i almost gave up.... after 2 years of getting nowhere. then.

I'm a 37 year of mother of 1. Joined my fitness pal two year ago with the aim to loose weight... however, with all the tips and exercise information available from members – I’ve realised eventually that I’ve banging my head off a brick wall for two years. I have been eating 1200 calories as the app recommends and working out 4-5 days a week to no avail. ( I ate 1500 on work out days) Nothing changed… except my ability to run and swim improved greatly…but little or no body changes.

Feel a bit cheated by the app’s 500 calories a day defect fail – silly silly advise by all accounts.

… however – after a recent diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis – I looked further into muscle building to ease joint pressure. I am now in the early stages of the New rules of Lifting for Women (as advised by some lovely members) – and already feeling healthier and happier. I would advise anyone – cutting your calories by 500 a day just makes you store fat and feel lethargic..

I have discovered that at 120lb, and 5ft 3 – I’m actually not over weight – I don’t need to diet. I need to eat way more food, increase my protein hugely from about 30-120 grams a day and lift way more weight than the little amounts I have been, all in order to tone my body and create a strong healthy body capable of burning more fat all on it’s own without starving myself.

I have now dismissed that belief of 500 calories a day makes you lose 1lb of fat a week as rubbish - And I feel I have my life back – I have energy – and NO WEIGHT GAIN… Even although I went from 1200-1700 calories a day (2000 on lifting days) … And I already see definition.

So I’d conclude with – the strength of My Fitness Pal is in it’s network of knowledgeable members – the weakness lies in the app’s calorie defect plan and general advise as to how much nutrients I required… especially in relation to Protein… its way off