MyFitnessPal vs WeightWatchers?

BamaKevinT · April 2012

I have been using both for the past two weeks now, and I have been a WeightWatchers member for quite a while. I am considering dropping WW because of the heavy price, and using MyFitnessPal as the replacement, but I am just curious if anyone else out there has experience with both of these programs? While WW has worked for me in the past, it is doing nothing for my wife, and I feel like we should be on the same program to help eachother out. I'm definitely not trying to advocate another product here, I'm honestly trying to leave one for the other, but I am having a difficult time making a decision.

If anyone here can provide some success stories for converting from WW to MFP, please let me know! I need some encouragement before I cancel my membership there!

FleekTastic · April 2012

I have had success with both. BUT....1. Its free. 2. I don't have to lug around a "points calculator" 3. The support is much better here than anywhere!!!! Save the money and put it in retirement so you can take your beach body on Vacation.

baxgilter · April 2012

I have done both and found more success with myfitnesspal, I also find it is easier to change things up. The science is easier to understand too.

DestroyTheOpposition · April 2012

I switched. I used WW for a while. I had success with them... but this seemed more real. I am losing little by little here. I felt like I lost faster with WW, but as soon as I went on my own, I gained weight back. To me, this site seems more like everyday life. You just watch your calorie intake and workout.

cristileigh · April 2012

Ditto!

Laurieann137 · April 2012

I was a part of WW for years and lost 20lbs. I found that this site is a good replacement for it and is free! For me I think 1 point was about 50 calories and so when I figured out my calories on here it was pretty close to the points I got on WW. I have lost an additional 13lbs on MFP. I think this is easier as well. Good Luck!!

wellbert · April 2012

If you care about your macros, weight watchers is not the way to go. Also it costs money.

Andr1Kar · April 2012

My sister used both and just recently switched from weight watchers to mfp. She has lost more weight using mfp and it's free!

Shyster2005 · April 2012

I did WW for years and lost some weight but not enough to make a huge difference. And I didn't keep it off. I think if the WW meetings help you, then that's the big difference. But if you are only doing WW online, MFP is basically EXACTLY the same and it's a lot friendlier to your wallet. I'm still kicking myself for all the $$ I wasted on WW.

treatingmybodyright · April 2012

I had very minimal success with WW, but I instantly saw results when I started MFP. I think the simply calorie/macro calculator is much easier than counting points. And like everyone else has said, MFP is FREE and the support is phenomenal!

TriciaZ944 · April 2012

What I have observed with ww is those people who have stopped doing the program end up gaining some if not all of the weight back.. I'm not sure if it is because they lose the support when they stop paying for it or it's because everything is done in terms of points instead of learning what is in the food you are eating that could be impacting your weight. MFP is free and if you use it regularly it is a great way to track yourself and find some great support.

sharleengc · April 2012

I used weight watchers a long time ago and I don't think I ever lost more than 10lbs total. I have been much more successful on MFP and find it way easier to track everything!

sharleengc · April 2012

I have done both and found more success with myfitnesspal, I also find it is easier to change things up. The science is easier to understand too.

Very True!!

rml_16 · April 2012

Essentially the difference between MFP and WW is counting calories or counting points. And the meetings if you go. I think if you're successful with WW, you can be on MFS, as well.

georgiag111 · April 2012

Honestly as a mother of 6 I came here I cant afford to risk money on WW reason I say risk is that it may or may not work. I find MFP easier because it doesnt do points but real calories something I can manage in everyday life.

so my opinion is MFP > WW

rml_16 · April 2012

What I have observed with ww is those people who have stopped doing the program end up gaining some if not all of the weight back.. I'm not sure if it is because they lose the support when they stop paying for it or it's because everything is done in terms of points instead of learning what is in the food you are eating that could be impacting your weight. MFP is free and if you use it regularly it is a great way to track yourself and find some great support.

And if you stop counting and tracking on MFP, you could regain the weight as easily as you would if you stop following WW. The same can be said for ALL weight loss programs. If you go back to old habits, you regain.

