Does MFP ever NOT work?

findingabetterme
findingabetterme Posts: 31
edited September 24 in Health and Weight Loss
I have been on MFP for about 2 weeks - but I have been trying to lose weight for a while now. I was down to my goal and thought I knew what I needed to do to maintain but I didnt. I regained that weight back in 9 months. So now Im here to relose that weight and learn to maintain. I think part of my problem last time was I exercised, exercised, exercised and held my calories low (about 1400-1500) and lost. But the exercise was to much for me to maintain in real life and so when I slowed down my exercise the weight came back (plus I know I was eating more too).....
Anyway - so now Im here - exercising daily but at a pace that I can continue (about an hour a day)...I have been eating the recommended calories on MFP plus about 90% of my exercise calories.
My question is -- does this ever NOT work? I understand that if you cheat, if you dont exercise, if you eat bad foods - that will all effect the "bottom line" -- but if I am consistant in eating decently, at or right below my calories, exercising about 350-500 calories a day....does it ever NOT work?
I also understand daily fluctuations in water, female TOM, drinking water and all that - but in the long run keeping to it.... Will I lose weight? Or are there circumstances where this isnt the "right formula"? I know "on paper" it has to work but....

Replies

  • sbwood888
    sbwood888 Posts: 953 Member
    There are people on here who have lost incredible amounts of weight by following this plan. I believe that if you truthfully follow MFP recommendations, you will succeed.
  • dian1227
    dian1227 Posts: 122 Member
    I think it boils down to being honest with yourself first, even before you post on MFP. I have listed things in my food diary that I am embarrased that I ate, but it actually helps me look at it and think "if I had not eaten that today I could have been down another pound tomorrow." Use it as a tool, but rely on the YOU to make the difference.

    Blessings,

    Diane
  • farmgirlh
    farmgirlh Posts: 240
    This is my opinion, but dependant on the amount of weight you need to lose, eat your maintaince calories then use your exercise as your defiecient. I started to do that when I got close to my goal so it would be easier to learn how to maintain. So far I have kept all but 5 pounds off for almost 2 years. Good luck!!
  • kelsully
    kelsully Posts: 1,008 Member
    When you get to your goal or close to it you ay have to tweak the recommendations a tad. I found the maintenance cals about 100 to many for me (I eat back most of my exercise too) So when I was eating my Net goal it was a tiny bit too much but easy to tweak. You will have to do a bit of experiementing at the end to find the perfect balance for you...and do it slowly...but it definitley can work if you work it.
  • chocolatnoir
    chocolatnoir Posts: 182 Member
    I think the right question is will YOU not work?
    I don't see MFP as a diet or even a plan- it is a place for us to be honest with ourselves about what we are eating and how much we are moving and to get support from a wonderful community of like minded people. Yes, MFP gives you suggested caloric intake but you can find that on your own online. I think the people who are successful being on MFP are the ones who consistently work hard and are honest when it comes to reporting their food and are generally motivated. There are so many people here that I admire and who motivate me every day so I can also reach my goal at some point. At the end of the day, though, it is up to us to do the work!! If I don't lose weight it isn't because MFP doesn't work- it is because I'm not doing what I have to do.

    Good luck!!! :)
  • aecryan
    aecryan Posts: 89
    I think the right question is will YOU not work?
    I don't see MFP as a diet or even a plan- it is a place for us to be honest with ourselves about what we are eating and how much we are moving and to get support from a wonderful community of like minded people. Yes, MFP gives you suggested caloric intake but you can find that on your own online. I think the people who are successful being on MFP are the ones who consistently work hard and are honest when it comes to reporting their food and are generally motivated. There are so many people here that I admire and who motivate me every day so I can also reach my goal at some point. At the end of the day, though, it is up to us to do the work!! If I don't lose weight it isn't because MFP doesn't work- it is because I'm not doing what I have to do.

    Good luck!!! :)

    I agree with this completely! Well said.
  • stormieweather
    stormieweather Posts: 2,549 Member
    I would suggest getting a bodybugg or fitbit so you know exactly what you're burning daily. Then you can create a deficit by eating a bit less or exercising a bit more (or both). When you are close to your goal weight, it takes longer and more effort to lose it. Maybe instead of focusing so much on the scale, work on your fat % and muscle tone. The weight will be what it should be, if your muscles and fat are where they should be.
  • Kkmama
    Kkmama Posts: 544 Member
    It works. Eat within your calories and take a bite out of your exercise calories. The weight will come off. I am a weight loss failure and for the first time in my life I am losing weight. The trick is eating well and "Shakin' What Yo' Momma Gave You"!!!!!
  • PoleBoy
    PoleBoy Posts: 255 Member
    Remember it estimates your BMR (base metabolic rate) If, for whatever reason your BMR is lower than its estimate then it's weightloss projection will be an over estimate.

    Calories in food are an estimate of how many you will absorb, so if you're more efficient at absorbing them (methane producing bacteria...) then its projection will be an over estimate

    Calories from exercise are an estimate, if your body is more efficient at performing the CV than average then, yet again, MFPs projection will be an over estimate.

    so... .it works in principle, but you might need to lie about your height to get the calculations right...
  • JustAnotherBob
    JustAnotherBob Posts: 33
    This doesn't answer your question - but - the biggest advantage I have with MFP is that it "forces" me to track what I eat - each and every day. As someone before me said - even write down the stuff that you know was bad for you. By making that conscience effort, you'll soon find yourself into better eating / exercise habits.
  • Serafimangel
    Serafimangel Posts: 174 Member
    MFP has forced me to eat more, which means you don't pile it on when you lose the weight. I have been dieting for years, very close (so very close) to my goal at christmas, but then christmas happened and I piled on loads of weight in 10 days (i didn't gorge, but before I was eating 1400-1500 a day, when my BMR is 1550). So I think now I am losing it more slowly, (and putting on way more muscle) but also eating the right things, I would have eaten 500 calories some days (TOM mainly!) of chocolate, but having to put that in the diary is a bit of a slap in the face, especially when you haven't even earned it in exercise calories, so now good food goes into me and the diary!
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