Why I no longer use MFP

A while back, under a different account, I lost 30 pounds. My Fitness Pal gave me the tools I needed to succeed and when anyone asks how I did it, I proudly tell them about this website. Shortly after meeting my goal, my phone broke and I no longer had access to the precious app that helped so much. I realized that without it, I had really no idea what I was doing. Sure, I knew my almond milk was 30 calories and my cereal was 120, but crunching all of these other numbers made my head spin. I was so sure that I would be able to maintain on my own, but I couldn't.
Fast forward a year later and the same ten yoyo'd pounds, I didn't feel healthy anymore. Nothing smacked me as hard as trying on my dress blues and feeling them tighter than ever.
I considered returning to MFP for a third time when it hit me. I've started and stopped twice in a year and a half; I certainly couldn't keep this up for the rest of my life.
At mealtime I eat my fill of veggies and soups and have a smaller portion of meat. Twice a day I go to the gym and sweat like the best of 'em. I've never been happier. Hungry for a snack? Apple slices. I'm not obsessing on being under my 1200 cal goal or knowing the calories down to the 10 for a Crystal Lite. I'm happy for once, feeling like *I* can do this, and not so dependant on this website.
The point of this isn't to tell you to leave MFP. I don't regret a single day of counting calories because I wouldn't be able to serve my beautiful country if I hadn't found it.
I just have a few questions to ask you:
Do you ever find yourself heartbroken because the little calculator tells you you're 100 calories over goal?
Have you left MFP, only to return because without it you gained weight?
Do you count down to the last raisin, because that 3 calories is important to you?

Maybe if you answered yes, you should test the waters outside of MFP. Live a little and see if you can take the skills you learned and apply them to your meal planning.

I can finally say I'm no longer a slave to calories. I'm just a girl who found out that she can do more on her own than she thought.

Replies

GiGiBeans

I sometimes feel a sense of stress and anxiety around weighing and logging all my food, hitting my macros, doing enough exercise, not doing "it" right. It would free up time and just be liberating to eat intuitively again. I've been on the fence about stopping because I guess I just don't have the confidence not to and yeah, the only way to know is to try.

efardell

I really wish people understood what I was trying to say.
Once again, for the record, I would never tell anyone to quit MFP. Like I said, it changed my life. All I said was that sometimes you can branch out and find something different that works for you. I'm not ecouraging people to quit. I was one of those people who gained when I left. This post was pretty much me saying it doesn't have to be that way, and I'm proof of it!
I applaud all of you for being here and you should be very proud of what you did! Please don't think I'm trying to make any of you quit.

I think you're just trying to advise people that aren't looking to track calories for the rest of your life. That was your audience. Just making a point to say that if this is the avenue you take to lose weight (tracking calories and whatnot), this is a lifestyle change, as any diet should be. You were just trying to get people to think if that future is for them before they become reliant on it.

Roaringgael

A while back, under a different account, I lost 30 pounds. My Fitness Pal gave me the tools I needed to succeed and when anyone asks how I did it, I proudly tell them about this website. Shortly after meeting my goal, my phone broke and I no longer had access to the precious app that helped so much. I realized that without it, I had really no idea what I was doing. Sure, I knew my almond milk was 30 calories and my cereal was 120, but crunching all of these other numbers made my head spin. I was so sure that I would be able to maintain on my own, but I couldn't.
Fast forward a year later and the same ten yoyo'd pounds, I didn't feel healthy anymore. Nothing smacked me as hard as trying on my dress blues and feeling them tighter than ever.
I considered returning to MFP for a third time when it hit me. I've started and stopped twice in a year and a half; I certainly couldn't keep this up for the rest of my life.
At mealtime I eat my fill of veggies and soups and have a smaller portion of meat. Twice a day I go to the gym and sweat like the best of 'em. I've never been happier. Hungry for a snack? Apple slices. I'm not obsessing on being under my 1200 cal goal or knowing the calories down to the 10 for a Crystal Lite. I'm happy for once, feeling like *I* can do this, and not so dependant on this website.
The point of this isn't to tell you to leave MFP. I don't regret a single day of counting calories because I wouldn't be able to serve my beautiful country if I hadn't found it.
I just have a few questions to ask you:
Do you ever find yourself heartbroken because the little calculator tells you you're 100 calories over goal?
Have you left MFP, only to return because without it you gained weight?
Do you count down to the last raisin, because that 3 calories is important to you?

Maybe if you answered yes, you should test the waters outside of MFP. Live a little and see if you can take the skills you learned and apply them to your meal planning.

