Is your MFP projected weight loss accurate?

mrswine

Wondering if you find that MFP correctly projects your weight loss at the end of your day. My "if every day were like today you would weigh...." Seems to be exaggerated. Also, I never lose as much as MFP says I should based on calorie consumption. This week I am almost 7,000 calories under goal ( or 2 pounds) because of exercise but I gained this week. How closely do you pay attention to the info MFP gives you?

jzammetti

Wondering if you find that MFP correctly projects your weight loss at the end of your day. My "if every day were like today you would weigh...." Seems to be exaggerated. Also, I never lose as much as MFP says I should based on calorie consumption. This week I am almost 7,000 calories under goal ( or 2 pounds) because of exercise but I gained this week. How closely do you pay attention to the info MFP gives you?

It is not acurate for me at all because I eat at a deficit from my TDEE and MFP thinks I will gain weight.

Kate1368

It would never be accurate for me, because it starts out "If every day were like today...." I NEVER have the exact same calories/exercise every day.

meechi53

Worked for me about the first month or so...then it slowed and I plateaued..and got discouraged :-(

theblondetrick

I once noticed that I lost more than MFP predicted,I lost 3 kg in 1 week and MFP said I'd lose about 1 kg. However,I think that only happened because I made a really big change,I actually started eating a lot less than I was used to,so that's probably why I lost that much.
After that I never really paid much attention to it,because my calorie intake varies from day to day.
I don't think you should rely on MFP's predictions because nobody really loses the same amount of weight every week and nobody really eats exactly the same all the time. The prediction could be a guide line,just to keep you motivated,but you shouldn't take it too seriously.

acidosaur

It's not accurate for me at all. My rate of weight loss is far slower sadly!

Spokez70

It's about as perfect as I am...which is to say not very

JenniTheVeggie

I realized long ago that it isn't. I don't even look at it anymore.

Railr0aderTony

It's about as perfect as I am...which is to say not very

This^^^^, All we can do is keep on keeping on and taking what results we get, some weeks good some weeks not so much.

mattschwartz01

I'm actually losing a little faster than the projection.

Rikki007s

Not accurate. My weight loss is much slower than they predict.

Ready2Rock206

Not at all for me. I never even come close to what it says. :sad:

fiberartist219

Mine was never accurate. This is why I think there is more to the equation than calories in vs. calories out. There are lots of hormones that make up our metabolisms, not to mention water weight.

stmcfred

I like seeing it because it's motivation, but I know it's completely wrong. It's also a great kick in the butt when I have bad days and it says if I eat like this everyday I will weigh (more than I do now!)

honey_bee_keysha

I think it's inaccurate.

julie2407

I've actually been tempted to record daily what MFP says I will weigh in five weeks, average it, and then compare that to my actual weight in five weeks. I guess you have to allow for some inaccuracy in logging and in exercise calories as well. Somebody do the experiment (I'm too uncommitted to remember to record that for a whole five weeks).

kjadkins428

Mine is set to lose 1/2 lb per week, and my first week I lost 1.4. But I know this trend will probably not continue. I don't need to lose 1/2 lb a week to be happy, I just want to see a consistent downward trend.

pienthesky32

Mine is laughable most days. Only in my dreams am I losing that fast.

NikinCilla

Inaccurate.....

kholcomb51

I read it and say "Hah. Yeah, right. I wish." And go on. And I am pretty close to the same cals in/burned most days.

pronetocrash91

Definitely doesn't seem accurate, unfortunately.

neandermagnon

no. I've been maintaining my weight for a long time, in spite of MFP regularly telling me I'm going to gain several pounds in 5 weeks or whatever

Alison12121

I've only been doing this for a few weeks, and so far I've lost weight faster than the projection. It would be great if that lasts, but I don't expect it to. (My calories are set for losing 1 pound/week.)

When I see the projection, I just think that would be nice, but I don't really believe it.

ericalaneharris

I find that it depends on the type of foods I eat. If I eat clean, (no processed foods, white protein, tons of veggies,) it is pretty close. If I simply count calories and eat whatever I want in moderation, not so much.

aillie

Not even close. I actually stopped for a while, because I had gotten so discouraged. I felt I was somehow “messing” up. I am back and really working hard loosing the wait and completely ignoring the projected calories.

iamspdd

I guess that depends on your definition of accurate. If you expect it to predict the exact pound you will be in 5 weeks, then no it's not accurate. But if you expect it to predict within a couple of pounds, I find it accurate. However, it's hard to say exactly because I eat differently every day. Sometimes it tells me I'll weight 170 in 5 weeks, sometimes it says 172. I would have to add all those different numbers up and get the average to see how accurate it is. And as Sweet Brown say's, "Ain't nobody got time for that!"
So long story short. I ignore it and look for a pound and a half loss weekly. Sometimes I make it. Sometimes I don't.

SanteMulberry

I suspect that for most women here (based on a survey of my friends who do MFP) the projected weight loss is greater than what actually takes place. Some men here claim that they lose faster. This is probably a reflection of the fact that men lose body fat much faster than women do (for a variety of reasons). I recently saw an article that looked at research that showed women needing AT LEAST a 3,500 calorie deficit to lose a pound and that men probably only need about a 2,500 deficit to lose a pound. Not fair at all---but there it is. :frown:

Mustang_Susie

A girl can dream...

It's all an average and everyone is different.
Find what works for you

Edit: I think mfp overestimates calorie burn for me.
To be on the safe side, I lower the numbers so I don't think I have more calories to eat.
If I do happen to have that many calories, then it's a bonus.

Patcolombo

Per the Biggest Looser to calculate how many calories to loose weight you should:
Your present weight x 7 = your calories need for weight loss.

karlalband

I could only hope that in 5 weeks I will be 10lbs lighter per MFP. I think their exercise burned calories is out of wack. I've had good luck logging food calories. They seem to be accurate calorie amounts, but it's time consuming looking at labels and comparing them with MFP. It has worked fair for me. I started in Oct 2012 as of today lost 40lbs in 26 wks that averages a little over 1.5 per wk. Yes I want 2 lbs wk gone if I'm lucky!

SanteMulberry

Per the Biggest Looser to calculate how many calories to loose weight you should:
Your present weight x 7 = your calories need for weight loss.

As a rough estimate that might work reasonably well (although it seems to be on the low side) but there would obviously be a lot of different factors that would come into play. Activity level, the degree of musculature, age, and gender. Most men would probably drop scads of weight by that criteria and a smallish woman might lose very slowly by the same criteria (if she managed to stay on it without wrecking things with a frantic binge every week). Using the 7 X your weight, a 200-pound man would be eating 1,400 calories and lose a lot very quickly--probably faster than is desirable. A 140-pound woman would likely not even be able to maintain a 980 calorie diet. A minimum level of nourishment is necessary to even be healthy.