How Many Fitness Friends Do You Really Need???

CindyRoseMarie

The reason I enlist friends is to create a little wind behind my sail. It's sometimes hard, especially when you have a lot of weight to lose, to go it alone. Everyone could use a pat on the back, a job well done, a little advice to make the weight loss journey a little easier.
Unfortunately I find that many collect friends just to add numbers to their already long list of friends or maybe they just don't know how to say No to a request. Really though, how good a friend can you be when you have so many friends that you can't make a real impact on their weight loss journey. Is six enough? Is twelve too many. How many friends do you have and how many do you actually make real comments on and not just click the like tab?
Are you being a force of good for the friends you have? You've agreed to be their friends, are you truly being one?

Iron_Feline

This should go well.

Sued0nim

None

We are all making our own journeys - mine is not successful because of my 'friends' and I'm pretty sure they aren't successful because I like or comment on a post in a private window

I don't get this "motivate me", I need friends

I think people need commitment

And I think if people interest, amuse or entertain you and you want them as friends in a private space to have private conversations then you should

But I do not need Whoops and PomPoms .. I just need my own commitment

CindyRoseMarie

Iron_Feline wrote: »

This should go well.

Never be afraid to speak your mind

hollyrayburn

But who are we to determine what others do with their life? If they enjoy the support, so be it. If they enjoy the "numbers" so be it.

Liftng4Lis

Personally, since I talk to just about all of my friends (I have a couple I like to read the information they provide on their pages), I'm going to say 106. I don't even generally look in my queue anymore, because I don't like declining, thus I have more FR now than I do friends.

GatesOfDelirium

I have culled my friends list to those whom I feel are interested in my journey and I in theirs. I try and comment on everyone's postings but so many were 'like' collectors and thought this was Facebook.
I do not need another's pat on the back but it is lovely to have one regardless. Friendship breeds motivation and sometimes a competitive edge. I have great friends here who do support me and offer advice.
True you do not need friends but a journey without them is a lonely one.

randomtai

Nunya

Leana088

Some people FR me. I never FR someone else, because I'm not active on my news feed, just on the forums. I also tell people this if I accept their requests. They shouldn't expect me to comment on any of their news feed updates.

Personally the only friend I want right now, is an actual one that can go to the gym with me, but in this town, that ain't happening. So I got a PT.

Unknown

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Lounmoun

I don't absolutely have to have friends. I do find others efforts inspiring though.
I'd say I could keep up with 20 - 30 people max.

EvgeniZyntx

20% of the friend-list provide 80% of the interaction. You just don't know a priori which 20%.

And it's a dynamic changing process.

I rarely say no to a FR - because I'm open to explore an interaction that might be nothing more than random pixels on my screen, or become an acquaintance, or an on-line friend, or something deeper and more valuable. People drop out and move on. Some are a true loss, many others barely register.

However, I certainly don't waste my time evaluating how many people others should have on their friend list.

Need2Exerc1se

I don't have any on here. I have a few IRL friends I talk fitness with occasionally, but mostly I just do it on my own.

I talk food A LOT, but it's mostly about growing it, not eating it.

troutrouter

How many friends do you need to get fit or achieve weight loss? None. It's your personal responsibility and accountability that will allow you to succeed or fail.

Ethos_

At least 9,000

callsitlikeiseeit

i dont NEED any. i thin my list down regularly of ones who never interact with me. I ENJOY my friends, but that is different than need.

Lonestar5775

I like about 15 - 20. Really, a dozen who are close makes this so much more enjoyable but that's just me. Good luck to you!

emdeesea

I don't need any and don't have any. I kicked all of my friends off not too long ago because I was getting the sad, "poor me" posts, and I have no patience for that.

terar21

I guess I have a pretty large list. But I think a good bit of mine are fairly inactive. I interact with all of my friends in some way. Some I'm closer with.

I suppose I could eliminate the ones who become inactive but I figure they might come back so there's no point in deleting them since it's not like their inactivity affects me. I do prefer friends who share common interest or workout routines because I prefer to turn to my friends list for advice rather than the forums. I also have a good chunk of my list that I'm friends with and talk to on a regular basis outside of MFP. So I can't exactly remove them from my list just because they're inactive.

