Does myfitnesspal really work? Please help :-)

Kelly1985

Hi Everyone

I'm very new to this, never calorie counted in my life, I've always done weightwatchers which is pointed but just lately becoming quite bored of it and have read lot's of success stories on the net about people who calorie count.

Does this really work?

Kel
x

kriskris92

Well, the act of calorie counting itself does not make you lose weight. It does, however, help make you more aware of what you're consuming and how many calories you should be eating each day. For some, it helps a lot, others find it a nuisance. I personally find it quite beneficial and it definitely helps keep me accountable. Good luck

JustPeachy044

MFP doesn't work. You do.

But yes, MFP is an awesome tool to help you get where you want to be and STAY THERE.

ramonafrincu

It does help. Consume less calories than you are burning= loose weight . It's all about calories!

jjay23

it keeps me in check, having the ability to see what I am consuming and energy used is really helpful at seeing why I wasnt losing weight before. works with me!

_chiaroscuro

MFP doesn't work. You do.

But yes, MFP is an awesome tool to help you get where you want to be and STAY THERE.

Quoting because you beat me to it.

jrnguyen

I began using MFP on June 3. I watch my calories and start every morning looking at success stories for motivation. In 10 days I've unofficially (as Saturdays are my weigh in days) lost 9 lbs! However, its not just calorie counting. I also began the 30 day challenge for some strength training.

babybl00310

I use MFP as well as following WW. All programmes work if you stick with them but if you're getting bored of WW have a look at what you are eating and try and change it up because the principles of both WW and MFP are the same- calories in v calories out.

Good luck!

Maddie_Price

I see Weightwatchers as basically simplified calorie counting- 1 point is about 40 calories, ish, then they anticipate you'll get about 300 calories from free fruit and veg, bringing you to around 1500 cals/day plus anything you earn, so yes calorie counting can work, if you're prepared to log what you eat and keep track then it'll work for you I think it's more clear and you have more control counting calories than with WW

Lifting_Knitter

Yes it does! Also, the forums are full of great information. Have transformed myself by being here.

meredithkrueger

It is great for logging and visualizing what you are doing. AND, it's FREE!!!!!!!

EmilyOfTheSun

It works if you do it right.
Get a food scale. And make sure you don't over estimate your calorie burns (you may want to consider getting a heart rate monitor).

Maddie_Price

re- more control I mean that one WW point is not always the same amount of calories as it's rounded up/down, but a calorie is always a calorie.

dawningr

Absolutely it works. I've been on here since January and am coming up on 60lbs lost. More importantly I'm 2 dress sizes down and going.

Follow the calorie intake, eat healthy foods, move your body and you're going in the right direction.

Feel free to add me as a friend if you'd like. We've got a great network of people on here :-)

elisa123gal

yes it works..but it isn't easy for me. I've always liked diet plans where I cut certain foods out and exercise and just lose weight without counting calories.

the problem is I always gained it back..not because of the diet (which were healthy) but because i had my head stuck in the sand about the science of food and the body.

With mfp you are forced to realize the relationship of calories in..and calories out. As I've been tracking since the beginning of the year.. I have not lost much at all.. only because when i stopped a few times ..I'd gain back my progress. But when i track. my calories on mfp... i slowly lose.

Right now.. I'm dedicated to tracking and exercising for a good long stretch to see how it goes. I don't want to be a lifetime dieter. I'd rather just figure out what I can eat to be the size I want.

toscarthearmada

MFP works if you're willing to work with it! Log everything and have fun!

onedayatatime12

It's helped me get over my plateaus, TWICE. If you're honest with yourself in logging, exercise, etc. it'll help you get where you want. I feel like it's really opened my eyes to what's really in the food out there, and has made me more wary of what I eat. I think it's been great for me thus far

WaxMama

In my opinion, weight loss is 40% knowledge, 30% self-discipline and 30% determination. The biggest key, for me at least, is knowledge and that's where MFP comes in. If you're aware of what you're putting into your body and the calorie content of the food you eat, chances are you're going to make better decisions. MFP is a great tool (especially the app!) for tracking what you eat. Studies have shown that simply keeping a food journal can greatly increase your odds of success. Do I think MFP works?! Absolutely! And I'm proof Please feel free to read my success story!! http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/979204-lost-50lbs-now-i-m-a-success-story-too-very-pic-heavy Good luck to you! :flowerforyou:

whiteheaddg

MFP really starts to shine when you use it as a planning tool. With few exceptions, I plan my entire next day's meals the night before. There are always some adjustments as the day progresses, but it keeps me honest and on target.

