Hello I am having a serious issue here. I started a free trial of Weight Watchers online to check it out. I'm not sure yet. My problem is I can't decide whether to go w/ WW or do calorie counting. I like the points idea but then again it kind of seems easier to calorie count. Ugh. I don't know what to do What are your thoughts on either one and what makes them work for you?

Honestly, I'm frugal and I refuse to pay for anything I don't have to. Counting calories is easier for me because I can buy what I want as long as I watch my portion sizes.

For me Calorie Counting hands down.

I looked into Weight Watchers and decided to go with calorie counting. It seemed easier to me and something I could use my whole life with the help of a calorie counting book. A lot of people do it online. I bought the book:

The Protein Counter 3rd edition
By Annette B. Natow, Ph.D., R.D.
and Jo-Ann Heslin, M.A., R.D.

The book tells you everything you need to know on how to figure out your daily caloric needs in the first 17 pages. (very easy) The rest of the book is a calorie counting book that gives the values of over 15,000 foods it counts calories, carbohydrates, Fats and proteins. It even has a restaurant eating out section.

The only thing the book doesn't tell you is to convert the calories of carbohydrates, Fats and proteins into grams for easy counting. I keep track of them to insure I'm getting proper nutrition.

1 gram of carbohydrate = 4 calories
1 gram of Fat = 9 calories
1 gram of Protein = 4 calories.

This is a good site to get an idea of calorie needs.

http://www.sheerbalance.com/nutritio...n-calculators/

You'll need to find or make Food Journal.

If you're going to count calories buy:

Rolodex with small cards one that twirls.
Pencils and big eraser
Pencil sharpener
Food scale, digital

The Rolodex will help you keep track of the values of foods that you use the most. When you figure out the values of the calories, carbohydrates, fats & protein for a food write it on a card. You should find a chart showing the measurements for cups, teaspoons, tablespoons…

I break down food to the ounce, and write it in my Rolodex it's just more accurate and in the long run easier to figure. Write the food choice on a card then next line write the abbreviations; Cal Car Fat Pro. Then on the next line write the food amount and calories & gram values for that amount .

It seems like a lot at first but it gets easier once you get use to it. If you want to be thin it's easier than a Grapefruit diet.

I plan on counting calories for the rest of my life even when I'm Extra Lean thin. You can do anything that you want and anything that fits into your personal lifestyle. It's your life live it healthy

Ekicna, I agree about not spending money unless I have to. That's deffinately one of the things I DON'T like about the WW. Kit in AZ, Thank you for all the info. I really appreciate it. Gives me something more to look into.

I know people many people love Weight Watchers, and I hope some of them chime in to give you a contrasting answer. For myself, I'm a calorie counter because it's pretty much free!

Kit in AZ gives you some suggestions, but my only MUST HAVE tools are my digital food scale (cheap, easy, accurate) and my free, online food tracker/diary (I use Livestrong but there are many to chose from).

I'm a calorie counter for life. And, since it means I get to maintain my weight loss, I'm OK with that.

I'm with JenMusic on this one; I love my online food tracker (FitDay is the one I use) and my digital scale. I'm a calorie-counter as well.

From what I can tell, this is how I'd break it down:

WW Advantages--

- Strong support system via meetings, newsletters, etc.
- A streamlined new Points Plus system
- Allows a wide variety of foods
- No need to count everything, as some items are zero points

CC Advantages --

- Costs nothing
- Allows complete variety of foods, as nothing is off-limits
- Is the basis for most exchange systems and point systems
- Will never change, update, get a makeover, or otherwise become obsolete

Both systems have a proven track record, so I don't think there's a "wrong" choice here, just a question of finding out which choice suits you best.

I don't think the method matters nearly as much as the starting/following through.

There's almost a cultural superstition about choosing the "right" method, or an assumption that the only way to lose weight correctly is to follow one plan start-to-finish.

While some people do find some plans more effective than others (I do best when I restrict carbs, and I like exchange plans, so my preference is a low-carb exchange plan), I think the how isn't nearly as important as the doing of it.

I think you could follow a different plan every week if you wanted to, and you could still lose weight just as well as someone who chose one plan for the duration.

Experiment with one plan or a thousand, it probably doesn't matter, just get started and keep using your head (evalutate what works for you, and work on doing more of the things that work, and fewer of the things that don't).

Frequent experimenting may slow your progress, or it might not. I've used at least a half dozen plans to lose 90 lbs. My progress has been quite slow, but not because of the experimenting, but because I'm deliberately choosing small changes (and when you make small changes, you see small results).

For me, when I try to make huge changes, I end up falling into binge/purge mode. That's something I learned about myself. Giving up rapid weight loss has also allowed me to give up rapid rebound gains.

I've also learned that I do best when there's an in-person accountability component at least once per week. WW is beyond my budget, and I prefer exchange plans, so I chose TOPS (taking off pounds sensibly, a non-profit weight loss group which leaves food plan choice to the individual).

Trial and error is the only way to find what works best for you, so my advice is start trying. Try different food plans, exercise plans, support resources...

The single most useful tool is probably the journal. You can use it to document whatever you think might be important.

My philosophy is "choose the least restrictive plan that works." You can add components just for variety, or to test whether different tractics improve your results or your satisfaction with your plan.

