Should MFP setup lifestyle advise from professionals?

peterdt

I think they should. At least feature top loser and have comments from a board of dietitians, psychologists, personal trainers on topics like: "People who lost 100+ pounds and Kept It Off For At Least 2 Years".

I think there is a lot of misinformation out there on MFP and in general about diet and weight loss. A feature like this without any agenda could really contribute to helping people change their lives rather than being the 95% that just end up putting the weight back on.

Also, I think it would be helpful to examine major diet programs out there and get professionals opinions on the effectiveness of those plans. I guess most people who lost weight and kept it off just decided to do it and not follow any type of diet plan. I would love to see some "objective" information on this.

Bonny619

I think the problem is that so much information ISN'T objective, it's subjective. I recently talked to a RD who told me I shouldn't eat as many eggs as I do. I don't believe that information but that is WIDELY accepted in the "professional" community. I don't think this would work unfortunately.

Crochetluvr

have comments from a board of dietitians, psychologists, personal trainers on topics like: "People who lost 100+ pounds and Kept It Off For At Least 2 Years".

That would probably cost money. And since the site is free, I think people prefer to find their OWN information.

TBH, not all professionals have the same opinions about health topics...as is evident by the conflicting info on the internet.

purple_tux1

People come here for peer support, not professional advice.

FoodandFitness

I think the problem is that so much information ISN'T objective, it's subjective. I recently talked to a RD who told me I shouldn't eat as many eggs as I do. I don't believe that information but that is WIDELY accepted in the "professional" community. I don't think this would work unfortunately.

This is true. I'm a RD and I agree with this message.

Eggs rule.

Bonny619

They totally do!!!!!!!!!!!

peterdt

So the solution is to take no stand at all? I think this is wishy washy. Yes, for sure there are so many conflicting opinions. But a group of professionals giving advise free on general topics I think would be easily doable. It would be just a matter of a person at MFP organizing those pro bono people.

A lot of the advise offered by fellow members is totally inaccurate. There has got to be a way to get some consensus for some critical issues.

I believe a lot of professionals would help out pro bono in exchange for the exposure they could get or just because they are human and want to help their fellow humans.

I think the best way is to start out small and see where it could lead with some basic questions that are always coming up and have professsionals give their 2 cents worth and allow for conflicing opinions, and I think many agree on a lot of topics more than others. It could be another feather in the cap of MFP. If it does not work then dump it.

peterdt

read the posts. tons of people come here for information. maybe you come for support but you are not everyone.

People come here for peer support, not professional advice.

Pandorian

On every forum page at MFP you visit there's a reminder

Posts by members, moderators and admins should not be considered medical advice and no guarantee is made against accuracy.

ToughTulip

People can do research for themselves. Look for peer reviewed scientific studies and you are good. It really is not rocket science.

Not sure how you could find a whole board of professionals. Even between them they would have different advice.

BeautyFromPain

I think they should. At least feature top loser and have comments from a board of dietitians, psychologists, personal trainers on topics like: "People who lost 100+ pounds and Kept It Off For At Least 2 Years".

I think there is a lot of misinformation out there on MFP and in general about diet and weight loss. A feature like this without any agenda could really contribute to helping people change their lives rather than being the 95% that just end up putting the weight back on.

Also, I think it would be helpful to examine major diet programs out there and get professionals opinions on the effectiveness of those plans. I guess most people who lost weight and kept it off just decided to do it and not follow any type of diet plan. I would love to see some "objective" information on this.

And you think these professionals would be willing to work for free? There probably is a site out there like that.. you can have fun paying hundreds of dollars a month for it

BeautyFromPain

BetterHealthChannel, AIS. All good sources.

So is the food pyramid...

TinGirl314

People should not be coming here for medical advice.
If the topic is serious enough to merit a professional response, it should be handled by a doctor who is familiar with your specific health problems.
I would rather pay to talk to a dietician than have to pay to log my food everyday.

Besides, for most things there are no real answers.
No carb works well for a lot of people, it makes me feel like death. Some people live on high carbs and loose a ton of weight, for me it makes my blood sugar spike.

I don't think your idea is a bad one, I just don't think it's a realistic one. There are malpractice insurance requirements for even on line psychiatrists. I wish we could flood the board with doctors and trainers...WISH.

Tried not to make the response too wishy washy.

Gidzmo

I think they should. At least feature top loser and have comments from a board of dietitians, psychologists, personal trainers on topics like: "People who lost 100+ pounds and Kept It Off For At Least 2 Years".

I think there is a lot of misinformation out there on MFP and in general about diet and weight loss. A feature like this without any agenda could really contribute to helping people change their lives rather than being the 95% that just end up putting the weight back on.

