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What commonly given MFP Forum advice do you personally disagree with?
Copper_Boom
Posts: 85 Member
in Debate Club
Nutrition/fitness/weight loss.
3
Replies
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Hmmm, I generally agree with most of the (oft repeated and by seasoned users) advice given.
I guess maybe the idea that it's a great idea to up your exercise as a way to earn more calories. For fitness, yes, absolutely exercise! But the pitiful calorie burn I get as a petite, relatively light woman for purposeful activity is more than offset by the appetite it creates. Earning 200 calories doesn't do me much good if it makes me want to eat 300.58 -
"You have to lift heavy if you don't want to look like a skinnyfat noodle person."
I'm just an n=1, but personally, my legs and butt look a million times better now that I'm just running and cycling than they ever did when I was trying a squat/deadlift type program. I have the quads and glutes I always wanted and was never able to achieve before. Strong Curves had nothing on my cycle commute. Even my abs are better now than when I followed a lifting program.
If people want to lift weights I think that's great (my husband does it exclusively and thinks cardio is evil, and he looks very fit and can certainly lift stuff I can't, even if he can't run a couple miles to save his life), but constantly crapping all over people who like cardio is kinda sucky and trying to deter people from running or whatever in favour of lifting is nonsensical to me. I like to run, I like to bike, and I get the results I want from it, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Exercise is important and I think there's a place for strength training AND cardio, and the best workout routine is one you enjoy and will stick to.121 -
I also agree with most the advice given by the long-timers. Eat what you like, within your calorie allotment. Restrictive diets usually fail. Exercise for health. Do exercise that you like. See a doctor for any medical type question.37
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Copper_Boom wrote: »Nutrition/fitness/weight loss.
I think you're supposed to answer first.
I see a lot of people staunchly defending certain things as 'the one true way of eating that works for everyone' (TM). I think that most long-timers would agree that each of us need to find what works for us in regards to eating schedule, macro breakdown, etc. Not being too rigid, or trying to change your diet and lifestyle to the point that it's unsustainable. It's funny how heated some of these discussions can get around diet and exercise.25 -
Have you looked at the MFP blog? Some of the things that are posted on their blog are unreal. The only bad advice I have seen is from the newbies. Once in a while, a new poster has it right, but more times than not it is incorrect.29
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nutmegoreo wrote: »Copper_Boom wrote: »Nutrition/fitness/weight loss.
I think you're supposed to answer first.
I see a lot of people staunchly defending certain things as 'the one true way of eating that works for everyone' (TM). I think that most long-timers would agree that each of us need to find what works for us in regards to eating schedule, macro breakdown, etc. Not being too rigid, or trying to change your diet and lifestyle to the point that it's unsustainable. It's funny how heated some of these discussions can get around diet and exercise.
I've never seen moderation become such a hotly contested topic in any other setting than this.15 -
L1zardQueen wrote: »Have you looked at the MFP blog? Some of the things that are posted on their blog are unreal. The only bad advice I have seen is from the newbies. Once in a while, a new poster has it right, but more times than not it is incorrect.
Your kitty avi looks like it could negotiate a peace treaty between the first two kitties. They both look a little hangry.24 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »Copper_Boom wrote: »Nutrition/fitness/weight loss.
I think you're supposed to answer first.
I see a lot of people staunchly defending certain things as 'the one true way of eating that works for everyone' (TM). I think that most long-timers would agree that each of us need to find what works for us in regards to eating schedule, macro breakdown, etc. Not being too rigid, or trying to change your diet and lifestyle to the point that it's unsustainable. It's funny how heated some of these discussions can get around diet and exercise.
I've never seen moderation become such a hotly contested topic in any other setting than this.
Made the mistake of jumping into a health thread on a different board. Yeah, the Keto folks didn't appreciate eat in moderation.25 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »Copper_Boom wrote: »Nutrition/fitness/weight loss.
I think you're supposed to answer first.