WW, if taught and learned and followed properly, teaches healthy, balanced eating. It is the same as MFP, but a different method of counting.

slsmoot123 · April 2012

WeightWatchers works for a lot of people. But I found that WeightWatchers really doesnt work for me. The meetings were just okay but they really didnt compel me to change my eating habits. Also you have to go consistently for a year before anybody even asks "Who are you?" and then to develop a relationship outside of those meetings....good luck. On MFP I think the support is much better. There are all kinds of people at your fingertips with information. People who just need to lose 20 lbs to people who need to lose 100. Men and women who have done and now their in maintenance. People genuinely try to get to know you and I really enjoy MFP. My suggestion is that weight loss is an individual thing and only happens when you make the decision. I think its commendable that you want to be on the same program with your wife. However what if you get off WW and then MFP works for her but not for you. I say try to find what works for her so she can get her weightloss game going. So what if you log your food with WW and she logs hers with MFP. You guys are both working towards the same goal. Once she gets the ball rolling you can revisit the issue and maybe you can get off WW. Hope I helped some, GOOD LUCK

tammyandzach · April 2012

This is secondly better.

obeseto13point1 · April 2012

I too have been a Weight Watchers member, more than once. The main thing that Weight Watchers has over any online site is the face-to-face meetings and weigh ins. I started running my own weight loss challenges to make up for this and join any in person ones that I can. Currently I am running one 9 week challenge with friends and family and am in one at my husbands work! You could run your own weight loss challenges! I just do a starting weigh in and a end weigh in because of conflicting schedules, $5 to join, and then have all the money go to prizes. This is the third one I have ran and I usually get 10-12 people out of my friends and family to join:).

markyb1977 · April 2012

I agree with Tricia, with WW, you eat a lot of their branded food, with MFP, you learn what you normally eat translates into calories and adjust portion sizes to reflect and generally eat more healthy and once you realise this is where you went wrong its can be easier to maintain.

However if like me you binge eat chocolate cause its LUSH, then its just discipline, and MPF helps, record before you eat is the key, it will then stop you eating all you need is a phone and a 3G connection, and it can prevent accidents from happening.

I think MFP is a great educator, whereas WW is a program you follow, then when you stop it ends, ... hence why people keep having to go back.

You either give people water who need it, or give them a means to save their own, this is a tool FREE so you can do it yourself!!!

Happy days ... love it! MFP all the way baby!!

TriciaZ944 · April 2012

What I have observed with ww is those people who have stopped doing the program end up gaining some if not all of the weight back.. I'm not sure if it is because they lose the support when they stop paying for it or it's because everything is done in terms of points instead of learning what is in the food you are eating that could be impacting your weight. MFP is free and if you use it regularly it is a great way to track yourself and find some great support.

And if you stop counting and tracking on MFP, you could regain the weight as easily as you would if you stop following WW. The same can be said for ALL weight loss programs. If you go back to old habits, you regain.

WW, if taught and learned and followed properly, teaches healthy, balanced eating. It is the same as MFP, but a different method of counting.

True bottom line is it needs to be a life style change and a commitment to stick to it for whatever works for an individual.

marycmeadows · April 2012

I started on weight watchers on 1/1/11 - switched to mfp like in june of 2011. I liked ww, but there were two reasons I switched. i was paying for ww and the app kept giving me issues. AND how pracitcal is it to convert everything to points for forever?!

I am very happy with just mfp - and I think it's much better than ww....

hpynh2o · April 2012

I've used WW, CalorieKing and MFP.

CK and MFP are by far, more flexible and easier to follow. It's free. Plus, I found the MFP mobile app makes keeping up your diary (which is key) much easier. In any case, it you stick to what ever plan you choose, you'll find success.

Good luck!

debb1010 · April 2012

What I have observed with ww is those people who have stopped doing the program end up gaining some if not all of the weight back.. I'm not sure if it is because they lose the support when they stop paying for it or it's because everything is done in terms of points instead of learning what is in the food you are eating that could be impacting your weight. MFP is free and if you use it regularly it is a great way to track yourself and find some great support.

