MFP doesn't work.
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One really strong feature, of MFP, is that is truly teaches us what our food should look like.
By that, I mean...what is 4 ounces of peas? What does a 3 ounce chicken thigh look like? How about that glass of wine...where in the glass do you stop to have 5 ounces?
This makes it easier when we are out for lunch or dinner too.8 -
This thread is decidedly odd.10
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comeonnow142857 wrote: »A tool won't be any doing work when it's not being employed. Why? Because it's not magic. You have to actually do it yourself.
Wait.....what? I bought a hammer and laid it down on the ground and have been wondering why I don't have a new house yet!
This explains so much......
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Alatariel75 wrote: »This thread is decidedly odd.
There have been a few odd ones recently2 -
On WW I lost 1.5 to 2 lbs per week. Never stayed the same or gained.
I am at 1200 calories per day
57 year old woman
180 lbs
Slightly active. Walk on treadmill 4x a week.
I recently did an experiment and I tracked everything in both WW and MFP for two weeks. Generally, to stay within my 30 WW points I was eating 1000-1250 calories per day. This is too low for me and at 1000-1250 calories my stomach is growing all day and I sometimes end up with a migraine. To hit me MFP target of 1340 calories per day (to lose 1lb per week) I was eating 37-42 points (higher protein days were closer to 42). On WW I also had to cut out healthy, filling snacks like fat free Greek yogurt and 1% cottage cheese that I relied on to keep me satisfied because I simply could not afford them in WW. There was also no way for me to ever work in an occasional meal out, glass of wine, or treat. Personally I think that using MFP (or Spark People, or Noom Coach, or any calorie tracking app) helps you learn more sustainable eating habits for the long term.10 -
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Look_Its_Kriss wrote: »I personally have a really strong dislike for weight watchers, especially now with their new program basically demonizing certain foods by making them double points.. I know people have been successful on it but.. to me its just money that could be spent else where.. I find them sneaky.. like.. with this new program.. it's almost like they want to set up a good portion of people to fail.. how can they make money if everyone who joins succeeds..
I agree, and I was a WWer for over a decade. The new program is completely subjective and punitive. They used to teach moderation and decent habits, now they demonise whole food groups and push their own products and agenda. They're becoming less and less relevant.10 -
Alatariel75 wrote: »Look_Its_Kriss wrote: »I personally have a really strong dislike for weight watchers, especially now with their new program basically demonizing certain foods by making them double points.. I know people have been successful on it but.. to me its just money that could be spent else where.. I find them sneaky.. like.. with this new program.. it's almost like they want to set up a good portion of people to fail.. how can they make money if everyone who joins succeeds..
I agree, and I was a WWer for over a decade. The new program is completely subjective and punitive. They used to teach moderation and decent habits, now they demonise whole food groups and push their own products and agenda. They're becoming less and less relevant.
Same. I did WW way back in the late 80s. I think I caught one of their last sane, simple, logic based programs. It really boiled down to calorie counting with a small eye on a couple macros. ( I think it was called their Fat and Fiber Plan) Being that it was pre-Internet, the meetings were basically just a source for moral support and for the booklets with calorie and macro counts for food and restaurants since we couldn't Google that yet. What they've morphed into kinda, for lack of a better word, disgusts me. I know that sounds harsh, but having experienced them when, as you say, they reached moderation and decent habits, it hurts to see they've gone they way of the almighty dollar when they used to actually be a decent source of help.6 -
OP I hear you and sympathize! The scale gets sooo stuck. Keep logging and trying to keep up with the 1200/day. I am just about where you are in weight and age and it is slow going. Some random days I lose 1-2 lbs after 2 wks of zip. Hang in there.3
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FitGirl_Running wrote: »You are right. MFP doesn't work. Oh, you can lose weight using MFP, but your chances of keeping the weight off are slim. I've been on MFP for years. I've had significant weight loss but gained it all back. All my MFP friends have either gained their weight back or are still struggling along trying to lose. Until I realized that diets don't work, and that making weight loss a goal doesn't work, I didn't have any real success. Those of you who want to say that you lost weight on MFP so it does work---it doesn't work unless you keep the weight off, so show me someone who has. I'll bet they are few and far between. Focusing on weight loss, counting calories, and dieting is just a recipe for disaster.
