A Thread
KateSimpson17
Posts: 282 Member
Alright, I joined MFP to help myself and started looking at and joining the forum because I was hoping for a helpful and supportive community. So here's a thread where you can tell me (and anyone else) anything you think I might not know regarding diet and exercise and MFP. Enjoy.
Edit: I don't mean for this to be about any other threads. I am really interested in learning from other people. As long as you are kind I am more than willing to listen to anything you might have to say.
Edit: I don't mean for this to be about any other threads. I am really interested in learning from other people. As long as you are kind I am more than willing to listen to anything you might have to say.
0
Replies
-
Unfortunately, Katey, it's impossible for any of us to know what you do know or don't know, so you'd be best to start off reading the links at the bottom of my MFP primer I will post below. A few other tips: In the forums, don't use the word 'tone' in the sense of muscle mass, don't read verbal tone into posts.
Buy a food scale, weigh and log everything.
Do cardio if you want, and if you do, only eat back 50% of your calories (if you are losing faster than expected after logging for a few weeks, then up the % you eat back). Lift weights and hit your protein goal to help maintain muscle mass while losing. Don't log strength training calories unless losing faster than expected. Also, After burns don't really exist.
Cheat meals that take you over maintenance will sabotage your efforts. Log the cheat meals too (falls under the 'log everything' rule).
Eat anything you want in moderation, keeping in mind that your diet will be easier to stick with if you chose foods that make it easier to stay under your calories without feeling hungry.
Also it would be a good idea to read some of the best forum posts such as:
Calorie Counting 101
Logging Accuracy, Consistency, & You're Probably Eating More Than You Think
A Guide To Get You Started on Your Path To Sexy Pants
And since you're interested in stomach fat:
So You Want A Nice Stomach0 -
blankiefinder wrote: »Unfortunately, Katey, it's impossible for any of us to know what you do know or don't know, so you'd be best to start off reading the links at the bottom of my MFP primer I will post below. A few other tips: In the forums, don't use the word 'tone' in the sense of muscle mass, don't read verbal tone into posts.
Buy a food scale, weigh and log everything.
Do cardio if you want, and if you do, only eat back 50% of your calories (if you are losing faster than expected after logging for a few weeks, then up the % you eat back). Lift weights and hit your protein goal to help maintain muscle mass while losing. Don't log strength training calories unless losing faster than expected. Also, After burns don't really exist.
Cheat meals that take you over maintenance will sabotage your efforts. Log the cheat meals too (falls under the 'log everything' rule).
Eat anything you want in moderation, keeping in mind that your diet will be easier to stick with if you chose foods that make it easier to stay under your calories without feeling hungry.
Also it would be a good idea to read some of the best forum posts such as:
Calorie Counting 101
Logging Accuracy, Consistency, & You're Probably Eating More Than You Think
A Guide To Get You Started on Your Path To Sexy Pants
And since you're interested in stomach fat:
So You Want A Nice Stomach
All of this is awesome info! I know you can't know what I do and do not know, there are some things here that I already know, but I'm sure there are plenty of other people that don't know them!0 -
Don't think people are being mean when they give you direct advice ...the directness generally comes from the constant need to repeat the same message. If people didn't have good intentions they wouldn't post in the first place, unless they are clearly just all about hearing themselves speak, and those posters are pretty easy to spot
Read everything with an open mind, use science to back things up and not tabloid fodder or "dem feels"
If you don't understand, ask ...even if it makes you feel a bit dumb
Don't be intransigent there's always people who know more. At the same time don't get browbeaten just because derp is spouted with confidence ...look for the credible research to back up areas of confusion
All weight control is about CI<CO, the route you choose has to work for you and have a long-term validity ...you will always need to be somewhat conscious of your CICO
Don't approach this as a short term fix with an end in sight...there is no "when I'm this weight I can just forget it all". Maintenance takes some effort too, have a plan
Don't put off living until you hit some number on the scale or some version of your body you feel is "more acceptable" have confidence in yourself, confidence is attractive.0 -
Don't think people are being mean when they give you direct advice ...the directness generally comes from the constant need to repeat the same message. If people didn't have good intentions they wouldn't post in the first place, unless they are clearly just all about hearing themselves speak, and those posters are pretty easy to spot
Read everything with an open mind, use science to back things up and not tabloid fodder or "dem feels"
If you don't understand, ask ...even if it makes you feel a bit dumb
Don't be intransigent there's always people who know more. At the same time don't get browbeaten just because derp is spouted with confidence ...look for the credible research to back up areas of confusion
All weight control is about CI<CO, the route you choose has to work for you and have a long-term validity ...you will always need to be somewhat conscious of your CICO
Don't approach this as a short term fix with an end in sight...there is no "when I'm this weight I can just forget it all". Maintenance takes some effort too, have a plan
Don't put off living until you hit some number on the scale or some version of your body you feel is "more acceptable" have confidence in yourself, confidence is attractive.
All of this is awesome advice! I especially love your last two points. Not putting off living is something I definitely need to remind myself of more!0 -
rabbit is wise <nods>
0 -
blankiefinder wrote: »rabbit is wise <nods>
omg that is the cutest bunny!0 -
blankiefinder wrote: »rabbit is wise <nods>
Rabbit is awesome.0 -
Yes on the food scale.
We post lots of .gifs around here. You should, too because they're funny.
Don't take yourself or this forum too seriously.
