Should I pay for weightwatchers?

[Cricket]

Hi, I'm new. A little heavier than I should be and ready to work on losing the weight.

i was planning to sign up for weight watchers (online) but I've heard the free my fitness pal site/app is just as good.

is there any reason to pay for the weightwatchers service? Or can you suggest another option? 

[Susie]

I would try MFP first since it's free. I've lost 6 lbs. since January doing that, and as long as I stick to it diligently, I find it very helpful. I also think it's good to think of food in terms of actual standardized metrics like calories, grams, etc., instead of WW points.

If it turns out not to work for you, maybe then try WW. But if you stick to it, I think it will work.

[gummybear]

What made me successful with WW was the shaming of weighing in in front of someone else at the meetings. t was far easier to put off the weigh in, "forget" or just feel bad for myself when I did it online. I had no success.

If you are looking for an online option I would not pay for WW. MFP is a great tool.

[mrsho]

I paid for WW because I liked being held accountable at the weigh in but never actually attended any meetings. I made lifetime after my first baby so I never have to pay again, but plan to follow the program after my second daughter is born.

I am not familiar with MFP but do know that you can find most of the WW info online so you don't even necessarily have to sign up...

DWLZ.com is a great but old fashioned looking website that has comprehensive ( especially for point values ) WW info on it.

[billysgirl07]

I signed up for MFP for one day.  I entered my food for the day and went over my 'recommended' fat for the day and got super discouraged (I think that I had 2 eggs for breakfast and that apparently did me in).  So I decided to sign up for WW online.  I had done it before, so I was familiar with the program.  I told myself, if I wasn't successful doing online only, I would sign up for meetings too (if I needed that accountability factor).  So far, I am down about 15 pounds.

Anyway, long story short, I like WW and think it is worth the money (if you use it).  The app is really nice, you can just scan bar codes and it will automatically tell you how many points something is.  But, I don't think it would hurt trying MFP for free first. If it works for you, great!  If not, then maybe you can sign up for WW.

[katinthehat]

I loved WW and used it to lose 35lbs after my second was born. Loved the app, loved the points, all of that. But then in January of 2013, they changed it and I hated it. I liked it before because it was very cut and dry, this is how many points you get and that's it. With MFP, you have to have the discipline to not go in and just change your daily calories because you are hungry.

[labbie]

I've done WW and think it's great for some, but for me it wasn't adaptable/maintainable for the long haul. The points system killed me- I like using My Fitness Pal much, much better- free, huge database, standard caloric info vs. 'points'.

[spunkypenguin]

I did weight watchers for over a year - it helped me lose most of my weight. I liked the value system - for someone seriously obese, it was a great way to learn how to make better choices...calories were too obscure for me in the beginning. I was able to find all the resources I needed for free, though - never paid for it.

MFP is a great and free option. I agree with the others - try that first and see how you like it. You can also google around and find WW point calculators and other resources free.

[Cricket]

Thanks, everyone! I'm going to try myfitnesspal and see how it works for me before I spend any $ on weightwatchers

That way, there's more left over for new clothes when I need them 

[bostonmichelle]

I did WW before as well and lost about 20 lbs on the system. I really needed the accountability to weigh in every week and I like the social aspect of it as well. I hit lifetime and have been back a bit but don't have time to go to the meetings. I've been doing MFP now since January and love it. I'm at my goal and just want to maintain and I find the MFP a bit easier to track than the WW tool.

sexycarrot I weighed in in front of the lady behind the counter, but it was the same lady every week. I know they aren't supposed to judge you but I definitely felt motivated that someone else would see the number.

[melodramatic26]

Mar 19, 2014 15:06:23 GMT -5 mrsho said:

I paid for WW because I liked being held accountable at the weigh in but never actually attended any meetings. I made lifetime after my first baby so I never have to pay again, but plan to follow the program after my second daughter is born.

I am not familiar with MFP but do know that you can find most of the WW info online so you don't even necessarily have to sign up...

DWLZ.com is a great but old fashioned looking website that has comprehensive ( especially for point values ) WW info on it.

Just to clarify about being "Lifetime" with WW- if you stay within your goal weight AND you weigh in at least once a month, then you get the membership for free. Having to leave because of a birth for 9 months would mean you would have to pay until you get back to your goal weight and complete maintenance again.

[derbycitycook]

I've had a lot of success with MFP. I hope you are successful, too! Good luck! There is a little bit of a learning curve the first several days as you try to balance your habits and hunger with your allotted calories, bit just keep at it!

[gummybear]

Mar 20, 2014 10:26:24 GMT -5 sexycarrot said:

Mar 19, 2014 14:48:20 GMT -5 gummybear said:

What made me successful with WW was the shaming of weighing in in front of someone else at the meetings. t was far easier to put off the weigh in, "forget" or just feel bad for myself when I did it online. I had no success.

If you are looking for an online option I would not pay for WW. MFP is a great tool.

I just feel the need to clarify for those who might be coming to this thread for information--you didn't actually have to weigh in front of others, right? When I did WW meetings, they were very discrete, the people were not near the scale, they didn't announce your weight in any way, and there certainly was no shaming. I think you just mean the accountability of the meetings were good for you, but I just didn't want others to be confused.

OP, yes, try MFP first. I have done both, and MFP is a good start. I'm currently doing WW online because it has really clicked with my husband so it works for us to figure out points together and cook that way, but MFP is a great resource as well.

No, no! Just the leader. Sorry for the confusion. Shaming is probably the wrong word. Accountability. I liked having someone else weight me and record the weight.

