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MyFitnessPal Community

The Stages of the MFP Woman

likitisplit

I've been on MFP for 18 months and have learned quite a bit. Both personally and by seeing others evolve. In the spirit of fun, I have been toying with the idea of the stages of development that women go through on this site. I wanted to put this out there and see what others think.

Note: I usually avoid stereotyping by gender, but women and men seem to have very different relationships with their bodies, with fitness and with nutrition.

Stage 1: Getting in control - She has tried everything and now she's trying MFP. She's confused about why so many people have half naked pictures as their profile. She tries to lose as fast as possible so she can meet her goals and get back to her life. "If I can just stop GAINING, that will be a win"

Stage 2: The easy stage - She's found her groove, the weight is coming off and she's more active. She has substituted almond milk for milk, turkey bacon for bacon and tea for coffee. She tries to eat fruit to satisfy cravings for sweet. THIS IS WORKING!!!

Stage 3: Working it in - She has learned how to satiate herself on her calorie goal and can fit some "treats" in. She cruises pintrest for 30 day challenges while eating oreos. "I'm thinking of adding strength but don't want to bulk up. Please help me."

Stage 4: Go big or go home - our heroine discovers the joys of lifting and ups her protein. She starts focusing on macros rather than calories and cruises the forums for information. "Treats" just become another source of macros: there are no guilty pleasures anymore. She gets called a bully for the first time. She posts a progress pic...in a bikini.

Stage 5: Is that me? - She starts seeing some real changes off the scale. She dresses like WonderWoman for an event or holiday, or incorporates a SuperGirl scheme into office attire. She still panics when she sees the scale move up though. She's eating ice cream nightly and argues with people on the forums about cutting out foods they like. Somebody attributes her success to luck or genes.

Stage 6: Wow - She considers a contest in her fitness area. Her nutritional perspective becomes more balanced and she's seen as a source of inspiration on the forums. Scale weight gets left behind as she develops specific aesthetic and performance goals based on her personal body type and interests. She might develop a regular bulk/cut cycle.

Stage 7: ???

Replies

QueenBishOTUniverse

LOL I'm going with somewhere between stages 4 and 5 for me :laugh: . I did just order a new bikini :bigsmile: .

I think your profile pic clearly puts you in Stage 5.

LOL, well yes, there is that....

Aliciaaah

There's a stage somewhere in there for most women that involves pursuing MFP crushes and posting suggestive profile pictures. Especially for those women on their "I just got divorced, time to get skinny" mission.

Myhaloslipped

Holy crap, how did you get inside of my head?! Every word of this is true. #7 is a tough mudder for me, btw. :flowerforyou:

k8blujay2

Right now, I'm at your stage 1... I keep trying things that should work... but haven't figured out how to stick with it...

QueenBishOTUniverse

Step 7 - Obstacle Race Glory.

I've been dying to do one since I found out about them, but no one in my social circles would do one with me and I'm too shy to sign up for one by myself. The joys of being an introvert :grumble: .

12skipafew99100

You forgot the multiple start overs, gains and try agains.

unknown

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unknown

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likitisplit

I'm at step six. Despite being a man I really dig my Wonder Woman costume. I'm also strangely into Word Girl, which is kind the midway point between Wonder Woman and Super Girl with an intellectual bent.

I adore Word Girl!

acollis1

OMG Seriously though!?!?!?!
Glad it's not only me :laugh: :laugh:

This ^^^^ for sure!!!

likitisplit

You forgot the multiple start overs, gains and try agains.

I should have put "progress isn't linear" in the main post

MysteriousMerlin

I've been on MFP for 18 months and have learned quite a bit. Both personally and by seeing others evolve. In the spirit of fun, I have been toying with the idea of the stages of development that women go through on this site. I wanted to put this out there and see what others think.

Note: I usually avoid stereotyping by gender, but women and men seem to have very different relationships with their bodies, with fitness and with nutrition.

Stage 1: Getting in control - She has tried everything and now she's trying MFP. She's confused about why so many people have half naked pictures as their profile. She tries to lose as fast as possible so she can meet her goals and get back to her life. "If I can just stop GAINING, that will be a win"

MFP for pregancy prepping and trying to meet my fiber intake and keep an eye on saturated fats and carbs due to existing medical conditions.

Stage 2: The easy stage - She's found her groove, the weight is coming off and she's more active. She has substituted almond milk for milk, turkey bacon for bacon and tea for coffee. She tries to eat fruit to satisfy cravings for sweet. THIS IS WORKING!!!

