Why does MFP work for you or Why do you love MFP?

srogers89

I'm not sure if this is in the right area but I just wanted to ask peoples opinions on why they think MFP works for them and what they love about it.

I personally think it is great! It makes ME accountable for my weight loss or weight gain and puts be back in control. I can no longer blame work, stress, shakes or diet pills for my lack of weight loss or terrible eating habits! I joined some time ago but have really only been active in using it for the last few months.....don't know why I didn't start sooner

What about you?

Madame_Goldbricker

I've picked up some good & relevant information since I started using it.... I also have 10-12hr shifts at work where I need all the entertainment I can get :laugh:

srogers89

I've picked up some good & relevant information since I started using it.... I also have 10-12hr shifts at work where I need all the entertainment I can get :laugh:

Hahah yes! Some of those threads can provide great entertainment!

alisonlynn1976

My main reason for joining was that I was looking for discussion forums about weight loss and fitness. I also find it motivating to track my progress here, and I think it's nice to get encouraging comments from the people on my friend list. It's inspirational to see others' before and after photos as well.

bbzgrl110

It keeps me accountable, I can actually see the results or proof of my hard work on here sometimes, when I'm not really feeling them or seeing them in the mirror. I like reading the posts, I've gotten some good info from them, and some laughs along the way too

iechick

I didn't use mfp for weight loss, found it afterwards as I was looking into different fitness options. Now I just hang out because the forums are so entertaining :laugh:

seltzermint555

I love it because it is realistic. I like seeing the numbers...I am a numbers person. I have always, always eschewed methods like WW, special shakes, pills, etc. To me, there was a certain indignity to most weight loss methods, like admitting "I am fat, so that means I failed at life and am desperate to do absolutely anything to lose weight!" That just didn't work for me at all. I have always liked myself whether at 200 or 300 lb...just want to be healthier.

I especially don't want a program where I must attend meetings as I'm an introvert and would find that stressful and exhausting during my "off time"...but I do like the support network here when I want it, at my convenience.

Calorie counting is so simple but I didn't really understand how it worked. I know that sounds stupid, but it is true. I kind of thought if you stay around 1,000-1,500 that's a good place to be (not always the case, although it is for me now that I've lost a lot and am at 1,400). I think for years I thought I was eating pretty healthy but I needed a lot of small adjustments and improvements. I also tended to eat (in my estimation) drastically fewer or more cals than I needed to lose/maintain weight. For example, 750 cal on Monday and 2,900 on Saturday. I didn't feel like I was intentionally starving or binge eating ever - but I just ate whatever, whenever I was hungry. I did not have a good frame of reference at all. MFP has really helped with that!!

Lizzy622

If I'm not losing, I can look back at my diary and see exactly where I went wrong. I know I can't blame anything else. I love the fact that there is no one "diet" plan. I can fit in whatever is going on in my life and stay on track.

srogers89

It's so great to see everyone getting so many different uses from MFP. From post weight loss/maintenance motivation to information about how to get started.

It really is a great site!

HouseOwlet

I'm with Seltzermint on the numbers. Probably because of all the maths classes over the years =]

I love MFP because it helps me learn how little I actually need to maintain a healthy weight, and what a healthy portion looks like. And having that calorie goal there that's easy to track actually lifts a little responsibility off my shoulders when I'm managing how much I eat. It's like, 'I've reached my limit for the day, MFP says no more' and I don't have to think about it again.

ideang

MFP works for me because it is logical. It is straight forward and to the point. I can look at things I did that help and others that didn't work. I might add I am also a numbers person.

trogalicious

yes.

Styles917

After hours and hours of watching YouTube vids and trying to find info about gaining and losing weight, someone mentioned My Fitness Pals. I had this app strictly to keep up with my macros and would always ignore the 'MFP is better with friends'. I added a few ppl and was surprised to find out how serious ppl were about reaching their goals and staying active. They were right, it's a lot better with the right friends. More motivation, more ideas, more challenges, etc. Before, I was just guessing how many calories I needed to eat and didn't know if I was eating too much or too little(I used to hate being the guy at the grocery store reading every item's nutrition label). MFP.com and my pals help me stay active, support, and encourage me along my journey to getting my old body back. And even though I'm a little hard headed when it comes to my diet, they still motivate me(though some remove me lol but who cares).
MFP has helped me get the fastest results I've seen since I was a 21 year old, testosterone demon and I feel great when I look in the mirror and see progress vs. the previous couple of yrs when I went from beastly to skinny as fck and slightly depressed...or should I say, disappointed. I can rant all night, so I'll just wrap this up. MFP helped me get back on track by being able to easily count my calorie, protein, and carb intake instead of guessing and hoping I've eaten enough. It's straight!!

ldrosophila

it is the accountability and the support

BeachIron

It's an easy to use calorie counter. I eat what I want, within reason, and move along.

Oh, well, that and the dandy forums and their constant flow of entertaining derpitude.

_liftnlove

1. It's a reality check, and keeps me accountable for what I'm actually consuming.
2. My friends are very motivating
3. The success stories are inspiring
4. I can eat whatever I want. I don't have to restrict ANYTHING.
5. It keeps things in perspective. If I have a crazy binge, I don't freak out anymore, because I can see that in the larger scheme of things, it's not going to stop my progress.

Alex_is_Hawks

because .....friends.

Ed98043

The calorie counter totally opened my eyes about how much I was eating. I really didn't think I was eating that much and therefore thought I would have to basically starve and suffer to lose weight which kept me from even trying.

The forum keeps me engaged and inspired, and makes me determined that I will someday be a success story. It also educated me a lot about the sane way to lose weight, and what works, what doesn't, and why. I was always a starve-lose-gain it back person in the past and still sometimes hear that siren call of "just get the weight off quick, worry about keeping it off later"...but now I know better.

suppakana

Food diary! That's been my biggest downfall in past experiences trying to lose weight; now that I can easily track everything, well... I can easily track everything! It's made staying accountable to myself a lot easier.

apedeb09

I love it because it's addicting, lol. I can keep track of my food and exercise, and be encouraged by other people that are in the same boat as I am. I also like how when you log your food for the day, it says "if everyday we're like today you would weigh xxx lbs in 5 weeks". I know it's just an estimate but it's really encouraging nonetheless. Also, I love looking at the success stories.

srogers89

because .....friends.

This^^^ I have only started adding people and I am finding it is a great tool to stay motivated! Watching everyones different activities is also encouraging me to try more.