I'm not really looking for a cheerleader. I do personally enjoy motivating people! So I don't mind a larger list.

ETA: I am pretty set on my list not and don't accept many request...for some reason I'm seeing a lot of requests lately from people with some...issues...with their eating habits. I love to motivate, but I can't really support daily cries over an extra banana.

enterdanger

The answer is different for everyone. I enjoy seeing other people's successes and do find that motivating. It also is somewhat reassuring to see people having the same issues that I do. And maybe getting a great suggestion to solve said problem.

Also, I'm much more likely to post a question to my friends than open it up to anyone with an opinion in the forums. There are some people posting in the forum that I just don't want their opinion.

Altagracia220

I am guilty of accepting any requests for sure. Maybe I should stop or filter who I let be my friend. Every now and then I will delete some inactive profiles or friends.

47Jacqueline

Iron_Feline wrote: »

This should go well.

I have just over 20 - most in maintenance, most older, all women, most physically fit in addition to active. I'm probably most in touch with about a dozen.

earlnabby

callsitlikeiseeit wrote: »

i dont NEED any. i thin my list down regularly of ones who never interact with me. I ENJOY my friends, but that is different than need.

This describes me. I have a very few I regularly interact with and they, for the most part, are the first ones I got when I came on here and are similar in age and goals to me. We have common interests, maybe health related maybe not, and discuss other stuff. One is my sister from another mister since we have tons of things in common and I feel like I have made an actual friend with her, not just a cyber friend.

tat2cookie

I like having friends on here, but I don't NEED to have friends on here in order to succeed. I enjoy seeing the news feed and cheering on the good things and encouraging others who are struggling. I like chatting with like minded people. When my friends lose weight or get in a good workout that helps encourage me to work harder. When all is said and done, yes it's MY responsibility to get my workouts done and make sure I eat well, but it's nice to feel like I'm not doing it alone.

dalem48

rabbitjb wrote: »

None

We are all making our own journeys - mine is not successful because of my 'friends' and I'm pretty sure they aren't successful because I like or comment on a post in a private window

I don't get this "motivate me", I need friends

I think people need commitment

And I think if people interest, amuse or entertain you and you want them as friends in a private space to have private conversations then you should

But I do not need Whoops and PomPoms .. I just need my own commitment

This exactly!!

tincanonastring

Ethos_ wrote: »

At least 9,000

tincanonastring

I need precisely 74.7. I have 74. Wanna be my .7?

jenniferinfl

I accept when people add me. I was gone from 2012 until now and most of my previous friends either were no longer active or were maintaining. So, I removed everyone to start with a clean slate as I'm sure no one remembered me anyways.. lol
When I was still active, every few months I would go through and unfriend anyone who hadn't been on in a couple months.

It takes quite a bit for me to get annoyed. BUT, I really don't want friends who want to post constantly about their juice cleanse, grapefruit cleanse, master cleanse or anything like that. Drives me batty. OR the friend who is always bemoaning how fat they feel at 115 lbs and just wish they could get to 112 because then they would be awesome. I just want to beat my head against a desk.

But, otherwise I like browsing other people's diaries for ideas. For instance, I had always discounted the whole 10,000 steps thing as being for the really inactive, but I saw a friend who is pretty active having trouble making 10,000 steps and I felt prompted enough to order a pedometer. I don't need a fitbit, but, it looks like 12 bucks buys an awesome pedometer these days. Something I never would have thought of without MFP friends.

Athos282

I can't help but wonder why it matters. If you're really just here for you, you could delete everyone. You also have the power to say no to whomever you wish just like others will request to be everybody's friend. Different strokes for different blokes.

tinascar2015

I have enough friends on Facebook. I didn't join MFP for the social aspect of it. I'm not antisocial, but I'm not too keen on amassing a long list of friends here. I think I have three, and yes, I've declined some. I am accountable only to myself, and although I like to encourage the friends who really need a kick up the backside, I also know the only kick that will make a difference is the one they give themselves.

dirtyflirty30

Athos282 wrote: »

I can't help but wonder why it matters. If you're really just here for you, you could delete everyone. You also have the power to say no to whomever you wish just like others will request to be everybody's friend. Different strokes for different blokes.

This.