I've thought about everyone who starts a diet, loses weight then gains it back again and I hear negativity surrounding that certain plan because of that happening. But when I see people who dont necessarily adhere to any certain "diet" after they've lost they weight and they are successful at keeping it off.....its because they are monitoring themselves. When they start putting the weight back on, they start working to get it back off or they've learned to eat in moderation so they dont gain the weight back. I'm no rocket scientist here but I'm thinking its not the "diet" that fails us...but we fail ourselves by expecting a "diet" to fix the problem when the real problem is our elbow!! Every time it bends, our mouth opens and we shove something in it!

anawhatsme · April 2012

i have point plus material so i follow weight watchers on my own.
i really like weight watchers and points plus - especially free fruit and veggies!!
i never got much out of weight watcher meetings though.

tcunbeliever · April 2012

I did WW for a long time and received my lifetime membership. Then I started lifting weights and they wanted a Dr note to adjust my goal up even though I was dropping clothing sizes and wanted to adjust to an amount within their ideal weight range. I decided it was too much trouble and ended up here. I think MFP does a better job adjusting food intake for activity. WW only allowed me to gain a max of 4 pts per day regardless of activity level and that was not enough food for me when I'm exercising 3x a day. Mind you, it's been years, and they came out with some new flex plan, so they may have fixed that. I find that online accountability is enough for me, if you need to have more personal support, then WW is really good for that. If I remember right the points calculation is cal/50 + fat/4 - fiber/5 and you can only get a max of 1 pt. off for fiber in any given food. It's pretty easy to confinue following the WW food rules without going to the meetings, once you have all the initial information then the meetings primary purpose is to provide support, new recipes, food ideas, etc. I like MFP better...less math...

JamCubeChi · April 2012

Having done both, I prefer MFP. If you need a setting with face to face support, you may want to check out TOPS (take off pounds sensibly) You can google them for a location close to where you live & for more information about he program. It is a non-profit program-similar to WW where you pay I beleive it's $28 for the year and then either $4 or $5 monthly for membership dues/local chapter dues-you go every week and weigh in like WW and they provide instruction in proper eating, support, etc. -Though I've never joined TOPS, I did look into it recenlty and am still considering maybe attending a free meeting to see what its all about. Good luck to you and your wife!

rml_16 · April 2012

I agree with Tricia, with WW, you eat a lot of their branded food, with MFP, you learn what you normally eat translates into calories and adjust portion sizes to reflect and generally eat more healthy and once you realise this is where you went wrong its can be easier to maintain.

I've done WW on and off for five years. I never once ate a WW branded food. In fact, when I switched to MFP (for cost, mostly), I just continued eating the same REAL foods I ate on WW.

Mell00546 · April 2012

I also did both when I first started using myfitnesspal but quickly got rid of WW. WW has worked for me in the past but for some reason it just wasnt clicking this last time. Plus I want to loss weight, be healthy, and not gain the weight back ever again!

I feel like myfitnesspal actually teaches me how to be healthy. I can look at a piece of cake and know its 400 calories and fruit is 100 per 1/2 cup. On WW I could never make those mental decisions because I would have to look up how many points it was and see how many points I had left. Plus WW does not advocate eating back your exercise points like myfitnesspal does.

I am more than happy with my progress here and happy I left WW (my opinion)

anawhatsme · April 2012

I agree with Tricia, with WW, you eat a lot of their branded food, with MFP, you learn what you normally eat translates into calories and adjust portion sizes to reflect and generally eat more healthy and once you realise this is where you went wrong its can be easier to maintain.

this isn't true.
i have never eaten a weight watcher brand food.
you must be thinking of jenny craig.
weight watchers is very real, and very similar to counting calories.
it's just a different formula that takes carbs, fat, protein, and fibre into consideration, rather than just calories.

NittanyLion95 · April 2012

I started WW on Jan 12th and have done really well with it. I heard about MFP a few weeks later (end of Jan) and added it into the mix. I was using WW for the points and the accountability of weighing in...I NEVER stayed for the meetings, I didn't need it. MFP was great for tracking and I love the mobile app. I am two weeks away from attaining my Lifetime WW membership which means that I won't need to pay for weigh-ins any longer. I have moved away from doing points and just do cals now with MFP...however, I am eating more veggies and fruits because that's what WW does (no points for most), it improves food choices. I can eat 100 cals of crap on MFP, but it would be better to eat strawberries, apples, etc (no points).

For me, I like the healthier lifestyle WW has encouraged (salads taste wonderful now)...but it was stressful tracking points...figure out what works best for you. It may not be the same as your wife. MFP will be my tool for maintaining my new weight.

MyFitnessPal vs WeightWatchers?

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