Is MFP driving the wrong behavior?

pope369

I just posted a question to my blog, and I'd like your opinion.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/pope369/view/is-mfp-driving-the-wrong-behavior-138672

teeley

bump

taso42_DELETED

Yeah, I wish it would "reward" you for being within +/- 50 or 100 of your target; rather than rewarding you for simply coming in under. It makes most beginners think that the less calories they eat the better.

TDGee

It would be really cool if it would reward a good day with a non food treat, like stickers.

olso123

Yeah, I wish it would "reward" you for being within +/- 50 or 100 of your target; rather than rewarding you for simply coming in under. It makes most beginners think that the less calories they eat the better.

I agree .....you should be rewarded for coming within a healthy amount of your target. It can be just as detrimental if not more when you are too far below your healthy calorie intake. I think it can give false incentives to the beginners and to those with eating disorders.

chrisdavey

I think the 5 week thing is the worst. As that is purely mathematics based (which have never actually been proven to be 100% ins scientific studies) it gives the impression that bigger deficit = more weight loss. Possibly true to a point for some people but for those getting close to "goal weight" this sort of attitude will not work well in the long run.

LauraMarie37

Yeah, I wish it would "reward" you for being within +/- 50 or 100 of your target; rather than rewarding you for simply coming in under. It makes most beginners think that the less calories they eat the better.

100,000% agree with this.

fteale

I agree with it pointing out being too low is bad, but think it would be better not to have the "so and so was under their calorie goal" thing on your feed.

fteale

I think the 5 week thing is the worst. As that is purely mathematics based (which have never actually been proven to be 100% ins scientific studies) it gives the impression that bigger deficit = more weight loss. Possibly true to a point for some people but for those getting close to "goal weight" this sort of attitude will not work well in the long run.

Yes. I can't really see the point in it. It isn't accurate for anyone, as far as I can tell. I will come back and admit I am wrong if I actually AM 125 lbs at my monthly weigh in this weekend.......

jeffsgal105

It would be really cool if it would reward a good day with a non food treat, like stickers.

LOL! I agree!

SoCalSwimmerDude

I think the 5 week thing is the worst. As that is purely mathematics based (which have never actually been proven to be 100% ins scientific studies) it gives the impression that bigger deficit = more weight loss. Possibly true to a point for some people but for those getting close to "goal weight" this sort of attitude will not work well in the long run.

Yes. I can't really see the point in it. It isn't accurate for anyone, as far as I can tell. I will come back and admit I am wrong if I actually AM 125 lbs at my monthly weigh in this weekend.......

I don't really have an opinion about it one way or the other, but its actually been pretty darn accurate for me (obviously, as long as a normal person understands its not accurate EVERY day depending on how much you eat and/or exercise). The other day, I was messing w/ my cals and inputted 20k dinner cals (quick add). It said that if I ate like that every day, I would have gained almost 200 lbs within 5 weeks. :laugh:

otr12

It would be really cool if it would reward a good day with a non food treat, like stickers.

Dibs on the puffy one with glitter!

ajk828

It would be really cool if it would reward a good day with a non food treat, like stickers.

I think gold stars would be appropriate!

MzBug

MFP is a generic tool to be used the way YOU see fit. You can manipulate your goals any way you wish. MFP does not tell you that you HAVE to do such and such to lose/gain weight. It is just a FREE TOOL to assist you in your efforts. If you don't care for the notifications on the status feed, turn them off. You don't want friends congratulating you? Don't make friends. You don't like the "in 5 weeks...", don't complete your daily food diary. MFP is what you make it, and it can be many different things for different people. MFP doesn't drive anything...YOU do! You want someone to drive you? Get a trainer or life coach.

bookyeti

It makes most beginners think that the less calories they eat the better.

THIS!!

I don't think it's really necessary to state whether someone is over or under their goal, as I think it *could* give off the wrong idea to some people (especially to those who don't realize there is already a daily calorie deficit worked into the MFP system).

Perhaps just that we have completed our food and exercise diary would be sufficient?

After thinking about it, though, MFP just states a fact: "Bob completed his food and exercise diary for 08/18/2011 and was under his calorie goal." MFP doesn't state this as a good or bad thing - it's simply just a notification. However, it's become a general feeling for most that being under your calorie goal is a GOOD thing. You will see a lot of praise showered on someone who is "under their calorie goal"; some are even specifically praised about being under their goal (ie. "Way to be under your goal!").

So really, I don't think MFP is at fault here, but the fault is in how some people are interpreting it. :-/

HangoverSquare

I think it's stressed enough that one should come close to their daily caloric goal, both by MFP and by the community.

I never saw the "was under his/her calorie goal" message as a reward for coming in under your recommended calories. I simply saw the message as a notification, capable of being commented on (positively or negatively) by your friends.

becca473

MFP is a generic tool to be used the way YOU see fit. You can manipulate your goals any way you wish. MFP does not tell you that you HAVE to do such and such to lose/gain weight. It is just a FREE TOOL to assist you in your efforts. If you don't care for the notifications on the status feed, turn them off. You don't want friends congratulating you? Don't make friends. You don't like the "in 5 weeks...", don't complete your daily food diary. MFP is what you make it, and it can be many different things for different people. MFP doesn't drive anything...YOU do! You want someone to drive you? Get a trainer or life coach.

This is sooo true! Taking ownership of your own behavior...love it.

Scoobiesnax

Weight loss isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. You're going to be over some days, you're going to be under some days, The main thing is that over the long term, you progressively move towards your ultimate goal, knowing full well that there will be bumps along the way. I wouldn't stress about going over for a day...if I'm not exercising one day because I'm running a race the next, I fully expect to be feeding my body that day and going well over my daily "allotment" of czlories. Who cares ? I know I'm going to be way under the next day. I think that too many people focus too much at the immediate situation and don't look hard enough at the big picture. Just my 2 cents...