Should MFP setup lifestyle advise from professionals?
Replies
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Why couldn't they educate themselves on this site that has added some pros to the mix. Just another tool to use.Frankly, anyone who has a long-term goal of managing their weight and who is not willing to put in the time to educate themselves is most likely going to fail no matter what program they're on.
Thank you! exactly this.. Problem when you have the 'professionals' on here is that they have no problem advertising their business, pushing their pills or personal training or books or whatever else they do. I didn't sign up to be spammed by these people trying to sell me something. Lately the number of people sending me 'friend' requests to push their **** has been very high and seems it's climbing weekly.
So many people can't be bothered to think for themselves and are here just looking for someone to tell them exactly what to do - even if that thing is to eat 1200 cal a day when they are over 200lbs, over 5 feet tall and under 50.. I actually saw one of these 'professionals' say ...You can't ever eat too little, if you aren't losing weight you should eat LESS... not even a thought to the other stats of the person. Just because someone calls themselves a professional does not mean they know anything about what's right for YOU.0 -
I already do that!
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/dsjohndrow
But yes, it would be nice to at least have people with an education and some practical experience weighing in.0 -
I like the idea. I once tried the Cat Pee diet and it didn't do anything. Never falling for that one again0
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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.
WHY do you think they can do more? They're not being paid to spend their time here and neither are you paying... seriously :huh:0 -
NO ,,,,, go to YOUR doctor !!!!!!0
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most doctors know almost nothing about what it takes to lose weight.NO ,,,,, go to YOUR doctor !!!!!!0
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What works for some wont work for others.
Its not about the food you eat, its about the motivation you have.
No one can give you motivation to change your lifestyle, you have to be prepared to change it - and want it.
18 year olds wanting to exist on 600 cals or look like Arnie arent doing it for health, they are motivated by peer pressure.
40 year olds who want to drop weight want to live longer after health issues, lifestyle changes or the realisation that its great to feel fit.
Plus, why would the site change what they already know. The way to make money is to get volunteers to work for nothing and the advertisements to pay the wages. Unless you have an ad blocker, Im sure there are a million and one ads on this site, all changing every time you post something or click something.
There is no philanthropy here, just a desire to make money.
I started on here when I was 19 and I did it for health..
Eating more calories than that, sure.
But I didn't want to die. I didn't want to be depressed, get cholestorol/arthritis problems my mum and grandma have and I didn't want to hate myself anymore.
Just cos I'm young doesn't make me stupid or selfish.0 -
Suer theres no need
Everyone in the forums knows it all ffs0 -
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.
I agree. Not just the "eggs rule" part. But my sister went to a few different dietitians who all interjected their personal options into their advice and with a degree were able to cast it as pro advice. Glad she didn't listen to the one who told her to eat less calories with a gal who runs 9mph for an hour daily on top of hour at gym and eats 1500 with previous ED issues, it would have made her worse. Shes doing better now, found a good doc to help.0 -
if the vision of MFP is to help people in the best and most effective way possible, and if the budget is there from the ads, then why not add pros to the resources available to people? open your mind. it could be a nice addition. don't get me wrong. I love MFP now. just brainstorming. get it?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.
WHY do you think they can do more? They're not being paid to spend their time here and neither are you paying... seriously :huh:0 -
I think there needs to be a combination of science based evidence and reality/individual processes that work for each individual. I saw a thread where an exercise physiologist was totally beat up by people who have no idea about the adaptation to activity that the body goes through and the nutritional components necessary for certain activities. This is a non-professional site to hold people accountable for the nutritional and activity components of daily life. It would be good for those who are professional to state so in their responses as they may receive some questions from people who are serious about a specific aspect of their nutritional or actvity lifestyles. As a Certified and Licensed Athletic Trainer and Exercise Physiologist, I see the benefits of science based information but it does not work for everyone. Personally, I do very well with carbs and eating too much protein actually bogs me down. I think everyone needs to take the information presented on here not as gospel but as general information and see if they read makes sense for their own body type and committment to utilze that information. Remember, it takes 3 weeks for the body to adapt to ANY change, whether a new eating habit, job, activity, etc. Enjoy the fact you are getting healthier whether you need to lose 20-30 pounds like most of the people on this earth, or over 100. Have a great day enjoying your new life!0
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The experts cannot agree because the one thing that research HAS proven is that there isn't a one size fits all when it comes to weight loss. I appreciate sharing what my friends are doing that works and have adapted my process accordingly with things that I tried that worked for me.0
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There are plenty of professionals on here, and plenty of people who have educated themselves. What I've learned is that even professionals give conflicting advice. Eggs are good, eggs are bad. Lifting heavy is necessary and cardio is unnecessary, cardio is unnecessary and lifting heavy is unnecessary. Everyone should eat on this x, y, z exclusion diet vs everything in moderation as long as you are eating at a deficit. Dr Oz is a professional vs Dr Oz is the biggest quack out there peddling the newest snake oil as the solution to all your problems (weight loss, receding hair line, or impotency issues? here, have some pregnant lady hormone, raspberry ketones, and acai berry, mix it all together and rub it all over you, problem solved).
