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Thread: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

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    Default Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    Anybody have an account on either of these sites? I've gained a lot of weight in the last year and need a motivating partner to help lose it. My diet is shit and I don't have steady motivation to workout like I use to. Please help...

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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    Bumpty bump bump! I'm movinginsilence. Add me! I'm doing pretty good if I say so myself.

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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    Thanks for this, I need the motivation so damn bad.

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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    Don't get into it. The eating disorder culture surrounding SP and MFP is toxic. I used to use both of them religiously. I struggled with anorexia for years, then became bulimic. I'm still recovering from bulimia. Almost every other person I know that's struggling with eating disorders has used one or the other or both in the past. The focus they both put on caloric intake is ridiculous. It will start to control your life. All you'll be thinking of is trying to stay under the (unrealistic) calorie goals it sets for you. Its not worth it.
    My advice would be to research the "set point" theory. It breaks my little eating disordered heart, but its very relevant.
    I would also suggest speaking to a naturopath or RD about your diet and how to maintain your healthy weight
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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    I know they're great tools for calorie counting, which I'm sure someone with an eating disorder would really enjoy. For me, I need the in-my-face evidence that my diet is mostly fats and I'm constantly eating over 2500 calories a day. Without it, I'm in fantasy land. I also love being able to record my exercise..it makes me want to do more, and reminds me when I'm not doing enough.

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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    I've been using mfp for 2 weeks now and it def curved my excessive calorie intake. Just set your goal realistically .

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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    I really like MFP to track my calories but when you set your weight/how much you want to lose/in how much time, they set a ridiculously low daily caloric intake for you. IGNORE it! I mostly use it because I mindlessly eat and when I consistently use MFP I think twice about that mindless snacking.

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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    MFP is awesome. I have had success with MFP. Weigh all your food if you can..
    Many of the obstacles you once imagined are not even there.



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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    Quote Originally Posted by coffeecup View Post
    Don't get into it. The eating disorder culture surrounding SP and MFP is toxic. I used to use both of them religiously. I struggled with anorexia for years, then became bulimic. I'm still recovering from bulimia. Almost every other person I know that's struggling with eating disorders has used one or the other or both in the past. The focus they both put on caloric intake is ridiculous. It will start to control your life. All you'll be thinking of is trying to stay under the (unrealistic) calorie goals it sets for you. Its not worth it.
    My advice would be to research the "set point" theory. It breaks my little eating disordered heart, but its very relevant.
    I would also suggest speaking to a naturopath or RD about your diet and how to maintain your healthy weight
    SP and MFC isn't based on a diet, they are lifestyle changing sites with options. SP and MFP didn't aid you in your decision (because that's what it was) to form your Eating Disorders, you aided yourself. The sites give you choices and are extremely supportive. The caloric tools give you MORE calories as you CHOOSE what level of fitness you plan on enduring, how many calories you'd like to take, and the choice to eat back calories if you want.

    "Staying under your calorie goal" doesn't mean to starve yourself and or vomit up your food, you chose that. For example if you are giving a calorie goal of 1900 a day and you work out, you get another net amount of calories (should you choose to eat them back). I don't see how you could form an ED unless you chose that for yourself. You don't have to count calories, some people just eat small portions and use the site for support (which there is an abundance of might I add!) and still lose weight.
    Last edited by Nikki_Fox; 04-03-2015 at 12:53 AM. Reason: insensitive comment




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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    OP, I've been on both SP and MFP and MFP is the best of both for sure. Yeah, you get "rewards/points" on SP but I believe MFP has more of an inviting, family/support feel to it. The people there are awesome, the forums are clean and encouraging and I love seeing the success stories. The goals you set for yourself are attainable and you can even eat your fitness calories back if you want. My calories are 1900 a day on there and if I work out I may eat more if I choose to. 1900 isn't starvation mode obviously as most women (who aren't watching their weight) eat 1600-2000 calories anyway. Everyone has different goals but the site is super encouraging. If someone formed an ED there then they are only to blame, the site's culture isn't like that and they definitely don't support EDs!
    Last edited by Nikki_Fox; 04-03-2015 at 12:55 AM. Reason: insensitive comment




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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    I tried these and didn't like them. They are very triggering for anyone with an ED. Personally though I think My Net Diary is the best app for tracking exercise and calories

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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    ^^^I can agree that if you already have ED, yes...but then again there are forums on there for people who wish to heal and gain weight as well. Very supportive. However, there's a difference between a site that triggers symptoms with ED and a site that creates ED. That is only a decision of the person with the disease.