I see a lot of people staunchly defending certain things as 'the one true way of eating that works for everyone' (TM). I think that most long-timers would agree that each of us need to find what works for us in regards to eating schedule, macro breakdown, etc. Not being too rigid, or trying to change your diet and lifestyle to the point that it's unsustainable. It's funny how heated some of these discussions can get around diet and exercise.
I've never seen moderation become such a hotly contested topic in any other setting than this.
Yeah.
Taking the chance of starting WWIII, but I agree with this...
Some people are moderators with some foods and some just aren't.
If you are - well, good for you.
Maybe step out of the discussions with people who aren't.
Not everyone is the same on this.21 -
cmriverside wrote: »nutmegoreo wrote: »Copper_Boom wrote: »Nutrition/fitness/weight loss.
I think you're supposed to answer first.
I see a lot of people staunchly defending certain things as 'the one true way of eating that works for everyone' (TM). I think that most long-timers would agree that each of us need to find what works for us in regards to eating schedule, macro breakdown, etc. Not being too rigid, or trying to change your diet and lifestyle to the point that it's unsustainable. It's funny how heated some of these discussions can get around diet and exercise.
I've never seen moderation become such a hotly contested topic in any other setting than this.
Yeah.
Taking the chance of starting WWIII, but I agree with this...
Some people are moderators with some foods and some just aren't.
If you are - well, good for you.
Maybe step out of the discussions with people who aren't.
Not everyone is the same on this.
That brings up an interesting point. I am a moderator, but that doesn't give me leave to feel morally superior to someone who is an abstainer. Alternately, my daily chocolate habit doesn't mean I'm weaker than someone who hasn't had a chocolate bar since Doc Martens were cool.26 -
cmriverside wrote: »nutmegoreo wrote: »Copper_Boom wrote: »Nutrition/fitness/weight loss.
I think you're supposed to answer first.
I see a lot of people staunchly defending certain things as 'the one true way of eating that works for everyone' (TM). I think that most long-timers would agree that each of us need to find what works for us in regards to eating schedule, macro breakdown, etc. Not being too rigid, or trying to change your diet and lifestyle to the point that it's unsustainable. It's funny how heated some of these discussions can get around diet and exercise.
I've never seen moderation become such a hotly contested topic in any other setting than this.
Yeah.
Taking the chance of starting WWIII, but I agree with this...
Some people are moderators with some foods and some just aren't.
If you are - well, good for you.
Maybe step out of the discussions with people who aren't.
Not everyone is the same on this.
That brings up an interesting point. I am a moderator, but that doesn't give me leave to feel morally superior to someone who is an abstainer. Alternately, my daily chocolate habit doesn't mean I'm weaker than someone who hasn't had a chocolate bar since Doc Martens were cool.
I don't think it's a moral issue, but it is a real thing.
I mean, I can see making a suggestion to someone who is an abstainer that maybe they should try to have just one, but to argue for 99 pages that someone else's food choices or decision is just wrong seems like control and an obsessive need to fix people.
That would fit nicely in the Codependent's forum.
Do we have one of those?
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I rarely disagree with the advice, but I often dislike the lack of context people need to really understand/make use of it.17
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This is hard to answer because the most commonly, and frequently given advice is by people who have been around a while and they know their stuff. It's the newbies, or the fanatics who give advice I don't agree with.20
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I guess the only commonly given advice that I "sort of" disagree with comes up in the threads where people ask "I'm going out to dinner, how do I limit my calories?".
Many long-time posters say "It's only one meal, just enjoy yourself."
While, yes, that's true, in the long run one meal won't make or break you...I think it might set some people up for failure.
If you don't eat out much and/or it's a special occasion, sure, order what you like. But some people eat out multiple times a week. I know that if I did that and "just enjoyed myself" each time, it would be a struggle to control my weight.47 -
It's not a specific piece of advice, but it kind of bugs me when people talk about cardio as if it were all one undifferentiated thing, regardless of exercise modality.
Different forms of exercise place different demands on the body. If there's consistent practice over time, the body responds to those demands. Different forms of "cardio" involve different demands.
