Has anyone else tried Weight Watchers and absolutely hated it?

I tried Weight Watchers online recentlly. I signed up for 3 months at $55 through my health plan. I only lasted 1 week. I was always feeling faint and hypoglycemic. I was miserable. They only allowed me what amounted to 1050 calories a day and most of it was rabbit food. I also didn't feel like the point amounts for exercise were very accurate.

I counted calories years ago and was very successful, in combination with exercise. I wasn't miserable or shaky then. So, I decided to cancel WW. And they only gave me an $8 refund...after only being on it one week. But they aren't going to cancel me til the middle of October.

So, I decided to do a test. Count Calories here and continue to track there...but without the pressure of knowing I will have to continue on it for 3 months.

Here's todays results, so far:

WW - 21 points allowed daily (1050 cals) with a weekly extra allowence of 35 points to draw from, if you go over (1750 calories). Exercise gives you a couple of extra points a week, but by in large, you are counting on about 1300 calories a day.

9.5 points used - 475 cals

Weekly Activity points gained for today 1 (-50 cals)

Calorie Count - 1500 calories allowed daily max. Calories per day subtracted for exercise.

Calories used - 457

Caloried burned commuting to work (30 minutes @ moderate effort) -276

So the calories are somewhat similar, but I am not understanding the vast difference in how WW calculates activity points. I mean, I go about 13-15 mph to work and most of that is uphill. Additionally, WW only asks me if I sit most of the day, while at work, but doesn't have an option for medications or how active you are at work and the rest of the day. I'm generally pretty active. But WW will give me 1 point for walking my dog 20 minutes and that equals the same as 30 minutes commuting to work???

Was I doing something wrong? I tried WW because people love and swear by it, but I just felt miserable. At least with counting calories, I don't feel so restricted and I feel like I am able to get better all-around nutrition. It also feels easier to get the right amount of protein, as I am not focusing so much on fiber.

I only have 8 pounds to go to my goal weight and 4 more to get to my ideal weight.

So, anyway, I am not trying to bash WW. I would just like feedback from others who have tried it. Does everyone love and succeed on it? Am I the only one who just couldn't get adjust to it?

 I also hated it.  Every night when I went to bed, I felt so ravenous I could barely sleep! I have been doing Calorie Count for about three weeks, I like it so much better.

wow! i did almost the same exact thing as you! same points.. same frustrations..same crappy feelings and no enjoyment. it works for some but absolutely did not work for me. i felt very obsessed with food and calculating points and not enough calories and really, just everything you said. ww was a total blow for me. cc has been great and is actually working and is much more comprehensive. i love it

I could never do WW either.  I felt they were to restrictive and the whole counting thing and subtract and add from this column.... i flunked accounting twice before i aced it, it was like my first accounting class.  I enjoy CC much better.  However, I have a friend who when she does CC she fails, does not record correct amounts etc. WW pretty much told her what she could and could not eat.... So for her WW was the thing.  I guess it is true what works for you is not always the same as others.

:-)  Good luck on getting to your goal weight I am determined this time around to drop that last 15 lbs.   i have been in a holding pattern for years and this is the time for me!

R

Thanks everyone! Glad to know I am not alone!

 WW is how I lost weight over 7 years ago, and how I have kept it off.  I learned more about healthy eating and maintaining my weight using WW than I ever did with anything else.  And I never actually joined - I simply bought the materials and learned on my own.  I recommend it to everyone that wants to learn a healthier way of eating and maintain that lifestyle.

It's really about re-programming your brain about food.  And WW was, and is, a great source of information on retraining yourself.

I started WW in May 2009 and only lasted 1 week too. I cancelled it after 1 month. I was also starving ALL the time, light headed, weak....was not good. Too much calculating for me. I think it works if you eat their foods and pre-packaged stuff, but I did not find that I was able to really eat enough, even with adding in the extra points (from the 35 extra you get a week) and the exercising. I am now trying this, and so far, it seems to be better and less confusing.

I was able to eat...but I didn't really like it. I lasted a month before it just got...annoying. I like calorie counting cause it's more straight forward. I don't care what they think it's worth, just if I have enough  calories for it. *w* I couldn't even eat what I wanted, because I knew the calorie count didn't matter (much), but the point value. It was...frustrating.

I hear it works really, really well for some people though. :D

Original Post by jaefuma:

I was able to eat...but I didn't really like it. I lasted a month before it just got...annoying. I like calorie counting cause it's more straight forward. I don't care what they think it's worth, just if I have enough  calories for it. *w* I couldn't even eat what I wanted, because I knew the calorie count didn't matter (much), but the point value. It was...frustrating.

I hear it works really, really well for some people though. :D

 I never really felt that it was much different than calorie counting.  I thought it was great that it incorporated fat and fiber into the points.  Of course I used the old system, way WAY back - I think it was called winning points.  They didn't do the silly 35 extra and all that nonsense then. It was MUCH more straightforward.  So it sounds like the new system is more difficult.  Glad I did it when I did!!  :-)

I tried WW a few times -- the first time it really worked, I took off 35 lbs just from counting points and working out....  the other two times were not as successful -- I no longer wanted the group hugs and warm fuzzies....

Anyway, I never started with fewer than 26 points, add in the flex points and that was 31 per day for me, not including any activity points.  I happen to enjoy eating high fiber foods, so I was easily able to stay within my points (as a matter of fact, i was often forced to stuff food down JUST to get to my minimum 26 points).

I didn't like it, although i was successful, because i don't think it teaches the right things.  I learned early on how to manipulate the plan to my advantage -- now, I still lost the weight, but I changed nothing about the behaviors that caused me to put on the weight.  And, I viewed it as a "diet" -- something with a start and an end.

Counting calories encourages me to make better choices, smarter selections.  It is a way of life.  Although not obsessive, I am definitely aware of what I am putting into my body, and whether it is a positive thing or negative -- I also know that if I wish to eat those 'negative" things -- then I MUST move pretty extensively....

I did W.W in May 04 and lost 6 stone(in a yr and 3 months)  but it think it became a novelty and almost a hobby for me at the time (i also regularly overdosed on veg). It did work well , if you go to the meetings etc. However I now calorie count and im actually lighter than the goal weight at W.W. I prefer calorie counting as its not restrictive and you dont have to look up the sat fat in everything.

I was on it about 3 years ago, and I lost 30lbs over the course of  6months. Not bad, except I got tired of counting the  points, and it just got way too expensive. They raised the rates and I just jumped off the wagon.

CC is much easier, not to mention, free. :3