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pros and cons

jmvmisc24
jmvmisc24 Posts: 85 Member
edited November 2024 in Motivation and Support
I freelance write on yahoo. I was wanting to write an article about myfitnesspal.com. Do you mind sharing with me what you think the cons and pros are? Why counting calories helps so much? How has this website helped you? How have the people helped you? Any help would be appreciated.

Replies

  • Jennyisbusy
    Jennyisbusy Posts: 1,294 Member
    There are so many things I like about MFP!
    *I really like to go back and look at my progress, I can actually go back and see what I was eating 21 pounds ago.
    *The very fact that I am going to log my food makes me think more carefully about the types and amounts of foods that I chose to eat.
    * Joining challenges can help to freshen up a boring exercise routine, or be a starting place for making new friends.
    *I like that it can be as simple as plugging in a few numbers and letting the site set your goals, or being able to set your own goals and track nutrients for more advanced users or those with specific needs.
  • DannyMussels
    DannyMussels Posts: 1,842 Member
    I don't count calories, but I use the site to log/track my weightlifting and exercise routine. I don't really ever check back or anything. I also dig readin new ideas for foods, recipes and such.

    I also occasionally like answering questions, or giving advice, talking about what I've tried in the past. A few lines of text could save someone weeks, months or even years of trying.
  • ebahde
    ebahde Posts: 89 Member
    This has been great for a lot of reason
    *There's an app for your phone so you can even look up how many calories are in something when you are out to eat or on the go
    * It puts weight loss into numbers and makes it very easy to plan your day or even week
    * the forums are great for getting motivation or asking questions

    Con
    * It can be addicting and slightly restricting if you log "religiously." The first couple months I felt like I always needed to at (or under) my allotted calories for the day, which can be stressful if I didn't plan things out (i.e. if someone wanted to go out to eat for dinner and I didn't plan for that I felt like I had to go work out to burn off the extra calories) Now that I am almost at my goal weight and am really happy I have loosened up a little bit and just try to break even at the end of the week.
  • CherylPierce
    CherylPierce Posts: 73 Member
    There are many pros. It helps me to be mindful about what I put in my mouth. I do count calories and it is a convenient way to do that. Most days I log in what I PLAN to eat that day to see if my plan is within my calorie limit. I can then make adjustments as needed. I use the iPhone app when I'm not near my computer. I read the message boards and blogs when I need motivation.

    Cons? I haven't found the "friending" process to be very user-friendly. Otherwise, I can't think of any.
  • indisguise
    indisguise Posts: 235
    I like the success stories forum, I find the before and after pictures to be very motivating.
    I also like the food and exercise trackers. The food database is very handy for finding out how many calories are in my meals and I like that I can plug in my own recipes and the site will calculate the calories for me.

    Before I started using the site I was unaware of how many calories were in a given food item. Counting calories helps me to not overeat (something I was clearly doing before!). The site calculates all of that for you and makes it simple to do so. Overall I've found the other site members to be friendly and supportive.
  • SteveTries
    SteveTries Posts: 723 Member
    The MFP tool readily allows you to understand and track your caloric intake and in so doing regain control over something you had previously lost. That newfound understanding is highly empowering and that control is highly successful in being able to implement a sound weightloss programme.

    The MFP community is a superb knowledge sharing and motivation enhancing environment, however there are a lot of well meaning contributors who are absent a sound knowledge of the subject matter about which they speak. This can be very misleading as it's often the majority voice repeating the same incorrect advice. "Caveat emptor"; let the consumer of that advice back it up with their own reasearch before implementing.
  • jmvmisc24
    jmvmisc24 Posts: 85 Member
    thanks guys :D
  • mamamc03
    mamamc03 Posts: 1,067 Member
    Pros....
    1. I cannot stop singing praises of MFP. I feel like I am spreading the gospel when I tell someone about MFP!! I get excited and happy!! It's such a rush to see the number drop on the scale.
    When I started back in June of last year, my family had introduced it to me. I was 361lbs. I was a iphone addict. When I went out to eat, I was already on my phone on yelp.com....so I just started doing MFP too. I saw it as a game, like angry birds, I'm already playing aorund on my phone, why not play this game too!! So every day I would try to beat my "high score" from the day before. I wanted to keep my numbers in the green!!
    I have been playing religiously, along with my husband. To date, I have lost 65lbs and he has lost 98lbs.
    2. It's free
    3. The people on here are SOOO supportive!! You never feel judged or like an outsider!
    4. It's easy, non-intimidating and fun!!
    5. The database is outstanding and the recipe maker is AWESOME!!
    6. This is not a diet, its tracking what you eat and learning what to put in your body.

    Cons....
    1. It sometimes replaces facebook. if it weren't for my games on FB, i'd be here all the time!!
    2. I have to buy new clothes because I have lost so much weight. :P
    3. There is not ONE bad thing i can say about MFP. It has changed my life! I don't want to quit....EVER!! If something happened to this service, I would be devastated.....but from what I have learned....I now have the tools, that I could be successful...........but I dont want to try.
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