I can finally say I'm no longer a slave to calories. I'm just a girl who found out that she can do more on her own than she thought.

FUNNY kind of left when you're still here.::bigsmile:

fitmusiclifeviola

One of my highest goals is to be able to leave MFP tracking behind. I lost weight, and seem to maintain better with it. I don't stress about every last number (I never weighed food, just estimated as best I could, and after trying to track the # of calories I burn, using estimations from heart rate monitors for instance, I let a lot of that go, and just keep estimating as best I can). On a side-note, after tracking my weight I have upped the daily calories allotted actually. (which MFP doesn't really account for in it's 'you'd weigh X in 5 weeks'...it ALWAYS thinks I'm going to gain weight at this point, but I have been maintaining for 3 months+).

I have tried to learn what the feeling is, what are the habits that I need, and more, to reach roughly the same amount of caloric input as when I track. I've decided on a plan of taking a week or so off of tracking my food, but keeping up my weight input. I know I need to add a measurement of waist to this as well, as I know that will more quickly show my fitness level change, rather than weight. It's hard, but I know that biology is against me so to speak. My feelings, unaided/unrelated to anything, will yield overeating. I believe it's possible, somehow, to overcome that. But such a sweet prize as freedom from tracking is surely worth working for, as anything truly worthwhile is worth working for.

So, if I knew you personally, I would challenge you to actually go for what you want. And since you're here, I presume that includes some aspect related to a weight goal, either to lose or maintain, or gain muscle/etc. So, I would challenge you to do what works. Don't give up because it's easy to not track. If keeping your weight in a particular range helps you feel better, then find a way to make it happen. Plenty of my family members have regained the weight after a diet. They proclaim it inevitable that regain will happen. I know that if I control what I can control, and make choices to not regain, then I don't see how it is inevitable. I look forward to working more towards maintaining weight without daily tracking!

Also, you asked if we had left mfp & returned due to gained weight, I've stayed w/ MFP for the last 7-8 months or so, unless leaving for a week counts, in which case I did that near xmas as a test of my non-tracking prowess. I'll edit if I forgot a question. I don't count 3 calories for a raisin (is it that much!?), and will even eat if I'm hungry if my # says I'm over. Moreso I try to recognize whether I am feeding my body enough of what it needs. Proteins, fats, vitamins, fiber, water, exercise, & total energy needs, particularly related to exercise and body repair post exercise.

Thanks for reading.

jennifer_417

To be honest, I sort of think of MFP like an alcoholic thinks of AA. If I have to do it the rest of my life...but I don't get Diabetes, or heart disease, and I don't cut my life short due to obesity and the complications that come with it...then I'm ok with that.

capperboy

I use MFP for accountability, I match food intake with my exercise regime.
i have also noticed that over time extra calories creep back into the diet, this way I know my calorie intake.

_Zardoz_

Good for you, said with no ill-will.

However, I'm a little confused by the purpose of this post.

To start an argument?

andit001

MFP is a tool to help you count your calories easier. Treat it as such and don't get emotionally involved with a computer program. Everyone who can count their calories on here could do it on paper or in excel, too. At least after you learned it on here for a while. No reason to use MFP for more than convenience.

As long as I have access to MFP, why should I not use it? Guess what? I use a lot of tools to improve my life. Including screw drivers.

So, I don't understand why one should worry about this.

cakebatter07

1) Do you ever find yourself heartbroken because the little calculator tells you you're 100 calories over goal?

2) Have you left MFP, only to return because without it you gained weight?

3) Do you count down to the last raisin, because that 3 calories is important to you?

1) Not really.

2) Yup.

3) I don't like raisins.

MuseofSong

Do you ever find yourself heartbroken because the little calculator tells you you're 100 calories over goal? Nor really. But, I will admit I worried a bit, but found out the worry was for naught.

Have you left MFP, only to return because without it you gained weight? No. This is the first time I've used it.

Do you count down to the last raisin, because that 3 calories is important to you? Nope. Most of the time I am slightly under calorie goal, sometimes I eat more, and once in a while I am way over. The end week calorie count is what matters most to me.

I will count calories and log them for the rest of my life if that's what it takes to keep my weight off.

^This

And if going over your daily calorie goal on MFP makes you sad, try linking your MFP to Fitbit which will tell you pre-planners out there, like me, that you're overeating ALL DAY LONG. I like my fitbit, but that dashboard is freaking brutal.

Booksandbeaches

I like the support I get on MFP. I didn't have a lot to lose, but I found a group of people who cheered me on every step of the way. Now I stay partially because of the friendships I've made.