Also, I think it would be helpful to examine major diet programs out there and get professionals opinions on the effectiveness of those plans. I guess most people who lost weight and kept it off just decided to do it and not follow any type of diet plan. I would love to see some "objective" information on this.

What works for some people might not work for others.

ToughTulip

I don't think your idea is a bad one, I just don't think it's a realistic one.

Pretty much this ^^

JenKillough

I agree with some of the others, MFP is more about peer-to-peer.

Hearts_2015

OP.... if you're wanting the Mods/Steven/Mike or Al to view this, perhaps consider placing it under site suggestions/tech area where they would more likely see it. :flowerforyou:

dave4d

After years of studying nutrition, and fitness as I've gone through my weight loss journey, sometimes I wonder if, even the professionals can agree on what is good, and what isn't. Sometimes I think it is similar to the "Global Warming" debate that has politicians, and climatologists up in arms. Many nutritionists still don't agree on all things.

There are many reasons as to why there are so many diets out there. While the major reason is the money one can make by creating a "diet" plan, the other reason is that not all people are the same. Some are sensitive to sugars, some have issues with gluten, some people like to do cardio, others like to lift weights. Too many people want instant results, and would rather crash diet, than change their lifestyles to healthy eating, and activity.

MFP has the framework, that if followed, should work for most people. Some will need to tweak some things. They may overestimate calorie burns on workouts. They may underestimate portion size. They may need to adjust the protein to carb ratio. People need to experiment with ideas that can work for them, and while some ideas are crazier than others, Many you can't find by just getting information from paid professionals.

icimani

I hear you. I find it frustrating, too. But I also agree that even the professional don't always agree on everything.

There are some professional who offer their advice to MFP. For example:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/755899-registered-dietitian-in-tx-here-to-answer-questions

And of course, there are many many people who think they know more than the professionals! And there are the people who will argue to the death about certain principles like is breakfast important, is eating after 8pm good or bad, should you eat back your exercise calories or not, is cardio more important than resistance training, etc, etc, etc. It's very subjective - not everybody is built the same, and not everyone responds the same to any given program. Use common sense and find something that works for you.

megleo818

No.

Robin_Bin

MFP kindly sets up this site for free. Makes improvements regularly. Has volunteer moderators to keep the most egregious trash out. I think it's fine to suggest things you believe would make the site better -- and they have a message board specifically for suggestions.

However, the tone of your notes makes it sound like you think they owe you additional things. I think it's your responsibility to weed through free advice, to check it against reliable sources, join the groups with people who have experience with your issues, pay attention to which posters make reasonable suggestions and can back them up with links to additional, credible information, to find other sources to supplement MFP when necessary and to pay back others on the site who have helped by posting useful content.

P.S. You could invite a professional here.

capriciousmoon

I don't think it would be as useful as you think.

I lost 100 lbs and kept off 90 of it off for 4 years. I didn't pay attention to any professionals or any of that constantly changing health advice, just common sense.

neverstray

As usual, I always disagree with everyone. Lol. While there are disagreements amoungst professionals, I don't see any problem having some pro columns. Magazines do it all day long. Everyone has a POV. A Paleo believer will be completely different than a vegetarian, as an example. But, if I was a vegetarian, I may like to see some professional articles on the topic. Sure, I can go else where and read up. But, why not make this site more sticky?

californiagirl2012

I think they should. At least feature top loser and have comments from a board of dietitians, psychologists, personal trainers on topics like: "People who lost 100+ pounds and Kept It Off For At Least 2 Years".

I think there is a lot of misinformation out there on MFP and in general about diet and weight loss. A feature like this without any agenda could really contribute to helping people change their lives rather than being the 95% that just end up putting the weight back on.

Also, I think it would be helpful to examine major diet programs out there and get professionals opinions on the effectiveness of those plans. I guess most people who lost weight and kept it off just decided to do it and not follow any type of diet plan. I would love to see some "objective" information on this.

I am not a professional and I can't really be "objective" but I can tell my story. I failed at every diet out there for 15 years. I've had a dream of being fit since I was 19. I ran marathons, ultra marathons, lifted weights, did martial arts, hiked, biked, back backed, and worked out hard for over 30 years and still managed to stay over weight and finally obese. I finally obtained my goal at age 50. I am glad I didn't give up. I am the leanest and most fit I've ever been in my life and I'm still maintaining at almost age 52.

Mainly I learned you can't out exercise over eating. I didn't think I was eating to much but I didn't realize how small I was under all that fat. hint: if you are short you are probably small under all that, WAY smaller than you think you are.

Also diets don't work. Anything that has "good" food vs "bad" food sets you up for failure.

Eat what you like within your calorie budget. Eat mostly healthy. If you eat junk food, try to pick one thing healthy and get it to stick, then one more, then one more. Trying to make all the changes all at once is too much for most people to handle.

