Is there anything I should be wary of here?

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Replies

  • roanokejoe49
    roanokejoe49 Posts: 820 Member
    Watch out for the "coaches" and distributors. They only offer support in hopes that you will support their bank account.

    How do I know if they are after my wallet? When they ask me for cash?

    People that recommend "plans" that cost $$. There is no cost to eating a deficit and exercise (besides the actual food, obviously). Stuff like BeachBody, Shakeology, BBV, etc

    Youll be able to tell,,,their post will be big inspirational stories but come off sounding what they are...advertisements.

    This isn't exactly true. Beach Body fitness programs are butt kickers and will get you in shape. They do cost money, but after you buy them, they are yours forever. They cost a fraction of the money of a gym membership. I sent you a private message laying out what to watch out for. This guy is right about the supplements and the Shakes. They are expensive and totally unnecessary. The programs, however, are totally legit.
  • olong
    olong Posts: 255 Member
    Extremists and extremism and lack of flexibility!

    Life is a balance. Maintaining health is a balance. Achieving your goals is a balance. Challenges can be fun, but longevity is a balance. Experimenting with what works best for you is good, too. Be careful of albeit well-intentioned people emphasizing very low calories or only this protein or only those exercise plans or not this and never that and always the other..
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Just remember, you can debate opinions, but you can't debate facts. Keep that in mind, and you will be fine :)
  • lorib642
    lorib642 Posts: 1,942 Member
    I am not clicking on the obvious spam and ignoring the sales posts but is there anything I should be careful about? thanks
    Apparently sarcasm and anyone who might disagree with you and express that differing opinion. I hear it's deadly.

    I am not sure what you mean. I have trouble reading tone so maybe I miss some sarcasm.
  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    Watch out for:
    -People who private message you offering you advice that costs money.
    -Any diets that last X number of days. 30 day cleanse. 7 day detox. 7 day reset. Whole foods for 30 days. Weight loss is about a lifestyle change.
    -Just because someone has a lot of posts does not make them an expert. Weight loss communities attract a lot of people with disordered eating.
  • xTattooedDollx
    xTattooedDollx Posts: 426 Member
    I agree with the coaches. If anyone says they are a beach body coach I run because they will stock you! Also don't eat back your exercise calories. I listened to MFP and did and didn't understand why I wasn't losing. When I asked my trainer about this she laughed and told me to not eat them back if I want to lose and I've been losing
  • bellesouth18
    bellesouth18 Posts: 1,071 Member
    You should be wary of forum posts. Lots of misinformation and meanies out there who love to stir things up. Read the forum guidelines if you haven't already.

    There is some good advice in here though. Good luck!
  • Rays_Wife
    Rays_Wife Posts: 1,173 Member
    I agree with the coaches. If anyone says they are a beach body coach I run because they will stock you! Also don't eat back your exercise calories. I listened to MFP and did and didn't understand why I wasn't losing. When I asked my trainer about this she laughed and told me to not eat them back if I want to lose and I've been losing

    I think that's different for everybody. I had great success eating all of my exercise calories...it allowed me a very flexible eating plan, I didn't even feel like I was "dieting" and I lost steadily and at a good rate. You just have to figure out what is right for you. Some people eat back all, some eat back half, some none. Is it possible that you were overestimating your exercise burns? Or maybe not weighing/measuring food correctly?
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I am not clicking on the obvious spam and ignoring the sales posts but is there anything I should be careful about? thanks
    Apparently sarcasm and anyone who might disagree with you and express that differing opinion. I hear it's deadly.

    I am not sure what you mean. I have trouble reading tone so maybe I miss some sarcasm.
    We as a group tend to be a sarcastic bunch and many call that trolling. And people don't like when someone disagrees with them. They get very nasty.

    Sorry. I was trying to make a joke. :-)
  • JenD1066
    JenD1066 Posts: 298 Member
    Squirrels.

    Holy @#$%!! There are SQUIRRELS?
  • _runnerbean_
    _runnerbean_ Posts: 640 Member
    There are quite a lot of flirty people on here looking for love. Can be a positive but be wary if you are married. Don't agree to friend requests from people who don't leave a message.
  • a4phantom
    a4phantom Posts: 15
    Like kshadows and britishbrocco said, any weird, magical or extreme diet that looks more like an eating disorder with pretensions.
  • lorib642
    lorib642 Posts: 1,942 Member
    Watch out for the "coaches" and distributors. They only offer support in hopes that you will support their bank account.

    How do I know if they are after my wallet? When they ask me for cash?

    People that recommend "plans" that cost $$. There is no cost to eating a deficit and exercise (besides the actual food, obviously). Stuff like BeachBody, Shakeology, BBV, etc

    Youll be able to tell,,,their post will be big inspirational stories but come off sounding what they are...advertisements.

    This isn't exactly true. Beach Body fitness programs are butt kickers and will get you in shape. They do cost money, but after you buy them, they are yours forever. They cost a fraction of the money of a gym membership. I sent you a private message laying out what to watch out for. This guy is right about the supplements and the Shakes. They are expensive and totally unnecessary. The programs, however, are totally legit.

    Thanks, that was one thing I was wondering about. Thanks for the message :)
  • icrushit
    icrushit Posts: 773 Member
    Once you screen past the general quirks specific to online forums of any sort, I would say specifically to be aware of the zealots here, of which there seem to be a lot. Sometimes they can be of help, but like any believers of just one true way, it can be a rough ride if you're looking to discuss an equally valid approach that differs from the reigning dogma.

    Also, seems there's a lot of flirty people here too, and must say as someone quite non-prudish, I was quite taken aback by some of the sleazy thread titles in the chit-chat forum when I signed up initially. Another surprise was that there's as many gals as guys that start/ keep these things going.
  • ahoy_m8
    ahoy_m8 Posts: 3,053 Member
    Welcome and best of luck to you! Two thoughts on what to be wary of:

    (1) Decide how much time you want to spend on forums. I have learned a lot here from people's willingness to share their individual experiences. It has truly helped me, but it can turn into a time drain if you're unwary. Pop in when you need a little inspiration and dive into the threads of interest to you. Avoid topics with "starvation mode" in the title. There is misinformation, and some topics seem to get re-hashed. Kinda like Groundhog's Day.

    (2) Be mindful that the experiences shared are individual. There are women on MFP who are elite athletes working to get from 18%BF down to 15%, and there are women who are in the process of losing 100 lb. Those two groups will each have their challenges, but their experiences and what works for them will be extremely different. I see occasional blanket statements that could be categorically true for someone with 30%BF but completely untrue for an elite athlete, and posters don't always disclose details of their individual circumstances. You can learn something from anyone, but be aware of where they're coming from.
  • KandGRanch
    KandGRanch Posts: 131 Member
    Watch out for the "coaches" and distributors. They only offer support in hopes that you will support their bank account.

    How do I know if they are after my wallet? When they ask me for cash?
    beachbody, shakeology, herbalife, plexus, etc. if they are touting the benefits of any SINGLE brand, run fast.
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    Obviously there will be a lot of differing opinions. So, try to avoid fads and gimmicks and stick with the basics. And do what you will stick with. Don't overcomplicate.

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