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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    on and off I use my fitness pal, I think it's great. I like the nutrition pie chart it has.

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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    [QUOTE=kortneykay;2739783]OP, I've been on both SP and MFP and MFP is the best of both for sure. Yeah, you get "rewards/points" on SP but I believe MFP has more of an inviting, family/support feel to it. The people there are awesome, the forums are clean and encouraging and I love seeing the success stories. The goals you set for yourself are attainable and you can even eat your fitness calories back if you want. My calories are 1900 a day on there and if I work out I may eat more if I choose to. 1900 isn't starvation mode obviously as most women (who aren't watching their weight) eat 1600-2000 calories anyway. Everyone has different goals but the site is super encouraging. If someone formed an ED there then they are only to blame, the site's culture isn't like that and they definitely don't support EDs!


    I simply showed concern for others, as i know many people that have had the same experiences with MFP etc as I have. There is no reason for you to be rude. I did not CHOOSE to become eating disordered. Its a mental illness. It is a risk of using MFP.

    Its not a disease, or a choice. Its a mental illness. Re-evaluate your views on people with differences from yourself.
    Last edited by Nikki_Fox; 04-22-2015 at 07:41 AM. Reason: insensitive comment quoted
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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    [QUOTE=coffeecup;2744807]
    Quote Originally Posted by kortneykay View Post
    OP, I've been on both SP and MFP and MFP is the best of both for sure. Yeah, you get "rewards/points" on SP but I believe MFP has more of an inviting, family/support feel to it. The people there are awesome, the forums are clean and encouraging and I love seeing the success stories. The goals you set for yourself are attainable and you can even eat your fitness calories back if you want. My calories are 1900 a day on there and if I work out I may eat more if I choose to. 1900 isn't starvation mode obviously as most women (who aren't watching their weight) eat 1600-2000 calories anyway. Everyone has different goals but the site is super encouraging. If someone formed an ED there then they are only to blame, the site's culture isn't like that and they definitely don't support EDs!


    I simply showed concern for others, as i know many people that have had the same experiences with MFP etc as I have. There is no reason for you to be rude. I did not CHOOSE to become eating disordered. Its a mental illness. It is a risk of using MFP. Check yourself.

    Its not a disease, or a choice. Its a mental illness. Re-evaluate your views on people with differences from yourself.
    It's not a mental illness, it's a choice. Stop the blame game. So you just said that your ED developed from MFP, but then you said it was a mental disorder. Which one is it? Is it a mental disorder that made you do it, or was it MFP? Addiction (unless born with it) starts with a choice. You're a free-thinking adult, aren't you? An adult with the privilege of choice, correct? So if a person develops (because no one is born with bulimia and or anorexic) an eating disorder and CHOOSES to partake in not eating, throwing up their food, etc there's no one else to blame but themselves. We are not born with low self-esteem. The world has a way of helping aid the things that we do to ourselves to fit in but we still have a choice.

    I've seen both ends of the spectrum. Most people who develop anorexia and or bulimia had body image issues from the beginning. They chose to starve/vomit. People that are extremely overweight (My 600lb life) again, used food to be their crutch. Both ends started with a choice and developed into extremes.