I'm here There's actually quite a few of us maintainers that hang out on MFP. 7 -
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FitGirl_Running wrote: »You are right. MFP doesn't work. Oh, you can lose weight using MFP, but your chances of keeping the weight off are slim. I've been on MFP for years. I've had significant weight loss but gained it all back. All my MFP friends have either gained their weight back or are still struggling along trying to lose. Until I realized that diets don't work, and that making weight loss a goal doesn't work, I didn't have any real success. Those of you who want to say that you lost weight on MFP so it does work---it doesn't work unless you keep the weight off, so show me someone who has. I'll bet they are few and far between. Focusing on weight loss, counting calories, and dieting is just a recipe for disaster.
That's like saying your car doesn't work as a means of transport to your workplace because it doesn't forcefully get your out of bed, dress you, strap you into the seat, fill itself with fuel then drive you to your workplace. In that sense you are correct. Your car is not a good tool for transport.
If you don't continue putting in the work needed to keep your calories at the appropriate level using any tool (be it MFP, WW, portion control or any calorie management tool), no weight loss tool really works.13 -
FitGirl_Running wrote: »You are right. MFP doesn't work. Oh, you can lose weight using MFP, but your chances of keeping the weight off are slim. I've been on MFP for years. I've had significant weight loss but gained it all back. All my MFP friends have either gained their weight back or are still struggling along trying to lose. Until I realized that diets don't work, and that making weight loss a goal doesn't work, I didn't have any real success. Those of you who want to say that you lost weight on MFP so it does work---it doesn't work unless you keep the weight off, so show me someone who has. I'll bet they are few and far between. Focusing on weight loss, counting calories, and dieting is just a recipe for disaster.
I've been on MFP for nearly 2 years, lost 80 lbs, and have maintained my goal weight for nearly one year.
IMHO, the only thing you got right is that "dieting is just a recipe for disaster".
The only way to keep the weight off it to eat less calories than you burn, so that means focusing on weight loss and counting calories, in one way or another.
Diets don't work because everyone is different.
So long as you eat what satisfies YOU and stay within your calorie limit, you'll keep the weight off.6 -
WinoGelato wrote: »jpommerening wrote: »1200 calories is not much food... what kinds of food are you eating? If you are seriously limiting yourself to only 1200 a day and not eating back some of your exercise calories, your body may be storing what it is offered because the body needs certain amounts of food to turn into ATP (energy) to keep the body functioning and to have energy to burn fat. it is is not getting protein rich foods with good fats and good carbs, it is going to hold on to what ever you have to offer it to use for energy to function.
my advise.... INCREASE your calories to 1600, and eat good proteins and good fats and then see what happens. feed your body energy rich food so it can work with you not against you.
ALSO... allow your self one day a week to splurge and boil over your calories. It gives you the change to not suppress your cravings, but it also gives your metabolism a boost and tricks your body. Holding at only 1200 calories your body starts to think it is starving itself and by splurging once a week I realizes it is not. And the good thing is, after you eat the craving foods and junk the first couple cheat days... you will see that you don't crave it near as much and it kinda makes you feel bogged down and you don't want it.
I have a medical background, a fitness and nutrition instructor... so I am not just talking out of my *kitten*...
You are a fitness and nutrition instructor that believes in starvation mode?
That's why you don't take food advice from a fitness instructor!9 -
MFP is a helpful tool to track your food and exercise. YOU make it work and the app helps to monitor your intake of calories, nutrition and the calories burned through exercise. Weightloss won't magically fall off just because you use this app but it assists with management and monitoring.
I've lost weight this way and it's slowly coming off. I've overeaten too and it helps me to halt that and account for it
When I get to goal I'll still use it to monitor an help me maintain. It's a fact if you eat too much, don't exercise and aren't aware of it and ignore it or go back to old unhealthy over eating you will put all your weight back on...SIMPLES0 -
FitGirl_Running wrote: »You are right. MFP doesn't work. Oh, you can lose weight using MFP, but your chances of keeping the weight off are slim. I've been on MFP for years. I've had significant weight loss but gained it all back. All my MFP friends have either gained their weight back or are still struggling along trying to lose. Until I realized that diets don't work, and that making weight loss a goal doesn't work, I didn't have any real success. Those of you who want to say that you lost weight on MFP so it does work---it doesn't work unless you keep the weight off, so show me someone who has. I'll bet they are few and far between. Focusing on weight loss, counting calories, and dieting is just a recipe for disaster.
