MFP vs. Sparkpeople

BrwnEyz79
BrwnEyz79 Posts: 8
in Motivation and Support
Opinions? I have used MFP before, have not found myself consistent - obviously that's me and not the site. Just this weekend I logged into and created an account in Sparkpeople. There are a lot of things that intrigue me. Like the calorie range vs. the set goal. Enjoy the access to health articles and the fact that they offer different types of meal plans (diabetic and heart healthy).LOVE the route creator that will tell me how far and how many calories I burned, and the recipes. Wow. Endless. But I find the forums are considerably more difficult to navigate - the support system looks as though it will be harder to build than it has been on MFP. Obviously most people will be for MFP because well... here we are... but... opinions. Experiences???

Replies

  • c50blvdbabe
    c50blvdbabe Posts: 213 Member
    I did SP before I came here. IMO, SP was too busy for me. I felt overwhelmed and thus didn't log in at all. If SP is working for you stick with it.
  • stefjc
    stefjc Posts: 484 Member
    It's all too fussy/busy for me over there. Put me off completely.
  • Sweetredpoison
    Sweetredpoison Posts: 66 Member
    I started off with Sparkpeople, but I generally use the MFP app. The SP app is horrible!!! SP does have some neat recipes, meal suggestions, and nicer profiles for members but I think MFP is lean and mean and the app is great.
  • dandelyon
    dandelyon Posts: 620 Member
    It's a busy site. I also didn't really lose weight there, but I can't blame sp for that. I was really in a slump. When I got serious about getting in shape, I wanted to start fresh and everyone was talking about MFP.

    I really like the design here, and the ipad app is amazingly simple.

    I follow SP on Pinterest and read some of the articles which are great, and I also use the Sparkpeople Run Tracker to figure out mileage/distance for my walks and runs.
  • laurenz2501
    laurenz2501 Posts: 839 Member
    It's all too fussy/busy for me over there. Put me off completely.

    :laugh: same here!
  • crose0056
    crose0056 Posts: 105 Member
    Agree with above much easier here
  • BrwnEyz79
    BrwnEyz79 Posts: 8
    Thank you everyone! The pay for the app thing bothers me... the site does seem really busy, and I hate the ads that keep popping up. Definitely none of that with MFP...
  • Lmns218
    Lmns218 Posts: 155
    Oh I am definitely not going to use something I have to pay for lol

    I started using a site called fitday initially to track my calories but couldn't always find the nutrition info for a lot of foods. Plus I don't think it had a phone app. So I stopped using it. WW online-I stopped using that lol There was another phone app I used, but I didn't like it. Beachbody.com is just too busy for me. I found MFP using an android search and i have to say, even though I don't have the app on my phone anymore, I just like the way it's set up, I like that I can find most food's nutrional info on here. So I don't think I will ever stop using MFP.
  • GurleyGirl524
    GurleyGirl524 Posts: 578 Member
    Did not like the business of SP. MFP is also much more easy to navigate.
  • kingtermite
    kingtermite Posts: 82 Member
    I used SP for a year or two (a year or two ago). Started using MFP late last year. I like MFP much better, but I think it depends on the type of atmosphere that motivates you better.

    SP has so many things going on, they are trying to keep you interested and informed. The whole points system and trophies gets annoying pretty quickly for me. I did not find them very motivating...especially when you start finding how you can "work the system" and users are getting crazy high points, but not really doing much for their fitness. The groups (at least all that I joined) seem to be very (VERY) slow....hardly any activity.

    MFP, to me, cuts though all that BS and gives you just the tools you need. People here tend to be more serious about getting fit in my experiences. SP seemed to be more people talking about it, but few really doing it. Here I find the opposite, a lot of those are really serious aren't "talking" about it much (I'm a prime example....serious about working my weight off, but not very active on forum).

    Another annoyance is the food database at SP. It's extremely littered with bad user submissions. So much so that it's very hard to find the food you want to log often times. You put in "Peanutbutter Clif bar" and 112 entries come up that all have that title. MFP is slightly littered too, but not nearly as bad.

