Blogging is like belonging to a community as well as individually expressing your thoughts and feelings. Whether you blog for weight loss, weight maintenance, family stories or anything in between, you have the potential to reach other people and have other people touch your lives as well.
I learned this first hand this week when I got no fewer than 10 emails from people who I don’t know in real life asking questions, expressing interest in my blogging schedule and wondering if I was going to keep blogging about my weight loss journey. I felt very touched – thanks to those of you who wrote this week!
This all got me thinking about blogging and the benefits or downsides of sharing your life with people outside of those you run into around town. I think I would have enjoyed blogging as I was losing weight, because I certainly did keep a running journal of my weight loss numbers and difficult experiences as I lost weight.
Here’s an except from my journal:
Today was really hard, because we went to A’s house for dinner and she made a delicious, gooey chocolate cake that I really, really, really thought I wanted. When she started to hand me a piece I practically shoved my hand into the plate and said, “No thanks.” Boy that was not so easy. Now that I’m home though – it was a good thing I didn’t eat it, because I don’t need that kind of stuff right now.
Those are probably the types of things I would have written about, and blogging friends would have likely cheered me on in my decision to resist.
While I generally notice encouraging comments on people’s posts, there are occasionally the “pointed” comment that may elicit hurt feelings, etc. I also notice that even when the blogger is slipping into bad habits, people seem reluctant to call them on it, which can be good or bad, depending on your point of view. These all serve to help you on your journey – don’t you think?
In what ways has blogging helped you, and if you don’t blog – why not? Diane
Hi Diane,
Blogging has really helped me – but I do have a few bloggers where our friendship has turned sour due to divergent viewpoints. Sad but true. I think if you’re true to yourself, blogging is an excellent way of documenting and sharing your journey.
Cheers
Liz
When I started my journey to weight loss, I blogged (and still do) on a community. The community gave me the strength to push through. Nowadays my personal blog is about weight management and personal life stuff. Not only does my personal blog help me in weight management stuff but also when I go through some difficult stuff in my personal life.
blackhuff´s last fabulous musings ..Motivation in strange places
yes and no.
and Ill leave it at that
Miz´s last fabulous musings ..I want you hold me (a chickenbus flashback).
Stay inomfraitve, San Diego, yeah boy!
Yes, my blog has helped me, but in ways different than what I had originally thought it would. I am still struggling to lose the pounds I had gained from an original weight loss, so in that respect, the blog has NOT accomplished its intended purpose. But I enjoy the writing and the feedback from friends I have made. There are some things about blogging and BlogLand that concern me, but like Miz said, I’ll leave it at that!
Sharon´s last fabulous musings ..A Cautionary Tale!
I started my blog to focus on the positive in my life and to document my healthy choices. It has been a positive experience, and I really like the relationships I have built over the 2.5 years I have been blogging. My blog also motivates me and holds me accountable. For example, I used to post my weekly meals (and will again as soon as school starts). My readers really enjoyed the posts, and I made sure my meals were planned by Sunday night!
Andrea@WellnessNotes´s last fabulous musings ..Not-Our-Usual Breakfast for Dinner
I kept a pen and paper journal all through losing the weight. I switched to a blog when my focus moved to maintaining with weight loss. My experience has been 90% positive. I enjoy the interaction blogging has given me with people on this same journey who are not necessarily using the same footprints as I am. It is a wonderful way to share experience, outcomes, errors, successes.
I have made blog-friends (frogs?) and we support each other without enabling our worser natures in relation to food and behaviors. I very much appreciate their support and honesty. Honesty is essential.
The negative 5% is witnessing the people who do fall off their paths, who keep returning to the same hell and instead of doing something different, healthy and perhaps sane, they repeat unhealthy actions that lead them in circles -and their followers enable them to wallow in their repetitive actions by encouraging the same behavior over and over again. This is sad to watch and I stop commenting and sometimes stop following if I perceive the blogger is not willing to give up that cycle. For my own recovery, I have to make sure I am not drawn in to that behavior.
