Does MFP Need To Offer A Structured Plan??

peterdt

“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while.”- Steve Jobs

I love this quote. I think this can be applied to lifestyle change. By watching myself, especially recording food and exercise, I find that I can connect things about what I am doing and then make them better.

MFP is a great place for creativity too. It does not dictate any one diet allowing people to follow their own plan and it encourages us to share with each other. By learning from other people’s experience we can connect the dots in our own lives. I think it would be good if MFP promoted a plan though since a lot of people just “want to lose the weight” and not think about how to change their lifestyle.

Actually, I think you can do both, but it would have to be presented just right. A creative way of presenting a very loose set of recommendations would in the long run be beneficial I think vs a lot of the misinformation that is being presented as “facts” by a lot of users here in the forums.

Duck_Puddle

I think the inherent problem is that everyone's goals are different, and while we all must change our lifestyle in order to achieve lasting results, that "lifestyle" which is sustainable will be unique to each person and their goals. Mfp provides the tools necessary to accommodate whatever your goals and lifestyle may be. Each person must be a grownup and do their own research on what is "healthy" and appropriate for them and their eventual goals. I believe that mfp, as it is, can universally support anyone's goals and lifestyle. Like everything on the interwebs, if it's quoted as gospel, it probably isn't.

And when I'm referring to lifestyle, I'm referring to things like "clean" eating, levels of exercise, incorporation of "junk" food, etc.

tigersword

MFP does promote a plan. Count calories. That is the plan. Track your calories, eat to the goal MFP gives (including exercise calories,) and lose weight. Everything else talked about in the forums, quite frankly, are mostly irrelevant details to the average person.

Fozzi43

MFP does promote a plan. Count calories. That is the plan. Track your calories, eat to the goal MFP gives (including exercise calories,) and lose weight. Everything else talked about in the forums, quite frankly, are mostly irrelevant details to the average person.

This ^^

lauren3101

I like that quote too.

I'm not sure whether you actually mean a diet plan, like a set menu guide, but if you do, I don't agree with that, for these reasons:

1. You are right, some people do just want to know how to lose the weight, but long term, I don't think that works. It is about lifestyle change. If that's the route people want, there is always Weight Watchers, Atkins, Herbalife, etc.

2. I like the way this site has made me make my own choices and be responsible for my own 'diet plan' as it were. Doing it this way means I have learnt a lot about food, and not just its calorie content, but about good fats, high protein, things that keep me fuller, etc etc.

3. My mentality is fairly common with most overweight people, I believe, in that I often think very all or nothing. With MFP, if I have a chocolate bar or I want to go out to dinner, I can work it in. Any diet plan would leave me feeling like I've blown it as soon as I have something that's not on the 'good foods list'. I think this is the main reason MFP has worked for me.


However I think you are right in that a generic guide could be written on the common mistakes made on MFP. i.e. that there ARE good fats and that these should be incorporated into your diet. That protein and fats keep you fuller for longer. That exercise calories should be eaten back. That sodium can cause water retention and in turn weight 'gain'. etc.

At the very least, it will cut out a lot of repeated threads. :laugh:

Chief_Rocka

I would like to see a feature that automatically encouraged a diet break every 8 weeks or so.

ladynica

I think in a diet plan that is laid out for you, you learn less about how to eat when you get off said diet. Here's it's not a diet. It's budgeting for your body. You have X amount of calories and you have to learn which foods give your body more bang for your buck.

DeeDeeLHF

Forums aside, I think MFP does in fact promote a system. Find your base calories formulated from; first your assesment of your energy output (sedentary, active, etc.) and second your desired weight loss. (0.5 per week).

Then record exercise and eat back those calories.

When I first started, this is what I did and lost almost 30# in one year. I was thrilled!!!

It was the first "diet" that motivated me to really exercise.

I purchased a HRM to determine a more accurate calorie burn.

As time went by I started to learn from the forums more about weight lifting, etc. But when I need to lose again, I go back to the MFP basics.

D

LoraF83

MFP does promote a plan. Count calories. That is the plan. Track your calories, eat to the goal MFP gives (including exercise calories,) and lose weight. Everything else talked about in the forums, quite frankly, are mostly irrelevant details to the average person.

^Yep.

Tw1zzler

I like that you can customize your settings to suit any diet philosophy.

BrettPGH

MFP does promote a plan. Count calories. That is the plan. Track your calories, eat to the goal MFP gives (including exercise calories,) and lose weight. Everything else talked about in the forums, quite frankly, are mostly irrelevant details to the average person.

Yep. And enough people have arguments with just that. The more specific you get the more people complain it doesn't work for them.

Fozzi43

MFP does promote a plan. Count calories. That is the plan. Track your calories, eat to the goal MFP gives (including exercise calories,) and lose weight. Everything else talked about in the forums, quite frankly, are mostly irrelevant details to the average person.

Yep. And enough people have arguments with just that. The more specific you get the more people complain it doesn't work for them.

That's true.

Crankstr

no

wibutterflymagic

Forums aside, I think MFP does in fact promote a system. Find your base calories formulated from; first your assesment of your energy output (sedentary, active, etc.) and second your desired weight loss. (0.5 per week).

Then record exercise and eat back those calories.

When I first started, this is what I did and lost almost 30# in one year. I was thrilled!!!

It was the first "diet" that motivated me to really exercise.

I purchased a HRM to determine a more accurate calorie burn.

As time went by I started to learn from the forums more about weight lifting, etc. But when I need to lose again, I go back to the MFP basics.

D

I agree here. MFP is the first time that I've really understood what it takes to lose weight. WW's, Jenny Craig, etc etc all left me feeling like you have to ban foods from your life. Although I did lose some weight on WW's, it came back because I just got tired of the point thing and felt like I wasn't satisfied and I didn't have the tools to understand what it took to lose weight. They just said follow this plan and lose weight but what about when not on the plan? They didn't teach that.

I do agree that some basic health guides would be useful so there aren't 15 million threads about the same topic.

MB_Positif

MFP does promote a plan. Count calories. That is the plan. Track your calories, eat to the goal MFP gives (including exercise calories,) and lose weight. Everything else talked about in the forums, quite frankly, are mostly irrelevant details to the average person.

Yes.

peterdt

MFP does promote a plan. Count calories. That is the plan. Track your calories, eat to the goal MFP gives (including exercise calories,) and lose weight. Everything else talked about in the forums, quite frankly, are mostly irrelevant details to the average person.

Yep. And enough people have arguments with just that. The more specific you get the more people complain it doesn't work for them.

That's true.

that's what I mean about it having to be presented "just right". Sparks People (MFP main competition) offers very specific recommendation and I think there is a lot of value in that.

In my opinion though a lot of the self proclaimed experts at MFP become the defacto plan for many people. Worse yet, a lot of people give a lot of misinformation here too. This is not good.

I don't think the calorie counter provides good enough guidelines. Those are just implied in the percentages. You can eat the right amount of carbs but what if they are all crap? You can still lose weight by cutting the calories but your body will be lacking vital "stuff" you should be getting from carbs. ditto for fat and protein.

But it would need to be done right. You don't want to lose the spirit of partipation that now dominates MFP culture.

By the way, the current system does work to MFP's advantage. The forums promotes more visits. More visits= more exposure to their web ads. Also, my not promoting any one "diet" all the diet companies do adverstise on MFP. how can you tell? just go to google, type in medifast in search. then come back to MFP and you will notice a barrage of Medifast banner ads coming at you. If MFP did promote some general lifestyle changes then those ads would probably not be as effective.

trb85

I don't want MFP to lay out any guidelines other than what is already there.

You can adjust and track your micros & macros. You can adjust your activity goals.

I don't want a 'diet plan.' I want a convenient and easy way to track calories. MFP does that.

