Losing Weight – Virtual Support
January 14, 2008 · Print This Article
Welcome back!
So many of us go to online communities for practical information, social and business networking and even genuine friendship. So I guess it’s no surprise that many women are also going online for support in areas like weight loss.
Just this morning I logged onto one of my favorite networking sites and joined a weight loss group. I had never done that before, though I had been aware of similar groups for years. It’s just that it now finally makes sense to me. It didn’t before.
The Boston Globe reports that there are many websites catering to women like me seeking the Internet as the medium of choice to support weight loss efforts. Weight Watchers reports that they get between “8 and 10 million unique visitors per month” on their site.
While Weight Watchers charge a fee, there are free sites like fitday.com and sparkpeople.com. It’s probably a good idea to investigate the choices that are out there. Among the fee based sites offering interesting programs are southbeachdietonline.com and eDiets.com both of which charge for a three-month package.
The Globe poses an interesting question, at least for some:
One question that plagues weight loss sites is whether you can succeed online without being accountable to anyone. Research studies are scant, but those that have been conducted have shown mixed results, with participants losing some weight, but not more than if they had just followed a diet plan on paper.
Well as far as I’m concerned I think I prefer the online approach. In my twenties when I sought to lose a few tincy wincy pounds here and there I could care less about coming into the weekly meetings to weigh in and discuss my progress with the group.
But now that I’m a…ahem…healthy mom of teens I’m a little more reluctant to make a trek into a church hall for a Weight Watchers’ meeting to discuss my slooow progress at dumping that testy “pregnancy fat” that has hung around 15 years longer than it should.
Hey Sharon,
Awesome post!
I think a lot of us are with you on not wanting to trek to in-person weigh ins. I like the online support approach – it doesn’t involve finding a babysitter, driving or getting to the meeting, if I’m going to do all that I’d rather do something more fun than weigh myself
which I can do at home. On the other hand… how much fun would a ‘home party’ type weigh in meeting be – Sharing recipes, successes, support for the emotional eaters… etc. 
– even an initial one or a monthly one rather than a weekly one along with the online support in between meetings!?
I’m using http://www.BellyBusterDiet.com to help me lose the weight. Thinking about adding a weekly post to my personal blog so that I’m held accountable to the few readers I have there.
Thanks for the post!
I lean both ways on this. Meaning that I’ve done the weekly weigh in’s locally at a support group and it worked well. I can be very competitive at times & although weight loss support groups are there to support one another, the fact that I had to step on a scale in front of others gave me the motivation I needed to ‘kick their butts’
But now that I’m older and losing weight, gaining weight is a constant issue I’m certainly not all that into the idea of a weekly in person support group!
I LOVE Weight Watchers but right now paying for their online support is not an option. I’ve found Spark People to be a great place! It’s totally free and the support and all the info there is great.
My ‘baby’ weight has been around for 9 years now! LOL.
HEY, Totally off topic but I just found an article by you about telecommuting. I didnt realize you were a former telecommuter! Cool. lol
Hey Nell – yes I had two toddlers at home and telecommuting was just making headlines (this was 1995). I prepared a proposal for my boss to let me work from home or “telecommute” to my job. That was a great period except for the times I had to take calls from our board members in the shower so they wouldn’t hear tantrum screaming toddlers!
I love the home party concept for weight loss! I have a Belly Buster Buddy and I have lost over 20 lbs. in 2 months–coached over the phone and on the net. I found the Belly Buster Diet when it was featured on CNN Headline News. Check it out at http://www.bellybusterdiet.com and register for a free program!