
my friend chose WW as the weekly meetings and being weighed in help motivate her, but this does nothing for me, i would rather use the money to pay for a gym membership.
one thing she has mentioned is that once you reach goal weight you are entitled to 5 free weigh ins per year, so less than once every 2 months - a lot can go wrong in 2 months so if you rely on the meetings in order to maintain you would have to continue to pay forever, while MFP is free and the support system is always here.0 -
I will give props to WW for teaching me how to eat healthier however I'm more confident with MFP because I can see the numbers, I know I'm eating what my body needs and I can see the deficit of calories/exercise. I know I lose each week instead of crossing my fingers because I stayed within points. I love the help I get on MFP with advice and motivation.0
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I am currently tracking both and find it really interesting looking t the break down of foods groups. I know for certain I'm eating too many carbs and need to work on my diet to reduce them. I find when I'm on we I just look at points and sometimes eat rubbish even it's within my points. Ek
That's why I gained two pounds on Weight Watchers. I ate rubbish as well even though I never went over my points.0 -
I double-tracked for the majority of 2011. I found that I got the best advice and the most resources with MFP so I cancelled WW and am sticking with MFP.0
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I've already expressed my thoughts on the whole eat what you want when you want as long as you are under on points as total madness!
Secondly the whole fruit equals zero points thing is completely ridiculous too;
Most modern fruits have been bred to have higher sugar (fructose) than previously;
Excess fructose is also fattening, despite the fact it doesn’t cause a blood sugar spike because it isn’t processed like other carbs, however once the liver fills with fructose the rest is stored as fat, which doesn’t take much more than a daily cupful of berries.0 -
I have done WW and just quite in November because MFP is free and I can save the money.
That being said there is a lot of misconception on this thread about WW letting you eat anything as long as you are within your points…NOT TRUE. They are in to promoting Whole Foods. That is what the power foods are.
Maybe it is because some people did it online or have not been to a meeting but one thing they stress is the 7 good daily guidelines. 8 glasses of water, at least 2 t oil, 2 dairy, protein, whole grains, at least 5 fruit and veggies and limit sugar. Once you have have counted the 7 healthy guide lines in a day there is not much room for junk food. That is what you extra point or workout points are for. If you are not following the 7 healthy guideline then you are not doing the WW program. So the people who said they were eating junk all day, stayed with in their points and gained did not read program. Also fruit is not free, it is 0 point. There is a difference . You must take responsibility and use in moderation.
I think WW is fantastic for people who don't know haw to eat health. I have come away with some amazing tools from that program and would recommend it to anyone0 -
I am a lifetime member at weight watchers. It does work of course, but so does my fitness pal... basically they are both calorie counting. I have taken the time to look at what I would consume points wise on a given day at weight watchers and compare it to my calorie intake on my fitness pal using the old momentum program (not the points plus program in which fruits and veg are free). The my fitness pal app allows for more food, maybe a couple hundred calories more a day, but if you consider the 35 extra points you get a week to use at weight watchers then I think it is about the same. Plus, my fitness pal is so much easier and FREE to use. I am currently just trying to lose a little bit of weight 10 pounds for a trip to bahamas in Feb. In three weeks I have lost 5 pds with mfp. So, I guess we will see how it goes, but so far so good
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