MFP vs Spark People

JohnFurie
JohnFurie Posts: 45
edited October 3 in Health and Weight Loss
A friend of mine told me about Spark People, but it looks like a very similar program as MFP. I am very happy with MFP, my question is is there any reason you would do both?
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Replies

  • kendrafallon
    kendrafallon Posts: 1,030 Member
    A friend of mine told me about Spark People, but it looks like a very similar program as MFP. I am very happy with MFP, my question is is there any reason you would do both?

    Untill MFP incorporated a recipe calculator, I used Spark People to do the job. I much prefer MFP tho
  • jwaitman
    jwaitman Posts: 367 Member
    I tried Spark People and found it not to be as user friendly. I went back to weight watchers from Spark People until I found MFP. I think it is much easier to look info up on MFP.
  • allijoy13
    allijoy13 Posts: 66 Member
    I would't do both. They are very similar and it would just be double the amount of work! I switched over from Spark People because this format seemed a little better and I like the community here. :)
  • ErrataCorrige
    ErrataCorrige Posts: 649 Member
    I use fatsecret.com for my food logging because I like their food calendar better, but the people on MFP are WAY better, so I always find myself spending more time here than anywhere else.
  • pitbullmama
    pitbullmama Posts: 454 Member
    I would't do both. They are very similar and it would just be double the amount of work! I switched over from Spark People because this format seemed a little better and I like the community here. :)

    Agreed!
  • echokx
    echokx Posts: 1 Member
    I've been on Sparkpeople, and like MFP better because it's much more simple and stripped down. One thing, though that I might still use is the exercise video demos they have, or maybe read articles they have. But that's about it.
  • runnermel
    runnermel Posts: 278
    i have used both....and mfp is just sooooooooo much better!!!!! trust me, stay where you are at and invite your friend to try mfp!
  • Snakey74
    Snakey74 Posts: 276 Member
    Nope. Tried Spark People. Didn't like it.
    I love MFP :heart:
    I think it's all about finding what works for you, and going with it. I have no idea how anyone would be able to do both SP and MFP (time-wise). I know how much time MFP takes up for me. LOL
  • mynameiscarrie
    mynameiscarrie Posts: 963 Member
    I just got an account with sparkpeople just to see what the fuss was about. it is really difficult to add foods and what not...like it's hard to figure out, especially after being on here for so long. i like MFP better. I haven't logged onto sparkpeople since the day i got it lol
  • thefishers4
    thefishers4 Posts: 165 Member
    I do MFP the most and Spark People just for support and tips. They have alot of good articles and food ideas.
  • manderson27
    manderson27 Posts: 3,510 Member
    Spark people is more cumbersome than MFP and of course you guys are on here :flowerforyou:
  • deedeefelldown
    deedeefelldown Posts: 57 Member
    I tried Sparkpeople for a minute but didn't really think it was user friendly and was not really motivated to track my food or exercise the way I am here. I am pretty new to this type of forum but so far I LOVE MFP.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I just took a look, MFP is much more user friendly.
  • liftingbro
    liftingbro Posts: 2,029 Member
    I like MFP a lot better. The site is nicer and easier to use. I also like the people here better as the over the top rainbows, sunshine and unicorns of the Uber positive without being grounded in the real world didn't rub me the right way.

    People here tend to tell it like it is and there are lot more people that know what they're talking about here.
  • JohnFurie
    JohnFurie Posts: 45
    Yeah I would never leave MFP, I just didn't know if there was any benefit to using both... I have way to many friends on here that I would not leave.
  • minimommy1
    minimommy1 Posts: 84 Member
    I like the articles and the newletters I receive which are encouraging from sparks but I haven't used the other things.
  • hbrittingham
    hbrittingham Posts: 2,518 Member
    Spark people is more cumbersome than MFP and of course you guys are on here :flowerforyou:
    Yup, it really is. Plus they give you a range of calories under the assumption that you will eat the lower amount on the days you don't work out. I don't know about anyone else, but I eat what I can, so I was always eating up at the top of my alloted calories. Here I don't want to see my calories go into the red, so I eat what I'm supposed to eat and not more.
  • whouwannab
    whouwannab Posts: 350 Member
    I have a sparkpeople account that I use just for the e-newsletters and for "fitness map". You can enter in a running route on a map, enter your weight, age, etc. and hit calculate and it will tell you how many cals you burn running that particular route. Very cool. Otherwise, I dont use the sight for anything else, too confusing.
  • jaxson1974
    jaxson1974 Posts: 36
    Spark people is more cumbersome than MFP and of course you guys are on here :flowerforyou:

    Exactly this. I find the SP site very convoluted. I am really liking MFP
  • LisaKyle11
    LisaKyle11 Posts: 662 Member
    the Spark website is too busy for my liking.... so much going on. i prefer this site...way more.
  • dianemass
    dianemass Posts: 23 Member
    I have done Weight Watchers, DWLZ, Sparkpeople and this site is the best ! It is easy andpeople here are wonderful !
  • kennethmgreen
    kennethmgreen Posts: 1,759 Member
    I like MFP a lot better. The site is nicer and easier to use. I also like the people here better as the over the top rainbows, sunshine and unicorns of the Uber positive without being grounded in the real world didn't rub me the right way.

    People here tend to tell it like it is and there are lot more people that know what they're talking about here.
    What you are saying is we rub you right.
  • catwrangler
    catwrangler Posts: 918 Member
    I do MFP the most and Spark People just for support and tips. They have alot of good articles and food ideas.
    this
  • jesstiger81
    jesstiger81 Posts: 93 Member
    I much prefer MFP. Tracking food with SP was so cumbersome and difficult for me, therefore I would cheat often by not recording something, or recording it incorrectly. I did not see results. One of my favorite things about MFP is the app. You can scan the barcode of pretty much ANY food item (even grocery store brands) and it will tell you the accurate calories. So, it takes much less time to journal, and I love that. Success!
  • Nelski
    Nelski Posts: 1,607 Member
    Spark is a good place for finding recipies but the calorie counting and message boards are way more user friendly here.
  • ahinescapron
    ahinescapron Posts: 351 Member
    I switched back to Sparkpeople for my tracking, because I like the way they spread your calories evenly over the week. I just do better if I eat the same amount each day. I like the message boards here much better, but I like the articles and exercise demos on spark. It really is just a matter of preference.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I switched back to Sparkpeople for my tracking, because I like the way they spread your calories evenly over the week. I just do better if I eat the same amount each day. I like the message boards here much better, but I like the articles and exercise demos on spark. It really is just a matter of preference.

    You can do that here by setting your activity level higher and not logging your exercise. That is the way most professionals give you a caloric intake as well.
  • solpwr
    solpwr Posts: 1,039 Member
    I switched back to Sparkpeople for my tracking, because I like the way they spread your calories evenly over the week. I just do better if I eat the same amount each day. I like the message boards here much better, but I like the articles and exercise demos on spark. It really is just a matter of preference.

    But you could do like I do and just eat similar amounts every day. The math all works out the same way in the end. Weekly average is the important metric in my mind.

    I like the name Spark People. So many thoughts associated with name like that.
  • tobybear
    tobybear Posts: 109
    The reason I like MFP is because when you put in your activities it adjusts your calorie count. Sparkpeople doesn't do that.
  • akjstyles
    akjstyles Posts: 75 Member
    I started out using sparkpeople 3 years ago, lost a lot of weight at a healthy rate and made some great support connections. Then I stopped using it, fell off the wagon and gained back all the weight. This time around I found the MFP app for my phone and loved the ease of tracking. I find MFP to be a whole lot more user friendly. I did go back to sp as well because of the support connections that I have there. I don't log my food or exercise there though. I think both sites have their pros so that is why I use both, I do spend more time on this site though, as I said, way more user friendly.
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