The best way to change your eating habits and lose weight is to hold yourself accountable to the food you are eating. Tracking your food is the most effective way to do that. Without tracking it’s easy to think you are eating healthy – or within your means. However, if the scale is not budging or goes up then too much food is usually to blame. When you do not pay attention to the food you eat then most likely you are eating too much. This has been my experience every time my weekly weigh in does not go in my favor.
I hear over and over again that tracking food is tedious and takes too much time. Yes it will take time and some effort. But…I am here to tell you that tracking your food is essential to losing weight. To make changes to your eating habits you must pay attention and be intentional with your food. Tracking helps you do just that. Once you are comfortable with food portions and creat a structure for yourself then you can ease up on the tracking a bit. However, if you are struggling with your eating habits then tracking your food can provide a nice frame work and structure to keep you focused and intentional.
Two popular programs/and or systems people use to track their food are Weight Watchers and My Fitness Pal. There are other programs but those are the two my readers use most.
Anyway, I am often asked if I recommend one program over the other or why I chose My Fitness Pal over Weight Watchers. So in this post I am going to share the 3 reasons I prefer My Fitness Pal over Weight Watchers. Please note this is all based on my experience and by no means am I saying Weight Watchers doesn’t work or I don’t recommend it. Many people love Weight Watchers and rightfully so – it is sound weight loss program that many people can embrace and stick with. I am just speaking on what has worked for me. At the end of the day you need to find the system that works best for you.
My Fitness Pal is free
You can use My Fitness Pal completely free of charge. This was and still is huge for me and I know it is for a lot of my readers too. Let’s face it we like free. However, even though the MFP website and app don’t cost a dime they do not lack any features. They have a huge food database, an awesome recipe builder, progress reports, different apps you can utilize, a community forum, blogs, and tons of other features all free of charge. Everything you could possible need to help you lose weight can be found on My Fitness Pal free of charge.
Weight Watchers also has a great feature rich website and app along with the opportunity to attend weekly meetings – but it costs money. I pay about $20 a month. **please note I am a Weight Watcher member for educational purposes only and to calculate points for my recipes. I like to keep informed on the resources my readers are using.
Besides Weight Watchers meetings and the live chat feature I don’t see much difference between the two websites. If those two things are important to you then it might be worth it. However, in my opinion both websites offer the same basic type of weight loss tools.
My Fitness Pal is super easy to use
The MFP website and app are simple, functional, and easy to use and understand. After you sign up it doesn’t take a lot of effort to navigate and figure things out. I think this is important because most people prefer weight loss not to be complicated. As soon as losing weight becomes confusing most likely you will get discouraged – I know that is how I am. Even as My Fitness Pal evolves and changes their website I find it easy to follow and use.
The Weight Watchers website is a little bit clunky to me. It is still easy to navigate but there is lots of information and many different pages to sift through. This can get a little overwhelming for those just starting out. However, don’t let that discourage you because Weight Watchers definitely provides a lot of great information.
I prefer to track calories over points
This is a big reason why I chose MFP over Weight Watchers. Personally, I prefer to track calories and basic nutritional information over points. I am going to be honest – the points system confuses me. I do figure out the points for all my recipes – because my Weight Watchers readers want that -but I still get confused on the number of points a person should have for meals and snacks. For example, my raspberry overnight oats recipe is 322 calories and 8 weight watchers points plus. Well..I don’t think 322 calories is too much for breakfast. In fact, I think that is about average. However, some of my readers on Weight Watchers have said the 8 points is too much for breakfast. So I get confused with how points should be distributed throughout the day. Also, there are activity points and then fruit doesn’t count towards points. And then every now and then Weight Watchers goes and switches the whole point system up. My brain goes into overload. Therefore, I stick with simple and just track my calories. Calories never change.
I also think it is easier to eyeball the calories of a food rather than try to figure out the points. But that’s just me. Some people love the structure of the points system and if it works for you then stick with it.
Those are the 3 reasons I choose to use My Fitness Pal instead of Weight Watchers. Again, you need to use the program or system that you are most comfortable with. What works for one might not work for another. We are all different people with different needs and learning styles.
With that said, it is important to understand that nothing will work if you don’t work. You can sign up for every program and system under the sun but if you don’t change your lifestyle then you will never lose weight. My Fitness Pal and Weight Watchers are programs that provide the tools to keep you accountable with the food you eat. You have to be consistent with using those tools. But I know you can do it! So keep moving forward.
What about you? Do you use My Fitness Pal or Weight Watchers? I would love to hear your feedback on both of these systems in the comments.
Are you ready to start your weight loss journey? If so, check out my ebook Organize Yourself Skinny for my 5 strategies and some secrets to creating a healthy lifestyle and losing weight. I also provide a bonus 4-week make ahead meal plan to get you started. Read more about it here.
Jessica K says
So I’m a WW member for about a year now (down 25 lbs). I am an on again off again tracker and I definitely see success when I do. Their tracker is ok but I really like how the meetings contribute to my week. They have helped me tackle the emotional side to my eating program and I also like that I have a set time/place where people will miss me if I don’t go. It adds some accountability. I think whatever you do, as long as it works for you that”s the point. I’ve taken recipes from your site that I love!
Nadia says
I ju st joined WW and really don’t have ant problems with the pts. However, is it posdible to count points with my fitness?
Erika says
I’m interested if following you on my fitness pal. Would you share your user name?
Thank you
Michelle says
MFP is my app of choice. Being diabetic means I have to watch carb counts and MFP makes that so much easier than any other app I’ve tried. Plus the database is so much more extensive. And I love that I can scan barcodes for foods I eat and make my own lists.