If people want a plan, there are other places they can go.

peterdt

What I envision is some recommendations presented in the following way:

"Here are some things that many people found helpful in changing their lifestyle". And make a list of things like good foods. bad foods. exercise. the mental game. It shoud not say "this is the plan, and this is what you should do". BUT it should say "this is what we have observed as being effective for many people so you might want to consider incorporating these practices into your own plan."

peterdt

What harm would come in they did implement something like I am recommending?

MyOwnSunshine

I think MFP is a tool, and that's what I need to accomplish my goals. Most "plans" don't work because there is no right or wrong way to lose weight. People need to figure out what works for them longterm and then accumulate the tools necessary to reach their goals.

If MFP was a plan, I wouldn't be here. I have very specific needs, limitations and preferences related to weight loss, maintenance, fitness and lifestyle.

That's why all the other "plans" like Atkins, WW, Sparkpeople, South Beach, etc. didn't work for me.

My opinion is that plans are a dime a dozen and most of them don't work (permanently). What works is building a knowledge base that focuses on nutrition, fitness and physiology, combined with insight about what motivates you and what your eating issues consist of, and then finding tools (MFP and NROL for me) that assist you in reaching your goals.

peterdt

I think MFP is a tool, and that's what I need to accomplish my goals. Most "plans" don't work because there is no right or wrong way to lose weight. People need to figure out what works for them longterm and then accumulate the tools necessary to reach their goals.

If MFP was a plan, I wouldn't be here. I have very specific needs, limitations and preferences related to weight loss, maintenance, fitness and lifestyle.

That's why all the other "plans" like Atkins, WW, Sparkpeople, South Beach, etc. didn't work for me.

My opinion is that plans are a dime a dozen and most of them don't work (permanently). What works is building a knowledge base that focuses on nutrition, fitness and physiology, combined with insight about what motivates you and what your eating issues consist of, and then finding tools (MFP and NROL for me) that assist you in reaching your goals.

Not saying to offer a "plan". I'm saying to offer a list of things that seemed to be helpful to most people. There are many poster who do that here already, but what they recommend is often very biased and incomplete though often nicely done. again, it must be presented in just the right way. nothing over the top.

peterdt

Forums aside, I think MFP does in fact promote a system. Find your base calories formulated from; first your assesment of your energy output (sedentary, active, etc.) and second your desired weight loss. (0.5 per week).

Then record exercise and eat back those calories.

When I first started, this is what I did and lost almost 30# in one year. I was thrilled!!!

It was the first "diet" that motivated me to really exercise.

I purchased a HRM to determine a more accurate calorie burn.

As time went by I started to learn from the forums more about weight lifting, etc. But when I need to lose again, I go back to the MFP basics.

D

I agree here. MFP is the first time that I've really understood what it takes to lose weight. WW's, Jenny Craig, etc etc all left me feeling like you have to ban foods from your life. Although I did lose some weight on WW's, it came back because I just got tired of the point thing and felt like I wasn't satisfied and I didn't have the tools to understand what it took to lose weight. They just said follow this plan and lose weight but what about when not on the plan? They didn't teach that.

I do agree that some basic health guides would be useful so there aren't 15 million threads about the same topic.

the HRM is a good example. A little information on the benefits of one would be helpful. BUT this would mess with MFP's business plan. they need all the hits on the site for income.

peterdt

MFP does promote a plan. Count calories. That is the plan. Track your calories, eat to the goal MFP gives (including exercise calories,) and lose weight. Everything else talked about in the forums, quite frankly, are mostly irrelevant details to the average person.

Yep. And enough people have arguments with just that. The more specific you get the more people complain it doesn't work for them.

That's true.

so what if they complain. people complain no matter what. does not make it the right or wrong thing to do.

peterdt

I like that you can customize your settings to suit any diet philosophy.

and this would not be taken away. BUT one cool thing they could do with that if you are on a particular plan you could click on that and it would automatically set the macros to that plan IF you want to do that.

peterdt

I would like to see a feature that automatically encouraged a diet break every 8 weeks or so.