Most of them make demands on more than the cardiovascular system. For example, a total beginner who starts cycling regularly is going to develop some leg strength, and (other conditions met - protein, fuel, progressive stress, etc.) eventually add leg muscle . . . not as rapidly as with weight training, but it will happen.
"Cardio" is not all one thing.
Here also, I think most of the MFP old hands understand and reflect this, but it does get shorthanded in some threads in a way that can limit insight/understanding.
The myths ("cardio burns up muscles" without qualification) are a whole 'nother matter.
There's lots of dumb advice (telling beginners to do HIIT for maximum weight loss effectiveness; universal prescriptions to "cut carbs", "eliminate sugar", "eat clean", etc.), but a lot of that seems to come from starry-eyed near-beginners who've read too many lame diet/fitness blogs and are evangelists for what's helped them lose their first 5-10 pounds. Most people do tend to think other people are just like them, or should be . . . but that would be boring. 34 -
Copper_Boom wrote: »Nutrition/fitness/weight loss.
I can truly understand why to someone who is new to posting on the forum, that some replies or statements come across as very harsh or disbelieving. Some but not all of the seasoned posters come across pretty heavy handed, which can turn people off. Their answers still can be rock solid, but it is often how something may come across.
But some of the questions about certain diets or way to do things are asked over and over just by different people.
What I see the most is people who are not willing to consider other peoples ideas may have value.11 -
I typically don't have issue with anything. Maybe people that speak in absolutes (never do this, always do that, this way only etc). If I had to pick something specific, it would be when people don't consider the specific goals of the person. For example if someone thinks their upper body is too bulky, rather than "no there is no way as a woman you are bulky" (or something along those lines) it can help to look at what that person means. Do they think they are carrying too much muscle + fat, maybe they feel too defined or ill-proportioned? Maybe they want a tiny non-muscular upper body. I think more people should be accepting of different body goals. Obviously more clarification helps, but I understand that is also the result of the OP giving limited information in their posts.13
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maureenkhilde wrote: »Copper_Boom wrote: »Nutrition/fitness/weight loss.
I can truly understand why to someone who is new to posting on the forum, that some replies or statements come across as very harsh or disbelieving. Some but not all of the seasoned posters come across pretty heavy handed, which can turn people off. Their answers still can be rock solid, but it is often how something may come across.
But some of the questions about certain diets or way to do things are asked over and over just by different people.
What I see the most is people who are not willing to consider other peoples ideas may have value.
I know some come across as harsh, but what I've noticed more here at MFP then any other forum I've participated on is that many posters don't try to search and don't read the stickies. I know it is policy here that this is okay, but I know anytime I've joined a forum I've read around first to get a feel for things. And I read through most of the stickies before posting all but my first post. It just seems to be a different crowd of people who join here and jump in with both feet.
So yeah, the latest question about detox tea might get some short answers from those who have answered it dozens of times before. I know I've had to refrain from posting responses sometimes.
As to the other peoples ideas may have value. I guess it depends on what the topic is. If I say that I don't like cauliflower, that is a personal preference and has value. If I say that this particular tea will work for detox, then I'm going to be asked to support that opinion. 2 very different matters and leaving the detox tea unanswered is doing a detriment to the forum and other posters who may be curious. Explaining (in what can be viewed as a harsh manner) that detox is a scam and, outside of your liver you don't need to worry about it is a big part of what I like here.29 -
I have sat and thought about it and nothing really comes to mind actually. I don't follow all the advice that is typically given but that's not because I don't agree with it.3
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Tacklewasher wrote: »maureenkhilde wrote: »Copper_Boom wrote: »Nutrition/fitness/weight loss.
I can truly understand why to someone who is new to posting on the forum, that some replies or statements come across as very harsh or disbelieving. Some but not all of the seasoned posters come across pretty heavy handed, which can turn people off. Their answers still can be rock solid, but it is often how something may come across.
But some of the questions about certain diets or way to do things are asked over and over just by different people.
