MyFitnessPal vs WeightWatchers?

PedmomJill · April 2012

I made the switch successfully. I did WW from 12/10-08/11 and lost about 50 pounds. I lost another 16 between 08/11 and 12/11 with just MFP. I love the MFP app on my iPhone. And like others have said it's free. I also agree with those that say the support here is better. I didn't click with anyone at WW at all, but here I have lots of contacts that I actually consider real friends.

PedmomJill · April 2012

Also, I wanted to say that I think you did this the right way. I also did both for a few weeks. It was a pain entering food into two systems, but worth it since it gave me an idea of how much I was eating on those "points"

missxlaur · April 2012

As someone who had been on MFP for a while, and who's now come back, I agree that the support here in unparalleled. That being said, I am one of those people who can't quite seem to figure out what my caloric intake needs to be in order to lose weight. WW is giving me a more structured environment and telling me exactly how much I can/can't eat in order to lose. I'm tracking in both systems right now, and once I find out what works for me calorically I'll probably just switch back to MFP exclusively.

mstrohbusch · April 2012

We wre on WW for our first month and switched to MFP after we found the site. I'm down 52 pounds in the past 10 months and my wife is down 36. Go for it!

senge · April 2012

I find My Fitness Pal to be equally as effective as Weight Watchers. For the most part, it's all about garbage in, garbage out. The fact that you have chosen to keep track is what is key....Congratulations!.....we should all have such great tools that are free! The best part about Fitness Pal is that after you get to your goal, maintenance is relatively easier.

Good Luck!

formersec · 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.

Same here. No one forces you to eat Weight Watchers foods. In fact, a steady diet of those foods, particularly the frozen meals, is not healthy. Low in nutrition, high in sodium and mystery ingredients. They are meant for convenience, but should not be used every day.

ladynica · April 2012

I was on weight watchers for about 4 months and didn't have much success at all. The plan was good, but a bit frustrating to me and I would always be discouraged when I went in to weight every week and saw little to no difference. MFP has given me much more success, freedom and convenience. I like the people here too.

DEGiltz · April 2012

I'm a Lifetime WW member, but a true convert to MFP. WW did teach me a lot about eating healthier, reading labels and fitness. I used to go to meetings, but I've found much more support from the MFP community. I've learned so much more on this site about nutrition and fueling my body ... there is more to understand than just adding up points, as I'm sure you'll agree.

The thing I love most is my MFP friends! I have an awesome group of MFP friends who are really like minded; they're dedicated, strong and not looking to make excuses. I never could find folks to connect with in this manner at the WW meetings.

If you are serious about your fitness and health, this is the place to take you to the next level!

Best wishes!

mrseelmerfudd · April 2012

i did sw last year and lost the same amount of weight ive lost on MFP... however, i have been going down faster with MFP than SW. SW it took me from Nov 10 to Apr 11 to lose a stone and a half. Its taken me from February to lose the same amount of weight on here. It also is free, and if i need any support, i simply post a status or come onto the forum.

WWDIVA4LIFE · April 2012

Remember, not the same thing works for each person. We are all different. I dont have much success on here but I do using WW. I use the both combined and I'm doing better and feeling better. I hate when people say negative things about something they really were not dedicated to or have not tried. (not to the OP, not talking about you) but I dont' like to pay the monthly WW fee, but I find that it works for me so I am worth the 42 bucks at the least. I stopped getting my nails done and use it for my health instead. good luck to you and your wife, I hope she finds something that works for her.

entropy83 · 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)

^^Ditto, the new program didn't click for me, and being able to think is calories is way simpler!

m16shane · April 2012

I use MFP and my fiance uses WW. We both have been loosing though she hasn't really lost any in a month and half. I feel that weight watcher gives you to much freedom on certain foods but either one I feel will work in my opinion.

Twyla123 · April 2012

I have had success with ww in the past (30 lbs) but tried it again a year ago and would lose 10 lbs and then plateau! I started this program mid January and I am already down 19 lbs! One thing that ww taught me was how to cut out fruit so I could still have my mcdonalds, MFP has taught me how to eat a balanced diet and lose weight. Over all I am finding way more benefits to this FREE program then to pay for something that isn't a lifestyle change.

star7092 · April 2012

I've used both, mfp is free and much better!:)

dafoots0911 · 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.