And, I hate to break it to you, but the person who lost 300 pounds and kept it off for 2 years may or may not have done it in a healthy way so their no better a source of advice than anyone else.0 -
if the vision of MFP is to help people in the best and most effective way possible, and if the budget is there from the ads, then why not add pros to the resources available to people? open your mind. it could be a nice addition. don't get me wrong. I love MFP now. just brainstorming. get it?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.
WHY do you think they can do more? They're not being paid to spend their time here and neither are you paying... seriously :huh:
I do have an open mind.
What you do not seem to get however is that every single professional has done different research, and all have very different opinions.
I've been at a Fitness school for the past 8 months.. trust me that's how it is... "My way is right blahblahblah because it works for me" What you don't seem to be listening to is the fact that every single persons body responds differently to different things. That's why when you meet with a Personal Trainer, they will write you up a program based on your specific needs, not have premade programs already written. Some people may be fine on 1200 cals, if I eat less than 1600 I get soo hungry and do not lose weight. Add in gender differences, hormone differences, culture differences, food intolerances/allergies, heart disease/diabetes etc etc and you've got a recipe for disaster. Plus they probably don't want to get sued because someone took their advice and ended up sick.0 -
different "professionals" have different opinions, so having "professionals" paid to give advice wouldn't really add too much value. Plus, this is a free site. if you want professional advice, you have to pay for it. I would not take advice from an internet "professional" on my health, and i would detest paying for a membership on MFP so that other people can make choices i don't agree with. if you wanna make stupid choices, fine by me, but don't expect me to pay for them. i guess that's the non-liberal in me
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So...you want this to remain a free website with "professional" advice? Good idea in theory, I suppose. But don't forget, free advice is worth as much as you pay for it...0
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So...you want this to remain a free website with "professional" advice? Good idea in theory, I suppose. But don't forget, free advice is worth as much as you pay for it...
DINGDINGDING we have a winner!!!0 -
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.
I agree to a level. After one year on MFP and 50lbs lost, I plateaued for several months and have put back on 20lbs to date. Why? I was starving my 5'9" 200+lb frame on 1300 calories a day as set by MFP! Another year later and I have maintained this current weight and can't seem to find a way to start losing again. I've lowered carbs and increased protein, changed up exercise, upped my calories to 1600 and then 2000 per my BMR and TDEE and haven't gained or lost a pound.
Sadly, there are people who will tell you that 1200 calories are good because they are healthy and losing. Until the hit the wall that I did and start gaining it back... There is SO much bad info on here that even after being here 2 years, I still can't find the truth! :grumble:0 -
It would detract from the site experience for me if they had a panel of professionals. I like MFP because of the simplicity of it. Eat at least this amount and go ahead and add in up to this amount of exercise calories and you'll be fine. Professionals providing either one viewpoint (very biased and one sided) or professionals debating (bickering) and coming up with different answers to the same black and white question is not going to help the average user.
I recently read an answer that was at best lazy and thus misleading from someone who adds credentials to their posts. It wasn't worth the energy to debate it as even though there is a factual and scientific explanation for the question asked, the answer given wasn't harmful. But stuff like that is exactly why I would not want professionals either endorsing the party line or a variety of professionals endorsing their own bottom line.
I enjoy the debating from people who either have no real authority here or who can claim it but at the bottom of every post we are reminded that they don't actually have it. I enjoy reading, researching, and then experimenting.0 -
A section where Dr. Oz and Dr. Fuhrman tell everybody what they think? I would love that. But I am not willing to $$ pay for it.
There are tons of success stories of people that have lost 100+ and more too all over the place. I guess it could be good to put them all in an area.