MyPureSteez

MFP doesn't work. All results seen on this site are to the placebo effect.

j/k of course it work. But you have to work more.

AbigailClarke48

Agree with others - I go on and off MFP as needed. My goal is to not need it.
Just a thought - when I was not careful about measuring I stopped losing. Measure - like magic - it goes down.
Good luck!! Hope that if MFP isn't the way for you that you find that works for you!

RVfrog

You have to do the work. MFP is a great tool to help you and there is alot of support here and really great people to help and encourage you.

emergencytennis

In my opinion, weight loss is 40% knowledge, 30% self-discipline and 30% determination. The biggest key, for me at least, is knowledge and that's where MFP comes in. If you're aware of what you're putting into your body and the calorie content of the food you eat, chances are you're going to make better decisions. MFP is a great tool (especially the app!) for tracking what you eat. Studies have shown that simply keeping a food journal can greatly increase your odds of success. Do I think MFP works?! Absolutely! And I'm proof Please feel free to read my success story!! http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/979204-lost-50lbs-now-i-m-a-success-story-too-very-pic-heavy Good luck to you! :flowerforyou:

What is the difference between self-discipline and determination?

brucewoodward13

If nothing else MFP has shown me where I have had blind spots when it comes to food. There were things I would eat willy nilly before thinking they were "healthy" so didn't matter... and then all those little snacks through the day add up if you don't watch yourself and most importantly BE HONEST about what you are eating. If anything overestimate calories in and underestimate calories burned then you can't go wrong.

I would also say, don't beat yourself up over binge days or meals, just make sure that over the course of a week you are generally within your allocated counts.

jasonheyd

Here's my experience:

It works, but...

It's not an exact science.
Everyone's different.
It's (probably) a lifestyle change, not a "diet."

MFP's a great tool for helping you be mindful of what you're putting into your body, and it's not bad for tracking what you're burning off from exercise & activity. But... it should be more than just calories in vs. calories out ... and, even if that's what you're looking for, calories in and out are both estimates, your body's going to fluctuate and change day to day, week to week, month to month.

So, don't expect perfection, and don't expect that you won't have weeks in a row of "WTF!? I was doing well, and now NOTHING!?"

If you use MFP to track what you eat, including keeping an eye on your macros (carbs, protein, fat), estimate what you burn from activity & exercise (and make sure you're getting some exercise!), and have the patience to make adjustments over several weeks to get things tweaked & "dialed in" to work for you -- and then be willing to make those adjustments all over again from time to time -- then yeah, it works.

And the other thing I'd add is that almost no one can "diet" all day, every day. You don't need to stop living your life, you don't really need to "never have another _____", just use MFP to keep things balanced, choose healthy food as your norm, and if you go out for Olive Garden's Tour of Italy every now & then, log it, factor it into your weekly totals, and keep living your life.

Like I said, it's a life-style change, a marathon & not a sprint, blah blah blah.

Kelly1985

WOW what quick replies! and some great ones too!

It definately does open your eyes to what you think is less calories than what it actually is, I was toying around with it before putting in some of the foods I eat now and when you see the calories it makes you thinks!

Think I'm just bored of the "points" system even though I know points its just calories! Its like I need a change!

I've also (this is my 3rd week) been walking to and from work which is about 6000-7000 steps (I have the WW's pedometer) and been doing skipping every other night. Not long bouts of skipping as its hard and I'm trying to build fitness/energy levels up, Tuesday night I did approx 20 minutes of fast skipping, slow skipping, couple of minutes rest. So I am trying other things in terms of exercise, oh and I've been practising the hula hoop!

I'll probably still stick to WW's but use this site as an eye opener haha!

xx

nikilis

no I lost 33lb through cookies, cakes and pies.

traumaticthrash

this tool is the best thing since sliced bread.

doitforabby

MFP doesn't work. You do.

But yes, MFP is an awesome tool to help you get where you want to be and STAY THERE.

THIS!

liddienicole

It really is great. Before I joined, i had no idea how many calories I was eating. It shocks you because you find out something you eat often is a lot of calories, and really makes you realise why you put on weight in the first place. I've been on here nearly a month and lost about 6 pounds - so its not fast weight loss but its gradual weight loss that means you are more likely to keep it off. Plus I find it so addictive - I love coming on here and logging my food. It's sort of like a game for me :P

benjib84

My simple opinion on this is all diets effectively work on calorie control and food optimisation.... only some diets go about it in a different way ie weight watchers = points, Slimming world = syns....

Having done all 3 i think MFP works best, as its simple, easy to use and you get rewarded for working out....

Ive tried to diet for 10 years and tried everything going and MFP has given me the best success