MFP calories vs. sparkpeople

itskcoughlin
itskcoughlin Posts: 34 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi

I joined MFP a few weeks ago, and it is great so far. I had done Weight Watchers on and off for a long time. I had just heard about Sparkpeople and wanted to see how many calories sparkpeople would suggest I eat each day. MFP suggests 1480 calories per day. Sparkpeople suggests 1580-1930 calories per day. That's a big difference!!

I am a femaie who is 5 feet 9 inches and weight around 200 pounds.

Thoughts?

Replies

  • atha15
    atha15 Posts: 1 Member
    There is only a 100 calorie difference between MFP and the low end of Sparkpeople caloric suggested daily intake.
    It depends on how much activity you do and how quickly you want to lose weight.
    I think my biggest concern is that MFP is inaccurate with the acutual calorie count of foods, where as sparkpeople is rarely inaccurate.
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    There is only a 100 calorie difference between MFP and the low end of Sparkpeople caloric suggested daily intake.
    It depends on how much activity you do and how quickly you want to lose weight.
    I think my biggest concern is that MFP is inaccurate with the acutual calorie count of foods, where as sparkpeople is rarely inaccurate.

    MFP is a largely user-created database. Some people like to lie to themselves about how many calories are really in the foods they are eating. It's unfortunate, but it's up to us to pay attention.

    Also, the difference is that MFP gives you a lower goal because it assumes you are doing no exercise. Which is why you get more calories to eat when you do exercise.
  • RaineMarie
    RaineMarie Posts: 158 Member
    When setting your goals in sparkpeople, it asks you how many calories you anticipate burning through exercise, and how many days per week you plan to exercise, and for how long. So when it gives you a daily range of calories, its factoring in the fact that you are exercisng as much as you say you are. Whereas MFP assumes you arent exercising, and then when you log your exercise it gives you additional calories to eat.

    Personally I like the MFP food tracker better than Sparkpeople, but I like the support on Sparkpeople a ton better. I've been on Sparkpeople for over 4 years; have had an MFP account for a while, but only started using it to track food in teh last 6 months when I needed a change.

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