So I'm a traitor.....

tbullucks06
tbullucks06 Posts: 128
edited September 25 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi Everyone,


Before I found MFP, I was a member of Sparkpeople.com. I lost 50 lbs using their site. When I fell off the wagon and gained pretty much 40 of the 50 lbs back, I started back on Spark and lost 12ish lbs. A friend of mine found MFP and we both really liked the interface better than Spark. I love the way it's set up like FaceBook, how it's easier to log things and also the fabulous phone app with the bar code scanner. However, with MFP, I really wasn't losing weight at all. MFP tells me to eat all of the exercise calories I burn, as with Spark, you set a goal and it gives you a range based on the amount of calories you plan to burn that week. I decided to test it out and for the past two weeks I have been back following the Spark plan. I have lost almost 6 lbs in 2 weeks. Is it possible that the MFP plan just doesn't work for me? :frown:

Replies

  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    Go with whatever works for you. SparkPeople didn't work out so well for me. I lost interest fast and I didn't like their points or their teams and silly enough, their website was so busy looking that I found it annoying, lol. There are many different paths to get to the same end goal, whether it be MFP, Spark, Weight Watchers, or whatever you choose.
  • Lunachic77
    Lunachic77 Posts: 434 Member
    No worries! I'm also a traitor...a few years back i used The Daily Plate (Livestrong.com) and lost 20 lbs. I switched to MFP because I liked the iPhone app a lot better and it was easier to use than Livestrong's app. I also like the interface on the website a lot better. I say whatever works and makes you stick to the plan is good no matter if it's this one or another. :)
  • cardbucfan
    cardbucfan Posts: 10,571 Member
    I don't think you are a traitor. You have to find what works for YOU. I personally don't eat all my exercise calories back and I've gotten to my goal weight that way. Everybody is different so it's not that you are a traitor to this site, you've found a different way to lose weight. The key is (and you know this based on the history you gave) you have to change your habits and lifestyle in order to keep it off and that's where MFP has been crucial to me. It's taught me correct portions and the how many calories are in the things I like to eat. I may still eat them, but I eat them in moderation and plan for them (usually, I've been a little slacker since I hit my goal weight!). Good luck!
  • ricnrac
    ricnrac Posts: 95 Member
    I don't eat my exercise calories back. You have to figure out what works for you and do that.
  • LarryPGH
    LarryPGH Posts: 349 Member
    I'm just thinking out loud here, so you can ignore me if you want, but...

    I was wondering whether it might not be an issue of "This site works for me, but that site doesn't...". Instead, I wonder if your portion size estimating is accurate, or if the things you log closely matches what you're eating?

    Here's what I'm thinking: if, maybe, you're thinking to yourself "I need to eat back my exercise calories", but you're underestimating your calorie intake, then you'd end up overeating and going over your limit. But, on Sparkpeople, if you think to yourself "I'm not gonna eat back my exercise calories", but in fact, you really are -- you just don't realize it -- then you're actually eating as you should.

    That way, it *appears* that Sparkpeople "works" and MFP "doesn't work" for you, but in reality, it's the other way around...?

    Like I said... just thinking out loud...!
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