Loosing weight with JUST mfp

CharleeCali

see ticker below...the first 25 I did on my own but the rest just MFP and logging/weighing my food.

You don't need a special "diet" or "supplements" or "shakes" to lose weight you just need a calorie deficet...

Heck you don't even need exercise...that is for health.

Won't exercises help shape your body though?

Yes, definitely. I've lost weight before without exercising, and I didn't fit back into clothes I should have at that weight.

zeal26

14lbs so far using Myfitnesspal! I have, in the past, lost a little weight by eating better but that always involved NO treats ever and the weight loss always stalled at around 6lbs so that was useless. Of course, back then I had no clue about portion control. With MyFitnessPal, I eat treats (for example ice cream) every single day, and fit them into my calorie allowance. I rarely feel deprived and it also motivates me to exercise because then I get more calories to eat

beautifulwarrior18

You're better off focusing on exercise first to be honest. I just read a study at work (I want to saw out of UW-Lacrosse) but I don't remember for sure that said you're more likely to stick with a plan if you focus on exercise first. If you're really convinced to start with diet just know you can be skinny by using diet alone, but you'll never be healthy and your risk for heart diseases, diabetes, etc will be increased compared to people who are overweight and workout. So, seriously think about incorporating regular exercise later on.

I don't know that I agree with this rationale or its conclusions.

Personally, when not tracking food calories, if I increase my exercise (say, by 500 calories), then I want...nay, *need* with the burning passion of a thousand suns...to eat at least 1000 calories. Sure, this may eventually level off...not sure as I haven't followed it to its inevitable conclusion...but it could be difficult for someone new to the game to push through.

Also, I haven't heard the non-exercising skinny person is at greater risk of diabetes and heart disease than an exercising overweight person. This is actually counter to my understanding that obesity trumps fitness for most health risks. Would love to see a cite to that conclusion.

You sir are putting words into my mouth. I said overweight, not obese and it has to do with the storage of fat and it being on the organs. It was distributed by the cardiac rehab center at the hospital I work at, but I will try to find the article I took home for an exact citation.

unapologetically_crystal

i lost my first 40 to 60lbs WITHOUT exercise. but i also started at 327lbs. i went with MFP calorie suggestion for the longest. if i had to guess at least a year.. but then i got stuck on 1200 calories for months and i figured out it wasnt enough for me (and most women). i became active 3 times a week after those first 40 to 60lbs because simply put.. i COULD. i feel that weightloss is 100% a lifestyle change.. and personally i dont think i will exercise every day of my life. so i needed to fix the food problems first. im currently active 5 days a week but again just because i can.

exercise is BENEFICIAL but not necessary for weightloss.

now back to MFP and its calories. the way MFP is designed you are supposed to eat the calories they give you AND your exercise calories (if you exercise). if you want to go a more advanced way. go here. http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/ and set it to aggressive 20% (with this method you DO NOT eat exercise calories.. BUT you have it set with your activity so stick to it)

good luck to you.

Murphy0126

My weight loss thus far is all due to a calorie deficit, 80/20 eating, and MFP....

No added exercise.

No diet pills.

No DIETS!

I think my ticker speaks to the effectiveness of this approach.

Rob

katiemegcz

Yes. MFP works if you are honest in your logging. I follow the calories and am losing exactly what MFP predicted (1.7 pounds per week). I do weigh my solids for accurate calories with a digital scale, and use a fitbit and HRM (and a website that corrects calorie burn for current weight), just to make sure I am logging exercise accurately. You will find quickly that if weight loss is your goal, it is your food that matters. You can bust your butt and burn 300 calories and eat that back in 3 minutes flat.

