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Thank you MFP users

amydee714
amydee714 Posts: 232 Member
Whit this being the week of Thanks, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you on MFP for all I have learned since being here.

I will try to be brief, though it is not a strong suit of mine. :ohwell:

Before I started MFP I lost a lot of weight. I did it strictly by eating low-carb. I did not exercise (other than taking the stairs at work and parking farther away at the grocery store). I did not count calories. I only ate low carb. Even though my weight loss had drastically slowed the last few Pre-MFP months, I was still convinced I was doing it right. Thinking back, I could easily have been eating 3000+ calories a day during this loss. :noway:

I only joined MFP because 3 of my High School FB friends were on it and it sounded like a nice place for support. A place where I would get to talk to other people losing weight and trying to be healthy. I had already made what I still consider to be the biggest and most important change to my life, I changed my attitude. I decided that I was worth it.

Then I started reading the forums about Calories In/Calories Out, macros, TDEE, BMR. I had questions, but I just kept reading. I read about lifting weights. I read about clean eating and Paleo and why carbs are delicious and also the devil. I found awesome recipes. I read about C25K (had to google that *kitten*). I saw pics of people who weighed more but looked smaller because of toning/muscles. I made new friends. I saw bickering and "my way is better than yours" threads. I even offered up some advice here and there. :blushing:

So in the end this is what I have learned (so far):
* Calories matter whether you are eating Low-carb, High-carb, Paleo, Clean, or EAT ALL THE THINGS!
* How many calories you need is specific to you depending on your current weight, height and activity
* MFP does a poor job of calculating the amount of calories burned on an activity and you should get an HRM
* I learned what an HRM is
* I learned its ok to eat back your exercise calories, but you don't have to, maybe a portion of them (ok this may still be a gray area)
* Lifting weights is important and you don't have to get 'bulky'
* I learned HOW to lift weights. I learned that if you can lift more than 12 in a set, you are probably lifting too light (right?)
* Losing weight alone does not make you healthy and that you NEED to exercise
* I learned that I still HATE to exercise, but much like doing the dishes, once you know you have to do it, you just do
* Muscle and fat weigh the same (a pound is a pound), but muscle takes up less space and looks better
* I learned what TL:DR means so...


TL:DR: Even with the occasional snarky comment, there is a HUGE wealth of information to be had from the people of MFP and I am grateful for what I have learned.

Replies

  • LiliWray
    LiliWray Posts: 101 Member
    I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Thank you for posting! -bump- :flowerforyou:
  • amydee714
    amydee714 Posts: 232 Member
    bump
  • know_your_worth
    know_your_worth Posts: 481 Member
    Great list & I can agree. MFP is the best.
  • babeinthemoon
    babeinthemoon Posts: 471 Member
    Amy you are my hero! WTG girl!!!!
  • llangstraat
    llangstraat Posts: 130 Member
    Completely agree!
  • SarahCW1979
    SarahCW1979 Posts: 572 Member
    :flowerforyou: Loved this post x x
  • VelociMama
    VelociMama Posts: 3,119 Member
    Good stuff! Congratulations!
  • zewolf77
    zewolf77 Posts: 173 Member
    Nice post.. glad you're here and learning also!
  • sz8soon
    sz8soon Posts: 816 Member
    TL:DR... no I lied.. I did read.

    But in all seriousness- you are definitely figuring out works for you! 99 pounds??? WTG Go!!
  • almc170
    almc170 Posts: 1,093 Member
    Congrats on your phenomenal progress and figuring out how to make MFP work for you!!
  • CanuckTracy
    CanuckTracy Posts: 245 Member
    Love this! So happy to know you on MFP :)
  • Colleen118
    Colleen118 Posts: 491 Member
    Okay, I have learned most of the same things.... I was right there with you and about to "HI FIVE" this until the TL:DR...

    What do you know that I haven't learned? LOL

    Other than that, this is an awesome post! and it's better because I hope to learn something new from it.... :drinker:
  • SteveK279
    SteveK279 Posts: 134 Member
    It is and has been a great help to me too - people are so friendly & willing to help. I've only been here a month, but hope to help others in the same way I've been helped here too. I finally believe I can & will lose the weight - I even find myself checking & comparing calories when shopping!
This discussion has been closed.