Why even bother coming here?

tsgaddy

I don't really get why everyone is so concerned with what other people are doing.

It would be incredibly rude to go up to an overweight person in a McDonald's and say, you really think you need that Big Mac?

And yet that's essentially what people are doing here when they offer unsolicited advice or criticism to another person about their eating habits.

If someone wants advice, they'll ask for it, otherwise, just let people be... my two cents.

Except that that person is in McDonalds, and we're on MFP actively trying to educate ourselves on healthy weight loss.
I mean, people can do whatever they want (yay freedom!), but if they're new and completely disagree with the system they're using, then why use it in the first place?

As you said - yay freedom! I use MFP to accurately track my intake and to track my workouts. I don't believe in starvation mode the same way that many people on here do, and that's my prerogative. I do what's working for ME. And being 36 lbs lighter and counting is working for ME.

I realize that the OP is addressing people who seek advice and/or complain about not losing anything although they're not following MFP suggestions, but the rest of you with this holier-than-thou-I-think-that-I-can-rag-on-a-newbie-because-I've-decided-to-join-the-site-a-few-months-before-them-but-I-still-haven't-really-lost-that-much-weight-but-I-must-be-right-because-I-can-post-a-bunch-of-links-where-other-people-scream-my-same-mantra folks need to get over yourselves.

There's a HUGE difference between support and acting like the MFP hall monitors.

MFPfriend

I don't really get why everyone is so concerned with what other people are doing.

It would be incredibly rude to go up to an overweight person in a McDonald's and say, you really think you need that Big Mac?

And yet that's essentially what people are doing here when they offer unsolicited advice or criticism to another person about their eating habits.

If someone wants advice, they'll ask for it, otherwise, just let people be... my two cents.

Except that that person is in McDonalds, and we're on MFP actively trying to educate ourselves on healthy weight loss.
I mean, people can do whatever they want (yay freedom!), but if they're new and completely disagree with the system they're using, then why use it in the first place?

Exactly. This site is designed to work a certain way, i.e., to help a person maintain a steady calorie deficit or surplus over a length of time in order to lose or gain weight.

It would be silly to walk into McDonalds and try to talk everybody there into eating organic tofu, tempeh, and sprouts instead of big macs. It would be silly to walk into a catholic church and try to convince everyone there to be mormon. It would be silly to go to an AA meeting and try start offering people beer and vodka.

Similarly, it's completely absurd when the people who either "don't get" or don't believe in how MFP works start trying to discredit the whole thing. Why are they even here? It's confusing for the newcomers and annoying for the veterans.

There are other reasons to be here than weight gain, loss, or plain healthy eating.
For some people, a net of -200 or so might be a vast improvement.

I'm not saying a net of -200 isn't a vast improvement. For some people, it could be, and that's great. I'm just talking about people who are new/don't believe in the system and preach to others without having learned anything yet.

taso42_DELETED

There are other reasons to be here than weight gain, loss, or plain healthy eating.
For some people, a net of -200 or so might be a vast improvement.

That's a special circumstance. These are the people working toward ED recovery. And they deserve all of our support. But have you ever seen them advocating to others that they should net -200? I haven't. On the contrary, the ones with ED's often seem to have an excellent understanding of nutrition. It's just implementing it that they have trouble with.

lodro

I don't really get why everyone is so concerned with what other people are doing.

It would be incredibly rude to go up to an overweight person in a McDonald's and say, you really think you need that Big Mac?

And yet that's essentially what people are doing here when they offer unsolicited advice or criticism to another person about their eating habits.

If someone wants advice, they'll ask for it, otherwise, just let people be... my two cents.

Except that that person is in McDonalds, and we're on MFP actively trying to educate ourselves on healthy weight loss.
I mean, people can do whatever they want (yay freedom!), but if they're new and completely disagree with the system they're using, then why use it in the first place?

But I'm not here for weightloss. And I'm really surprised at how easily people will yell "starvation mode", while the actual truth is that for the vast majority of people here it will never be a reality. Not even when they eat below 1200 calories a day. I restrict calories severely for quite another reason than weight loss, but one of the reasons why I am not making my food diary public is to keep people from giving me undoubtedly well-meant, but rubbish advice.

misspenny762

There are other reasons to be here than weight gain, loss, or plain healthy eating.
For some people, a net of -200 or so might be a vast improvement.