But I don't want to pay any $$ for that. They monetize here by ads. Not sure how much a group of health professional giving out advice highlighted with "check with your doctor" each day might cost. Not sure if the forum moderators are paid real salaries.
I just know I love the site the way it is and I don't want to pay for a doctor advice forum.0 -
In your case, you probably would benefit from talking to a professional. Someone who you are paying for individualized attention and testing, not somebody posting a blog on a website to promote their miracle program or supplement or whatever.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.
I agree to a level. After one year on MFP and 50lbs lost, I plateaued for several months and have put back on 20lbs to date. Why? I was starving my 5'9" 200+lb frame on 1300 calories a day as set by MFP! Another year later and I have maintained this current weight and can't seem to find a way to start losing again. I've lowered carbs and increased protein, changed up exercise, upped my calories to 1600 and then 2000 per my BMR and TDEE and haven't gained or lost a pound.
Sadly, there are people who will tell you that 1200 calories are good because they are healthy and losing. Until the hit the wall that I did and start gaining it back... There is SO much bad info on here that even after being here 2 years, I still can't find the truth! :grumble:0 -
There are enough "Professionals" handing out bad advice on here already
this0 -
I agree to a level. After one year on MFP and 50lbs lost, I plateaued for several months and have put back on 20lbs to date. Why? I was starving my 5'9" 200+lb frame on 1300 calories a day as set by MFP! Another year later and I have maintained this current weight and can't seem to find a way to start losing again. I've lowered carbs and increased protein, changed up exercise, upped my calories to 1600 and then 2000 per my BMR and TDEE and haven't gained or lost a pound.
Sadly, there are people who will tell you that 1200 calories are good because they are healthy and losing. Until the hit the wall that I did and start gaining it back... There is SO much bad info on here that even after being here 2 years, I still can't find the truth! :grumble:
Too true.
How long did you hold each changed diet goal? 3 weeks minimum?
If you didn't gain at the increased calorie level, your body reached balance there, which means it had even more room to go.0 -
There's probably a site out there that already does this.....for a monthly fee. I bet if you were researching right now instead of "taking a stand" on a free website (thank you Mike) it would be much more productive.
Most of the sites that I have gone to for professional advice have told me that I need to take this supplement, or that supplement to see the results that I want, and I can buy those supplements from them.... No thanks.0 -
right now MFP is looking for people in 6 paid positions. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/jobs. this indicates substantial growth and a significant budget. they could easily do what I am recommending without charging for it, I can guarantee you that.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.
I agree to a level. After one year on MFP and 50lbs lost, I plateaued for several months and have put back on 20lbs to date. Why? I was starving my 5'9" 200+lb frame on 1300 calories a day as set by MFP! Another year later and I have maintained this current weight and can't seem to find a way to start losing again. I've lowered carbs and increased protein, changed up exercise, upped my calories to 1600 and then 2000 per my BMR and TDEE and haven't gained or lost a pound.
Sadly, there are people who will tell you that 1200 calories are good because they are healthy and losing. Until the hit the wall that I did and start gaining it back... There is SO much bad info on here that even after being here 2 years, I still can't find the truth! :grumble:0 -
have a little faith. there are pro out there that would give out balanced advise. again, if done right this would be an awesome addition and they would not have to charge a dime for it.There are enough "Professionals" handing out bad advice on here already
this0 -
I disagree. Done right it could be just another tool for the people here to use. And it could be an awesome tool. Rather than just pick an idea apart why not think of how something like this could be effective or useful?
An axe is a tool.
It's true, I could use an axe to whipe a hair off my eyeball... but would it be wise?
There's something to be said about picking the tool that best fits the job.
Why would I try to come up with a list of if's, but's, exceptions, and w/e the f else just to make the wrong tool work, when there are better options available? Such as NOT pushing a one size fits all solution.0 -
have a little faith. there are pro out there that would give out balanced advise. again, if done right this would be an awesome addition and they would not have to charge a dime for it.There are enough "Professionals" handing out bad advice on here already
this
your ignorance of reality is sad.0 -
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.
as a professional... i advise you to do your own research and find what works for you through trial and error because that is what is going to make the most sense in the end... you can listen to one person who you think is right until you hit a plateau, then listen to another person, then another... just do yo thang and be self educated thru reading then base your dietary decisions of that.0
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