WW vs. MFP

msliu7911
msliu7911 Posts: 638 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I have seen many people on here who have had success with Weight Watchers, and then have come to MFP because it's free.. and they want to maintain their WW weight loss.

So far I have been following the set amount of calories that MFP has calculated for me.. should I just stick to this or would it be beneficial for me to try WW first? I'm asking because it seems like we have alot of people who started as WW, then came over here.. so I'm wondering if that is beneficial for certain people. As a disclaimer, I have about 20 lbs to lose in 5 months.

(I thought they were pretty much the same except MFP really has you watch the calories/nutrients and WW follows by points)

Replies

  • tboothgenthe
    tboothgenthe Posts: 72
    I've done WW before and I always end up having issues recording everything 1) because I have to use a slide rule to determine "points" and 2) bacuse they don't have a great app that I can record on my iPhone as I go.
    I'm finding I'm much more accurate with MFP compared to WW and it's FREE. I hated paying to have someone tell me - eat less - workout more and drink lots of water!!
  • msliu7911
    msliu7911 Posts: 638 Member
    I've done WW before and I always end up having issues recording everything 1) because I have to use a slide rule to determine "points" and 2) bacuse they don't have a great app that I can record on my iPhone as I go.
    I'm finding I'm much more accurate with MFP compared to WW and it's FREE. I hated paying to have someone tell me - eat less - workout more and drink lots of water!!

    haha good point! So something I've always wondered... if I entered in all that I eat in a day into the weight watchers system... would the calories and points come close? (i.e. I am allowed 1330 calories per day through MFP.. if I went to WW and found out I am allowed 29 points per day, I wonder how many calories those points would come to)
  • lja20
    lja20 Posts: 54 Member
    Weight watchers is basically counting calories, but then you have to convert them to points--an extra step. I really do not think you need to start there first at all. This is such a handy app and convenient. Good luck!
  • lja20
    lja20 Posts: 54 Member
    I think each WW point is around 50 calories, depending on the fat/fiber content of the food. So 29 points would be 1450 roughly. With mfp it's suggested that you eat back your exercise, With WW it's up to you if you want to eat back your exercise or not.
  • nahralynn
    nahralynn Posts: 125 Member
    I've done WW a couple times and it's the same as counting calories, except that the points take into consideration a few nutrients to figure out the point value. They have come further from the 'slide' that you had to whip out int he store and stuff, I used to have a small calculator that i could type in the stats and get the points. I've also had an app on my phone to do the same thing so that made it easy. Going to meetings helps some people, i think that is the BIG attraction for people is face to face support and accountability. Unless they have changed it recently I thought you could use their boards without being a member so you could check out their boards to see if you like it.

    TBH I think that counting calories and fat and protein and getting them in balance is better because it helps you figure out what your eating and putting into your body. With WW, FOR ME, I felt like it was just dumbed down calorie counting. I didn't want to keep paying for something I could do with places like MFP.
  • MrsRawwwr
    MrsRawwwr Posts: 166 Member
    I do both, and somedays the calories and points add up, but normally they don't. For me, I've had more success doing WW. (They do have an iphone app :) ). I am logging on here, however, to keep track of my protein, as I'm doing a lot of strength training. Everyone is different...good luck!
  • jillica
    jillica Posts: 554 Member
    It's all about what will motivates you and keeps you motivated.
    If weekly weigh-ins in front of another person does it, you may want to do the WW classes.
    The fact that it costs money, can also motivate some people to be really serious about it.
  • confettiangel
    confettiangel Posts: 1 Member
    I found WW easier to cheat at - ie. I could forgo lunch for a bag of chips and still stay within my points allowance. With MFP including fat/carb/protein, I have to be more conscious about how to use those calories.
  • theonly1iknow
    theonly1iknow Posts: 90 Member
    I've recently given up WW.
    had good success on the previous plan (UK) but when they changed to propoints (same as points plus in the US) it just felt a bit too much like calculating things for calculatings sake and i found it harder to choose foods. why not just look at the actual content of the foods and make a decision, rather than some wierd calculated version.
    I also found that ww was so focussed on eating that the exercise was just an afterthought, and marathon training last year trying to follow WW i ended up putting on nearly a stone! (14lb to those not in the UK)
    MFP has given me back my freedom, the database is soooooo huge, and alongside the website, the free iphone & android app with barcode scanners it's so much easier. its much easier to enter my exercise, and seems to support us exercisers better.
    Having said that, I loved my WW leader, the support of the meetings, and the (sometimes) shame of weighing-in infront of someone gave me accountability.
    Now I'm only accountable to myself but I'm saving a small fortune, I can still access the ww forums if i need to, but the MFP more than make up for it.
    I (heart) MFP!!
  • natini
    natini Posts: 347 Member
    I lost 42 lbs on WW along time ago. I dont care for the new program that they launched about a year ago. I hate having to use their gadgets to see how many points something is. Counting calories is much easier and MFP's website is great for tracking. I dont get motivation from the weekly meetings at WW and I can weigh myself weekly and log it down myself. If you feel that you need to be accountable, then WW may be for you. You show up to meetings every week and get weighed in. The meetings offer some insight on healthy eating and changing your habits.

    I would recommend trying MFP since it is free and you have nothing to loose. If it isn't for you, then join WW.
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    Imo, WW is like babys first diet...it just simplifies things for those who seem to have problems with calories.

    Plus, any diet that says you can eat pretty much unlimited fruit/veg is dodgy!

    And, you have to pay for it?! When MFP is free! :D
  • SCUBAMomofTwo
    SCUBAMomofTwo Posts: 189
    Imo, WW is like babys first diet...it just simplifies things for those who seem to have problems with calories.

    Plus, any diet that says you can eat pretty much unlimited fruit/veg is dodgy!

    And, you have to pay for it?! When MFP is free! :D

    I'm not a weight watchers member but just wanted to say no one gets or stays fat by eating too many fruits or vegetables!
  • jpfrimmer
    jpfrimmer Posts: 134
    Imo, WW is like babys first diet...it just simplifies things for those who seem to have problems with calories.

    Plus, any diet that says you can eat pretty much unlimited fruit/veg is dodgy!

    And, you have to pay for it?! When MFP is free! :D

    I'm not a weight watchers member but just wanted to say no one gets or stays fat by eating too many fruits or vegetables!

    It's calories in vs. calories out...if you eat too much of anything you can gain weight, no matter how "healthy" it is.

    I've never been a weight watchers member, but it seems like there are extra steps you have to take plus you have to pay for it! I've also heard that since you can eat as many fruits and veggies as you want that the points plus plan is easier to stick with, however, I've also heard that people on that plan have added up the calories and for the same amout of points one day they ate up to 1500 calories while on others they only ate 1100 and were starving.
  • healthchick
    healthchick Posts: 75 Member
    I did WW back in 2004 and was successful (30kg), I reached goal in 2005, but once I got to goal I struggled with the maintaining part and slowly previous habits returned. By 2007 I was well on the way back to "fatness".

    By 2011 I had put 25kgs back on, but following a cholecystectomy I embraced a new lifestyle and have never viewed it as a "diet" but rather a lifestyle change. Now I feel great and 25kgs is gone. Exercise has become a part of my life rather than "something I had to do". Life is good and MFP offers awesome tools, but the reality is I have done the hard work using tools to assist me.

    WW offers tools also, and in reality all weight loss plans are based on calorie control.
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