So you're new here...
trogalicious
Posts: 4,584 Member
I've spammed this in hundreds of threads... I figured it was about time to give this info a permanent home.
1. don't trust the initial setup that MFP provides. If you put in the wrong/inaccurate information, it'll tell you to eat an amount that may not be applicable.
2. Make sure you eat enough.
3. Figure out what works for you and is sustainable/healthy/long-term.
4. avoid fads. don't buy into any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"
5. Don't cut out anything now that you don't plan on literally giving up forever.
6. GET A FOOD SCALE. Weigh everything. No, seriously.
7. Get an HRM with a chest strap. You'll at least have a better idea of what you're burning. It'll be more accurate than the generic info in the exercise database.. and even more than the cardio machines. This is great for steady-state cardio (run/walk/etc)
8. Don't go balls out. You'll burn out. I see 300 lb people show up here, instantly start working out and cutting their intake SEVERELY... trying to cut out all of their carbs at once.. whatever. Take it slow. Figure out how much you need to eat FIRST in order to lose.. then incorporate exercise.
9. Don't cardio yourself to death.
10. Take the information on the forums with a grain of salt. A lot of people that have been here for a while... and have been successful, may seem jaded. They give out GREAT advice day after day, only to be met with people that refuse to listen.
11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar-free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
12. don't set time restrictions.
13. measure yourself weekly. Don't just weigh. Measure and take pictures.
14 BE PATIENT.
15. Avoid forum topics that have "1200" in the title. It's just full of butthurt. Lots of it.
16. If you ask a question on the forum, give as much information as you can ("yes, I have a food scale and weigh my food" is worlds better than "I eat a palm-full of miscellaneous boiled chicken parts..sometimes.")
17. Be honest with yourself and honest with us.
18. This isn't a game, it's about changing your lifestyle. Do that.
pretty much that.
...and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:
The typical MFP user does this:
1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that... then they work out on top of it... creating an even bigger deficit.
5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, and not losing weight.
7. Get on the forums, and ask why they aren't losing.
8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
9. Argument ensues about who is right.
Now. That being said. These threads happen hundreds of times per day. Most times, and I mean really... seriously... 95% of the time.. people get the 1200 number because they don't put the right information in when they set up the account. There are a great number of people that are trying to help. I'm one of 'em.
I'm a hardcore advocate of actually finding out what works for the individual.. by means of other calculators, averages, time, practice, and patience.
Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.
Find out what you need: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
And make sure to read: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
...and here's another approach.
Block off 6 weeks. log EXACTLY what you eat for those six weeks, weigh at the beginning, weight at the end. If you've lost, you're eating under your TDEE. If you haven't lost, congrats.. you found your TDEE, if you've gained... then you're above TDEE.
From there, look at how much you lost or gained and you have a rough estimate of how to shift your intake to balance it out.
Online calculators are great, but they're just estimates. They give you decent ideas for starting points. From there, it's on you to fine-tune it.
ETA: Locked at OP request
1. don't trust the initial setup that MFP provides. If you put in the wrong/inaccurate information, it'll tell you to eat an amount that may not be applicable.
2. Make sure you eat enough.
3. Figure out what works for you and is sustainable/healthy/long-term.
4. avoid fads. don't buy into any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"
5. Don't cut out anything now that you don't plan on literally giving up forever.
6. GET A FOOD SCALE. Weigh everything. No, seriously.
7. Get an HRM with a chest strap. You'll at least have a better idea of what you're burning. It'll be more accurate than the generic info in the exercise database.. and even more than the cardio machines. This is great for steady-state cardio (run/walk/etc)
8. Don't go balls out. You'll burn out. I see 300 lb people show up here, instantly start working out and cutting their intake SEVERELY... trying to cut out all of their carbs at once.. whatever. Take it slow. Figure out how much you need to eat FIRST in order to lose.. then incorporate exercise.