I agree. MFP is free and so much easier to calculate.

rainbowcandy2004 · April 2012

I was on WW in high school with my mom and I didn't learn anything about eating healthy and I only had the support at meetings which in between I would just eat the crap I ate before. With MFP I have support everyday. I know if I eat junk food then my pals are going to see and if I don't want them to see then I don't eat it. Stop wasting the money on WW and use MFP. I have lost 91 lbs on here.

wender125 · April 2012

bump

RVfrog · April 2012

I have done both and I have done so much better with myfitnesspal. ONE , I don't have to count points which takes alot of time. TWO, I love logging in my food and it allows me to see where I'm at for the day. I fill in my food for the day first thing in the morning or sometimes I do it at night for the next day. I print it out lay it on the table and each meal I look at it and I know at a glance what I'm having. Keeps me on track and don't have to worry if I'm over or not.

Why pay WW if this works. Save the money and buy yourself some new clothes as you lose the weight. That is my 2 cents worth.

Kaleonar · April 2012

I have done both. MFP is free, the support is better, encourages exercise more, and it feels simplier--no points calculator. I lost 20 lbs on WW and gained it back very quickly. I got to the same point so far (-20lbs) on MFP and am hoping to keep it going!

Kissybiz · April 2012

Definitely prefer MFP. WeightWatchers is still a "diet." I don't do well with those. This is more of a guidline for life. I'd rather put the money into my trainer.. who's sucking up all my money, but it's worth it.

Alacey88 · 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.

THIS^^^^^

cressievargo · April 2012

I think it depends on what you are looking for.

Me - I've done WW at least 3 times and never lost as much as I have on MFP. This is easier for me - I track my macros, but the whole points thing gets annoying (to me, I know some that love it).

MFP fits much better into my budget, I like the community forum / support...oh and again, it's FREE. LOL
I spent $40+ on WW and didn't lose crap...now I'm using this for free & paying for a gym membership - much better use of my limited funds.

bcampbell54 · April 2012

Whatever works. My wife is having great success with WW, and I with MFP. She didn't do quite so well here.
WW recipes are good, a little lw in fat for me, but we compromise, and we do not eat every meal together, so it works.
I'll gladly pay a little for her successful endeavor. Our choices reflect our personalities.

SirZee · April 2012

Success doesn't come from some tool or program. It comes from within.

meandyou1124 · April 2012

I just recently got done with WW. I lived WW. It was successful for me, but this is free lol. And honestly has mostly all of the same features. I say switch

sammi402 · April 2012

I've been using WW online since November. I've lost weight with it and I like the program, but I don't like the cost. Since MFP is free I think I'm gonna try just using this for a while and see if I can keep up the loss. If not, then WW here I come (again).

fordgal41 · April 2012

I loved Weight Watchers online when i used it with the meetings. Once I couldn't find time to attend the meetings, I felt it was money down the drain... MFP is just as good and the support online is fantastic!!

Roraboosh · April 2012

WW worked for me to a degree, but as soon as I stopped I PILED the pounds on, it didn't give me any real idea of how much calories we're in the food I was eating, it was a real performance, I started using MFP and was doing really well, I found out I was expecting and was told to stop by my doctor, however it left me with the knowledge of what calories were in what and I didn't put a pound on until the last two weeks! MFP is far better IMO

jerseyjenus · April 2012

I used WW in the past and so far like MFP better. First, which everyone says, it is free. Second, it has every food in the database. I spent so much time having to type in all the nutrional values in WW. Thirdly, the community is much better

saynotofat · April 2012

Hello. I became a lifetime WW member in 1993. I want to lose 10 lbs. and was thinking of joining WW online but when I found out that they wanted to charge me $14.95 just to use their etools plus the meeting fee, I started to look elsewhere. That's when I found MFP and then I found my motivation! I love this site!!!

MyFitnessPal vs WeightWatchers?

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