We can't escape the fact that diet, nutrition, weight loss and now "wellness" are top of the hour news stories these days. Even more evolutionary is how the online social networking space is helping to fuel the proliferation of like-minded and bodied people who can now blog, message and globally pontificate about their weight loss triumphs and struggles.
In a way, we are becoming our own documentarians in our quest for personal health and wellness. More and more people are living the 'culture code' of what it means to exercise and lose weight -- that is, aspiring to belong to a group or community of like minded people who can share stories and inspire someone towards betterment. Think about those testimonials on TV and why they work so well, and the "if I can do it, you can too" messaging. And now with the internet, the process has been democratized to allow anyone to share their stories, seek support and motivate others into action.
Case in point with a recent article on Fatblogging. On June 15, the LA Times wrote about this in a story called "On 'fatblogs,' heavy people weigh in." Sounds funny, but chronicling weight loss efforts gives people the much needed support to help increase the chances for success by making the experience social (remember the culture code) and providing a level of control and accountability.
Just take a look at some of the more popular message boards and diet/fitness blogs listed below and you'll be quick to see how weight loss is one of the top topics of the day. Take a look at a recent posting from the ExerciseTV message boards:
'robbandtinab' writes:
Ok I am new to working out and exercise. I am 34 years old and I have three children. My youngest is 7. I walk twice a day. I walk fast and sweat tons. I walk first thing in the morning for at least 20 minutes and sometimes 30 min. Then in the evening I walk at least 30 minutes. I am not losing weight that fast. I have only dropped about 2 pounds if that. I am going on my third week of being very faithful 6-7 days a week. What is wrong? I feel good and I feel my self toning my legs. I don't want to get discouraged.
After another member echoes the sentiment and 'roxeli', 'annespagnola', and 'aqua' chime in with some advice, we get a culmination by the moderator:
These are all terrific suggestions - it's so great to see the forum members helping one another out. annespagnola makes a great point about measuring progress off the scale. If you have more energy and your legs are more toned, then you're doing something right! Muscle is heavier than fat, so as you burn fat and build muscle, you may find your weight remaining the same or only losing a few pounds. roxell and aqua also make good points re: nutrition. You should also make sure you're eating fewer calories then you take in - try cutting out soda and junk food (if you're eating those things) and allow yourself to eat as many vegetables as you want - the water and fiber in produce will fill you up without adding too many calories, and the nutrients will give you energy to exercise.
It is nice to see people helping one another. The communal camaraderie like the above is the much needed fuel that can help stoke the fires of inspiration, motivation and perspiration.
Still, we have a ways to go. Childhood obesity, 'thin-is-in' plastered media pictorials and 'quick' medical and diet based 'fixes' are still difficult challenges. Though not quite at a tipping point to getting America educated and to where we should be, it is inspiring to see more people interested, concerned and now more passionate then ever about health and exercise and how these online tools and communities are providing the helpful support system people need. Hopefully we can develop the right online tools for kids to not only educate and inspire, but to also get them outside and active. One would hope that more information = more education = hopefully smarter choices.
As technology continues to entertain and strives to create all-around life efficiencies, so will its ability to help make fitness, health and weight loss easier -- though no amount of blogging will take the place of a little discipline, hard work, a balanced diet and the right choices.
Some interesting blogs/message boards to check out: