Why hasn't MFP improved?

13

Replies

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,454 Member
    shaunshaikh wrote: »
    Sorry if I came off as too aggressive, I didn't mean to put down anyone. I'm just genuinely passionate about the topic and get frustrated when people casually dismiss my constructive ideas.

    I think your mistake was posting this in General Weight Loss and Diet Help.

    This topic is a Feedback topic. Most people who are here for more than a couple months figure this stuff out. I've been on this site ten years and it works fine for me. It's pretty simple and the easiest way I've found - and I've looked. I don't think MFP is in danger of mass exodus.

    "Contact Us" at the bottom of the page would work. The changes we've asked for over the years to make this tool more usable...? Yeah, none/very few of them have been implemented, so maybe save yourself the aggravation.

    I would go as far as to say that the more confusion the better - it keeps people searching the forums, and clicks mean $$$$.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    shaunshaikh wrote: »
    I feel pretty comfortable in arguing that if you put a tool out there that tens of millions of people are using to improve their health, you should occasionally look for ways to improve it.

    Oh, they do. I've seen lots of little changes since 2012. However, they haven't always been GOOD changes. But that was their intent.
  • tiptoethruthetulips
    tiptoethruthetulips Posts: 3,371 Member
    It's mostly a free site, I can't see all those things happening....you get what you pay for. All in all though, it's pretty good value for nix.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Alatariel75 wrote: »
    I've been here since 2012, and I do think that MFP has dropped the ball developmentally, the site has actually gone backwards in a lot of ways. The one thing that really surprises me is that they now have paid subscription but still haven't implemented significant improvements. I'd have thought that once Premium was launched they'd be rolling out the features but it seems to just be languishing...

    Yes, I think there are more glitches in System entries (as opposed to user-created entries) now. For example:
    • Fluid ounces for solid foods (should be regular ounces)
    • 1 gram sometimes giving value for 100 grams
    • I think there are other examples but since I've stopped bothering to try to get Support to fix this it's not on my mind as much.

    Also, sometimes there are entries in the diary database but not recipe builder database
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    CyberTone wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Alatariel75 wrote: »
    I've been here since 2012, and I do think that MFP has dropped the ball developmentally, the site has actually gone backwards in a lot of ways. The one thing that really surprises me is that they now have paid subscription but still haven't implemented significant improvements. I'd have thought that once Premium was launched they'd be rolling out the features but it seems to just be languishing...

    Yes, I think there are more glitches in System entries (as opposed to user-created entries) now. For example:
    • Fluid ounces for solid foods (should be regular ounces)
    • 1 gram sometimes giving value for 100 grams
    • I think there are other examples but since I've stopped bothering to try to get Support to fix this it's not on my mind as much.

    Also, sometimes there are entries in the diary database but not recipe builder database

    The bolded is another good reason to use my workaround to create a Recipe. Build the ingredients in an empty Diary meal slot, remember it as a My Meal, then import the saved My Meal using the Old Recipe Calculator. It is so much quicker than fighting the Recipe Builder.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10471173/how-to-use-my-foods-and-my-meals-in-a-recipe-a-workaround

    see I never have had an issue with the automated recipe builder...odd.
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    CyberTone wrote: »
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Alatariel75 wrote: »
    I've been here since 2012, and I do think that MFP has dropped the ball developmentally, the site has actually gone backwards in a lot of ways. The one thing that really surprises me is that they now have paid subscription but still haven't implemented significant improvements. I'd have thought that once Premium was launched they'd be rolling out the features but it seems to just be languishing...

    Yes, I think there are more glitches in System entries (as opposed to user-created entries) now. For example:
    • Fluid ounces for solid foods (should be regular ounces)
    • 1 gram sometimes giving value for 100 grams
    • I think there are other examples but since I've stopped bothering to try to get Support to fix this it's not on my mind as much.

    Also, sometimes there are entries in the diary database but not recipe builder database

    The bolded is another good reason to use my workaround to create a Recipe. Build the ingredients in an empty Diary meal slot, remember it as a My Meal, then import the saved My Meal using the Old Recipe Calculator. It is so much quicker than fighting the Recipe Builder.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10471173/how-to-use-my-foods-and-my-meals-in-a-recipe-a-workaround

    The only problem I have with the recipe builder is when using web version, I wish I could search my 22 pages of recipes in alpha order.

    And to answer the topic at hand,

    I have found nothing but success here, that's why I am still here 3 1/2 years later. There are few tweaks that would be beneficial to me, but would it be for others?

    There are so many people at different starting points and reasons why they are here in the first place. Expanding an app to suit each person I would think would be difficult. I think the the basic software is designed with enough user friendly settings that covers a wide range of nutritional and exercise needs.

    I think if you are looking for an enhanced personalized programmable software, this isn't even a plausible idea. The software allows you track calories, exercise and its not just just to lose weight, but allows you setup to maintain and even gain weight. There is a free wealth of knowledge in the forums to meet various goals. The forums are available for any one to seek help for their own personal individualize issue and and this in itself is a priceless part of the app.

    The software/app can help you lose weight by counting calories, logging exercise, uses a recipe builder to enter your homemade foods (been a life saver with family meals), capture various micro nutrients, macros, water intake, weight and measurements, and if you just follow the basic principles CICO, the app will bring success.

    Maybe people want an app to do all their thinking for them I suppose, the only thing I did not use in the beginning of my weight loss was buy a food scale. It took me 6 months to do that. Maybe there should be a big flashing message when you setup your account to buy a food scale.
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    IMO there's nothing "wrong" w/MFP and if you read all of the blog articles, as I do, you'll find that most (if not all) of the things that the OP thinks that MFP "should" do in terms of educating users have already been addressed in many articles posted there. All you have to do is read them.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    it all boils back to the individual.Do what you think is best for you. do not rely on anything or anyone.just tools...... to guide.... you do the rest.
  • BrianAWeber
    BrianAWeber Posts: 82 Member
    yung_baller_86 wrote: »
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    shaunshaikh wrote: »
    I know it's free (although there are premium options). I assume they still monetize this site since there is a UA sponsorship (there was no such sponsorship in 2011) and ads on every page.

    Many free sites have improved themselves since 2011. My question is that why hasn't this one?

    It isn't a "sponsorship." UA now owns MFP.

    UA bought it in 2015, when it had 80 million users. Agreed, they haven't done much to improve the app, but it's safe to say they weren't buying the app itself so much as the 80 million users who most likely fit their target market.... excellent marketing decision, props to UA.

    Not only that, but look at all those challenges people sign up for. Quaker Oats had one that puts you in a drawing for a gift card if you log so many breakfasts in a month. That's pretty good information if you are selling a breakfast product don't you think?
  • Muscleflex79
    Muscleflex79 Posts: 1,917 Member
    BrianAWeber wrote: »
    yung_baller_86 wrote: »
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    shaunshaikh wrote: »
    I know it's free (although there are premium options). I assume they still monetize this site since there is a UA sponsorship (there was no such sponsorship in 2011) and ads on every page.

    Many free sites have improved themselves since 2011. My question is that why hasn't this one?

    It isn't a "sponsorship." UA now owns MFP.

    UA bought it in 2015, when it had 80 million users. Agreed, they haven't done much to improve the app, but it's safe to say they weren't buying the app itself so much as the 80 million users who most likely fit their target market.... excellent marketing decision, props to UA.

    Not only that, but look at all those challenges people sign up for. Quaker Oats had one that puts you in a drawing for a gift card if you log so many breakfasts in a month. That's pretty good information if you are selling a breakfast product don't you think?

    so why are you here exactly? just to rant to everyone about how awful of a site this is?
  • debrag12
    debrag12 Posts: 1,071 Member
    The people I work with who log their food with MFP don't use the forums at all. They are still believing you need to cut out everything and eat as few calories as they can.
  • Onthetrinity
    Onthetrinity Posts: 3 Member
    I've been using MFP for over a year, MapMyRide several years. However, I'm a newbie to this discussion group, but experienced in user forums. Finding this thread was accidental, but glad I did. Lots of participants and a variety of opinions is a sign of a healthy user population, IMO.

    The original poster's (OP?) points were well made and comprehensive. Responses were all over the place. Some were on point and helpful. I've nothing to add, for now, but look forward to finding additional lively discussions here.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,344 Member
    According to this, only about 6% of visitors to myfitnesspal.com then go to the forums... https://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/myfitnesspal.com

    I'd love to know the stats on members who actively log food vs have one forum post or more.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    Alatariel75 wrote: »
    According to this, only about 6% of visitors to myfitnesspal.com then go to the forums... https://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/myfitnesspal.com

    I'd love to know the stats on members who actively log food vs have one forum post or more.

    out of the appx 50+ people I know personally that log here none use the forums and if they log it is sporadic at best....
  • shaunshaikh
    shaunshaikh Posts: 616 Member
    Well since someone else revived this post, I did want to acknowledge that MFP has done a lot to integrate fitness trackers automatically into the calories burned calculations and your daily activity which I think is pretty cool.
  • Calliope610
    Calliope610 Posts: 3,783 Member
    shaunshaikh wrote: »
    Well since someone else revived this post, I did want to acknowledge that MFP has done a lot to integrate fitness trackers automatically into the calories burned calculations and your daily activity which I think is pretty cool.

    Expect when the fitness trackers reliably overestimates calories burned...
  • davidylin
    davidylin Posts: 228 Member
    I suspect that's because no one has worked to improve this product for years. It's now owned by a clothing company if that tells you much.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,344 Member
    Calliope610 wrote: »
    shaunshaikh wrote: »
    Well since someone else revived this post, I did want to acknowledge that MFP has done a lot to integrate fitness trackers automatically into the calories burned calculations and your daily activity which I think is pretty cool.

    Expect when the fitness trackers reliably overestimates calories burned...

    Isn't that the tracker's problem though?
  • hydechildcare
    hydechildcare Posts: 142 Member
    I feel like this app as greatly improved since 2012. I tried while trying to loose weight before getting married. I hated that anytime I went over on carbs or sodium that is would go red on me. Also back then you could close out a dairy when way under the 1200 calorie mark. I know this because that is what I did.
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