Deb Kolar says
I use weight watchers for the points but find fitness pal easier to use and I really miss the nutritional breakdown that fitness pal provides.
Mary says
I used to use ww’s online but at least in Canada the scanner only acknowledges 1 in 10 foods! Also I was basically paying just to log my foods in. MFP is an amazing app that is simple and quick. Right now I also calculate pp but seeing the calories is definitely an eye opener.
Angie says
I’ve tried both WW and MFP, and honestly, I find them both to be tedious. I have been doing the 21 Day Fix (BeachBody) program – which is all based on portion control by using the number of containers allowed for the day, based on your current weight. I have found this to be so much easier. It also gives you a clearer impression of what an actual portion size should look like, so it’s much simpler to guage the correct amount of food to eat, even when you don’t have the measuring containers on hand. The videos that are included with the program are decent too. Besides anything Jillian Michaels, these have become my new go-to workouts.
Debbie says
I stopped using WW for exactly the same reasons. In addition, I found that the points didn’t really correlate with the nutritional value of the food/drink. For example, a can of Diet Coke has 0 points meaning that, in theory, I can drink as many Diet Cokes as I want. Likewise, fruit and (most) veg have 0 points. Again – fruit is full of sugar and should be eaten in moderation. However, an avocado has a whopping 12 points (or similar). With an allowance of 29 points per day (not taking into account my weekly 49 indulge points), eating an Avocado would be something I would want to avoid.
I switched over to MFP last November and haven’t looked back since. Not only do I get feedback on the vitamin content of my food, but I have lost weight steadily since. I do work out 4-5 days per week, but I found that being able to track calories (as opposed to points) has been more beneficial to me.
Lastly, WW has a very limited database. Extremely limited – particularly in the UK. MFP has nutritional values for just about any kind of food you can think of. And if it’s not there, you can scan the barcode!! Plus, my PT can look at my diary and provide feedback. Plus I can track my workouts! Love that app!!!
Jammie Joy says
I love MFP! I have been using it for about 4 years now. I lost my first 25lbs just by using mfp, measuring, and staying within my calorie goal, BEFORE I started changing my diet or adding exercise. JUST eating proper portions and calories. It was my bible! I still use it every day.
Kris says
I’ve not used MFP, but have successfully been on WW for the past 2 1/2 years. My understanding with WW is not all calories are created equal the the Points Plus system takes carbs, fats, proteins and fiber into account when creating points. The oatmeal breakfast is so many points because it’s carb heavy. WW helped me lose the last 10 pounds and keep it off!
Joi says
So glad that you pointed out that WW points acknowledges fat, fiber and protein in their points. The research that goes on behind the scenes at WW is why I am ok with paying for it. I have gone to meetings before and those helped, but I like the fact that as a company, they have evolved and continue to consider mental notes as one is losing weight. My fave concept from the new points plus is that one may not tend to overeat on fruits and veggies, as they may on low calorie treats…hence the 0 points assigned to them. It really helps with making better decisions (and cravings). Ww’s online community and online food tracker could use a major overhaul, but they have really improved their apps (their kitchen app for the iPad is so real when calculating receives). And thank god they integrated with Fitbit!
I have never used MFP, but I hear great things about it. And I applaud anyone who is taking a good look at their lifestyles and improving themselves.
Kiroysroy says
Your test for healthy eating is when you are invited to eat out and have to eat sensibly when others appear to have ‘have it all’! Hard work with a goal ahead is the key for success in any walk of life, as is summed up in the old adage of “No pain no gain”! Connecting with a diet tracker to stay committed is made easy with support from Careot App.
Vivian Orasco says
I would like to Thank you for being an inspiration. I have about 20 pounds to lose and reading your blog helps me stay, or get back on track. Love the recipes and weekly meal plans. You’re a doll
Vivian
Tammy Kresge says
thanks so much! keep going girl!
John says
Is there a way where I can import the recipes and/or food diary from Plan2Eat or from MFP to Plan2Eat? I would like to plan a week in advance and then adjust after the fact.
Julie says
I’ve done both, but right now prefer WW. If I eat most fruit and veggies, I know it’s 0 points! If I eat a huge salad, it’s 0 points. But with MFP, I have to figure out the calories, and that is just too much work for me now. I would really prefer free over having to pay, but at this time in my life, WW is better for me. I was reading a book on weight loss by Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, and he recommends taking your total amount of points allowed for the day, divide by 4. I’m at 26, so that would be about 6.5. So you would eat 6 or 7 points per meal (don’t forget you have weeklies) and then divide the last 6 points by 3 (am snack, pm snack, bedtime snack; or by 2 if you don’t eat before bed). That’s how he recommends you distribute your WW points. (Btw, he is the founder and medical director of, the Bariatric Medical Institute which provides non-surgical weight management.) Thank you for sharing this with us.
kristi says
I ‘very done Weight Watchers in the past and it’s a great program but points are harder to keep track of then caleries. I use Sparkpeople.com great Web site and a reps that keep track of calories and exercise. There is a reps lot of info a vailable. Lost 50lbs. Always before a bad day would throw me off and I wound ‘ get back on track. Spark has changed food. I’ve learned that you need to alow yourself to give into your cravings ounce in awhile. You just have to make healthier choices the rest of the week.
Renee says
I am a weight watchers member I do both online and meetings. I love it!!! I only found out about My Fitness Pal this week a friend of mine showed me. I think it’s awesome. Great for accountability. I know for me, I need the actually meetings and the threat of the scale each week to keep me honest.