My other best piece of advice is not to get too impatient or restrictive. If you are not planning to stop eating ice cream forever, don't stop eating it now. (For me, it is wine on weekends). Just plan your meals and exercise ahead, and if need be, earn your calories the hard way. And as for patience...when you go on a crash diet, you often lose 10 pounds fast. That isn't fat loss, and it sets people up for unrealistic expectations. When you start a real life overhaul, the loss may seem slow. It isn't. And it won't be linear. I lose 1.5 pounds in one weigh-in, and may put on 3 on the next, then lose 4 the next week...but it always evens out to 1.7 pounds. Those fluctuations are water. SO don't let any quick gains deter you. Watch progress by month and you will see it!

sugarkissprincess

Yes ma'am, I started on MFP and haven't lost a day

traceleann

I've lost 10lb in 45 days counting calories and working out. I weigh all solids and measure all liquids. I usually pre-log the day before to know where I'm at on calories and macros.

struttdaddy

The key is logging EVERYTHING, even the spread of butter you put on your toast! Using this app and going to the gym 3-5 times per week has allowed me to loose 15 pounds in a little over 5 weeks. Best part is I still get to enjoy my beer Just gotta save room for it in the macros!

kgeyser

I just use MFP. Follow the calorie and macro guidelines, and eat all the same things I did before, just less of them.

I will warn you of one thing though, this place has a tendency to make you healthier. You're probably going to start cooking more and making more nutritionally-dense food choices once you really get into logging, because eating out a lot or the prepackaged stuff just isn't worth the calories or lack of nutrients. Especially when those calories could be used later on dessert. :blushing:

BriTyler3

Yes only MFP & exercise, before I would "diet" I did it so wrong not eating enough etc. Idk where I'd be w/o MFP to guide me & keep me on track

struttdaddy

I usually pre-log the day before to know where I'm at on calories and macros.

^This

BobbiTracey

Yep this is my first time using anything to lose weight and all you need is MFP. I've been on for a week and lost a kg so far
Sometimes the calorie intake can be a bit off, but that's when you might need to explore the options and pick the food from the drop-down menu that is closest to the food you have. Usually you can almost guess how much a food item is going to be in calories,and then you can make your own numbers to how much you've thought you've eaten, though I wouldn't suggest that!

Cyclingbonnie

Yep

AnnieRN6

I've tried a variety of different things over the years. (Example: I lost only 13 pounds in 13 months on Jenny Craig, and spent about a thousand dollars.) In less than a month on MFP, I've lost five pounds. I make sure that I exercise for 70 minutes (exercise bike, walking on crutches, and even marching in place) several times a week, I write down everything I eat, and all of my activity, and it works. And I'm on crutches!

tmt2003

I've been overweight my whole life. MFP is the only thing that ever woked for me, been on here since 2011. And I've tried it all: Jenny Craig, nutri system, WW, slimfast, body for life, starvation, you name it!

I focused on my food first and gradually incorporated exercise. It really is all about the deficit, how you go about creating that: through food intake or exercise or a combination of both (ideally) doesn't really matter.

Teresa

caveninit

Yes...I lost every pound by using MFP and just eating at a deficit. No fad diets this time!

megsmom2

Yes. It works. Its easy. Its free. And mostly...YES, IT WORKS.

Kixshots

I just use MFP. Follow the calorie and macro guidelines, and eat all the same things I did before, just less of them.

I will warn you of one thing though, this place has a tendency to make you healthier. You're probably going to start cooking more and making more nutritionally-dense food choices once you really get into logging, because eating out a lot or the prepackaged stuff just isn't worth the calories or lack of nutrients. Especially when those calories could be used later on dessert. :blushing:

Omg this!! xD I love cooking healthy stuff now and I never used to

oliolioli92

Thanks everyone!! All this talk about exercise made me hit circuit training tonight. As for the 1200, I am not finding it difficult at the moment, so will keep going and re assess next week

qtgonewild

YES!

Veshapidze

I use MFP for weight loss but also to eat healthy. I regularly check my Carb/Fat/Protein ratio and also look at vitamin, potassium and other chems (you need to find and log foods that do track those - usually USDA data is pretty accurate). I do this to see how my cholesterol levels are at my annual check-up.

Some might think that weight loss is the only thing that matters but the fact is you can harm yourself by maintaining a bad diet (even if you lose weight).

One other important factor is working out the habit to to care and track what I eat.