Thanks to everyone at MFP--I've got a job...

I had a good week on the job front last week. After having been out of work for a year, I received 2 job offers. I accepted a position as a Fitness Specialist for a large, hospital-based health and fitness center in the Chicago suburbs. It's ironic in that I worked for the same large healthcare corporation at a different hospital wellness center location before getting into fitness equipment sales 9 years ago.

I can't say enough about how helpful it was to be part of this community. After 9 years of a mega-hour, high-stress job in commercial sales, I had fallen into lifestyle habits that were typical of what ails much of our society--overweight, underactive, faced with a number of health issues completely related to lifestyle. There was no way anyone would have hired me for a job in a fitness facility--heck, it was a big problem even when I was selling equipment.

When I went to the doctor last March and was diagnosed with diabetes, that was the reality slap I needed. I had the motivation, and, thanks to being unemployed, I had the time, to make some dramatic lifestyle changes. One thing I really needed was a convenient (and free) online tool to track my food intake. MFP provided that, in an easy to use format, with a great database. I know it sounds almost silly to think that a simple website and food diary tool could make that much of a difference, but it did. Just having one place to keep everything and the ability to bring up some reports was a huge help in keeping me on track, and also accountable--the numbers were right there and I knew exactly where I needed to be.

As I started losing some weight and getting into better shape, I began to spend more time in the Forums. These was helpful for a number of reasons. First there is the social support, which is always important. But I also found that answering people's questions helped reignite my enthusiasm for working as part of the fitness community. It reminded of the reasons I got into this field almost 30 years ago. It also forced me to go back to my old textbooks as well as investigate current research to make sure I was giving out accurate information.

Largely as a result of that experience, I regained a focus on what I wanted to do in the future. I stopped wasting time on "alternate" career paths and focused on getting back into the fitness business. It also made me more credible as a job candidate and gave me background experience that allowed me to "sell" myself more persuasively in job interviews.

I have tried to give back a little in these forums and share some of my knowledge, but, believe me, I have gotten a LOT more back from everyone here. This community played an essential role in bringing me back to a profession that I truly enjoy.

Not sure yet how much my new job duties will pull me away from here, but I just wanted to make sure I thanked everyone who makes up the MFP community for making such a difference.