[mrsho]

Mar 20, 2014 12:40:48 GMT -5 melodramatic26 said:

Mar 19, 2014 15:06:23 GMT -5 mrsho said:

I paid for WW because I liked being held accountable at the weigh in but never actually attended any meetings. I made lifetime after my first baby so I never have to pay again, but plan to follow the program after my second daughter is born.

I am not familiar with MFP but do know that you can find most of the WW info online so you don't even necessarily have to sign up...

DWLZ.com is a great but old fashioned looking website that has comprehensive ( especially for point values ) WW info on it.

Just to clarify about being "Lifetime" with WW- if you stay within your goal weight AND you weigh in at least once a month, then you get the membership for free. Having to leave because of a birth for 9 months would mean you would have to pay until you get back to your goal weight and complete maintenance again.

Actually the counselor (?) that I talked to said I don't have to pay even after giving birth and coming back to lose the weight.

[melodramatic26]

Mar 20, 2014 17:19:10 GMT -5 mrsho said:

Mar 20, 2014 12:40:48 GMT -5 melodramatic26 said:

Just to clarify about being "Lifetime" with WW- if you stay within your goal weight AND you weigh in at least once a month, then you get the membership for free. Having to leave because of a birth for 9 months would mean you would have to pay until you get back to your goal weight and complete maintenance again.

Actually the counselor (?) that I talked to said I don't have to pay even after giving birth and coming back to lose the weight.

Either she's confused or you are misunderstanding her. From the WW website:
Lifetime Members must weigh in at their first Meeting of every month. If you weigh more than 2 pounds more than your weight goal at the first weigh-in of the month, you will be charged the weekly fee, but you will not have to pay another registration fee.

[mrsho]

Mar 21, 2014 8:40:39 GMT -5 melodramatic26 said:

Mar 20, 2014 17:19:10 GMT -5 mrsho said:

Actually the counselor (?) that I talked to said I don't have to pay even after giving birth and coming back to lose the weight.

Either she's confused or you are misunderstanding her. From the WW website:
Lifetime Members must weigh in at their first Meeting of every month. If you weigh more than 2 pounds more than your weight goal at the first weigh-in of the month, you will be charged the weekly fee, but you will not have to pay another registration fee.

[perkyderky]

Mar 21, 2014 8:40:39 GMT -5 melodramatic26 said:

Mar 20, 2014 17:19:10 GMT -5 mrsho said:

Actually the counselor (?) that I talked to said I don't have to pay even after giving birth and coming back to lose the weight.

Either she's confused or you are misunderstanding her. From the WW website:
Lifetime Members must weigh in at their first Meeting of every month. If you weigh more than 2 pounds more than your weight goal at the first weigh-in of the month, you will be charged the weekly fee, but you will not have to pay another registration fee.

No, there is a special "waiver" per se if you get pregnant.  My leader mentioned that if you hit lifetime before getting pg, after the baby, you'll also get free weight-loss counseling for maybe 3 months after the baby is born.  The length of the counseling is what I'm not sure of, but FOR SURE, it's an option available for women that had previously hit Lifetime.

WW doesn't allow PG women to participate in their program either.  That's also one of the terms. 

FWIW, i think trying MFP is also a good idea first and if it isn't as effective, then join.  I personally enjoyed attending the meetings (relating with others with similar struggles), and the accountability of weighing in each week.  The biggest thing I didn't like was how they push a lot of "diet" foods that have a bajillion ingredients that are hard to pronounce.  I wish there was more of an emphasis on "real" or whole foods.  I do like how fruits and most veg are zero points.

[birdietoldme]

Mar 21, 2014 12:40:50 GMT -5 perkyderky said:

Mar 21, 2014 8:40:39 GMT -5 melodramatic26 said:

Either she's confused or you are misunderstanding her. From the WW website:
Lifetime Members must weigh in at their first Meeting of every month. If you weigh more than 2 pounds more than your weight goal at the first weigh-in of the month, you will be charged the weekly fee, but you will not have to pay another registration fee.

No, there is a special "waiver" per se if you get pregnant.  My leader mentioned that if you hit lifetime before getting pg, after the baby, you'll also get free weight-loss counseling for maybe 3 months after the baby is born.  The length of the counseling is what I'm not sure of, but FOR SURE, it's an option available for women that had previously hit Lifetime.

WW doesn't allow PG women to participate in their program either.  That's also one of the terms. 

FWIW, i think trying MFP is also a good idea first and if it isn't as effective, then join.  I personally enjoyed attending the meetings (relating with others with similar struggles), and the accountability of weighing in each week.  The biggest thing I didn't like was how they push a lot of "diet" foods that have a bajillion ingredients that are hard to pronounce.  I wish there was more of an emphasis on "real" or whole foods.  I do like how fruits and most veg are zero points.

Yeah, I just had a baby and I'm not paying since I was a previous lifetime member. It's either a free three months after the baby was born or three months after you start up again ... I'm not sure which. My three months is coming to an end. I'm not within two pounds of my goal weight so I'll have to pay for the E-Tools until I get there. After I get to my goal weight, I'll have to weigh in once every calendar month to continue my free lifetime membership.



Read more: pandce.proboards.com/thread/303052/pay-weightwatchers?page=1&scrollTo=5809868#ixzz2wchLjUDx

[melodramatic26]

that's great they allow for a grace period after birth. I've never heard that before and I've been going to meetings for over 3 years. But just to be clear, just because you reach lifetime, it doesn't mean you don't ever pay again. I don't want that misinformation out there. I know plenty of lifetimers that have had to pay a time or two.