Projected Weight Loss - Accurate?

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Hey guys, just wondering if anyone could share their experience with their actual weight loss compared to the Fitness Pal projected weight loss - "if every day were like today, you would weigh" I know its just a guide and it's hard to say, because not every day IS the same.. Just wondered with roughly similar calories and activity day to day, did your progress match the estimate? was it slower, faster? don't want to get my hopes up that i'll really lose the weight by then. :)
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Replies

  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
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    It's totally wrong for me. Whenever I track my food it tells me I'll gain 2-3 lb in 5 weeks. Well, my weight has been stable for a long time in spite of this prediction.
  • cactuswren55
    cactuswren55 Posts: 6 Member
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    I have lost weight. I'm new at this too. Don't really know how accurate the projected weight loss is yet. Good luck with your gowal:happy:
  • yuliyax
    yuliyax Posts: 288
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    I don't think so, it doesn't take into account that your muscles retain water after exercise, your body retains water if you overdo sodium or go crazy with carbs. It depends on how long you've been cutting calories and how much weight you've got to lose. Also, people tend to lose more at the beginning. As you can see there is too many variables.
    Losing weight is not a race :)
  • FezzesRCool
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    I don't put much stock in it because, as it's been stated, there are too many variables. What it CAN do is give you a rough idea as to how healthy your day was. In my case, given that I am trying to lose weight, a lower number empowers me to know I am on the right track. A higher number means I may need to pick up my pace more (unless it's a rest day).
  • sardonicsmith
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    True. I guess what the site tells you is just a rough estimate of your 'projected weight loss' since each person responds differently to fitness regimens/diets. :-]
  • Alexandra289
    Alexandra289 Posts: 330 Member
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    At first I lost weight quicker than it said I would at first - now it's hard to tell because my weight is fluctuating within a couple of pounds but still feel like I've been getting smaller.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
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    it seems to extrapolate beyond the bounds of reasonableness based on one point.
  • peachfigs
    peachfigs Posts: 831 Member
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    Wrong for me - tells me I will lose weight that I don't lose :smile:
  • murdie
    murdie Posts: 85 Member
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    Not at all! To much projection on to little info.
  • honeysprinkles
    honeysprinkles Posts: 1,757 Member
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    It's totally wrong for me. Whenever I track my food it tells me I'll gain 2-3 lb in 5 weeks. Well, my weight has been stable for a long time in spite of this prediction.
    Mine is usually off too. And I usually immediately gain the weight that it predicts I would in 5 days, too much sodium or food and I'll easily go up 2-3 in a day (water weight of course, but 5 weeks would definitely have me gaining more)!

    As for the losses, I lose at a slower rate too. Although it's hard to tell for sure because I don't eat the same amount everyday, lately it's been telling me that I'd be anywhere from 5-10 pounds lighter in 5 weeks, which will probably end up being accurate (closer to 5 pounds though most likely).

    It's a motivating part of completing my diary, I like seeing it...but I don't really go by it or anything. Weight can be affected by so many factors that you can't always accurately predict what you'll lose, especially because mfp is just going by estimates as far as your TDEE and all that!
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
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    Not accurate for me. I marked a few of the 5 week projections on a calender. June 1st happened to be one of them.

    June 1st MFP Projected weight - 197.3lbs

    Weight on June 1st - 194.4lbs
  • howardheilweil
    howardheilweil Posts: 604 Member
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    Too many assumptions... I ignore it completely.
  • tryskinni
    tryskinni Posts: 50 Member
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    It's fairly accurate for me but I'm fast tracking my first 20lbs. I just like it - tells me how my day was overall. I don't put much stock in it.
  • JessiBelleW
    JessiBelleW Posts: 822 Member
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    I find it really hard to tell because I don't weigh weekly. Also It predicts several weeks out, and by the time you hit that week it will have given you 3 weeks worth of new numbers.

    I would imagine for those who are maybe losing a pound a week it could be roughly accurate.
  • honeysprinkles
    honeysprinkles Posts: 1,757 Member
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    Not accurate for me. I marked a few of the 5 week projections on a calender. June 1st happened to be one of them.

    June 1st MFP Projected weight - 197.3lbs

    Weight on June 1st - 194.4lbs
    that's actually not too far off! good job losing more though! I bet that was nice :)
  • inky409
    inky409 Posts: 26 Member
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    not even close for me. since i do most of my logging thru my iphone, i disabled that feature because it made me feel like i was always doing something wrong.
  • jimshine
    jimshine Posts: 199 Member
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    It isn't that far off for me. I hit the goals about a week ahead of its prediction.
  • egrusy
    egrusy Posts: 196 Member
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    I never really pay much attention to the "5 weeks from today" predictions as there are too many other factors in play. I can tell you that sticking to the suggested MFP calories for one-pound-a-week loss was very accurate for me.
  • bobf279
    bobf279 Posts: 342 Member
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    not even close for me
  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
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    Mine changes every single day. I think the only way I could test it would be to take one day and just redo it for five weeks to find out for sure. I have a calorie range I'm comfortable with. I think to lose 2 lbs a week it's around 1750 or so and 1 lb a week it's 2250. I try to get over 1900 a day as often as possible though. I'm just not consistent enough to prove the prediction right or wrong.