any idea how to connect MFP with Real Appeal? I like this app so much better...but truly benefiting from the RA program.

Hey all - first off - thanks for joining! Encourage your RA groups to join this group if they love MFP as much as I do!

You can share the URL of the group with your classmates and share it on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

I created this forum because I found that MFP was better for me to track my activities. Plus, having a Garmin watch connects to MFP real easy.

@momroxosu - There isn't a direct way to connect MFP to RA. I simply enter my weight and share my logs with my RA Coach.

@rlwart - keep us posted. I switched from a Fitbit to a Garmin so I'm no longer trying to make the connection.

Hey there!

I agree with you to a point. It's kind of cheesy but I'm taking a different approach. Like you, I have heard this before, know the content but I am taking this as a reminder of things I need to constantly do to keep myself on track. The biggest thing for me is just keeping it going. Sounds like you are like me, up and down weight over your lifetime. But I also know that I have lost weight and it was hard work. My biggest challenge, I've found, is myself.

LOVE my Vivoactive HR. It connects to my Garmin cycle computer so that I don't have to wear a strap! I hate those damn heartrate straps! lol

I don't use the RA App - I use the MFP app because of the features and it's just easy to use.

Have a suggestion for you. If your local gym has spin classes, give them a try but don't give up right away. Do the classes at your pace but challenge yourself to increase the effort each class. Do this three times a week, an hour at a time. Bring at least two big bottles of water and a towel or two to wipe the sweat from your face.

You will find that after a few sessions, they get easier. And then you can add in a yoga class here and there for flexibility.

I did this four years ago and dropped almost 60lbs. I went from the biggest I'd ever been to the smallest I've been in my adult life. I kept it off for so long because I maintained my exercise (not to the level I did when I was losing weight though - didn't need to!)

I'm starting that again because I totally fell off the wagon after losing a job and becomes so depressed that I ate my way back to happiness. We all know how this went! :-(

Stay with us... My hope with this group was to take like-minded people, on the same path, who wanted to share recipes to eat and for success and get help outside of the class from peers.

Hi! I just found this group today, just getting started with RA. Look forward to learning, sharing and supporting

Just joined RA today. My first group session is next week.

I have been enrolled in RA since February and you get to set your calorie goals. I also donate use their website to track food, I like MFP better. I like attending the meetings to hold me accountable to weigh in, but if you are familiar with counting calories, most of the stuff they talk about you will already know. I don't use their diet plan either. To be honest most of the recipes didn't appeal to me and not something I could keep up long term.

That stinks! Our coach Hannah is awesome! She lets us just ask general questions about any health topic and we can ask others in our group for advice on what works for them. I know the coach can see what you log in RA, so I see where it is easier if you use RA tools. I just finished week 11 and my class is merging with another, so I will have a new coach next week. I hope my next coach is as helpful.

The classes start really big, but participation starts falling off after a few weeks. I can't remember how many people were in my group starting, but right now we have less than 10 active participants. It makes sense to merge classes when participation is low, it frees up coaches for new classes.

Nice work! I think I am on week 12 (although when we merged classes I ended up repeating a week). I have been focusing on weight loss since Jan 1, and I am down about 23lbs.

I've been on the RA plan since September and I'm down 40 lbs. The tools that come in the kit have been awesome in helping me reach my goals and lose the weight I've lost so far. I also think the weekly class helps keep me accountable and motivated. I use the DVDs consistently and love being able to do the workouts on my time and at home.

I know the material already that they are covering, so ultimately, the success or failure of this program is on me. I had a flip switch in my brain this weight loss go 'round so that has helped me tremendously. RA isn't a magic pill or a revelation for weight loss. But, for me, it was a life preserver thrown to me when I was drowning in a sea of unhealthy life choices.