That's a special circumstance. These are the people working toward ED recovery. And they deserve all of our support. But have you ever seen them advocating to others that they should net -200? I haven't. On the contrary, the ones with ED's often seem to have an excellent understanding of nutrition. It's just implementing it that they have trouble with.

Exactly, and this is why we don't appreciate being lectured by all these high-and-mighty MFPers that think they have the right to tell us how unhealthy we're being... It all goes back to my point. If we ask for advice, offer it... Otherwise, worry about yourself because you don't know why a person's eating a certain way.

MFPfriend

I don't really get why everyone is so concerned with what other people are doing.

It would be incredibly rude to go up to an overweight person in a McDonald's and say, you really think you need that Big Mac?

And yet that's essentially what people are doing here when they offer unsolicited advice or criticism to another person about their eating habits.

If someone wants advice, they'll ask for it, otherwise, just let people be... my two cents.

Except that that person is in McDonalds, and we're on MFP actively trying to educate ourselves on healthy weight loss.
I mean, people can do whatever they want (yay freedom!), but if they're new and completely disagree with the system they're using, then why use it in the first place?

As you said - yay freedom! I use MFP to accurately track my intake and to track my workouts. I don't believe in starvation mode the same way that many people on here do, and that's my prerogative. I do what's working for ME. And being 36 lbs lighter and counting is working for ME.

I realize that the OP is addressing people who seek advice and/or complain about not losing anything although they're not following MFP suggestions, but the rest of you with this holier-than-thou-I-think-that-I-can-rag-on-a-newbie-because-I've-decided-to-join-the-site-a-few-months-before-them-but-I-still-haven't-really-lost-that-much-weight-but-I-must-be-right-because-I-can-post-a-bunch-of-links-where-other-people-scream-my-same-mantra folks need to get over yourselves.

There's a HUGE difference between support and acting like the MFP hall monitors.

I'm honestly truly sorry if I sound like an "MFP all monitor" to you; it wasn't my intention. I'm not trying to hate on ANYBODY, nor am I trying to sound "holier" than anybody. I am simply stating (as I've done many times before) that if someone is new, they shouldn't be giving advice that they haven't learned.
As for disagreeing with the MFP website- hell, *I* even disagree with some parts of it. I changed my protein, carb, and fat levels because of a medical condition I have. But when one says things like "Don't do what MFP says, it's ALL wrong and doesn't work at all!" then I don't understand why one would come to this website.
And I'm sorry if my 29 pounds aren't a "considerable amount" to tell others about what I've learned. But quality over quantity. I haven't tried to actively lose weight for the past 10 months because of personal reasons- but I've still been on this site, learning. My 29 pounds may not be a great quantity, but I've done some pretty damn good quality learning.

MFPfriend

There are other reasons to be here than weight gain, loss, or plain healthy eating.
For some people, a net of -200 or so might be a vast improvement.

That's a special circumstance. These are the people working toward ED recovery. And they deserve all of our support. But have you ever seen them advocating to others that they should net -200? I haven't. On the contrary, the ones with ED's often seem to have an excellent understanding of nutrition. It's just implementing it that they have trouble with.

Exactly, and this is why we don't appreciate being lectured by all these high-and-mighty MFPers that think they have the right to tell us how unhealthy we're being... It all goes back to my point. If we ask for advice, offer it... Otherwise, worry about yourself because you don't know why a person's eating a certain way.

Wait, people bash your individual eating patterns? Now, I agree that's wrong. My main disagreement is with the guy who mentioned that a certain thing works for EVERYBODY. We all know that one thing doesn't work for everybody. Some people (normally those that have a lot of weight to lose) can go under a net of 1200 without problems. It works for another poster (a couple posts above me).
But new people, who don't even know what works for themselves, shouldn't be giving advice to a huge group of people. My opinion.

taso42_DELETED

Exactly, and this is why we don't appreciate being lectured by all these high-and-mighty MFPers that think they have the right to tell us how unhealthy we're being... It all goes back to my point. If we ask for advice, offer it... Otherwise, worry about yourself because you don't know why a person's eating a certain way.

I will just continue to give the best advice that I can and refute any poor advice that I see, while at the same time giving the best support I can to my friends struggling to overcome disorders, and while continuing to "worry about myself" as well. I'm just stubborn like that.

123456654321

I don't really get why everyone is so concerned with what other people are doing.

It would be incredibly rude to go up to an overweight person in a McDonald's and say, you really think you need that Big Mac?

And yet that's essentially what people are doing here when they offer unsolicited advice or criticism to another person about their eating habits.

If someone wants advice, they'll ask for it, otherwise, just let people be... my two cents.

Umm pretty sure people ARE asking for advice.......that is why this subject continues to come up time and time again.

tsgaddy

I don't really get why everyone is so concerned with what other people are doing.

It would be incredibly rude to go up to an overweight person in a McDonald's and say, you really think you need that Big Mac?

And yet that's essentially what people are doing here when they offer unsolicited advice or criticism to another person about their eating habits.

If someone wants advice, they'll ask for it, otherwise, just let people be... my two cents.

Except that that person is in McDonalds, and we're on MFP actively trying to educate ourselves on healthy weight loss.
I mean, people can do whatever they want (yay freedom!), but if they're new and completely disagree with the system they're using, then why use it in the first place?

As you said - yay freedom! I use MFP to accurately track my intake and to track my workouts. I don't believe in starvation mode the same way that many people on here do, and that's my prerogative. I do what's working for ME. And being 36 lbs lighter and counting is working for ME.

I realize that the OP is addressing people who seek advice and/or complain about not losing anything although they're not following MFP suggestions, but the rest of you with this holier-than-thou-I-think-that-I-can-rag-on-a-newbie-because-I've-decided-to-join-the-site-a-few-months-before-them-but-I-still-haven't-really-lost-that-much-weight-but-I-must-be-right-because-I-can-post-a-bunch-of-links-where-other-people-scream-my-same-mantra folks need to get over yourselves.

There's a HUGE difference between support and acting like the MFP hall monitors.

I'm honestly truly sorry if I sound like an "MFP all monitor" to you; it wasn't my intention. I'm not trying to hate on ANYBODY, nor am I trying to sound "holier" than anybody. I am simply stating (as I've done many times before) that if someone is new, they shouldn't be giving advice that they haven't learned.
As for disagreeing with the MFP website- hell, *I* even disagree with some parts of it. I changed my protein, carb, and fat levels because of a medical condition I have. But when one says things like "Don't do what MFP says, it's ALL wrong and doesn't work at all!" then I don't understand why one would come to this website.
And I'm sorry if my 29 pounds aren't a "considerable amount" to tell others about what I've learned. But quality over quantity. I haven't tried to actively lose weight for the past 10 months because of personal reasons- but I've still been on this site, learning. My 29 pounds may not be a great quantity, but I've done some pretty damn good quality learning.

Your 29 pounds are awesome. I'm very (genuinely. seriously) happy for you. I'm happy for anyone who feels healthier today than they did yesterday. Hell , I celebrate with mini-goals that lead to new shoes and plane airline tickets. However, you totally proved my point. You thought that I was bagging on your weight loss, or lack there of. It's not my intention, but didn't it suck? How dare I be judgmental without such limited knowledge of something that is so personal?...

Get it? Got it? Good.

misspenny762

I don't really get why everyone is so concerned with what other people are doing.

It would be incredibly rude to go up to an overweight person in a McDonald's and say, you really think you need that Big Mac?

And yet that's essentially what people are doing here when they offer unsolicited advice or criticism to another person about their eating habits.

If someone wants advice, they'll ask for it, otherwise, just let people be... my two cents.

Umm pretty sure people ARE asking for advice.......that is why this subject continues to come up time and time again.

I get lectured, chastised, even ridiculed fairly frequently, without asking for advice. I had to make my diary private actually.... Just made it public again yesterday and I've already gotten a nasty comment. So... yeah.

FearAnLoathing

I dont think ive ever heard anyone flat out say this site dosent work.
I also dont think we need to follow what it says to a T
My Dr and dietcian both know where i come from and whats up with me more than mfp does so as long as im cool with them,then im cool with what im doing.
That does not mean I cant be here to track the stuff I want to track.
It also does not mean I dont have the right to disagree.
At the same time I have NEVER told anyone what to do on this site.I will speak for myself and no one else.

taso42_DELETED

I get lectured, chastised, even ridiculed fairly frequently, without asking for advice. I had to make my diary private actually.... Just made it public again yesterday and I've already gotten a nasty comment. So... yeah.

Perhaps you can fill in a little bit about your situation in the "about me" section. If you were one of my friends here and I didn't know that you were fighting some kind of issue, and I saw you chronically under-eating, yes I would make some comments, just like I would to any friend or family I cared about and wanted to see succeed. But if I knew you were struggling with something, I would look at the whole picture. Maybe you were eating better today than yesterday, or better this week than last week, etc. And that would warrant a totally different kind of feedback.

Nobody's out to get anybody here.

123456654321

I don't really get why everyone is so concerned with what other people are doing.

It would be incredibly rude to go up to an overweight person in a McDonald's and say, you really think you need that Big Mac?

And yet that's essentially what people are doing here when they offer unsolicited advice or criticism to another person about their eating habits.

If someone wants advice, they'll ask for it, otherwise, just let people be... my two cents.

Umm pretty sure people ARE asking for advice.......that is why this subject continues to come up time and time again.

I get lectured, chastised, even ridiculed fairly frequently, without asking for advice. I had to make my diary private actually.... Just made it public again yesterday and I've already gotten a nasty comment. So... yeah.

That sucks, but that's not what people were talking about here.....you just came in randomly babbling on about it.

RhondaFudge

Love the link!!!! :laugh:

misspenny762

That sucks, but that's not what people were talking about here.....you just came in randomly babbling on about it.

I commented because the OP wrote:

Ok they are entitled to their opinions but the site is MFP so why join and be apart of a site you don't agree with?

Me personally, 1200 a day without exercise calories works just fine for me, when I'm able to achieve it (normally I'm 1000 or less.) I'd love to hit 1200 regularly.

This line suggests that I shouldn't even have joined if I'm not gonna do things the MFP way.

That's why I came in here "babbling".

123456654321

I commented because the OP wrote:

Ok they are entitled to their opinions but the site is MFP so why join and be apart of a site you don't agree with?

Me personally, 1200 a day without exercise calories works just fine for me, when I'm able to achieve it (normally I'm 1000 or less.) I'd love to hit 1200 regularly.

This line suggests that I shouldn't even have joined if I'm not gonna do things the MFP way.

That's why I came in here "babbling".

Pretty sure I can cut out bits and pieces of anyone's topic and spin it however I would like. If you read the whole thing that is clearly not the point the OP was trying to make.

misrical

This topic is now about kittens.....go

aren't kittens cute? I like kittens.

FearAnLoathing

This topic is now about kittens.....go

aren't kittens cute? I like kittens.

awww kittens ohhhh dont forgett rainbows

WarmDontBurn

That sucks, but that's not what people were talking about here.....you just came in randomly babbling on about it.

I commented because the OP wrote:

Ok they are entitled to their opinions but the site is MFP so why join and be apart of a site you don't agree with?

Me personally, 1200 a day without exercise calories works just fine for me, when I'm able to achieve it (normally I'm 1000 or less.) I'd love to hit 1200 regularly.

This line suggests that I shouldn't even have joined if I'm not gonna do things the MFP way.

That's why I came in here "babbling".

The line does not suggest that at all. The line was why join a site you don't agree with NOT why join a site that you don't agree with and abide by fully. You also quote the "they are all entitled to their opinons". You have yours and I have mine, this post was about mine :flowerforyou:

tsgaddy

I commented because the OP wrote:

Ok they are entitled to their opinions but the site is MFP so why join and be apart of a site you don't agree with?

Me personally, 1200 a day without exercise calories works just fine for me, when I'm able to achieve it (normally I'm 1000 or less.) I'd love to hit 1200 regularly.

This line suggests that I shouldn't even have joined if I'm not gonna do things the MFP way.

That's why I came in here "babbling".

Pretty sure I can cut out bits and pieces of anyone's topic and spin it however I would like. If you read the whole thing that is clearly not the point the OP was trying to make.

MissPenny just let it go. You know we're not allowed to have an opinion unless we want to drink the kool-aid.

Besides, you really shouldn't argue with a fool. From a distance no one can tell who is who.

jellybaby84

Why do people come in here without believing in everything the site promotes?

Well, the bottom line for me would be that it is a) free and b) doesn't MAKE you do anything.

Another site I was on charged monthly then threw me off for not eating enough.

I may not follow everything MFP says but I like having a place to log calories, exercise and generally be obsessive!

I don't have a real problem with the science behind MFP (though, to be honest, it is only ONE view and I've never heard the necessity to eat all the calories your burn off working out before) but I'm having a very hard time even thinking about following it. It doesn't mean I don't get anything out of the site though.

123456654321

This topic is now about kittens.....go

waaaaah it broke T_T

cmriverside

ladyhawk00

Please remember the forum rules and don't get personal or insult others. We're all here to reach our goals and get healthy. It's fine to disagree, but please be respectful to everyone while you do it. :flowerforyou:

Thank you!

jellybaby84

^^
Haha, there's the voice of reason

ImFixingIt

WOW..THAT IS AWESOME.. i AM SO NEW ON HERE AND i DON'T HAVE A BAD THING TO SAY ABOUT THIS SITE.. i LOVE IT.. i HOPE IT TAKES 50 PLUS POUNDS OFF ME TOO!!

seadog1

I did not eat my exercise calories but have hit a plateau, so now am eating the exercise calories, and reduced my weight loss goal from 2 lbs week to one and a half per week.. But MFP is one of the best weight loss aids that I found and I think the below proves it.

zeeeb

I don't count calories generally, but i still come here, and i don't feel bad about it at all...

whatever works.

i use this site because it lets me track my exercise, keeps me accountable. surrounds me with information on forums to read through that keeps me on track, keeps me thinking about my choices, gives me ideas on exercises and nutrition and classes, gives me a tonne of people to ask questions where i'm going to generally get positive and constructive answers.

I refuse to be a slave to counting calories, but i'm still on here, and i'm still losing weight, isn't that all that matters.

every now and then i will put my food into the diary for a few days, to check out where i'm at and make sure i'm being honest with myself, make sure i'm not delusional about what i'm eating, and then i leave it and trust that i know what i'm doing without having to get my calculator out each day.

and i also come on here to see inspirational stories and photos, and to get a good ego boost when i log a weight loss. people who aren't on a weight loss journey often don't want to hear you braggin every time you lose a kilo, but people here are happy to give you a pat on the back and tell you that you're doing a great job!

WarmDontBurn

I don't count calories generally, but i still come here, and i don't feel bad about it at all...

whatever works.

i use this site because it lets me track my exercise, keeps me accountable. surrounds me with information on forums to read through that keeps me on track, keeps me thinking about my choices, gives me ideas on exercises and nutrition and classes, gives me a tonne of people to ask questions where i'm going to generally get positive and constructive answers.

I refuse to be a slave to counting calories, but i'm still on here, and i'm still losing weight, isn't that all that matters.

every now and then i will put my food into the diary for a few days, to check out where i'm at and make sure i'm being honest with myself, make sure i'm not delusional about what i'm eating, and then i leave it and trust that i know what i'm doing without having to get my calculator out each day.

and i also come on here to see inspirational stories and photos, and to get a good ego boost when i log a weight loss. people who aren't on a weight loss journey often don't want to hear you braggin every time you lose a kilo, but people here are happy to give you a pat on the back and tell you that you're doing a great job!

I hope that you didn't think I was trying to make anyone feel bad that was not my intention.

You are the perfect example really...do things different but don't complain and whine that MFP sucks. It is a tool that thank goodness if free and works .period. how it works is up to the person.

There is doing things different and enjoying it here and then there is doing it different and blaming MFP. I wish I could post the negatives I have seen but I would never do that, I am sure most have seen it or will eventually.