I'm not sure what your point was.

I am not heartbroken if I go over 100 calories. Please. I've dealt with more heartbreaking things in my life. 100 calories is nothing compared to that.

I haven't left MFP to gain weight, but I've had about three friends who did that. But they also had other major issues like divorce going on in their lives.

laurynwithawhy

OP I get exactly what you are trying to say and didn't find it confusing or offensive at all. That is what I endeavor for. I find myself upset when I go over by like 50 calories or trying to figure out the extra 3 calories for the cinnamon in my oatmeal. It's degrading, to me anyway. I want to be able to do it on my own. Actually my problem isn't so much with diet as it is staying consistent with exercising. I really want to be fit and muscular - kind of hard if you never move! But thank you for your post. One day I hope to have the motivation and consistency to forget all about MFP and just actually live like a human being instead of a robot.

andit001

I think if you have a problem going like 50 calories into the red number, it's a problem of you and not of MFP.

Even if you'd do it all on paper, you'd have the very same problem. If you really don't eat a raisin just because of a few calories it's your mindset.

But maybe for some people that's great because otherwise they wouldn't stick to it at all. I think it's important to use common sense in everything we do.

watto1980

I see MFP as a tool that helps me reach my goals. The technology is there so why not use it?

I could read labels and work out macros and calories with a pen and paper OR I can pull out my phone and press the screen a few times. On top of that convenience it also gives me access to some pretty decent people in the community who will help me out if I need any advice.

So I guess what I am saying is that it is something that can be very useful but don't make your life depend on it. If I go over my calories one day, I don't let it worry me, because sometimes **** happens and I put it to the back of my mind and start fresh the next day.

SezxyStef

There are too many people who came here, did their duty, lost the weight, left and have come back feeling defeated.

Why?

Because fact of the mater is this...

To maintain you have to know what you are eating...guestimating, and eyeballing is all good but it will eventually get you.
Try maintaining with pen and paper...ick
The community

I am not a slave to the calories. I eat what I want, try to hit my macros and calorie goals but if I go over eh....whatever.

This is a simple tool with a database that calculates everything for me and I can use my phone and scan in stuff....:drinker:

It would be like asking me to go from my smart phone back to a regular cell phone or worse....land line.:sad:

Why would I take a step back and do things the hard way????

Work smart not hard.

Francl27

Good for you if you can keep at it. I can't. I need MFP to hold me accountable but also to let me have treats without feeling that I'm cheating and without going overboard.

I'd gain back the weight without MFP, 100% certain... which is what happened to you.

redheaddee

I am confused. Posting on the MFP message boards in not using MFP? :huh:

bcattoes

I haven't left MFP, but I have stopped logging my food, but for the oppostie reason. I found I was gaining weight using it. I lost almost 30 lbs before I'd even heard of MFP, then gained 10 of it back. Slowly, over 2 years, but still a gain.

I obsess too much over making all those numbers come out right. Oh my, I'm short on protein, I'd better eat something else (even though I'm not hungry). Oh no, I'm stuffed buy I'm 300 calories short, I'd better eat something else. Oh no, my fat is way to high, I'd better not eat those almonds.

And the TIME it takes to log food. Some people say it takes only 5-10 min a day for them. It took longer than that for me to log one meal. I don't eat the same things every day and I cook most of my meals from scratch. One meal may have more than 20 ingredients. And I don't measure when I cook. I'm a "little bit of this, little bit of that" type cook. So, my calorie counts were probably not even close anyway.

I still log my exercise and play on the forums and check in with my MFP friends, but I've gone back to intuitive eating. It works better for me.

rybo

I really wish people understood what I was trying to say.
Once again, for the record, I would never tell anyone to quit MFP. Like I said, it changed my life. All I said was that sometimes you can branch out and find something different that works for you. I'm not ecouraging people to quit. I was one of those people who gained when I left. This post was pretty much me saying it doesn't have to be that way, and I'm proof of it!
I applaud all of you for being here and you should be very proud of what you did! Please don't think I'm trying to make any of you quit.

I follow you

spicypepper

I think if you have a problem going like 50 calories into the red number, it's a problem of you and not of MFP.

Even if you'd do it all on paper, you'd have the very same problem. If you really don't eat a raisin just because of a few calories it's your mindset.

But maybe for some people that's great because otherwise they wouldn't stick to it at all. I think it's important to use common sense in everything we do.

^^ THIS!!!!