That is all.

TeachTheGirl

I think those of us who are committed to making these changes will find those motivational 'heroes' of MFP and see for ourselves how it is done. I don't think the site needs to do that work for us.

(Derp. Put MLP at first. My Little Pony is DEFINITELY not weight-loss related advice...)

VelociMama

Honestly, it really isn't hard to figure out the basics of weight management or body recomposition, but it does require a little diligence on the part of the MFP'er and some understanding of basic science (namely, knowing the difference between an opinion and scientifically-supported evidence). Best part about that is that it's FREE. Going through this process, while somewhat time-consuming, improves your own knowledge base and improves your ability to assimilate more information in the future since you have that solid basis of understanding already under your belt.

Furthermore, a lot of diet "professionals" use junk science, outdated information, or anecdotal evidence as the basis for their knowledge. If you don't have a solid understanding of how weight management and body recomposition works, you're not going to be equipped to decide if their advice is good or not either.

Self-education trumps being told what to do any day.

Just my $0.02.

Edit to add: There are people on here who have lost 100+ lbs whose knowledge of general diet and weight management is far poorer than some who have lost only a fraction of that or even some who have undergone a body recomposition. How much weight they've lost is not an indicator of quality of knowledge.

peterdt

Your story needs to get out there and heard. You underestimate yourself.

I don't think it would be as useful as you think.

I lost 100 lbs and kept off 90 of it off for 4 years. I didn't pay attention to any professionals or any of that constantly changing health advice, just common sense.

purple_tux1

read the posts. tons of people come here for information. maybe you come for support but you are not everyone.

People come here for peer support, not professional advice.

Peer support includes the sharing of information, opinions and personal experiences. If people wanted professional advice, they can go find it.

There are alot of peer support groups out there that are very successful. When I was a new mother, I belonged to a breastfeeding support group. Sure if I had a really serious problem, there were lots of professionals I could have consulted with. However, when I didn't, it was really nice to listen to other people's opinions and experiences.

Being part of a peer support group is also very empowering.

heybales

I think they should. At least feature top loser and have comments from a board of dietitians, psychologists, personal trainers on topics like: "People who lost 100+ pounds and Kept It Off For At Least 2 Years".

I think there is a lot of misinformation out there on MFP and in general about diet and weight loss. A feature like this without any agenda could really contribute to helping people change their lives rather than being the 95% that just end up putting the weight back on.

Also, I think it would be helpful to examine major diet programs out there and get professionals opinions on the effectiveness of those plans. I guess most people who lost weight and kept it off just decided to do it and not follow any type of diet plan. I would love to see some "objective" information on this.

But then how would you keep subscribers on here, in order to get bigger ad sales from?

The infamous 1200 cal diet almost always causes weight loss for at least 2-3 weeks even if your metabolism is already jacked up.
That's enough time to be hooked on the nice food database features, enjoy the forums, and so you stick around when you stop losing.
Now you ask on the forums, get advice to eat more, you do, you keep losing, and you've stuck around and are a useful statistic to sell to advertisers.

peterdt

I don't think MFP "owes" me anything. But I do think they could do more.

I think MFP should at least issue an vision statement with goals and objectives and make it public.

Who has time to sort out and do the free advise on MFP and on the net? MFP could help.

MFP has created something awesome. Why not try to expand on that awesomeness and offer even more?

To me the main problem would be to for MFP to allow these pros to give their opinions and NOT make it seem like tacit approval.

If MFP did offer it you know that it would be widely read, much more so than the blogs. The problem would be to get it right and get the right mix of pros commenting to try to make the opinions listed as fair and balanced as possible. Wouldn't you like to hear the opinions of say Dr. Drew for example on topics he would be qualified to comment on? I know I would. Now imagine several people like Dr. Drew all commenting on the same topic. I think it would be quite interesting.

read the posts. tons of people come here for information. maybe you come for support but you are not everyone.

People come here for peer support, not professional advice.

Peer support includes the sharing of information, opinions and personal experiences. If people wanted professional advice, they can go find it.

There are alot of peer support groups out there that are very successful. When I was a new mother, I belonged to a breastfeeding support group. Sure if I had a really serious problem, there were lots of professionals I could have consulted with. However, when I didn't, it was really nice to listen to other people's opinions and experiences.

Being part of a peer support group is also very empowering.

capriciousmoon

Your story needs to get out there and heard. You underestimate yourself.

I don't think it would be as useful as you think.

I lost 100 lbs and kept off 90 of it off for 4 years. I didn't pay attention to any professionals or any of that constantly changing health advice, just common sense.

It's not that interesting. I weighed all my food, counted my calories, and walked 3.5 ~ 7 miles a day. I often use the nutrition facts when choosing between two foods. It helps if you are a bit obsessive.