I have head similar things before. information about something like that might be useful to share in general.

another one they could do is right next to the water, record the number of hours you slept last night. not enough sleep usually mean eating too much the next day.

peterdt

I think in a diet plan that is laid out for you, you learn less about how to eat when you get off said diet. Here's it's not a diet. It's budgeting for your body. You have X amount of calories and you have to learn which foods give your body more bang for your buck.

those X calories can shorten your life in the long run. yes, in the short run you will lose. why "learn" what those foods are when some general guidelines could be given in this area. whole wheat bread. most fruits. most veggies. cut the red meat. most dieticians and diets agree on many points.

trb85

I like that you can customize your settings to suit any diet philosophy.

and this would not be taken away. BUT one cool thing they could do with that if you are on a particular plan you could click on that and it would automatically set the macros to that plan IF you want to do that.

Those plans have their own sites. If you're on WW and want to do things the WW way, you can go to the WW site and it'll be handed to you.

MFP doesn't need a "good food/bad food" list.
MFP doesn't need a "go buy these gadgets" list.

If you want that stuff, there are other places for it. This is not the place.

peterdt

I think the inherent problem is that everyone's goals are different, and while we all must change our lifestyle in order to achieve lasting results, that "lifestyle" which is sustainable will be unique to each person and their goals. Mfp provides the tools necessary to accommodate whatever your goals and lifestyle may be. Each person must be a grownup and do their own research on what is "healthy" and appropriate for them and their eventual goals. I believe that mfp, as it is, can universally support anyone's goals and lifestyle. Like everything on the interwebs, if it's quoted as gospel, it probably isn't.

And when I'm referring to lifestyle, I'm referring to things like "clean" eating, levels of exercise, incorporation of "junk" food, etc.

it does not have to be presented as gospel. it could be presented in the "sprit" of MFP.

grownups do have to learn about how to eat right and research it. why not have that research right here on MFP without having to sort through the crap and the "cabbage" diet?

melsinct

MFP does promote a plan. Count calories. That is the plan. Track your calories, eat to the goal MFP gives (including exercise calories,) and lose weight. Everything else talked about in the forums, quite frankly, are mostly irrelevant details to the average person.

Agreed. If MFP got more specific and touted a certain "plan," I probably never would have bothered with it. The beauty of plain old counting calories is that we can each tweak it to suit our individual lifestyle and goals, whether that includes getting into clean eating, becoming a weight lifter, making room for fast food 2x a week because that is what your life dictates at this time...there is room for all of us on MFP, and I think that is its strength.

peterdt

I like that you can customize your settings to suit any diet philosophy.

and this would not be taken away. BUT one cool thing they could do with that if you are on a particular plan you could click on that and it would automatically set the macros to that plan IF you want to do that.

Those plans have their own sites. If you're on WW and want to do things the WW way, you can go to the WW site and it'll be handed to you.

MFP doesn't need a "good food/bad food" list.
MFP doesn't need a "go buy these gadgets" list.

If you want that stuff, there are other places for it. This is not the place.

it doesn't have to be like how you describe above. it does not have to be an authoratative list. but a list of things that most people found helpful would be beneficial.

peterdt

MFP does promote a plan. Count calories. That is the plan. Track your calories, eat to the goal MFP gives (including exercise calories,) and lose weight. Everything else talked about in the forums, quite frankly, are mostly irrelevant details to the average person.

Agreed. If MFP got more specific and touted a certain "plan," I probably never would have bothered with it. The beauty of plain old counting calories is that we can each tweak it to suit our individual lifestyle and goals, whether that includes getting into clean eating, becoming a weight lifter, making room for fast food 2x a week because that is what your life dictates at this time...there is room for all of us on MFP, and I think that is its strength.

not promoting a plan. call it a list of helpful tips that SHOULD be customized to your own needs explaining that some might make sense for you. some might not.