Do you feel like MFP is the plan for you that works?

dorisayson

Just wondering if anyone feels like they really can't do weight loss without using MFP? Have you tried losing weight without it and find yourself having to get back on MFP? I just wanted to know how many people feel that they definitely need MFP to be successful with weight loss?

redraidergirl2009

I use mfp to calorie count and track my nutrition. Eating back all my calories like it suggests doesn't work for me, as well as a number of people here. But some people have good luck with it.

NaomiJFoster

I have a knack for letting myself 'get away' with pretending. "Oh, one more day of skipping a workout won't make a difference." "It won't matter if I have one more slab of lasagna." "Eating cheeseburgers 3 days in a row won't really effect my weight." "I can burn enough calories to lose weight just by walking to the mailbox and back."

MFP doesn't let me do that. It's all right there, in black and white (and RED!!!). It's real. It's tangible. It makes complete sense to me. And it makes it easy.

NaomiJFoster

OK I don't know if I NEED it. I probably won't need it after a year of practicing with it. But right now, and to get started, yeah...it's making a difference.

HSingMomto7Kids

After I lost my weight I still used MFP!! The support has been amazing and I've made too many friends here to leave. lol

chymerra

i think MFP is a good tool to help people get started. i used MFP for a while to gauge how much i was eating and used it for 2wks; then when i was happy (i knew i was on track but just wanted to make sure), i stopped. i never log anything on this site but i do come on the forums to help people.

i did my own research and follow my own programs have have hit all of my fitness goals without MFP.

skinnyinnotime

I lost weight from my first 2 pregnancies on my own. This time I found mfp and I've really got into the fitness side of things, so glad I found this site, I have learnt so much on here.

Cre8veLifeR

Once I decided to lose the excess weight, I committed. I think anything works if you commit. I found it REALLY helps me to log in my food (still - this is an eternity in discipline for me lol) because I discovered that I was eating a LOT more than I thought I was! Pretty healthy but WAY too much. Before MFP I was eating around 3000 CPD. I've cut it in half and I feel SO much better already! Even though I was working out (I always have) I was still eating too much. On here I have my target calories + my exercise calories. I will use MFP until I hit my GW. I also love the support of my MFP "friends".

So, my answer? Yep!

lisadlocks

Yes. It is the plan that works for me. I can see everything that I eat. I believe MFP. It is my lying eyes and memory :noway: that I don't trust.

mustangdeb

I feel I need MFP, it makes it easier to track what I eat, I won't write it down but I can keep track using my phone when not home. I have also set up an account for my husband. I love it.

spirit80

Yes it works! It is a checks and balance tool. If you use it you will lose weight. If you want to make excuses go ahead and just looks in the mirror and see if you are happy on where you are at. If it was easy anyone could do it. It takes work and dedication. Good Luck.

Amberonamission

I have found that if I track every bite I succeed. The second I stop and think I can do it on my own, I stop losing. The message board and my list of friends have been critical to keeping me going and bringing new ideas.

The one thing or area that I feel mfp fails at is estimating the amount of calories you "earn" with workouts. Eating those calories back does not work for me. The estimate of number of calories burned is almost double what my heart rate monitor tells me.

Unknown

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michelefrench

Yes...I've lost weight with and without MFP....took me 3 1/2 years to lose 50 pounds on my own...with the last year of that being pretty much gaining and losing the same 10 pounds...joined MFP and have lost over 40 since joining 6 months ago....keeps me way way more on track....

mamasmaltz3

It helps to keep me accountable. Obviously I was not doing that well on my own. I still have a long way to go, so I have no plans of not tracking anytime soon. Will I use it forever, everyday? I doubt it. But, I definitely think what I have learned from tracking and about fitness from the forums will stay with me forever. For me it has changed my life.

weatheredcheese

I ran a test on Saturday to see how I would cope, I know one day isnt a massive test but I thought it would be interesting to see how I did.
Turns out without putting my food into MFP I am completely unaware of how bad certain things are for me, I mean I knew some of the calories etc but am completely unaware of the fat and sat fat contents, which is why I like to use MFP, so I can keep an eye on all of the stats and monitor my intake properly.

LorinaLynn

It's just a tool... like Quicken for calories. Instead of balancing my bank accounts, I'm balancing my calories and macros against my activity.

tami101

I have lost weight many times throughout my life. Always gaining it back. This time I have learned to not only eat healthier, but to exercise better with strength and cardio. I look and feel better now than I have in my entire life. MFP has taught me to concentrate more on being healthy and strong than thin. MFP is the best thing I have ever found for my health!

millions47

good morning, i have tried several different ways to lose the weight. weight watchers, atkins, diet soups but nothing helps. i have to control my calories. i have been on livestrong but really did not like it. i love love love love MFP and the people. I feel like it is apart of my life now.