Turkey bacon tastes fine, but has way too much sodium. I try to get lower sodium, center cut regular bacon when I can find it. Almond milk is gross on it's own, but I can tolerate it in cereal or baked products. Not a huge fan of fruit, though I have my favs.

Stage 3: Working it in - She has learned how to satiate herself on her calorie goal and can fit some "treats" in. She cruises pintrest for 30 day challenges while eating oreos. "I'm thinking of adding strength but don't want to bulk up. Please help me."

There was no way my lazy *kitten* was going to get anywhere near buff :laugh:

Stage 4: Go big or go home - our heroine discovers the joys of lifting and ups her protein. She starts focusing on macros rather than calories and cruises the forums for information. "Treats" just become another source of macros: there are no guilty pleasures anymore. She gets called a bully for the first time. She posts a progress pic...in a bikini.

Never ever, no bikini even if I weighed 110lbs. A 1-piece, maybe.

Stage 5: Is that me? - She starts seeing some real changes off the scale. She dresses like WonderWoman for an event or holiday, or incorporates a SuperGirl scheme into office attire. She still panics when she sees the scale move up though. She's eating ice cream nightly and argues with people on the forums about cutting out foods they like. Somebody attributes her success to luck or genes.

I think I started out at this one, lol (at least the ice cream and arguing part) :drinker:

Stage 6: Wow - She considers a contest in her fitness area. Her nutritional perspective becomes more balanced and she's seen as a source of inspiration on the forums. Scale weight gets left behind as she develops specific aesthetic and performance goals based on her personal body type and interests. She might develop a regular bulk/cut cycle.

I'd love to ride a bike again, but I'm far too lazy to enter a contest. I'm only competetive in video games

Stage 7: ???

Profit!

edit for spelling like a 6 year old.

unknown

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DamePiglet

QueenBishOTUniverse

Step 7 - Obstacle Race Glory.

I've been dying to do one since I found out about them, but no one in my social circles would do one with me and I'm too shy to sign up for one by myself. The joys of being an introvert :grumble: .

Sign up anyway. You'll be surrounded by friendly people always willing to help you over a wall.

I know I know.....

unknown

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Aliciaaah

Stage 7: after winning amateur night "contest" at the local strip club she's now turned pro. She's dancing at Tattle Tails every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday along with a couple day shifts here and there. That's where she meets her "dates." Don't call her an escort though. That'll really push her crazy button.

I must have bypassed all the other stages.

kgeyser

I think I started here at Stage 4 and am now a Stage 5. And no bikini pics. Nor did I ever blaspheme the name of bacon by putting the word turkey in front of it. Looking forward to the next stages, I'm thinking of doing a 5k.

likitisplit

Right now, I'm at your stage 1... I keep trying things that should work... but haven't figured out how to stick with it...

It's not about what works, it's about what works for you. You'll get there.

newdaydawning79

My brain is 3 heading toward 4. My body is lagging a little behind (in between 2-3) but doesn't have a choice but to catch up!

likitisplit

I think I started here at Stage 4 and am now a Stage 5. And no bikini pics. Nor did I ever blaspheme the name of bacon by putting the word turkey in front of it. Looking forward to the next stages, I'm thinking of doing a 5k.

That's your first real pic....Well Done!!!

k8blujay2

Right now, I'm at your stage 1... I keep trying things that should work... but haven't figured out how to stick with it...

It's not about what works, it's about what works for you. You'll get there.

Hahaha.. that's what I meant.

But yes, I'm gonna

likitisplit

My brain is 3 heading toward 4. My body is lagging a little behind (in between 2-3) but doesn't have a choice but to catch up!

If you make the right choices, your body will catch up eventually. On it's own time. In the most frustrating way possible.

newdaydawning79

My brain is 3 heading toward 4. My body is lagging a little behind (in between 2-3) but doesn't have a choice but to catch up!

If you make the right choices, your body will catch up eventually. On it's own time. In the most frustrating way possible.

When I dive into personal training sessions the body is going to be pissed, but it's going to have to deal with it...now if the trainer I want would just get back to me to set up the first session...

KrazyDaizy

JeriAnne84

I'm in stage 2 moving to stage 3, except not worried about the lifting weights and getting bulky part. I'm more a "when I get better at using my own body weight exercises and have more money, I want a gym membership so I can lift weights!"

The more money part being a huge part of that.

evedroid

jescamp9481

AMAZING!!!

SO TRUE!

Mexicanbigfoot

I LOVE this!! I think I am in Stage 3 right now. I think I will be here for a long time....

thanks for the laugh, you are so awesome and I'm glad you are my friend!

shutch2112

I'm still new, so I'm still in Stage 1.