I am a planner by nature. I plan out what I'm going to eat for the day and if I add in a little extra here or there I make up for it by adding in or increasing my exercise. If I can't do it that day, I pick it up the following day and make up for it. I don't log sticks of gum or hard candies if it's 1 piece, but I think this is an accountability tool for me and helps me see what I'm eating and keeps me in check.

krisdutch15

Good to hear that you are winning the battle. I only wish that this app had been around when I was in the Navy. I "lost" my battle back then and had to get out or be kicked out for weight. I just could not lose it after I had my first son and then subsequently went into a deep depression. Almost 2.5 yrs later I gave up fighting and after 8 1/2 yrs in the Navy, I dropped my papers for an early out. Ironically, 3 yrs later I found Sparkpeople.com and lost 60 lbs while my husband (who is still active duty) was deployed for 7 months. I am now back to trying again and I am now carrying extra weight again from carrying my twins. I only have 40 lbs this time, but I am finding it harder the older I am.

I get what you are saying and I applaud you for being able to "quit" MFP. For me, it's my first day here. Being able to quit means you have learned what you needed to learn. You are one of the few that do not need to be accountable and a slave to counting calories and logging it all. Keep it up!!

msf74

It seems to me that most people are seeking control over their over eating (as opposed to eating) rather than over eating having control over them. Calorie counting is simply one way of establishing that.

Anxiety, guilt, shame, obsession and perfectionism all erode control and making a true choice. Use the tools which reduce those, discard the ones which do not.

I get what you are saying OP.

twixlepennie

I lost my weight before I knew about MFP. I hung out on another forum that was specific to the plan I was following and I kept track of my calories in a notebook and I also had a private accountability blog set up during that time. Didn't find MFP until I was getting ready to transition into maintenance and don't use it to track calories/keep a food log. I do use it for the forums, where I've learned a lot about nutrition and maintenance, from various awesome forum members

If MFP shut down tomorrow I'd be sad, but it has no effect on my success. That's all me :bigsmile:

MinnieInMaine

OP deactivated.

QFT. /thread

skinnyinnotime

I really wish people understood what I was trying to say.
Once again, for the record, I would never tell anyone to quit MFP. Like I said, it changed my life. All I said was that sometimes you can branch out and find something different that works for you. I'm not ecouraging people to quit. I was one of those people who gained when I left. This post was pretty much me saying it doesn't have to be that way, and I'm proof of it!
I applaud all of you for being here and you should be very proud of what you did! Please don't think I'm trying to make any of you quit.

I think a lot of people have branched out to do something different....they have joined MFP.

Yes people can do it on their own, I lost my baby weight the first 2 times on my own, the 3rd I found MFP. When I lost the weight the first 2 times I didn't work out just walked alot. This time working out is the best thing that has happened to me, I am still working out 2 years after I lost the weight I originally came on here for. I now like to keep track of my macros.

I can do this without MFP but for me it's inspiring to see my friends workouts on here, hardly anyone I know i RL works out so I can't talk to them about it, here I can.

MFP isn't just for losing weight

twixlepennie

OP deactivated.

I don't get the post in the first place, what was the point :noway:

I like MFP, and I'm going to use it to hit my goal weight, then for at least 5 solid years of maintenance. I was OBESE. I need to be in obesity recovery for a long, long time. :drinker:

Wonder how long it will be before she's back, trying to lose the weight again

danimalkeys

I lost 50 of the 70lbs I'm down before I ever heard of MFP, just using portion control and exercise. I had no idea what my calorie needs were, what BMR/TDEE was. I just cut my "eat like a powerlifter" diet down by a lot and the weight came off. I actually had a big stall once I got on here, and gained about 10lbs back. Once I changed up a couple things with my macros, the scale started moving again and I lost what I had regained and the scale started moving in the right direction again.

I think if I had found MFP before I started on my weight loss program I would have been better off. I would have kept lifting weights, I would have been more informed on smarter/better ways to do what I did.

Do you need MFP to lose weight? No. Does it help to have tools and community to bounce things off of? Absolutely.

husseycd

I don't log my workouts so I do not feel the need to exercise to 'earn those calories'. My exercise (which is lifting) is fun, regardless of whether I track or not. They are not related for me.

I continue to have body composition goals, even though I hit my goal weight quite a while ago, and tracking macros...yes, sometimes down to the last raisin...is sometimes part of that.

So, it is not in my interests at the moment to stop using this site, especially as it's so much more than a calorie counting tool.

This. It's very hard to do a proper cut/bulk without counting calories. I'm in for recomp. I may do a break here and there from calorie counting (probably before my summer cut), but maybe not.

unknown

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delicious_cocktail

What? WHERE?!?

I didn't see anything.

Weird.