    Let me make something clear to you. I don't need to re-evaluate anything because at the end of the day it was your CHOICE not to eat, or vomit, etc. I don't have an issue with "views on people different from myself". I simply understand how things develop and they all develop from the decisions we make. You just tried blaming a healthy site on your eating disorder, aren't you a grown up? The site isn't like that whatsoever. If you allow those things into your mind (whether they developed from the media, bullying as a child, etc) it was still a CHOICE. Drug addicts (unless they were born addicted) choose to do drugs. Yes, they may have some mental issues (hence why they're doing drugs) but it's still a choice to USE a substance to numb the pain, etc.

    Just like I can't blame my gaining weight on child abuse, or a "mental disorder", I CHOSE to use food as a crutch. We all have choices at the end of the day, we're all grown ups. Take initiative of your own decisions and stop pointing the finger and blaming an eating disorder that you CHOSE to partake in. Again, you're sounding like the people who tried to sue Mcdonalds (and LOST) because they said Mcdoe made them gain weight. However, instead of CHOOSING a salad or snack wrap they chose a Big Mac and a Super Sized fry every single time. You have a choice. Period. Everything that happens in our adult life all stems from a choice or decision we've made. Good or bad. It's just the way of life. Accept it.
    Last edited by kortneykay; 04-03-2015 at 11:38 AM.




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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    I don't know what your issue is. Do you enjoy ripping other people to shreds for entertainment?
    Also, I don't know what makes you think that you have a right to judge me. You really need to reevaluate your outlook. Its absolutely sad that you would try and turn my advice into some sort of personal tirade. Are you getting paid by sparkpeople or my fitnesspal? Is that why you're so obsessed with it?
    I suggested that the OP discuss their planned lifestyle changes with a medical professional. You chose to dwell on a personal detail that I shared. Why are you so angry?
    Because I suggested not relying on SP or MFP, but to talk to an educated human being that can actually help pinpoint the lifestyle changes you should make?
    Calm yourself. You're the one "playing the blame game," as you call it.
    You don't know me, you don't know my life. Keep your opinions on my life to your self.
    Enjoy your sad, angry life. Have fun making rude comments on the internet and distracting people from the original thread with your drama.
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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    I was replying to the OP to let her know that both those sites are encouraging. That's why the sites are popular, because they WORK. You don't have to agree with me, but I don't agree with you and I have a right to do so as this is a public thread. No one can make you do anything you do not wish to do, especially not a fitness site.


    All I said was that neither sites aid anyone into eating disorders which is true and you got all butt hurt and into your feelings trying to blame it on a mental issue. However, I fail to see what a website encouraging fitness and healthy weight-loss could aid anyone into doing that. And that if you developed an eating disorder, that was of your own choosing and not the sites, which is also true.

    If you've tried out both sites and you came away with an eating disorder, you're the common denominator, not the site. No one can force an adult to do anything. If that was the case, Mcdonald's would've lost those law suits.

    Again, OP, MFP and SP do not encourage EATING DISORDERS. So if you chose to eat 1000 calories and or vomit up your food, please do not blame it on the site, blame it on yourself and seek help. I can reassure you, OP that neither of these sites encourage EDs. Just like fast food doesn't encourage you to be fat, that is your decision as there are several CHOICES when it comes to food. With MFP and SP you get rewards as well as encouragement when you make your goals be it gaining or losing weight and even drinking water.

    Sure, you can eat 1000 calories a day, but the sites will let you know that you're eating too few calories or too much. When you work out you have the OPTION of eating back your calories, or not. Again, it's all based on DECISIONS just like deciding what and what not to eat, to work out or not, to even log in or not. But the deciding factor always will lie within YOU. Finding out you have a rare disease isn't a choice. Deciding not to eat and or vomit IS a choice and you know it is.

    Anorexia is being obsessed with weight and what you eat. Bulimia is caused by eating and vomiting your food. At the end of the day, YOU are still a deciding factor in both. I was just watching a documentary on people with EDs and 99.9% of them were all self-absorbed at the time of their treatment and extremely "woe is me" and vain. I'm not going to water down someone else's struggle or journey but I'm not going to sugar coat it either. All of those women had one thing in common besides the ED. They CHOSE that lifestyle. Period. I will always respect a person who suffers from a disease, disorder, etc that admits they brought it on themselves over someone who has the same diseases and disorders and who points the finger at everyone but themselves.

