Does myfitnesspal really work? Please help :-)

MFP doesn't work. You do.

But yes, MFP is an awesome tool to help you get where you want to be and STAY THERE.

it keeps me in check, having the ability to see what I am consuming and energy used is really helpful at seeing why I wasnt losing weight before. works with me!

I began using MFP on June 3. I watch my calories and start every morning looking at success stories for motivation. In 10 days I've unofficially (as Saturdays are my weigh in days) lost 9 lbs! However, its not just calorie counting. I also began the 30 day challenge for some strength training.

I see Weightwatchers as basically simplified calorie counting- 1 point is about 40 calories, ish, then they anticipate you'll get about 300 calories from free fruit and veg, bringing you to around 1500 cals/day plus anything you earn, so yes calorie counting can work, if you're prepared to log what you eat and keep track then it'll work for you I think it's more clear and you have more control counting calories than with WW

It is great for logging and visualizing what you are doing. AND, it's FREE!!!!!!!

re- more control I mean that one WW point is not always the same amount of calories as it's rounded up/down, but a calorie is always a calorie.

yes it works..but it isn't easy for me. I've always liked diet plans where I cut certain foods out and exercise and just lose weight without counting calories.

the problem is I always gained it back..not because of the diet (which were healthy) but because i had my head stuck in the sand about the science of food and the body.

With mfp you are forced to realize the relationship of calories in..and calories out. As I've been tracking since the beginning of the year.. I have not lost much at all.. only because when i stopped a few times ..I'd gain back my progress. But when i track. my calories on mfp... i slowly lose.

Right now.. I'm dedicated to tracking and exercising for a good long stretch to see how it goes. I don't want to be a lifetime dieter. I'd rather just figure out what I can eat to be the size I want.

It's helped me get over my plateaus, TWICE. If you're honest with yourself in logging, exercise, etc. it'll help you get where you want. I feel like it's really opened my eyes to what's really in the food out there, and has made me more wary of what I eat. I think it's been great for me thus far

MFP really starts to shine when you use it as a planning tool. With few exceptions, I plan my entire next day's meals the night before. There are always some adjustments as the day progresses, but it keeps me honest and on target.

Agree with others - I go on and off MFP as needed. My goal is to not need it.
Just a thought - when I was not careful about measuring I stopped losing. Measure - like magic - it goes down.
Good luck!! Hope that if MFP isn't the way for you that you find that works for you!

In my opinion, weight loss is 40% knowledge, 30% self-discipline and 30% determination. The biggest key, for me at least, is knowledge and that's where MFP comes in. If you're aware of what you're putting into your body and the calorie content of the food you eat, chances are you're going to make better decisions. MFP is a great tool (especially the app!) for tracking what you eat. Studies have shown that simply keeping a food journal can greatly increase your odds of success. Do I think MFP works?! Absolutely! And I'm proof Please feel free to read my success story!! http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/979204-lost-50lbs-now-i-m-a-success-story-too-very-pic-heavy Good luck to you! :flowerforyou:

What is the difference between self-discipline and determination?

Here's my experience:

It works, but...

It's not an exact science.
Everyone's different.
It's (probably) a lifestyle change, not a "diet."

MFP's a great tool for helping you be mindful of what you're putting into your body, and it's not bad for tracking what you're burning off from exercise & activity. But... it should be more than just calories in vs. calories out ... and, even if that's what you're looking for, calories in and out are both estimates, your body's going to fluctuate and change day to day, week to week, month to month.

So, don't expect perfection, and don't expect that you won't have weeks in a row of "WTF!? I was doing well, and now NOTHING!?"

If you use MFP to track what you eat, including keeping an eye on your macros (carbs, protein, fat), estimate what you burn from activity & exercise (and make sure you're getting some exercise!), and have the patience to make adjustments over several weeks to get things tweaked & "dialed in" to work for you -- and then be willing to make those adjustments all over again from time to time -- then yeah, it works.

And the other thing I'd add is that almost no one can "diet" all day, every day. You don't need to stop living your life, you don't really need to "never have another _____", just use MFP to keep things balanced, choose healthy food as your norm, and if you go out for Olive Garden's Tour of Italy every now & then, log it, factor it into your weekly totals, and keep living your life.

Like I said, it's a life-style change, a marathon & not a sprint, blah blah blah.

no I lost 33lb through cookies, cakes and pies.

MFP doesn't work. You do.

But yes, MFP is an awesome tool to help you get where you want to be and STAY THERE.

THIS!

My simple opinion on this is all diets effectively work on calorie control and food optimisation.... only some diets go about it in a different way ie weight watchers = points, Slimming world = syns....

Having done all 3 i think MFP works best, as its simple, easy to use and you get rewarded for working out....

Ive tried to diet for 10 years and tried everything going and MFP has given me the best success