Anyone here a former weight watcher?

Hi, it's great to hear from all of you. I am currently a WW member. I joined in September last year and it was the first time I seriously tried to lose weight, and I have had success. I was worried if I stopped with WW that I wouldn't be able to keep it up. I've been trying to figure out the main differences between the WW etools and MFT and I think it's mainly that WW have the resources to keep publishing new articles, recipes, inspirational ideas etc. I also think the smaller numbers involved with counting pro points is simpler than calories, but I guess it's about learning. Well seeing this message board is encouraging and it's good to know that some of you have found MFP easy and effective.

Whether you're doing WW or MFP it's about weighing and measuring what you're eating in order to figure out points vs calories. That itself teaches you proper portion control. I am a lifetime member of WW. Went initially about 25 years ago, thought I was fat at 121--lost 11pounds and reached goal weight. The plan at that time was the exchange program, where you were allowed so many bread exchanges, so many protein exchanges, etc per day. I actually liked it then. I went monthly for awhile to keep in check, but eventually stopped going. Several years later, after marriage, babies, etc. I went back and the plan was the original points program. I did lose weight on it, but didn't stick with it for longer than about six months. Hated having to pay weekly. Tried the online version for awhile and didn't really like it. I do not like how they change the program all the time, requiring you to have to purchase new tools to be able to convert your calories to points.etc. Got to be way too gimmicky. So, this time I googled food/exercise tracker and found mfp. I'm loving it. It is much easier to deal with the calories--plain and simple. There are so many free sites to find restaurant food calories as well that I don't feel I need to pay WW for gimmicky gadgets etc. Reading the message boards is inspiring also. I also really like how I can see exactly how much salt, protein, calcium etc I'm eating. The charts here are great. Good luck to you and welcome to mfp!

Iv used weightwatchers for the past year or so and have lost 23lbs but i also use mfp as well just so i am aware of the calories i am eating also. i dont go over my points or my calories and find it a better way to maintain what i am eating and help me to continue to lose weight

i ahve been doing PP since the begining of this year however i can not seem to get my head into the WW mode at the moment hence the reason i thought i would try this one see how i get on, i know ww has worked for soooo many people in the past but at this moment it is just not for me so hopefully MFP will work for me

I am a lifetime member. I no longer count points. I don't like PP, its too much work. I Love how I just have to enter foods in MFP and They do all The work for me. I have nothing against WW I lost over 160 pound (not at one time) With WW but the new systems is a pain and I got board with the meetings.

I've got a friend who is has lost 60lbs in about 17 months on Weight Watchers so I know it does work. I just couldn't get into it because of the point system personally. I like knowing calories of my food... converting to points seems like an extra step too. Now I know the reason it works so well for her is her job requires a great deal of eating out and travel so having the iPhone App conversion and tracking made all the difference in terms of sticking to it. She also shared she has some issues with feeling most diets make her feel deprived. She resents not being able to eat what she likes and those around her are eating. Even knowing she's only "allowed" 1500 calories rubs her the wrong way... but it being a certain number of points isn't so bad. Plus, they don't count most fruits and vegetables so she can eat as much as she likes.

She's fine going a couple of weeks not losing, then a couple of weeks of just one pound as long as she is going down and getting to eat what she likes. I wish I was this way.

If I'm not losing at least 2lbs per week (exception being that last 10lbs), I get anxious. Given I've struggled with my weight all my adult life (yo-yo)... I realize she has a healthier approach.

I tried the Points Plus and actually gained weight and felt starving all the time. I went back to the old way and had success! I think it was just a gimic to get people to go out and buy all new products. Stick to what works!

WW well I own it went for so long :flowerforyou:

I started with WW in July 2010, I lost 30 lbs in four months - pro-points came in just as I was getting to goal, which was November 2010. I cancelled membership then loss access to the tracker. I found MFP in January 2011 and have been here ever since! I love the tracker and the support.

I am still at my goal weight but for the first 6 months after I stopped weight watchers I lost quite a bit more, so I feel I've gained, but I haven't actually gained any of what I lost on WW, just what I lost since leaving.

I've been at a plateau for ages - I have recently read about not going under your BMR as it slows the metabolism, so am experimenting with that at the moment by upping my calories - I really hope it works!