MB_Positif

Yes. Here's the link to my most recent success story post!!!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/918358-they-cut-my-head-open-your-excuse-is-invalid

mattschwartz01

I wouldn't call MFP a plan, per se. I would call it a large support and accountability community. I'm on a medically controlled and supervised program so I use MFP to record food/water intake. I recently discovered these message boards and the support/motivational aspects. The support and motivational aspects do a credit to social networking. I look forward to logging on to MFP and reading others success stories as it lessens the mental burden of my goal of 170 off.

taunto

I don't think we NEED mfp. Its simply a tool. If you have determination and dedication, you can do it without it. Many have done it.

However, for ME, its been an amazing tool without which I have a hard time thinking how I would have lost the 40 lbs and counting that I have lost. And not just lose the lbs, but do it in a healthy fashion. I have good level of energy, I eat well while still losing weight. This wouldn't be possible for me without the support I get from friends. What makes MFP a success is the support you get. Of course, one can argue about the bad advice and support you see here but thats where you need good friends and good education. Look for friends who support you but don't blindly cheer you for only eating 300 calories a day. Good friends will support you when you have a bad day of diet or workout yet will kick you butt into gear when it happens too often.

Educate yourself about proper nutrition. If somebody posts an advice about what you should be eating or how you should be working out, ASK FOR REFERENCES. The references should be peer-reviewed studies and not some article in broscience magazine. I suggest you join groups on MFP that provides reliable information and are groups ran by folks who will always gladly give you good resources and advice. One of such groups is this:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/10067-eat-train-progress-

Good luck

ms_leanne

MFP is a great tool and I also intend to use it when I'm maintaining just to remind myself of what I am putting in to my body and keep a track of nutrients.

ipsamet

Absolutely. I mean, just look at my clicker. When I don't use the site and log, I make worse choices (though not as bad as I used to). I'm alright with that!

felice03

For me, it is a daily reminder to make good choices. MFP helped me focus and learn what I needed to do to lose the weight in a healthy way. I spent too many years harming my body to try to be "healthy".

Technically, I am in maintence but could still stand to lose a few more pounds. I do not log my food daily anymore but occaisionally do for a week or two to get myself back on track. Plus, the friends I have made on here are important to me and I would miss them dearly if I stopped using MFP.

TheViperMan

I never considered MFP to be a "Plan" - I mean seriously, what has MFP told you to do? Nutraslim, Atkins - they give you PLANS. You have to follow instructions and somewhat-strict rules. I don't have patience for that, and I hate having to "plan", especially when it requires me buying commercial products as part of the "steps". That's nonsense, IMO.

I've had a lot of people tell me, "Oh yo gotta go to MyFitnessPal - it'll help you create a strategy." Of course, I was already here, and able to respond, "Well, no, not really. It basically helps you see if you're eating too much or not enough. How to fix it is entirely up to you." Then again, that's what I LIKE about MFP - it's all up to me. I can seek advice on the forums (the usefulness of doing so remains debatable) but ultimately it's my plan, my path, my decisions.

For me, I got addicted to the big red "Pounds Lost:" number on the left side. That's what kept me coming back, kept me trying, kept me counting. Today I'm a bit too busy to log my diet (two jobs, newborn baby, etc) and I've been kinda slacking lately anyways, for the same reasons. But I'm still here. About to hit 200 days of continuous logging!

Good luck to you.

bcattoes

I lost most of my weight before I joined MFP. I wasn't logging or counting anything at that time. So no, I don't need it to lose weight. I did find it useful for tweaking my diet though. For example, once I started logging I found I was eating too little protein and too much fat, even though my calories were okay.

I've actually recently stopped logging food because I was getting too obsessed with calories. Eating when I wasn't hungry just to meet a number, or feeling guilty about eating when I was hungry because it put over (sometimes way over). Now I'm back to using hunger as my guide. I wish MFP had the option to log and track nutrients without counting calories.

clarkeje1

I've never tried without MFP but I don't think I could do it if it wasn't for this site.

BflSaberfan

It's just a tool... like Quicken for calories. Instead of balancing my bank accounts, I'm balancing my calories and macros against my activity.

I agree, most of us keep some kind of log for our bank account and this is a tool for me to do that. With or without MFP you do need to control your calories to lose weight.

NovemberJune

I'm sure I could do it without MFP, but why would I? MFP is free.

liya368

Te accountability is working for me. Without MFP I tend to underestimate calories eaten.