Pay attention to the people that give you advice - how much have they lost? How long have they been around? Can you see their diaries? Do they have real pics of themselves up? These are important, IMO. Results matter to me when I'm seriously considering advice.
Make sure you have goals set beyond a set weight or size. Do you want muscles? Flexibility? Strength? Start working on those goals now!
Whatever exercise you chose, make sure it's something you love.
One day will not erase all your progress.
No matter what, don't give up. Losing weight is hard. Being fat is hard. Choose your hard.0 -
TheVirgoddess wrote: »Pay attention to the people that give you advice - how much have they lost? How long have they been around? Can you see their diaries? Do they have real pics of themselves up? .
Aaack I just lost all my cred! Lol... One of these days I will get over my photo issues...0 -
TheVirgoddess wrote: »Yes on the food scale.
We post lots of .gifs around here. You should, too because they're funny.
Don't take yourself or this forum too seriously.
Pay attention to the people that give you advice - how much have they lost? How long have they been around? Can you see their diaries? Do they have real pics of themselves up? These are important, IMO. Results matter to me when I'm seriously considering advice.
Make sure you have goals set beyond a set weight or size. Do you want muscles? Flexibility? Strength? Start working on those goals now!
Whatever exercise you chose, make sure it's something you love.
One day will not erase all your progress.
No matter what, don't give up. Losing weight is hard. Being fat is hard. Choose your hard.
I like this a lot - especially the part about paying attention to the people giving you advice. Some people do have great personal experience and knowledge.0 -
Don't drop the soap... oh wait.0
-
blankiefinder wrote: »TheVirgoddess wrote: »Pay attention to the people that give you advice - how much have they lost? How long have they been around? Can you see their diaries? Do they have real pics of themselves up? .
Aaack I just lost all my cred! Lol... One of these days I will get over my photo issues...
Oh I don't think advice is only valid from people with those things
0 -
TheVirgoddess wrote: »blankiefinder wrote: »TheVirgoddess wrote: »Pay attention to the people that give you advice - how much have they lost? How long have they been around? Can you see their diaries? Do they have real pics of themselves up? .
Aaack I just lost all my cred! Lol... One of these days I will get over my photo issues...
Oh I don't think advice is only valid from people with those things
Photos and open profiles aren't the only people with good advice, however it's a lot easier to believe people who do. When people claim to know something different than what you've been told many times because they've been "successful" but their profile is closed I don't know what to think. They could easily be putting their "knowledge" out there and trying to back it up with their "success" just because they want people to listen to them, I wonder what they have to hide? Don't get me wrong, I understand privacy, but I don't really understand what people would be posting on MFP that would be private?0 -
TheVirgoddess wrote: »blankiefinder wrote: »TheVirgoddess wrote: »Pay attention to the people that give you advice - how much have they lost? How long have they been around? Can you see their diaries? Do they have real pics of themselves up? .
Aaack I just lost all my cred! Lol... One of these days I will get over my photo issues...
Oh I don't think advice is only valid from people with those things
Photos and open profiles aren't the only people with good advice, however it's a lot easier to believe people who do. When people claim to know something different than what you've been told many times because they've been "successful" but their profile is closed I don't know what to think. They could easily be putting their "knowledge" out there and trying to back it up with their "success" just because they want people to listen to them, I wonder what they have to hide? Don't get me wrong, I understand privacy, but I don't really understand what people would be posting on MFP that would be private?
Some people just don't like having photos of themselves/personal information just open on the internet, and that's fine. MFP is a huge place, lots of people use it, it's totally public and searchable, and it can be risky.
If they're talking sense, I will give them credit. If that person is on here touting a miracle pill, wrap, shake, or is trying to demonize random foods because they watched a "documentary" on Netflix, then no, I don't trust them.0 -
This content has been removed.
-
Alyssa_Is_LosingIt wrote: »TheVirgoddess wrote: »blankiefinder wrote: »TheVirgoddess wrote: »Pay attention to the people that give you advice - how much have they lost? How long have they been around? Can you see their diaries? Do they have real pics of themselves up? .
Aaack I just lost all my cred! Lol... One of these days I will get over my photo issues...
Oh I don't think advice is only valid from people with those things
Photos and open profiles aren't the only people with good advice, however it's a lot easier to believe people who do. When people claim to know something different than what you've been told many times because they've been "successful" but their profile is closed I don't know what to think. They could easily be putting their "knowledge" out there and trying to back it up with their "success" just because they want people to listen to them, I wonder what they have to hide? Don't get me wrong, I understand privacy, but I don't really understand what people would be posting on MFP that would be private?
Some people just don't like having photos of themselves/personal information just open on the internet, and that's fine. MFP is a huge place, lots of people use it, it's totally public and searchable, and it can be risky.
If they're talking sense, I will give them credit. If that person is on here touting a miracle pill, wrap, shake, or is trying to demonize random foods because they watched a "documentary" on Netflix, then no, I don't trust them.
Yup.
There's a few posters who seem like they know what they're talking about, but result to thinly veiled insults when questioned. Just be aware.
Know it's a public forum - you cannot control what comes out of it, but you can control what you get out of it.
Accept you're not a special snowflake. I know it feels good to think we're all unique, but when it comes to weight loss, not really. It really is about CI<CO. That being said, how you choose to achieve CI<CO is 100% up to you.
Try to not view weight loss as punishment.
(These are general "you" statements, not specific. Sometimes I really wish English had a different term for this, like most other languages.)
0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 176K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.6K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions