Why "MyFitness Pal"

rr10473

Hi Everyone,

I am a 31 yo mom of 3 and have struggled with weight loss since as long as I can remember. I have tried Jenny Craig, Herballife, Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, Low Carb - you name it.

My friend, who lost 40 lbs with myfitnesspal.com, recommended I join. She expalined this site was different.

I would like to know of your personal stories with weight loss and tell me why you love myfitnesspal.

Thanks
Sabrina

jakejacobsen

I can eat anything!

MB_Positif

Well, I never really tried any other diets because I knew sticking to something rigid would never work for me. What I love about MFP is that I still get to eat almost all of the foods I used to eat before, I have just learned how to do so in moderation by keeping track of calories, fats, protein, etc. Good luck! Feel free to add me as a friend if you'd like!

KateBarnhart85

real people, real success, a special bond and support system (I have never tried any of the other programs so I don't know how they are)

MakingAChoice

Because we use real food that is supportable for a lifetime. Using MFP I have dropped over 50 pounds and better yet I have gotten off all prescription medications. I can honestly say that using MFP and having supportive friends here has helped change my life for the better.

Dootzy1

I've done some of the other diets out there, too. But this has a special appeal that the others don't.

I'm challenged by my pals to exercise when I don't feel like it.....just seeing what they did inspires me. I get food ideas that sound yummy, and usually are! Because it's free, I can do this without using family resources on "another diet". Don't really want to feed the "diet industry" that is way too commercialized. I don't have time to go to meetings. Since I am honest with myself, this is a great tool to keep me accountable about what I eat and how active I am. HOPING that I can stay with it in some manner, in order to maintain my loss.

cramernh

My Endocrinologist is working with me on a few rare conditions on top of PCOS, and suggested MFP to keep track of everything.. I have been loving this site immensely.

I can print all of my food logs, results from here in a report-format and mail them off to her and she reviews them.

I have had nothing but success so far...

My highest weight was 303#
My current weight is about 238#

With MFP, I dropped 16.4# in the last two months... and I look forward to my Sunday weigh-in!!!

fitplease

Accountability and inspiration from reading other members' post, diaries, etc.

Wolfena

It's not really a "diet plan" - it teaches you how to eat healthy for life, whether you want to lose, gain or maintain.

Also - it's free! (and fun )

mcjabber

The support on this site from other real people is instant, which is not something that other support systems like weight watchers provide. And I love that this site is not just about weight loss, but other health things too--if you want to find a support group to do a fitness challenge together, for example, it's usually as easy as posting a topic.

That being said, it's not magic. I think the people who have had success using this site as a support tool have reached that turning point, emotionally. Without the AHA moment, I doubt someone would have success on any plan. (Not that I haven't had some yoyoing myself!)

Also--THE APP! I log on everything I eat, about a million times a day! I actually used the app before I found the website! But I'm super glad I found the website.

CMmrsfloyd

I love that I can eat whatever I want as long as I'm mindful of how it adds up. No one is telling me 'don't eat this' or 'don't eat that', but logging my foods has motivated me to improve my choices anyway, w/o any program rules telling me I have to do it like its a homework assignment. LOL. Plus it works. If you put in all your info correctly and do what MFP suggests, you get results w/o starving yourself or feeling limited in what you're allowed to do.

tracym17

like you I have tried lots of other diets and nothing worked. I came across this site by accident and just find that it works for me. I'm not eating what anyone else says I should, I eat what I want but make healthy choices. I can see where I am each day, the logging of exercise calories encourages me to be active and I like having the support network.

thurberj

I love this site for the support, inspiration, accountability, the fact that you can eat anything, and you can make friends if you want to interact. In order to lose weight successfully you have to be patient and stick with a plan....This site is fun so I am always surprised to realize how long I have stuck with it!! When you give support to others you feel good. I have loved doing some of the challenges because they keep me motivated and make me push myself! The only negative thing about MFP is that my husband hates how much time I spend on the computer....lol

CurtisRay0814

You can eat anything you want. it helps to retrain you on what you should eat, as well as how much. before i started using this i ate large. i mean all fast food meals where large combo this and large combo that. it educates you on how bad fast food really is. i eat out a lot for work but before i eat i use the mobile site on my phone to see what i can have before ordering. i had lost 40 lbs. then i stopped due to vaction and gained 20 lbs back. so i am back at it. the only time i cheat is on a holiday. i call that my splurge day. gives me a break from my normal routine.

gixy72

i cam across MFP while looking for a ap on the phone to help me keep track of what i was eating and i love it.

I have dieted before but always get board and give up, at my biggest i was 16st 9lb the lowest was 13 st, i hit a sticky patch where i never lost anything and the diet fell away.

but with help and support on here i know that if i have a problem there will be loads of help and advice with in mins if posting , i dont have to wait till next week when the next meeting is on ie weight watchers.

good luck and welcome

agthorn

I've really liked it a) because of the community and b) it has the most comprehensive food database of any tracker I've used.

Obstinate07

I love that I can eat whatever I want as long as I'm mindful of how it adds up. No one is telling me 'don't eat this' or 'don't eat that', but logging my foods has motivated me to improve my choices anyway, w/o any program rules telling me I have to do it like its a homework assignment. LOL. Plus it works. If you put in all your info correctly and do what MFP suggests, you get results w/o starving yourself or feeling limited in what you're allowed to do.

I totally agree and that's why I love this site. It is also great for maintaining your weight loss, which is what I am doing now.

jenniffer324

I love mfp b/c it really keeps me motivated. On days I don't feel like exercising I can see my friend's activities and see they exercised. So not to be outdone I drag myself on to the treadmill for at least 30 mins. I end up feeling great afterwards and I'm glad that I got the motivation.

I also love the mobile app. It's so fun to scan bar codes. I found the app first then found the website. I love how it's set up. It has taught me to eat much healthier and to learn portion control.

Since I just had a baby 13 wks ago the last month I've really been using mfp a lot to help me loose all my pregnancy weight. The first 2 months it was easier to drop the baby weight and since joining mfp almost a month ago I've lost just about 7lbs. All the pregnancy weight is gone and I am now at my thinnest weight in over 10 yrs.

This site has definitely helped me and I'm loving it

nixickle

I stumbled across MFP searching for the amount of calories in lentils! Previously when 'dieting' I'd cut out carbs, and all the bad stuff and lived off rabbit food; yes I did lose weight but I soon got bored, and soon felt ravenous!! It didn't take me long before I started pigging out on all the things I'd been depriving myself of!! And quickly piled all the weight back on!

I love MFP because it allows me to have my healthy days...and the not so healthy days!! Or to have a healthy day with a few treats thrown in! It allows me to eat the same meals as my husband and helps me with my portion sizes. It's not a 'diet' which is why I think it works so well.

The database is very comprehensive and the support is fantastic! It just ticks all the boxes :bigsmile:

StevLL

First the support here is incedible, the accountability to your MFP peeps keeps you honest and in a way helps you start to look at some of the behaviors around your eating. With MFP I want to be honest because I know thats important to me and I believe it's important to my MFP friends. It's helped us learn to eat anything we want, but to be mindful of it. We've learned as we've logged, how what we eat feeds our body nutrients and what feeds our sweet tooth or fat tooth is not really necessary, but we ascribe to the "If we bite it, we write it" philosophy and that helps us choose wisely.
I love the friends we've made and I look forward to being helpful, encouraging and to being encouraged. This is so doable now and it's as simple as logging and learning. Don't change all at once, pick one thing a week to change and then before you know it you got a whole lotta changes and whole lotta good stuff happening. I love losing, but more important I love getting off some of my meds and my BP getting normal and glucose getting normal, and just becoming healthy. My wife (hootsmamma) and I have lost a small person between us and are confident we'll continue to lose and achieve our goals. Friend us if you need support. Good luck!

ckoudsi617

myfitnesspal (IMHO) has the most user-friendly and efficient food logging system ever! (Plus I have a lot of friends out here in the same boat with me)! Best Wishes!

ccarpe

Found the phone app first and just wanted to track meals on vacation, then started checking out the web page, creeped around awhile before getting friends, probably due to shame of how much I have to lose and afraid I wouldn't be able to stick to it. I love the sight and the support I get from friends all with one common goal -- losing weight and living healthy. The boards are full of inspiration from the littlest nsv to the huge goals reached and maintained. Some that make you smile and laugh and some that bring you to tears. A new way of life for me, almost 60 lbs lighter and at it for 145 days today. It may not work for everyone, but if you give it your heart and your time I think it has definite possibilities. I say go for it and give it a shot, nothing to lose but pounds. Good luck.
.

chrissaucier

You've just found one of the most supportive groups you could ever look for! I thought I could do this on my own usong weight watchers. low carb, low fat and others too dumb to mention. Here, you aren't shunned for a bad day and are allowed that treat as long as you plan/account for it. I've lost 13 pounds and it really hasn't been all that bad. On the days I want to give up, my friends inspire me to go on. Who could ask for more??

bigC1979

I like My fitness pal because it keeps me in check and honest with myself. Accountability an awesome tool for weight loss!

Fatchickslim

Hi Everyone,

I am a 31 yo mom of 3 and have struggled with weight loss since as long as I can remember. I have tried Jenny Craig, Herballife, Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, Low Carb - you name it.

My friend, who lost 40 lbs with myfitnesspal.com, recommended I join. She expalined this site was different.

I would like to know of your personal stories with weight loss and tell me why you love myfitnesspal.

Thanks
Sabrina

Ha Funny I've tried all the same diets! plus some! But this time it's different, it's not relying on someone else telling me what to eat, it's putting it back on me and making me learn how to control the ins and the outs. With MFP on my phone I can have it with me to remember to log and check cal's when I need to make a healthy choice. I love it! I'm grateful I found it and wish you all the best!

runiechica

I like My fitness pal because it keeps me in check and honest with myself. Accountability an awesome tool for weight loss!

I think that's been the best piece for me too. I need a level of accountability...even if it's just to myself.

ckatastrophy

I am 42yr old & have struggled with wt issues since I was 10. I've been on here since 6/8/2011 and, as you can see by my ticker, lost 35lbs! I've tried many other diets & programs, but this one works for me. I think it has to do with the support from my MFP friends. They cheer me on when I'm doing great & trying new things & lift me up and help me get back into the swing of things when I falter. The plan works with real foods & it's easier than any of the diets/programs I've tired in the past. And I can take it everywhere since I have the app for my phone, too.

I love my pals here & have found the support & tools I need to achieve my goals.

Hope you'll enjoy the site as much as I do. Good luck with your goals!

SabrinaJL

I love it because I've been overweight/obese most of my life. I've attempted to lose the weight multiple times and have NEVER had the success I've had using MFP. I tried logging what I ate about 15 years ago (pre-everything being on the internet) and it was a pain, so I only did it for like a week. MFP makes it super easy and so far, I've lost 54 of the 100 lbs I'd like to lose.

Rain_Howard

ehh, the jury is still out on this one.

casi_ann

I love the food log, exercise log and place for journaling. We have a diet and exercise coach for free. Who wouldn't like it. I love it!

dobarber

I love it because when I started mfp back in July I was just looking for a calorie counter for my phone. I was able to find anything and everything in the food database. I then saw that there was a website. I went there and saw that there were tons upon tons(pun not intended) of people in the same situation that I was in. It gave me the feeling that I was not alone in this fight for fitness. I have gained so much knowledge from these people and absolutely consider them my friends even though I have never met them face to face or know what some of them look like. They celebrate my victories and pick me up when I'm feeling depressed about overindulging and really give me the support I need. The calorie counter is great but the support is truly invaluable. (plus its a lot cheaper than jenny craig or weight watchers and the foods better LOL!!)