What I see the most is people who are not willing to consider other peoples ideas may have value.
I know some come across as harsh, but what I've noticed more here at MFP then any other forum I've participated on is that many posters don't try to search and don't read the stickies. I know it is policy here that this is okay, but I know anytime I've joined a forum I've read around first to get a feel for things. And I read through most of the stickies before posting all but my first post. It just seems to be a different crowd of people who join here and jump in with both feet.
So yeah, the latest question about detox tea might get some short answers from those who have answered it dozens of times before. I know I've had to refrain from posting responses sometimes.
As to the other peoples ideas may have value. I guess it depends on what the topic is. If I say that I don't like cauliflower, that is a personal preference and has value. If I say that this particular tea will work for detox, then I'm going to be asked to support that opinion. 2 very different matters and leaving the detox tea unanswered is doing a detriment to the forum and other posters who may be curious. Explaining (in what can be viewed as a harsh manner) that detox is a scam and, outside of your liver you don't need to worry about it is a big part of what I like here.
I see your points. And I understand if someone is making a statement or suggestion that is against everything that is known such as a miracle detox for about anything. Makes total sense that posters, are like no stop, it is a scam no such thing. I get that totally. Absurd or bad ideas I agree someone needs to explain why not a good idea.
Being on here over 6 months now, I understand or think I do about so much more than in first 60 days. I take time to do searches for specific things. And read the stickies. Which in turn has helped me understand more about specific issues that impact me.5 -
I disagree that you have to weigh yourself every day or you won't understand fluctuations or see your real progress. Some people are pretty fired up about getting tons of data.
You can weigh yourself daily if you want that information but you don't really have to monitor that much to ensure you are losing weight if you are tracking calories reasonably accurately.
18 -
Telling people who are seriously /dangerously underweight, and /or apparently have body image issues, that they need to get on a heavy lifting programme, when they're barely eating enough to stay alive10
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I guess something is that I don't think counting calories is the only way. There are lots of people that are able to lose or maintain a desired weight without counting calories, but here there are some people who act like counting calories is the ONLY thing that works. (Yes we all agree that calories matter, but you don't necessarily have to count them to get yourself into a deficit)15
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Not a specific piece of advice, but offering advice without understanding fully the issue at hand is a common problem. Where the person is in the process, what their bodyfat % is, etc. are all critical pieces of information, which leads to much of the misinformation and really bad advice at times.6
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Tacklewasher wrote: »maureenkhilde wrote: »Copper_Boom wrote: »Nutrition/fitness/weight loss.
I can truly understand why to someone who is new to posting on the forum, that some replies or statements come across as very harsh or disbelieving. Some but not all of the seasoned posters come across pretty heavy handed, which can turn people off. Their answers still can be rock solid, but it is often how something may come across.
But some of the questions about certain diets or way to do things are asked over and over just by different people.
What I see the most is people who are not willing to consider other peoples ideas may have value.
I know some come across as harsh, but what I've noticed more here at MFP then any other forum I've participated on is that many posters don't try to search and don't read the stickies. I know it is policy here that this is okay, but I know anytime I've joined a forum I've read around first to get a feel for things. And I read through most of the stickies before posting all but my first post. It just seems to be a different crowd of people who join here and jump in with both feet.
So yeah, the latest question about detox tea might get some short answers from those who have answered it dozens of times before. I know I've had to refrain from posting responses sometimes.
As to the other peoples ideas may have value. I guess it depends on what the topic is. If I say that I don't like cauliflower, that is a personal preference and has value. If I say that this particular tea will work for detox, then I'm going to be asked to support that opinion. 2 very different matters and leaving the detox tea unanswered is doing a detriment to the forum and other posters who may be curious. Explaining (in what can be viewed as a harsh manner) that detox is a scam and, outside of your liver you don't need to worry about it is a big part of what I like here.
The fact that you don't like cauliflower has absolutely no value to me
1 -
Not a specific piece of advice, but offering advice without understanding fully the issue at hand is a common problem. Where the person is in the process, what their bodyfat % is, etc. are all critical pieces of information, which leads to much of the misinformation and really bad advice at times.