    I'm not trying to "knock" SP....each site has a different atmosphere and depending on your personality, either may be better for how you are motivated. Definitely go with the one that helps you best toward your fitness goals.

    Anyway, that's my $.02.
  • RaineMarie
    RaineMarie Posts: 158 Member
    I like MFP for the food tracker. There's just more food readily available, and it seems easy (and the app is easier both on my phone and ipad). As far as support system though, I stick with SP for that. It takes a while to build a support system there, but I've met many of my support system there in person, and they are the people that really encouraged me in my journey (especially with running). Joining teams and getting involved is really the best way to make friends over there - the generalized discussion members arent as great. Personally, if SP had a better food tracker and app, I'd probably stick with SP completely.
  • AEMW8
    AEMW8 Posts: 94 Member
    I started with Sparkpeople after reading an article about it in a magazine. But then I fell out of the loop and don't remember my log in for it. I started here after my doctor recommended it. Forums are easier to navigate and some people are nice. But as with any site, there are those that irritate me the instant they either quote my forum posts or I glance over their profile.
  • MyOwnSunshine
    MyOwnSunshine Posts: 1,312 Member
    I tried Sparkpeople several times before I landed permanently at MFP. I like the "friends" feature of MFP and I think the food log and database are much easier to use.
  • tekwriter
    tekwriter Posts: 923 Member
    I signed up for an account with Spark's People and I go there to find recipes or exercise. It did seem to have a lot of neat things. I was dissapointed that it would not let me work with my goals because I am a diabetic. I saw a few of the posts but I have so loved being here and meeting people I wouldn't ever move over.
  • IamUndrCnstruction
    IamUndrCnstruction Posts: 691 Member
    I just went to their page after reading the OP....whoa!!! Waaay to much going on over there. I tried to set up an account just to see. The calorie range thing was kind of neat but there were just to many bells and whistles for what I need. MFP for me!
  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
    I used SP to lose the bulk of my weight. I've gradually shifted over here because of the forums. I don't use MFP's plan really, though. I follow more of an SP type plan, setting my own goals.
  • Sarahonly
    Sarahonly Posts: 36 Member
    I started with SP back in 2008, and I love the site. I do use MFP for tracking calories and exercise though because the database seems better and it's way more basic and easy to use. The site can appear a little overwhelming but it has lots of resources and pages once you can get past that.

    If you can find a good group on there though, the support is amazing. Lots of them are themed- I was in a Harry Potter group that did weekly challenges where the "houses" competed against each other- it was great fun!

    edited- spelling :P
  • ks4e
    ks4e Posts: 374 Member
    I did SP for a while and found it too busy and overwhelming as well. I tried Livestrong a few years back and it was too quiet. I like the balance I find here on MFP.
  • Caitu13
    Caitu13 Posts: 55 Member
    Use whatever works for you! If you feel SP will work better, give it a try! If it doesn't, MVP will always be here for you!
  • kr1stadee
    kr1stadee Posts: 1,774 Member
    The calorie range is one of the reasons I'm here. I know it's me, and not that site, but I reset my account more times than I was on it, so it didn't keep me interested. I LOVE MFP, actually. It works perfectly for what I need

    (OH! and Sparkpeople doesn't give you exercise calories - that I remember, anyway!!)
  • MBarrett1965
    MBarrett1965 Posts: 3 Member
    I did SP for many years and honestly, if my cousin hadn't invited me to try MFP with her I'd still be there. Like anything, you get out if it what you put into it. I liked the exercise tracker better on SP. I liked the ability to change all my goals easier at SP (they helped me recover from diabetes). I liked the way fitbit synced easier with SP. most especially I liked that I had my favorite food database created & logging was a piece of cake. Not sure what app everyone paid for because when I got the SP app it was free. I rarely ever used the forums over there.

