Weight watchers vs slimming world

[Wenchelda]

Hi, never posted on this topic before so be gentle! I need to lose about a stone. I'm rubbish at dieting - always feel hungry. Do minimal exercise (20mins approx 4 x a week). I did slimming world 4years ago and did lose but only stuck to it for about a month and to be honest it made me miserable. I know there's all the "free food" but I didn't want to eat that and so still felt hungry. I've tried using "my fitness pal" for the last couple of weeks and am struggling to stay within my daily calorie allowance. Last night I came across ww again and had a look at the website - it seemed a bit confusing saying there's several different ways to do it... Counting / pro points etc. can someone explain these to me please? There's an offer online at the mo for £12 for a month or £30 for 3 months and I don't know whether to join. I'm unable to get to actual meetings so would be doing it all online. Any advice please?

[Wenchelda]

Anyone?

[RosinaCopper]

Hi Wenchelda, I've done both WW and SW in the past and while I was following each plan I lost weight. Unfortunately I am currently at my heaviest weight ever, so while I know both plans work (and work well) you do have to stick with them! Like you I also tried MFP, but didn't really get on with that either. I have about 2 stone to lose.

I've not tried the new Extra Easy plan on Slimming World, so I can't comment on that, but I think that if you like plenty of variety and don't mind weighing and measuring every last morsel, then WW is better, but if you like to have a bigger plateful of food but don't mind having less variety, then SW is a better choice.

So in my opinion it's quantity (SW) vs variety (WW)

That said, I signed up with WW online 12 days ago and have lost 1.5lb so far, and am staying within my points allowance without too much effort at the moment. I haven't tried a Healthy and Filling day yet (sounds similiar to SW to me!) but might do once I've lost a bit of weight.

[honeyroar]

The weight watchers filling and healthy plan is similar to sw - no weighing or measuring, just unlimited healthy food plus weekly points for other things.

The new pro points is the same principle as before, you get daily points depending on your age/height/weight then weekly points on top. Lots of foods will have different values to when you last did it, so you'd need to study it a bit (which gets you really focused anyway).

I se to do better on ww points than sw, I feel like I can have more treats.

[Sixgeese]

I have done both and they both worked for me, to a point.

I lost 6 1/2 stone at SW, and then stopped losing still a couple of stone from my goal weight. I did Extra Easy but I suppose I never really got to grips with portion control. I had a list of foods that I could eat unlimited amounts of and I did.

After 18 months of struggling (and gaining a stone back on) I signed up to the Mumsnet WW product test. I have now lost 2 stone with them (over 8 stone in total), WW Filling and Healthy approach is very similar to SW Extra Easy, but I do better with counting points and feel it fits in better with me for my family life and if I want to go to Pizza Express or McD with the children I can as long as I point and count what I am eating.

I am about 1/2 from my goal weight and for the first time I really think it is achievable.

[Jamrollypolly]

I think the effectiveness of each plan really depends on what fits in best with your life style. As with any plan it has to be sustainable or the weight just piles back on, when you revert to old habits. I joined SW in January and have lost 1 stone in 2 months, my husband who eats the same food as me has lost a stone and a half. The advantages of SW are that it's family friendly, a life style change (reducates you about food choices), pretty simple to follow as there is very little weighing/measuring and you can still eat bread, potatoes and pasta! No food is banned you have up to 15 syns and you decide how to use them. It is also great for those who cook from scratch because the whole family can eat the same food. Although they have just started selling ready meals in Iceland. Today I'm making pizza chicken (using a chicken fillet as a base with pizza sauce, toppings & cheese)and SW chips served with salad.

I have never tried weight watchers but can see myself using SW long term and hopefully loosing weight.

[sangey1]

I have previously done, stuck to and achieved on SW but after putting on a few pounds have been back to SW when they started the Orange days and found I was not loosing the weight as well as when I was on the Red / Green days. I'm just wondering whether a change in approach on WW will help be achieve better / quicker.

[29PaddingtonSt]

Jamrollpolly "The advantages of SW are that it's family friendly, a life style change (reducates you about food choices), pretty simple to follow as there is very little weighing/measuring and you can still eat bread, potatoes and pasta! No food is banned"

This statement could apply exactly to WW too. I've never done SW (lost 4 stone with Weight Watchers) but the whole talk about Syns irritates me.

[Charell20]

Let's be honest a cucumber is a cucumber, it's healthy on both plans. They are both successful weight loss techniques but the problem for me is sticking to it! I currently do weight watchers and it works when you stay on plan

[Wisheverydaywasfriday]

I've done both plans (currently doing WW). My problem on SW was no quantity restrictions. So I found myself eating piles of SW chips, loads of fruit and yoghurt as they were 'free'. Weight loss tailed off very quickly. I like having a set amount of points to 'budget', so I know I am not eating too much.

I also really disliked the SW classes, which could go on for ages, with some people talking forever!!

[CurlY21]

Hi everyone,

sorry for disturbing the conversation.
But I was wondering where SW consultants are localized and how are they dispatched please?
I will move to Leicester and I have realized they are sometimes a lot in the same region. However, it is sometimes almost impossible to find some in other case.

Thank you!

Curly

[hippychick62]

Hi, can I ask someone who is currently doing WW. Is it still the new plan where chocolate is now silly points? I loved WW and was very successful, but they had a new plan where my guilty pleasure, a freddo went from 2 to 6 points. I know lean meat went down in points, but I'm not a big meat eater. I found I couldn't stick to my points and after 2 years cancelled my membership.

Now I'm back to square one, 2 stone heavier and need to go somewhere. Would appreciate any advice. Thank you.

