Don't get mad... but what do you think of....

thisismynewmindset
thisismynewmindset Posts: 273 Member
edited September 28 in Health and Weight Loss
I am a new memebr with MFP and so far I LOVE IT and the people (love you guys!!).

I used to be a member (years ago, I must add) of my-calorie-counter.com. Joining that website and counting my calories was the only thing that worked - I actually lost the weight. Years later and not keeping up with it, I have gained it all back.

When I decided this week that I wanted to do it again, I went back to my-calorie-counter.com and signed up... but everything looks different - it's changed a lot (and NOT for the good... everything is harder to find now and it doesn't have all the tables and graphs that I liked it so much for in the past). So I did some searching and found MFP and I love it. It has all the features I am looking for, so many nice people, and a quick turn-around on messages answered.

Now, I am JUST CURIOUS, but I have also seen a lot on the internet about sparkpeople.com... I am not saying I want to switch, but I was just wondering if anyone had used sparkpeople.com before and what you know about it? The ads say it is the "largest fitness network in the world"...

But it also looks like there is TONS of advertising clogging up the screen space...

Like I said, just curious...
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Replies

  • Mindful_Trent
    Mindful_Trent Posts: 3,954 Member
    Nevermind.
  • Sarean
    Sarean Posts: 77
    I found sparkpeople to be a bit overwhelming actually. It's a good resource for information and they do have tons of fitness videos and motivational articles.

    I love MFP because its easier for me to use. I've also developed a better support network on MFP.
  • bethvandenberg
    bethvandenberg Posts: 1,496 Member
    I've seen posts where people have moved from there to here. I don't really know as I've only used this one. But as someone above us said, check them both out and then make your own decision on what works best for you.

    Welcome to MFP.
  • eeeekie
    eeeekie Posts: 1,011 Member
    If you're curious, you should go check it out and make your own decision. That said, your post will probably be deleted as it's against forum rules to promote websites that compete with MFP... so anyone encouraging you to join the site you're asking about would be guilty of violating that rule.
    3) Posts or messages to members promoting websites that compete with MyFitnessPal are also prohibited.

    I don't think she's promoting another site...she said she joined a site, it worked but she gained it back. It's apart of her story...kind of like when people are on Jenny Craig or WW. She's also asking for opinions...there are a lot of transplants here from other sites...she's gonna get an opinion on what other people think is best and 100% sure MFP will win

    Really...some people.

    Anyway, to OP...glad you're back on track and that you find MFP to be helpful! Hopefully it can get you back to your last loss and you have a smooth and fun journey.
  • ejohndrow
    ejohndrow Posts: 1,399 Member
    If you like it here then why are you looking to other sites? Check it out if you'd like, or stay here if you'd like. Easy as that.
  • jaimejean478
    jaimejean478 Posts: 152 Member
    I found sparkpeople to be a bit overwhelming actually. It's a good resource for information and they do have tons of fitness videos and motivational articles. MFP is just easier for me to use.

    I say try it out, no harm since it's free.

    Yup - waaaay too much stuff on there. MFP is cut and dry, no BS. The community is the glue IMO. :)
  • NightOwl1
    NightOwl1 Posts: 881 Member
    The network here is definitely large enough to get all the support you will need. And Mike (The creator) will never use this site to try to sell you any of his products. I went to the site and it looked like it was free as a way of trying to get you to buy their book and other stuff. You can definitely be successful here without needing to go anyplace out.
  • Behavioral
    Behavioral Posts: 60
    I was a member, but I just couldn't get into it at Spark People. I like MFP soooo much better and use it religiously.
  • PeachyKeene
    PeachyKeene Posts: 1,645 Member
    MFP is the best!
  • SixCatFaerie
    SixCatFaerie Posts: 690 Member
    Tried SP was overwhelming for me as well, not to mention that the advertisements kept showing me things that I'm not supposed to eat!!! Plus, I couldn't find any vids that I could easily use considering my physical limitations.

    Adore MFP!!! People here love to help too! Bonus!!! :heart:

    4581915.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    I used sparkpeople for a little while before starting this. I found the data-entry on spark to be kind of clunky and cumbersome, and a bit easier here. The community here is what really got me hooked.
  • beckajw
    beckajw Posts: 1,728 Member
    I found sparkpeople to be a bit overwhelming actually. It's a good resource for information and they do have tons of fitness videos and motivational articles.

    I love MFP because its easier for me to use. I've also developed a better support network on MFP.