    Now ... I love MFP. I like the friends feature. SP has one too but it isn't right out there for you to see as soon as log in like it is here. I like the food database here. MUCH more complete! I will stick with MFP but I do still use SP to track fitness & play around with goals.
  • SpleenThief
    SpleenThief Posts: 293 Member
    I thought this was going to be a smackdown! MFP vs SP

    Two men enter! One man leaves!

    Someone gonna die yo. Who ya got!?
  • mdedgerton
    mdedgerton Posts: 8 Member
    Sparkpeople is the best!!! Food & fitness teacher are great & the site is super motivational!!

    I came here to find some princess half Marathon buddies bc I couldn't seem to find any on Sparkpeople & I don't want to train alone (although I do have the support of my husband and two kids)
  • sspahn49
    sspahn49 Posts: 41 Member
    I have used SP in the past, one thing I do like is the exercise videos are free, however MFP has a better database.
  • Seesawboomerang
    Seesawboomerang Posts: 296 Member
    I only heard about it a few months ago, having lost weight with MFP 2 years ago +

    I only just looked at it right now and the site hurt my eyes. Not sure I'd bother forging my way through all the pop-ups, ads, multiple columns, and crazy colour palette.

    It looks like it's designed for people who like to watch a lot of TV.
  • kenman923
    kenman923 Posts: 4 Member
    I have started using My Fitness Pal more regularly for the past few weeks. I thought of switching to Spark People, but after reading some of the posts, it may not be such a good bet after all. I will stick with MFP, although I wish they had a feature where you can download recipes, eating plans, etc.
  • EreborsPrincess
    EreborsPrincess Posts: 139
    I tried SP a few years ago, and thought it was way too "busy" for me. The whole points/trophy thing was more of a distraction than a motivator for me and I lost interest in logging in very quickly.
  • asciiqwerty
    asciiqwerty Posts: 565 Member
    do what works for you
  • luiggigun
    luiggigun Posts: 17 Member
    Let's go at this with different angles shall we?

    Food Tracking: MFP wins this hands down. Much more precise, less variables you need to plug in, you don't have to worry if you placed your food on the right meal and it's not so hard to find your food like in Sparkpeople.

    Activity Tracking: This will be slightly hard to give to MFP due to the fact that it's easier to log your workout and you see vids that assist you how to perform them well, BUT, and that's a huge one lol it's not as efficient as the one I have been using since I started tracking my workouts (before i met MFP) the database is much bigger but then again we are NOT talking about another app, so I say in terms of NOT having to use alot of apps at the same time (separating the fact that there are apps that sync with MFP that sorta help you LOG your workout), SP wins.

    Calorie Balance: MFP wins. I've logged my workouts in SP and was very annoyed. There is absolutely no way to monitor your heart rate nor your steps unless you're willing to pay for the activity tracker, which obviously will NOT provide you with enough data to efficiently let you know how many calories you've burned (which is why i personally do not enjoy any pedometer that doesn't have a heart rate monitor).

    Goal planning: SP wins, but seriously, this isn't a site based on personal goals other than monitoring your calorie intake. It's nice though, but not really a feature that will put MFP in the dust.

    Cons of MFP: So many trackers that can sync with MFP and none of them log your workout like JEFIT. I've talked to JEFIT before and it seems like they are not planning to sync with MFP anytime soon. Soooo this is just a shout out to MFP that i would gladly pay for an upgraded version of MFP that has it's own calorie tracking, syncs with a bluetooth heart rate monitor AND logs your workouts efficiently. MAPMYFITNESS is the closest thing to this but just like alot of people I've talked to about this, everyone's getting tired of having three apps running to monitor their training (Track your heart rate, log your workout and efficiently monitor your time spent on each exercise).

    Anyhow, going to the point... MFP stands out as the best app to monitor not just your diet but your weight AND activity (since it has apps that sync with this application as well).
  • navygrrl
    navygrrl Posts: 517 Member
    I was on SP for a while, but the community here on MFP is worlds better, and it's the main reason why I use this as my main site.

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