    Even MissAdrianna admits that they can be an issue for someone WITH an ED. To me this means you had issues BEFORE joining. Your statement was different as you mentioned they "aided" people. Most people with ED would be attracted to that site but it doesn't mean that the site HELPS or ENCOURAGES EDs in any way. I mean, of course they use a calorie counter, how else are people going to calculate their deficit? It's called math. Adding and subtracting. There are 3,500 calories in a pound. If people didn't find a a deficit they'd be very confused.

    It is especially unfair when these sites are created to change people's lives for the good and they get backlash. There are several groups, forums, and even a sections for encouraging those people who fought and won Anorexia and Bulimia and wish to gain weight/be healthy again. Please check them both out for yourself, OP. Enjoy your day!
    Last edited by Nikki_Fox; 04-22-2015 at 07:30 AM. Reason: rude baiting comments




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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    Again, you've missed the point.
    I will say it again. Instead of using SP of MFP talk to a medical professional.
    Last edited by Nikki_Fox; 04-22-2015 at 07:34 AM. Reason: removed baiting quote&rude remarks
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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    everyone should seek a nutritionist and or medical doctor before they start a HEALTHY weight loss regimen. My point and I will say it until I'm blue in the face is that MFP and SP do NOT cause EDs. You already had one (and you admitted this) BEFORE you joined. Have a great day!
    Last edited by Nikki_Fox; 04-22-2015 at 07:22 AM. Reason: rude/baiting comments




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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    I've found the app works best when used BEFORE eating! I had 2 glasses of chocolate milk. 400 calories over my limit!

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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    Couch couch... Bumpaty bump bump
    I lost 40 pounds in 2015. I'd like to lose another 40-60 this year. So far this year I've lost 5 pounds. Mostly I'm maintaining. Please somebody motivating friend me on myfitnesspal or my Fitbit. We can get fit together!

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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    I don't want to share my info on here, but I do want to say that MyFitnessPal is the greatest thing since (macro-friendly) sliced bread for food tracking. If you're like me and want to be precise with your macros and go by grams rather than %, instead of paying the outrageous fees just calculate your own macros (iifym.com) and then don't pay much attention to MFP goals but rather look at the numbers in the "nutrition" section and don't worry about going over or under, just worry about getting the correct number of grams. MFP is great for any type of person interested in food tracking; I wish it weren't so weight-loss oriented, but it is by far the biggest food database available, and to me, that's the most important function. I also love the fact that you can put in your own recipes! I'm trying to get better about doing this; I end up tracking well throughout the day and then dinner comes around and I love to cook but hate to measure everything as I cook.
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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    I like the design of MFP, but it was too slow and would regularly freeze on my android phone. I like that it syncs with my Fitbit and I can input info about my workout from Fitbit, into the app. Overall it is decently well designed. Personally I'm doing weightlifting, so I'm actually gaining muscle. MFP doesn't really account for weight training and is very focused on how heavy the scale says you are. I was happier after installing it. Well until I tried using my free personal physical assessment thing and was told conflicting results and now am worried about being fat again >.<

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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    MFP does work. But I will agree that for people who already have an ED or are at risk of developing an ED it can become an obsession. I felt good when I consumed less calories than the day before and CHOSE to consume calories below an unhealthy level and ignored the warnings by the app that I was eating too little. But even if I didn't use MFP I would have still had an ED and counted calories another way or simply consumed very few calories like I did before.

    That doesn't have anything to with you or anyone that doesn't have an ED trying to lose weight healthily but I'm just sharing my experience.

    For the OP I'd recommend MFP as a good tool to track eating, nutrition and exercise over the long term

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    Default Re: Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal

    I'm back on MFP and it is helping me tremendously.
    Many of the obstacles you once imagined are not even there.



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