On the flip side, sometimes it's VERY difficult to drag that information out of the question-asker.20 -
cmriverside wrote: »nutmegoreo wrote: »Copper_Boom wrote: »Nutrition/fitness/weight loss.
I think you're supposed to answer first.
I see a lot of people staunchly defending certain things as 'the one true way of eating that works for everyone' (TM). I think that most long-timers would agree that each of us need to find what works for us in regards to eating schedule, macro breakdown, etc. Not being too rigid, or trying to change your diet and lifestyle to the point that it's unsustainable. It's funny how heated some of these discussions can get around diet and exercise.
I've never seen moderation become such a hotly contested topic in any other setting than this.
Yeah.
Taking the chance of starting WWIII, but I agree with this...
Some people are moderators with some foods and some just aren't.
If you are - well, good for you.
Maybe step out of the discussions with people who aren't.
Not everyone is the same on this.
I also think the moderator/abstainer thing may be overstated (even Gretchen Rubin has a more complex breakdown she likes now).
Very likely many or most people are moderators on some things or at some times and abstainers on others.
Sometimes people may not be moderators under some circumstances (i.e., can't have it at home, or can't eat it out of a large package), but could be about others -- I'll have it on holiday, I'll have it outside the house.
At one time I thought I could not moderate certain foods and had to have a restrictive diet or regularly overeat. I eventually realized that if I put structure around it I could moderate more broadly (although with some things it's easier to just abstain). I would say that exploring the specific experiences and nuance can be helpful.14 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »I guess the only commonly given advice that I "sort of" disagree with comes up in the threads where people ask "I'm going out to dinner, how do I limit my calories?".
Many long-time posters say "It's only one meal, just enjoy yourself."
While, yes, that's true, in the long run one meal won't make or break you...I think it might set some people up for failure.
If you don't eat out much and/or it's a special occasion, sure, order what you like. But some people eat out multiple times a week. I know that if I did that and "just enjoyed myself" each time, it would be a struggle to control my weight.
As someone who eats out 3-4 times a week- I can relate!!6 -
There's not a lot that I see as routinely given (there used to be more).
I guess I don't think there's any particular reason to limit weight loss goal to .5 lb if close to goal, unless one is struggling, really lean, or going very low on calories. I think sometimes 1 lb (but then more room to be looser with logging) is easier.
I think if someone is struggling with a change at first that doesn't mean it's not working. Many changes take some time. In particular, if you change your way of eating and are suffering from cravings or hunger, but are eating well and not too few calories, it could just be waiting it out if you can (or eating some low cal veg if you really want to eat -- when I first cut out snacking I'd eat carrots and cukes and celery, and it went ). If you try it for a while and continue to struggle, of course change, and of course you should be aware you don't have to do it that way, there are other options.
For myself, I don't totally agree with the advice that you should never eat when not hungry (not sure if this is commonly given here, however). I typically am hungry at mealtimes and don't force myself to eat, but I don't wait until I am aware of hunger before I eat, I do better eating to (loose) schedule. Similarly, I usually don't see perceived hunger as a reason not to wait until my next planned meal to eat (although if this were a regular thing I'd fix it).
I don't think everyone needs to use a food scale, although I love mine. I also don't think it's important to weigh packaged things that are single serving or easy to portion and never do, and I commonly eyeball portions of an overall recipe (log 1/4 of the ingredients vs. weighing the whole and my share). I think typically these suugestions about how to be more precise are only given to those struggling, however.10 -
Not a specific piece of advice, but offering advice without understanding fully the issue at hand is a common problem. Where the person is in the process, what their bodyfat % is, etc. are all critical pieces of information, which leads to much of the misinformation and really bad advice at times.
On the flip side, sometimes it's VERY difficult to drag that information out of the question-asker.
Often the person doesn't know what questions to ask and gets frustrated when they don't get an answer, so it ends up in mutual frustration.5
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