Just don't use indecision as a reason to put off starting. Starting is a lot more important than "getting it right."

In many ways, I've "failed off" 90 lbs, because I haven't lost any of this weight by way of patterns I associated with success. Even "failure-prone" experiments allowed me 90 lbs of weight loss.

If there's only one thing you stick to, is deciding not to choose "free-for-all" eating between food plans. It's as "traditional" to weight loss as the bachelor party is to weddings. You know it - the "I'll eat whatever I want this (weekend, week, month) because I'm starting a new plan fresh on (whenever). And if you haven't decided on a plan yet, why the free-for-all can be indefinite (and often traditionally lasts until you've regained every ounce you lost on the old plan, and probably a few more to spare).

Choose a plan (flip a coin if you have to) but get started. You can change your mind later and as often as you want (just don't take a "vacation" from dieting between changes).

I spent a lot of money over the years on differnt programs including weight watchers. One day I had an epiphany and said "Why am I paying someone to tell me what to eat ?" I now count calories , it works well for me, it is flexible, easy , and best of all it is free. You need minimal equipment. I find a good calorie counting book, I like The Calorie King Calorie and Carbohydrate Counter, a pencil a notepad. Most other things you probably already have such as a scale and a computer.You don't need to buy any special foods.and it is good training for the rest of your life when you reach goal.

I am right there with you as far as the frugal thing. Converting things into points didn't appeal to me--plain old calorie counting did and does.

No matter your method, they both have potential for success.

I'll give you a completely different perspective. I recommited myself to losing weight and getting fit on January 1st of this year. On January 4th I walked into a Weight Watchers center (for the 4th time, at least) and started the point plus program. For 9 weeks, I gained and lost the same 6 pounds over and over again. On March 21st, 2011 I threw my hands up in frustration and decided to switch to calorie counting. On March 21st I weighed 265. Today, I weigh 246.9.

Calorie Counting. Hands down.

There is absolutely NO need to pay for this. Discipline, Diet modification (and by that I simply mean a reduction in calorie intake as well as making wholesome, nutrient rich choices), and of course exercise. I do Zumba at least five times a week, combined with step aerobics and a boot camp class twice a week. I push myself hard. My body is thanking me.

Truly, if I can do this anyone can. Mind over matter.

More words of true wisdom from Kaplods. Pick something to start, and START!

Oh so so true! The key is to START and to STICK WITH IT. Stick through the plateaus, the bloat, the lack of motivation - just STICK with it. I am an advocate of calorie counting - its free! The 20th of this month will be one year since I started and thank God I have been successful - down 38lbs and past my goal weight! But the key is consistency!

I have 2 friends who started out calorie counting with me and sadly they are not yet at their goal weight even though they had less to lose. The reason is they keep veering off the plan - they did not stick with it.

So regardless of the plan - you need to stick to it for it to work. I found something that works for me which I can carry through for life, I hope you find the same.

As overpriced as I personally believe WW is, I disagree. There can be a need and a benefit to what WW offers. Some people need (or just want and that's ok too) the weekly in-person support. If you're one of those people there's absolutely no shame in paying for a service you find beneficial.

What you have to make sure of, is that you're getting a benefit and that the cost is worth it to you.

If TOPS (taking off pounds sensibly) were not available in my area, I would consider Weight Watchers if I could fit it in the budget. Not because I need someone telling me what to eat, but because I do best when I have in-person support and the accountability of an in-person weigh-in.

I've known people in WW who don't follow the WW plan - they calorie count or follow non-WW food plans, but go to WW for the weekly accountability.

For those people, the cost is worth the benefit of support.

Support is often undervalued in weight loss. Often there's social pressure not only to "do it on your own," but to keep it secret as well. Exercise in secret. Diet in secret. Live in secret, until you're an "acceptable" weight.

Some people may get enough support on this website alone. Others (definitely I'm one of them) need in-person support.

There's one woman in my TOPS group who is also a WW member. For her, one in-person meeting a week isn't enough support. So she pays not only WW fees, she also pays TOPS fees (although a year in TOPS is cheaper than a month in WW), for the benefit of two meetings a week.

I've considered joining or even creating a second weight loss group in order to have two meetings/weigh-ins a week. I don't want to pay WW prices, and while TOPS allows you to join other weight loss groups, it doesn't allow you to be a member of more than one TOPS group (you can attend other groups' meetings, but no double weigh-ins. And all the TOPS groups in my area meet on Monday or Tuesday. Ideally I'd want a meeting on Friday or Saturday).

You can find or create free support systems, but just as in every other aspect of life, the cheapest or free solution isn't always the most practical, and it's never entirely free. I could buy a cow, and get "free" milk, but it's not really free because I'd have to buy and take care of the cow.

If you need support, paying for it is often "cheaper" in the long run than creating it yourself from scratch.

The important part is getting value for what you pay for, and knowing where the value lies. For me, in-person support and the weigh-in in front of people I like and respect is pricelessly valuable. I just need to find a way to get another mid-week "fix".

As much as I value the support I get here, it's the in-person groups that keep me motivated. Ultimately I know that no one here at 3FC can see my progress. Unfortunately it takes the pressure off, and makes it easier to procrastinate.

There's no shame in needing and wanting in-person support - or for paying for it if you have to.