    Overwhelming, exactly the word I was looking for. I do appreciate the articles and videos and I like the group set up. But I find this site easier for tracking and I like the news feed and my friends.
  • ANeWcRe8N
    ANeWcRe8N Posts: 1,180 Member
    I used sparkpeople before coming here to mfp and my opinion is that it has a lot of great info and a lot of supportive people but the food tracker is too much.... mfp is much easier to log and understand. Too much stuff going on at SP to me :)
  • Sarabeth5
    Sarabeth5 Posts: 134 Member
    I did spark people for a year or so. I liked it but only used it for tracking food and activity. I never used the message boards etc. MFP seems to do the same but it's more streamlines and easier to navigate. I also like the "facebookiness" of MFP. Once I got started here I never looked back. there is nothing that SP does better than MFP in my opinion. :)
  • vayax
    vayax Posts: 152 Member
    I used sparkpeople in the past...it is good, but I didn't get the feel of comunity I get here. I feel MFP is more personal.
  • shapestocome
    shapestocome Posts: 399 Member
    Logging was very cumbersome for me -- logging my food here is soooo much faster and easier.
  • dawnannmacg
    dawnannmacg Posts: 14
    I switched to MFP. spark people took much longer to do everything, and i actually find the people on this site are much nicer and more helpful.
  • beesareyellow
    beesareyellow Posts: 335 Member
    I tried SP for a while, but the site was super cumbersome to use. Also, they kept blasting my e-mail with all sorts of offers, promotions, ads etc. I had to cancel with them to make it stop. I then found MFP and never looked back. It is so much easier to use, and is not covered in ads for all kinds of junk.
  • koosdel
    koosdel Posts: 3,317 Member
    I heard they eat boiled bats and worship dead grass hoppers over there..
  • PeachyKeene
    PeachyKeene Posts: 1,645 Member
    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
  • mishelnkiki
    mishelnkiki Posts: 775 Member
    MFP KICKS *kitten* AND I WILL NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER... EVERRRRRRRR send anyone anywhere else! this is where its at! lol.
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    I would really like another site to compare work out calories with...Sometimes I think MFP is to high, so I would like another site to go to in order to get a good idea where I'm at...It's not a loyalty issue or promoting another site, it's just good business...so other than Spark.com, is there another calorie counting site that has great features?
  • thisismynewmindset
    thisismynewmindset Posts: 273 Member
    THANKS EVERYONE for your feedback.

    I really was not trying to start a "fitness site war" when I posted my question. I should have known better and read the forum rules... but I don't think I broke them because I was never promoting another site and all the responses have been in favor of MFP, which I predicted.

    BUT I MUST SAY.... I really appreciate your comments. They align with my first impressions of sparkpeople.com -- too crowded and cumbersome.

    I am EXTREMELY impressed with the community support on MFP. I love the features (like I said, it is way easier to use than my old site, my-calorie-counter.com).

    I am sticking with MFP - it is honestly a GREAT site. Easy to navigate, and most of all, the people ROCK!!!
  • HollyLLillis
    HollyLLillis Posts: 113 Member
    Spark was too complicated, MFP is awesome and so easy to use... I don't think I'd even try any place else!
  • bonjour24
    bonjour24 Posts: 1,119 Member
    i tried spark briefly, but then ended up getting tons of spammy emails i didn't want and it just didn't fit right for me.
    i prefer it here. i find there's more of a community here. but i must say i'm quite wary of posting topics here- i'd ask (mfp) friends on my message board instead, rather than post. opinions sometimes get heated which although are funny to read, some people forget alot of this is just opinion and not right or wrong.
    but, this has been great for me. i love it here. and eating back your exercise calories is awesome!!
  • sassylilmama
    sassylilmama Posts: 1,493 Member
    I signed up for sparkpeople and never got much past that. It was just not very user friendly. MFP I have stuck with and find very easy to use.
  • lizzil0
    lizzil0 Posts: 181 Member
    I agree with it being too cumbersome, too much stuff going on. The "points" thing was a bit irritating to me too. No point to the points thing in my opinion.
  • FabOma08
    FabOma08 Posts: 500
    I would really like another site to compare work out calories with...Sometimes I think MFP is to high, so I would like another site to go to in order to get a good idea where I'm at...It's not a loyalty issue or promoting another site, it's just good business...so other than Spark.com, is there another calorie counting site that has great features?

    I agree. When I'm not sure or can't find what I'm looking for in the food or exercises here, I use fitday.com. And before anyone says I'm promoting a conflicting site. It's not. Fitday is not a "community". It's simply a data tool. Their activity and food database has alot of stuff that isn't here. I find it there, add it here so I can use it again later.
  • joanneeee
    joanneeee Posts: 311 Member
    as someone mentioned earlier i find sparkpeople too overwhelming and a bit of a competition
  • Swimgoddess
    Swimgoddess Posts: 711 Member
    MFP is FAR more user friendly and their database is WAY cleaned up compared to SP. That's why I switched from them to here. Best thing I did.
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