Is MyFitnesspal Accurate?

[MAD09]

Hey everyone, I'm using MyFitnessPal to track calories on my phone. And I'm having a really hard time losing weight.I have only lost 7 pounds in the past 2 months. I am 250 lbs and it is saying for me to lose 2 pounds a week I need to limit my calories to 1690 lbs. I also work out 5 days a week. I feel like this is really low and may be slowing down my metabolism. I really don't know if I've just hit a plateau or if I need to adjust my calories. Just wanted to hear your thoughts. Thanks

[astigos]

Hey everyone, I'm using MyFitnessPal to track calories on my phone. And I'm having a really hard time losing weight.I have only lost 7 pounds in the past 2 months. I am 250 lbs and it is saying for me to lose 2 pounds a week I need to limit my calories to 1690 lbs. I also work out 5 days a week. I feel like this is really low and may be slowing down my metabolism. I really don't know if I've just hit a plateau or if I need to adjust my calories. Just wanted to hear your thoughts. Thanks

Do not use the calorie limits that myfitnesspal assigns you. They are totally off. It tells me that I need like 2500 calories to maintain when I really need like 3100. Calculate your own maintenance and deficit, but use the site to track daily calorie intake.

I also wouldn't trust the calories burnt from cardio on the site.

[MAD09]

Yeah I don't add my workouts on there because it was really off. Ok is there an online calculator or should I just use the calculations on the stickies?

[Saucen]

I use it for ease of the math when adding my meals up but I disregard it's calorie limit and set my own.

[Photostic]

Yea. like other have said, you have to know how to manipulate it.

I like to follow a few rules when using myfitnesspal

1. Add foods that have 3+ ratings only (other ones might be off on some macros. If it's not there, add it yourself)
2. When adding machine cardio, enter the calories form the machine you use (takes effort into account, not just time and weight)
3. Set your own meals, cal limits, etc.
4. Don't take any days off. (even cheat days - enter everything in and you'll never wonder why you're not hitting your goals/losing weight too fast)