Jane~
Keepingthepoundsoff.com
Jane C´s last fabulous musings ..Butter for the Big Boys
I guess I don’t really blog as much as write my column. I do try to add personal stories to illustrate situations as well as give some honesty and reality to what I am writing about. As for commenting on other blogs, I will occasionally be a cheerleader but I do not see that as my main mission. What I do is try to help people with their direction. There are times when I will be more critical than others. There are a few blogs where I very rarely comment because I find that person to be unwilling to learn from me. I do not stop that from me learning from them. I do feel that we all have an obligation to warn others if they are on an unhealthy path. Whether or not they listen, at least they have been warned.
I have stopped blogging for a while, because I am in the process of losing weight, and the support for us losers seems to be dwindling. On the other hand, there seems to be plenty of support out there for maintainers. From my perspective, it’s hard to write a weight loss blog when many of the other “losers” seem to be having such a difficult time. This can be “contagious.” It took me a while to get on track, but now that I’m cruising along, I don’t want anything to derail my efforts.
Also, maintainers seem to stick together, and perhaps don’t want to be derailed by weight loss blogs that are not making progress. I didn’t feel that I quite fit anywhere right now. I may be back as a maintainer when I deserve the title.
E. Jane –
I hope you will keep blogging and keep writing. I would love to talk with you on why the struggle seems to be contagious on some blogs and not others. I would love your insight and experience.
Jane~
Keepingthepoundsoff.com
Jane C´s last fabulous musings ..Butter for the Big Boys
I just want to add to my previous commentry. I have certainly been one of those weight loss bloggers who has started over many times with a weight loss plan. I also know that slipping is often part of a person’s journey. I didn’t mean to sound self-righteous, because I have been in the category of one having a great deal of difficulty staying on plan. Right now, things are going well, and I want to keep on track. I just need to keep my head clear of too many ideas and excuses for having that piece of cake I don’t need. When I read about others’ failures and poor self-image, I can internalize that and head in the wrong direction. Thanks for bringing this to light. It helped me clarify what I am doing right now and why.
Blogging generally helps me a lot but it is not without risks. I have a mental illness and blog about my struggles and not just about my weight loss journey. Sometimes, I am exposed to ugly comments and those times are rough. It makes it difficult for me to continue to put myself out there. On the whole, though. I get much more support than I get negativity so I will continue to blog.
Karen Ogle´s last fabulous musings ..Cats and Kittens
My blog is a little different I think because I’d already lost the weight and kept it off for 2 years when I started writing the blog. I wanted to share my story and never thought the blog would become such a big part of my life. But the outpouring of comments and private emails from people saying I inspire them kept me going.
I love the community. I love the support. I don’t really think blogging is “helping” me stay on track but I think it’s great having a community of like-minded people around.
Lisa´s last fabulous musings ..Eggplant and Zucchini Napoleon
OMG yes! When I started I did so with no understanding of blogging, never having read one. I was looking for personal accountability and motivation. I never realized the community that exists. I love it! I have gotten so much out of blogging. There is the creative process, there is the connections to others and knowing I am not alone, the support and pats on the back, the needed kicks in the pats, and so much knowledge, both from reading other blogs and comments on mine and just through my own thought process. Can’t imaging not blogging now:)
Karen@WaistingTime´s last fabulous musings ..Mommas Don’t Let your Babies Grow up to Do This
It has helped me. I think it’s good to tap into the blogging community and by posting things you are opening yourself up to assessment and comments by others. Most are usually good and SUPER helpful and I appreciate the wealth of knowledge and experience others bring to my table!!!
Ali @ Peaches and Football´s last fabulous musings ..The Waiting Game
For me, my blogging was just trying to help people with info since I lost my weight a long time ago BUT the thing is, I keep learning new things on my own & from other bloggers.
As for “calling people out”. Sometimes I do privately in an email & other times I do it in the comment but in the nicest way possible. For others, I may have done it a few times & it does not seem to do anything so I may just leave it be. They probably know that they are fooling themselves. Most do & just don’t want to admit it.
Jody – Fit at 53´s last fabulous musings ..Easy Peanut Butter Carob Cookies; Protein Muffin Update
Hi Diane! I would say that I like blogging, but it has not motivated me any more than I was before. I have always keep my totally awesome upbeat enthusiasm close to my heart–even if no readers comment on some of my very best posts ever!! (Most of my readers don’t comment, so it probably doesn’t mean anything when nobody comments.)
