How do I find people more local to me?

Question

Hi, haven't been on in awhile. Came back. How do I find users closer to me? Do I have to sign up for the premium? I was hoping not to spend more money as I already have a Fitbit membership.

Or even add people that will possibly check in with me and send me a message once in a while for encouragement.

cboardwine1 · Accepted Answer

I'm like you, I'd love to find local people, but I don't know how either.

I need the same encouragement and checking in on, we can help each other!

Alatariel75 · Accepted Answer

MFP doesn't have a find local option, so don't go spending money on premium for a feature it doesn't have!

The interaction options are basically this community, or being able to send private messages 1:1 with people you have added as a friend. There are some groups and challenges that are good for community building, though I don't know how good they are for finding local people.

Honestly, for local stuff, I'd check Facebook for local community groups where you could post about wanting to meet people, look for local walking groups etc.

AnnPT77 · Accepted Answer

The best way to find support is to join one of the support or accountability threads here in the Community.  They're most concentrated in the "Motivation and Support" or "Challenges" part of the Community, but there are others spread around in other sections.  You can read their intro posts, decide which might suit you, and join in according to the instructions in the first post.

If the first post doesn't give specific instructions, but is clearly that type of thing, usually that means all you need to do is post on the thread to join.  You can read a few of the first posts to confirm that probability.

Once you virtually get to know people that way, you might have a reason to send or accept friend requests, if you want to exchange DMs or look at each other's diaries that are open to friends.

While this is a safer route, I'd suggest still being careful about exchanging personally identifiable information (like IDs on other social media, phone numbers, etc.).  Unfortunately, even here, there are scammers, creepers, catfishers or marketers who sneak in under the radar after presenting themselves in a more positive light in the public part of the Community.

If you do experience that kind of bad behavior from someone, please report them to MFP through the Help function or by contacting a staff member.  You can find staff DM IDs in the first post on this thread:

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10028709/meet-our-community-team

You can DM the staff without being MFP friends with them.  IME, they will follow up, get rid of bad actors, and not tell the baddies who reported them - unlike on some other social media platforms where these things aren't taken seriously. You can be quite sure you weren't their only attempted victim, either. Reporting them will stop them from victimizing others with that same ID.

The only way to find local people is to post in the Community, naming the area in the title of your post and asking, basically.  For example "Anyone from XYZTown USA for buddy support?" then put things in your post about what you're looking for.

Honestly, I think there are low odds of getting answers that way:  It's an international site, very diverse and diffuse, and - with no negative implications intended about you - some people would worry about in-person contact with someone on the internet so wouldn't reply . . . or creeps might reply, unfortunately.

In general, IMO and IME this is a good, positive, supportive helpful community.  I hope you'll decide to participate.