Pick me! Pick me!
Lost weight over 10 months in 2013 and have kept it off ever since - fluctuating between a 3 kg window.
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I guess technically I maintained last year. I mean, I came out with a net 10lb loss but my mental health was all over the show and I still managed not to gain. So I'm going to call that nearly a year of successful maintenance and am back to losing again this year.
But yeah. Totally doesn't work. I should just give up and regain those 60lbs.7 -
FitGirl_Running wrote: »You are right. MFP doesn't work. Oh, you can lose weight using MFP, but your chances of keeping the weight off are slim. I've been on MFP for years. I've had significant weight loss but gained it all back. All my MFP friends have either gained their weight back or are still struggling along trying to lose. Until I realized that diets don't work, and that making weight loss a goal doesn't work, I didn't have any real success. Those of you who want to say that you lost weight on MFP so it does work---it doesn't work unless you keep the weight off, so show me someone who has. I'll bet they are few and far between. Focusing on weight loss, counting calories, and dieting is just a recipe for disaster.
MFP will help you lose weight and help you keep it off only if you used it as a tool to learn better eating habits. If you went right back you the eating habits you had before using MFP, then of course you gained it all back. MFP didn't make you over eat, you made those choices.
I lost weight on WW and kept it off for 5 years. Over the last 2 years I gained 5lbs back because life got nuts and I stoped paying close attention to what I eat. I was never home so I was buying breakfast and lunch at my office cafeteria 5 days a week, eating dinner out 2-4 days a week, and going happy hour a couple days a week. Its not WW or MFP fault that I over ate and gained weight. I've been using MFP to lose the weight and I will continue use MFP to maintain healthy eating habits and maintain my weight.6 -
FitGirl_Running wrote: »You are right. MFP doesn't work. Oh, you can lose weight using MFP, but your chances of keeping the weight off are slim. I've been on MFP for years. I've had significant weight loss but gained it all back. All my MFP friends have either gained their weight back or are still struggling along trying to lose. Until I realized that diets don't work, and that making weight loss a goal doesn't work, I didn't have any real success. Those of you who want to say that you lost weight on MFP so it does work---it doesn't work unless you keep the weight off, so show me someone who has. I'll bet they are few and far between. Focusing on weight loss, counting calories, and dieting is just a recipe for disaster.
I lost 95lbs in 2013. I gained 20 back last year due to hormonal contraception, depression and anxiety. I'm back down 86lbs, well on the way to my original loss.
I prefer to focus on weight loss and counting calories than die early of obesity-related problems. But it's your choice. Make excuses, or take control of your own life.3 -
On WW I lost 1.5 to 2 lbs per week. Never stayed the same or gained.
I am at 1200 calories per day
57 year old woman
180 lbs
Slightly active. Walk on treadmill 4x a week.
I haven't all the replies but this made me lol why change what's working ? If it's money you know the plan you can do it without paying now.
Calories are strict weigh solids on scales measure liquids in jugs
Log everything you eat and drink
Eat enough
Why are you in 1200 calories way too low if your honesty eating drinking only 1200 you'd lose weight
Thing is if your not losing but lost on we your not logging everything honestly
Everything needs logging sauces fruit veg etc etc0 -
FitGirl_Running wrote: »You are right. MFP doesn't work. Oh, you can lose weight using MFP, but your chances of keeping the weight off are slim. I've been on MFP for years. I've had significant weight loss but gained it all back. All my MFP friends have either gained their weight back or are still struggling along trying to lose. Until I realized that diets don't work, and that making weight loss a goal doesn't work, I didn't have any real success. Those of you who want to say that you lost weight on MFP so it does work---it doesn't work unless you keep the weight off, so show me someone who has. I'll bet they are few and far between. Focusing on weight loss, counting calories, and dieting is just a recipe for disaster.
So you are right.. it doesn't work if you don't use it... I have been on MFP a long time and gone up and down.. why? because I stopped.. my own issues, problems or whatever made me quit. When I used it correctly, it worked like a charm but life happens and I stopped (numerous times).. here I sit again a week into this time but I am not viewing it for weight loss only.. I need to do this for me and no matter what I need to continue. I have many friends on here who are maintaining on MFP and noticed quite a few in this thread alone.