9. Don't cardio yourself to death.
10. Take the information on the forums with a grain of salt. A lot of people that have been here for a while... and have been successful, may seem jaded. They give out GREAT advice day after day, only to be met with people that refuse to listen.
11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar-free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
12. don't set time restrictions.
13. measure yourself weekly. Don't just weigh. Measure and take pictures.
14 BE PATIENT.
15. Avoid forum topics that have "1200" in the title. It's just full of butthurt. Lots of it.
16. If you ask a question on the forum, give as much information as you can ("yes, I have a food scale and weigh my food" is worlds better than "I eat a palm-full of miscellaneous boiled chicken parts..sometimes.")
17. Be honest with yourself and honest with us.
18. This isn't a game, it's about changing your lifestyle. Do that.
pretty much that.
...and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:
The typical MFP user does this:
1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that... then they work out on top of it... creating an even bigger deficit.
5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, and not losing weight.
7. Get on the forums, and ask why they aren't losing.
8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
9. Argument ensues about who is right.
Now. That being said. These threads happen hundreds of times per day. Most times, and I mean really... seriously... 95% of the time.. people get the 1200 number because they don't put the right information in when they set up the account. There are a great number of people that are trying to help. I'm one of 'em.
I'm a hardcore advocate of actually finding out what works for the individual.. by means of other calculators, averages, time, practice, and patience.
Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.
Find out what you need: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
And make sure to read: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
...and here's another approach.
Block off 6 weeks. log EXACTLY what you eat for those six weeks, weigh at the beginning, weight at the end. If you've lost, you're eating under your TDEE. If you haven't lost, congrats.. you found your TDEE, if you've gained... then you're above TDEE.
From there, look at how much you lost or gained and you have a rough estimate of how to shift your intake to balance it out.
Online calculators are great, but they're just estimates. They give you decent ideas for starting points. From there, it's on you to fine-tune it.
ETA: Locked at OP request
157
Replies
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This needs to be bookmarked!5
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13 -
Thanks! Now I can add it to my copy/paste of helpful links that I spam with. :happy:-1
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:drinker:1
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tl;dr
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Bump!
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:drinker:1
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4 -
5
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Great post. All newbies should read.2
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Where was I when they were handing out the pamphlets for the twinkie and vodka diet?
Great post!6 -
Another solid post dude.
There would be a lot less 1200 calorie threads if MFP would provide realistic weight loss rates suggestions when people initially set up their accounts. People look at the options, see 2 lbs/week, and think, yeah, I want to lose as fast as possible! Even if you only have 10 lbs to lose and that's a terrible idea.5 -
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Yes!! This should be stickied!!0
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:drinker:0
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bookmarked to share in the future, because....
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Bird is the word.1
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About time!!! :flowerforyou:1
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Oh, and don't make posts that take forever to read. We need to add that one.
Twinkies and vodka? Why have I never heard of that? I'm disappointed.4 -
Being new thank you for post. I am one of the 1200, but in my case my Dr. told me to intake that amount of Calories.
I agree about the fads, and not eating your allotted calories. Slow down metabolism and so you don't lose weight.2 -
bump0
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Awesome post! Though..I'd like to find out more about this twinkie and vodka diet you mention.
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Good advice. Thanks.0
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Needs most kitteh gifs.
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Great advice: Only thing I don't agree with is...
11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
I don't think that is true. Diet pop is easy to find and count - zero. Also almost everything that is low fat, sugar free or now without X are likely to be found quite easily in the database here and/or will have nutritional panels right on them.
I have nothing against fat or sugar for the record (in fact love both), but quite often sugar free/low fat will also mean less calories, and for some people that is a massive benefit (speaking from personal experience).
Overall though amazing post everyone should read.4 -
YAY! Now I can link to this in my profle. Thanks, Trog!1
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Great job!!!! Very to the point and more people should follow this advice when starting out 0
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:flowerforyou:0
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^^^ save for later ^^^0
This discussion has been closed.
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