[Littlepond]

I do WW online only. I love it. I've done slimming world in the past and WW is way better. Slimming World teaches nothing about portion control, so it's fine to stuff your face and eat loads, then when you fall off plan you still have a big appetite and eat loads of the wrong food! I fine WW so much easier to stick to, I eat much less now without being hungry, so if I do fall off plan I eat smaller amounts of the bad stuff. So much easier to fit around every day life.
I definitely recommend WW having done both plans. The app is great too, really helps keep me on track!

[twinmummy25]

Littlepond I'm exactly the same, I've tried SW a few times and although initially I lost weight I really struggled with normal life with it. WW always has been the better option for me as I have the flexibility to have that blow out (so to speak) but still remain on track and on plan. My overall appetite over time has decreased too which never happened on SW.
For me personally, going to a meeting was always a better option even if I didn't stay because I got into the routine of knowing I was checking in with someone rather than relying on being strong and weighing myself!
Plus the app is fantastic, it's really great to be out and have the ability to check properly what foods are in terms of points to make an informed choice of what to eat.

[Littlepond]

I think psychologically I prefer all food being counted together in the one "smartpoints" category rather than good vs naughty (speed vs son or whatever it is). Yesterday I had a doughnut as part of my lunch - I'd counted it in and that was that - lunch was 14 points including doughnut. Rather than feeling like I'd 'blown' most of my 'syns' in just one food item, it was part of my balanced day. I wouldn't do it everyday but I didn't feel like I'd been bad or have any food regret, which SW did used to make me feel. The "5-15 syns" to me meant that if I went over 5 I'd feel I'd had too much cos I could just stick with 5. On WW it's eat all your points, have your 30 and enjoy them!

I did lose weight on SW but soon put it all back on, and more... I don't know anyone who stayed skinny long term with SW!

[Blankiefan]

I've done both and lost in both. I'm on SW currently.WW lost me when they ramped up the "cost" if sugar - I just found it too strict so never kept it up.

I find SW more sustainable and def more family friendly but ultimately neither allows me to sit with a share bag of minstrels/ kettle chips / big now of donuts which is my issue. I think either plan works but neither sorts your head out!

[Beardsareweird]

I think either plan works but neither sorts your head out!

That has to be the truest thing i have heard for a long, long time! I joined SW in August 2011, and by April 2013, had lost 7.5 stone. I have regained 5 stone of that loss and feel like such an idiot, but I just cannot get my head back into it. I have now joined WW and am folloewing the No Count plan. i hate myself for having to rely on a fat club :(

[Sinthus79]

My husband and I are currently doing weight watchers and in 8 weeks I've lost 17lbs. Before we joined we were having the discussion of which club to use, I have done weight watchers meetings before and sort of done SW but decided weight watchers as 15syns felt physiologically not enough. I disagree with some of the professionals opinions that these plans don't encourage you to calorie count, yes specifically you don't just consider that but they do help you think about watching your food. Plus I really love the app where you can scan regular shopping items and get smart points and if it's not in the list you can use the smart calculator to get a point value.

[MamOfTwo]

Anyone know the format of WW meetings? SW meetings didn't really suit me - ie going round the group and mentioning every single person's loss/gain then everyone sitting around talking about the best mince to eat or similar! Are WW the same?

[Wilma55]

WW meeting usually half an hour after weigh ins. There's some giving out of certificates for weight loss etc and people are invited to comment on whether they've had a good/bad week and maybe why. There's a topic a week e.g. eating food of different colours or how to have a healthy bbq. No one is forced to speak but all are welcome to share ideas and ask advice. Way better than SW meetings which I hated. Hope that helps.

[MamOfTwo]

Thank you, Wilma - that sounds better!

[WhataHexIgotinto]

I'm about to start WW, I lost a fair bit on SW but the meetings put me off. Ours was a big group and from a 6.30 start, sometimes they didn't finished til 9pm, it was ridiculous but I felt under so much pressure to stay.

I know the WW meetings are much shorter, do they expect you to stay after weigh in or can you weigh and run if you need to?

[applesareredandgreen]

whatahex you are encouraged to stay to meetings in both WW and SW but for both plans you can weigh and go if you wish. They say that you are more likely to lose more if you stay to meetings. I don't know how true that is. I find the WW meetings a lot better - shorter and more to the point.

[silverstarr]

The first time I did WW I was at my heaviest. I lost 10lbs, was really motivated and obtained a certificate for getting to goal. I managed to keep off the pounds for ages. I think I went to a couple of weigh-ins when I remained within the allowable goal weight limits but then became stressed and ate to make myself feel better. I then tried Rosemary Conley and went to the exercise classes but lost interest and thought if the instructor seems to struggle with her weight what hope is there for me and stopped going.

I then tried the Zoe Harcombe (low carb) diet a couple of times and managed to lose a few pounds each time I tried it but it's hard to keep going without the incentive of weighing in at a class each week.

I'm now at the point where I need to do something as I'm sure my weight is ever creeping up but I don't seem to be in the right mindset. Maybe I just need to get myself along to a class and make the decision to stick to a diet plan and go for it!

I am now at my heaviest ever and my wardrobe of clothes that fit me is getting smaller. Meanwhile, I have a suitcase full of clothes when I was slim that I am still hoping to get into one day.. Maybe I should go back to weight watchers - at least I still have my gold card for when I reach target!

[retvet]

I am overweight, more than when pregnant with twins and have m.e. and osteoporosis. Can anyone help with advice on whether ww, or sw would be appropriate and which would be easiest for me. Or is calorie counting best to go for. I did the nhs thing and it said i should eat 1600 cals which sounds real lot. Any advice especially from anyone attending any local group really welcome. I am not good at being 'told' what to do either! yikes. I really would like to encourage my bones to mend so want to try and get alkilinising diet.....
Also if you do go to either group do u have to go every week and / or pay every week, or could you go once fortnight and just pay for session u go to?