My Fitness Pal / Weight Watchers

I did WW a few years ago, and lost about 25lbs with it (which I've since regained, unfortunately). I think it was fine for losing weight, but I got tired of messing with the points all the time. It also annoyed me that they seemed to frequently change the methods for calculating points, and the fitness emphasis was somewhat lacking. Overall, MFP is better suited to my lifestyle and I find it easier to manage.

I did WW waaaaay back in the day and lost like 40 pounds. It was nice at the time, but (obviously) I didn't stick to counting, and now the program has changed. I have found counting calories and focusing on being active (exercise) has done way more for my mind AND body than WW ever did. Oh, and it's free.

Agree that MFP is the better program however whatever works to help someone reach their personal goals is what's important.

I too had trouble with WW. When my sugar free fudgesicle is 0 points because of the added fiber...well, even though I'd limit myself to 1, I was eating calories that weren't being accounted for in my points.

And then they switched to the new program that was a way for them to prevent people from easily following the plan without paying and I just said goodbye. I was tired of paying a boatload of money each month and not using the program. I found MFP and have had more success with it than anything else. Granted I've been more motivated too. WW will definitely work if you do the program smartly, but hey, this works well too and is FREE LOL.

MFP has Contrarian, which makes it a better program arbitrarily.

Actually, there are published studies in peer-reviewed journals that back this claim. I will search for the links and post them.

I think Weight Watchers can be frustrating for some people because of the "free foods" which, as someone stated, can push you over in calories without realizing it. But of all the well-known highly-advertised diet solutions, WW seems to me the most credible. Their points system is basically a version of the calories in/calories out equation, and IIRC, an interpretation/adjustment on fiber.

It can be convenient for people that eat a lot of packaged foods because so many foods have the WW points printed on the package (though MFP has a bar code scanner and a database with tons of food in it, so that might even out).

To me, MFP just seems more direct. I like the idea of net calories - that if I don't exercise today, I should consume fewer calories to stay under my goal. It makes sense to me. MFP has changed my thinking - instead of feeling like an utter failure for having a cupcake one day at work, I log it and commit to burning off the calories that evening.

I did WW with my wife. We had a slide rule that she had to use and I couldn't be bothered to figure out their majik formula. MFP just rocks and Mike is awesome sauce.
Also WW everyone was so serious.

I joined WW last January... and have lost approx 50 pounds..... i love it! I use MFP for extra support and motiviation

I also was a WW Lifetimer, but when they switched to Points Plus, and continue to change their plan every year, it just became impossible to keep re-learning their points. Too much work, a calorie is a calorie after all. Shouldn't have to convert a calorie into points just so WW can take your money. Plus this place is 24 hour support, even though there may be many wackos who love to argue on here.

Tried both and here's why I choose myfitnesspal -
1) IT'S FREE!
2) It uses REAL WORLD, READILY AVAILABLE nutritional information. I don't need to eat at certain places that have WW points listed on their menu and I don't have to carry around calculator to find the "point" value of what I'm eating.
3) YOU CAN'T GAME THIS SYSTEM! I was great at using the loopholes in the WW programs (such as "zero point" foods). Calories are calories, whether they come from a cucumber (zero points in WW) or a steak.
4) Myfitnesspal helped me understand the difference between numbers, and nutrients. WW fails at this IMHO. Especially the online-only folks. If you go to meetings, you may gain some more information, but I can track how much sodium, iron, protein, fiber, etc through MFP. Not just the "points" through WW.
5) DID I MENTION IT'S FREE?!

I loved WW till I found MFP. Figuring out points and etc is too much work to have to pay for the program. I pledge my allegiance to MFP that has helped me so much. I never could have lost the weight I have and hit the milestones without it.

I quit weight watchers when I found MFP. I discovered that will all the "free" foods, I was eating way too many calories on WW, even though I wasn't eating all my points. Before the plan changes from a year ago, I really felt WW worked. Now, I think the plan changes just aren't helpful, and for people like me who love fruits and can easily eat too many, it is not a good idea to have them "free". MFP also has a much better database, and gives much more information than WW ever thought about giving, and I won't be going back.

DItto. Even though I haven't lost a ton of weight with MFP, I find it much easier to stick with, and there's no gimmick - it's just numbers.

I have done WW and MFP in my 45 pound weight loss journey.

WW is great for scale accountability, for people who don't know how to eat balanced, and to gain face to face support/ideas from week to week.

WW is not so good because it teaches you THEIR values of food (which even they continually change) not REAL values of food.

MFP makes logging simple if used on a phone and can even scan bar codes for auto input. There is also support 24/7
You learn REAL food values and get to see ALL of the nutrition information to review which can allow you to see exactly how you spend your calories. You may be surprised where you lack or over indulge.

MFP IS FREE.

I lost most of my weight via WW and think its a great programme - I got frustrated with it when I started doing a lot more exercise, it just didn't seem to cater, or have the answers for someone who was burning a lot of calories. I'm pretty new to MFP, but what I'm liking is that I can change and alter it to what is going to work for me (still working on that - but am getting there!).