If you stopped using it or friends did and did not maintain "maintenance" on MFP then that is YOUR problem, not the app or website.
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You occasionally see new people making their introductions saying things like, "I hope it works." And I always think, "You aren't ready." It's just another way to put the responsibility somewhere else. If the mindset isn't right, long-term failure is inevitable.15
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You occasionally see new people making their introductions saying things like, "I hope it works." And I always think, "You aren't ready." It's just another way to put the responsibility somewhere else. If the mindset isn't right, long-term failure is inevitable.
Though saying "I hope it works" could just be a sign that they've never tried to loose weight with calorie counting. Or they've failed in the past so they are nervous about this time. It doesn't always mean they aren't ready or not in the correct mindset.2 -
On WW I lost 1.5 to 2 lbs per week. Never stayed the same or gained.
I am at 1200 calories per day
57 year old woman
180 lbs
Slightly active. Walk on treadmill 4x a week.
I haven't all the replies but this made me lol why change what's working ? If it's money you know the plan you can do it without paying now.
Calories are strict weigh solids on scales measure liquids in jugs
Log everything you eat and drink
Eat enough
Why are you in 1200 calories way too low if your honesty eating drinking only 1200 you'd lose weight
Thing is if your not losing but lost on we your not logging everything honestly
Everything needs logging sauces fruit veg etc etc
the plans change often,the points change often. ww never stays the same so its hard but she could probably find someone she knows doing it and they can help her out with what is X amount of points and go from there.0 -
I foolishly had a WW ready meal today. It was like something they probably serve in retirement homes where the patients are too old to complain. Absolutely horrible. I do not understand how people can survive on that stuff.
I will go back to my (weighed-out) homemade vegetable soup and lentils tomorrow.
And MFP does work! It's basically science.4 -
It means you're not logging accurately or overestimating your calorie burn or both. Or you have MFP set at too high of a calorie level for your activity.
You have to make adjustments if it's not working. There's nothing magical about weight watchers compared to MFP, you have to be in a caloric deficit with either program for them to work. If you're not, you'll maintain or gain.
Weight watchers makes it easy though since you don't have to weigh and log your food if you're eating their frozen meals 3x per day. This makes me think you are not logging accurately, even if you are logging diligently.1 -
FitGirl_Running wrote: »You are right. MFP doesn't work. Oh, you can lose weight using MFP, but your chances of keeping the weight off are slim. I've been on MFP for years. I've had significant weight loss but gained it all back. All my MFP friends have either gained their weight back or are still struggling along trying to lose. Until I realized that diets don't work, and that making weight loss a goal doesn't work, I didn't have any real success. Those of you who want to say that you lost weight on MFP so it does work---it doesn't work unless you keep the weight off, so show me someone who has. I'll bet they are few and far between. Focusing on weight loss, counting calories, and dieting is just a recipe for disaster.
Seriously? There's nothing wrong with going through phases of weight loss, and then relax up a bit. Weigh yourself weekly and give yourself an allowable deviation from that. When you reach that max weight, dial back your calories a bit. It's that easy. The flip side is, don't take any time off and just track calories for maintenance (the app does give this option also) if you notice after a few weeks your weight is still going down, give yourself a bit extra calories daily, if you see your weight is slowly going up, drop the calories a bit. It's a lifestyle commitment...4 -
On WW I lost 1.5 to 2 lbs per week. Never stayed the same or gained.
I am at 1200 calories per day
57 year old woman
180 lbs
Slightly active. Walk on treadmill 4x a week.
Are you entering your fruit and veggies into your diary? They aren't "free" on MFP. And the calories really can add up. When I was on WW, fruit and veggies were 0 points, but that's not reality.
Well, WW has a lower base calorie amount to make up for the "free" fruits and veggies.
However, I could understand a WWer coming to MFP and being confused about this and not losing weight due to thinking fruit and veggies are still free.
@MEBaraszu There are mistakes that people commonly make that cause them to not lose weight that we might be able to spot if you change your Diary Sharing settings to Public: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings
When I weigh my food on a digital food scale, eat the calories MFP gives me, eat some (but not all) of my exercise calories, I lose as expected over the course of a month.3 -
Is this still going on? I doubt OP has been back, nor intends to be.5
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Oh dear, and here I thought it WAS working. I lost 21 pounds and have been doing this for 7 weeks. Am I doing it wrong?3
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