My husband thinks that my fitness topics are very detailed and excellent information if that’s what the reader is looking for. Otherwise, certain posts are not interesting to other readers who don’t want the detail. Still, I try to use my strengths and unique insight to make my posts. I say what I really believe in saying and I keep a certain upbeat attitude in all my posts, and I try not to care overly much about people who disagree.
Affectionforfitness´s last fabulous musings ..iPod Playlist #4: AM 70′s Favorites
Hi Diane.
Although I’ve been blogging for months now, I’ve only been writing my weight loss blog for a few weeks. I don’t know if this has been done before, but I’ve actually given my blog an end date.
I’ve given myself 100 Weeks to lose 200lbs.
I think this is an appropiate time period, not too long and not too short. At the end of those 100 weeks I plan to be fit and trim, I also plan to end the blog at that time. Having a set amount of time to accomplish my goal gives me direction and makes me realize how valuble each day is toward taking me where I want to go and I find that instead of being concerned about the outcome of my diet, I instead pay close attention to what I eat today.
I’m only in week 4 of my 100 week plan but I’ve already lost 28lbs. and I really think that the daily blogging of my progress is a huge part of my success.
Donald Wells´s last fabulous musings ..WEEK 4, DAY 6 – 330.0
I’ve had really mixed feelings about comments on my blog. Sometimes I need a good, swift kick to the ass and sometimes I need sympathy. It’s really hard to tell which I want and when. Even for me. I’ve been treading water for a long time with my loss and it’s really hard for me to blog about that time and time again.
Anyway, I think I would best be served by reading and commenting more on others’ blogs. Checking in on others in the weight loss community seems to help me with my own garbage.
Andrew @ 100 Pounds´s last fabulous musings ..Playlist
Blogging is to me what a Weight Watchers meeting is to those who are in that program. A way for me to be accountable, to learn from others’ experiences and to share my struggles and victories. It’s the best thing I could’ve done when I started on my healthiness journey. It also allows me to share deeper feelings I might’ve been too embarrassed to share in a live meeting and the feedback I get is such a blessing.
I don’t mind people being candid in their comments, though sometimes I find it interesting (okay maybe a little vexing) that people who are new to following/reading my blog are so willing to share a blunt bit of advice when they don’t know where I come from in my weight loss journey. I don’t fool myself into thinking I need, or deserve, praise when it’s been over two years and I’m not at my goal yet; but I take the criticisms much better from people I know have been following me for a while and “know me” more.
aaaa
The best part of blogging is that I’m able to be completely honest about situations and I know there is an entire community who understands what I’m going through and will feel the pain and joys with me. Plus, I just made a major move, as you know, and my “support group” went right along with me. That’s a major plus to being a part of an online community.
Leah´s last fabulous musings ..C25K – Week 2 Day 3
Your post got me thinking about why I started my blog 1.5 years ago and why I haven’t posted in 3 months. I think blogging reflects a committment to losing/maintaining weight and when I stop blogging… or maybe I had lost interest and stopped blogging… not sure but I’m back now and finally posted! I think it’s like that saying “fake it till you make it” so I’ll keep blogging and keep on trying.
Jenna´s last fabulous musings ..3 months since last post!
I really enjoy blogging! I also love reading blogs.
I appreciate when people take the time to comment on my posts…I like the idea of being part of a community…although I am probably more on the fringes.
I like to comment on blogs, whether the blogger is up, down or somewhere in between. We all have our own paths and our own ways of following them and I respect that.
Kimberley´s last fabulous musings ..Challenge Update #6
Blogging has helped me in many ways. It introduced me to some wonderful people that has helped me keep my weight off. As well as allowed me to share my success with others in hopes they can be inspired.
Sheri @ TheMotivationalGirl´s last fabulous musings ..Enlightenment
Yes Blogging has helped and continues to help me! I have not been blogging long, but I love blogging about my weight loss journey. I use it as my accountability tool. I can be very honest on it without fear of what anyone thinks or says. I was so impressed about all the blogs out there from people trying to lose weight! It’s great to know I am not alone and that my struggles are shared with many! I think blogging is a great motivational tool to help in weight loss!