Serious lack of forum support

samanthalee87
samanthalee87 Posts: 178
in Motivation and Support
I don't know if people have hit that point in time when they quit working towards their New Years goals but I'm finding there's a serious lack of support lately on the MFP forums! I've posted three things in the last few days looking for support and motivation and nothin! No responses! Beyond my current MFP pals, no one is really reaching out at all! That sucks! Anyone else finding this too?

Replies

  • MysticRealm
    MysticRealm Posts: 1,264 Member
    I don't start a lot of posts but most posts I reply to end up with a large number of other posts.
  • likeschocolate
    likeschocolate Posts: 368 Member
    It happens sometimes. Don't give up. Bump the post occasionally if you have not found an answer.

    And if you have room on your friends' list -- there are people with similar backgrounds out there who may be looking for friends.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    i fond it's easier to get support and motivation from people on my friend's list. the forums are just too generic
  • Textmessage
    Textmessage Posts: 387 Member
    Just remember there are lots of people on here and sometimes topics get buried. It's nothing personal. Just keep bumping your threads.
  • katy_trail
    katy_trail Posts: 1,992 Member
    it also depends when you post the question, the forum is busier at some times than others, and if you have your feed settings to let your friends know when you created a topic or replied to one, you're also more likely to get an answer.
  • Amy62575
    Amy62575 Posts: 422 Member
    There are a few Insanity groups on here that you might want to check out for support.

    Edited to add the link: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    What kind of support do you need?
  • kindasortachewy
    kindasortachewy Posts: 1,084 Member
    I have found the forums to be rude and snarky! I like the groups and my pals
  • wrecktechno
    wrecktechno Posts: 145 Member
    I've stopped using this site, occasionally Ill log on to see if I can find a recipe or whatever. A few people added me as a friend to begin with. I lost motivation and stopped using this site and where it says 'wrecktechno hasn't logged on for 2 months or whatever. She might need some encouragement', my 'friends' wouldn't message me to ask me why I hadn't logged on and I think that's all I probably would have needed to keep going.

    So now I keep a super super basic excel spread sheet of the times, distance, km rate, calories burned etc when I exercise and whether I have a good food day or bad food day and that's all I need to be motivated. Provided most days are good food days and I'm improving my times, I don't really care too much. Also helps that my flatmates are training for a half marathon and I'm secretly trying to catch up to them - they push me and I try and keep up to them haha.

    This site is too much effort and I feel like except if you're exceptional in either losing weight, giving advice or burning calories, you're just another member who no one really notices. What I'm trying to say is, if you have added someone as a friend, you should be encouraging when they are doing well and demand to know why they haven't logged in for a few days when they disappear - your words could be the difference between failure and success. Not having any support from my 'friend's completely demotivated me. Sad but true :( (I speak only for myself in regards to the above. I am sure this site is fantastic for a vast majority of people)
  • OMGeeeHorses
    OMGeeeHorses Posts: 732 Member
    I have found the forums to be rude and snarky! I like the groups and my pals

    ^^ ditto, I creeper look through forum posts to find friends :) then I go to groups that I seem to have a lot of friends in to be better accepted
  • Textmessage
    Textmessage Posts: 387 Member
    I've stopped using this site, occasionally Ill log on to see if I can find a recipe or whatever. A few people added me as a friend to begin with. I lost motivation and stopped using this site and where it says 'wrecktechno hasn't logged on for 2 months or whatever. She might need some encouragement', my 'friends' wouldn't message me to ask me why I hadn't logged on and I think that's all I probably would have needed to keep going.

    So now I keep a super super basic excel spread sheet of the times, distance, km rate, calories burned etc when I exercise and whether I have a good food day or bad food day and that's all I need to be motivated. Provided most days are good food days and I'm improving my times, I don't really care too much. Also helps that my flatmates are training for a half marathon and I'm secretly trying to catch up to them - they push me and I try and keep up to them haha.

    This site is too much effort and I feel like except if you're exceptional in either losing weight, giving advice or burning calories, you're just another member who no one really notices. What I'm trying to say is, if you have added someone as a friend, you should be encouraging when they are doing well and demand to know why they haven't logged in for a few days when they disappear - your words could be the difference between failure and success. Not having any support from my 'friend's completely demotivated me. Sad but true :( (I speak only for myself in regards to the above. I am sure this site is fantastic for a vast majority of people)

    Are these people you've had on your friend list for a while? Otherwise, I'd say you were just unlucky with the people you befriended. Also, it's the internet - lots of people are easily able to not care about anything on here.

    Give it another shot imo.
  • wendybird5
    wendybird5 Posts: 577 Member
    I don't check the forums as much as I used to because the same questions seem to get asked over and over. It could just be fatigue that is causing fewer people to answer.
  • myfitnessval
    myfitnessval Posts: 687 Member
    i felt the same way when i first started here but i found a group that was doing the same workout plan as me which helped a lot. just find out what type of support you are looking for and go join a community, the support is definitely more genuine and tailored. good luck!
  • lovingangel4uau
    lovingangel4uau Posts: 78 Member
    As one of my MFP friends wrote lately: " Self motivation comes first! That's part of the reason I've lost 40 so far. I stopped waiting on someone to motivate me. Once you're mentally there yourself, YOU GO IT! The rest will come."

    I've been trying for 40 years and I'm telling you this is it. Doing it for yourself and digging down deep and finding that something in you why you want to do this and the mind set that this is the way it is. Only one of you and your worth being healthy and happy and as far as weight is concerned not to keep wasting your life worrying about it or putting yourself down because its not the way you would like to be. Only you can make it happen. Only you are with yourself 24/7. And no matter how many people try to motivate you when you turn off your computer you are there with yourself. Any negative thoughts need to be turned around with positive, its the only way. Be kind to yourself your going to be with her a long time. :)
    BTW I have lots 20lbs in the last 6 weeks having this attitude. Have a ton more but little at a time I will get there.

    In saying all that it doesn't hurt for someone to give a cheering comment every now and again but don't depend on your success for it. At the end of the day you will be the winner. You can do this. I think also what has helped me is finding out more information what is in our food and just educating myself.

    Good luck honey. Friend me if you like.
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
    It happens sometimes. Its sometimes wrong time of the day or just wrong day. Its also sometimes that so many posts are being made that your thread gets "lost". Just keep bumping or do what I do and find people who're extremely knowledgeable on certain topics and ask them for advice directly :)
  • 1two3four
    1two3four Posts: 413 Member
    As one of my MFP friends wrote lately: " Self motivation comes first! That's part of the reason I've lost 40 so far. I stopped waiting on someone to motivate me. Once you're mentally there yourself, YOU GO IT! The rest will come."

    In saying all that it doesn't hurt for someone to give a cheering comment every now and again but don't depend on your success for it. At the end of the day you will be the winner. You can do this.

    THIS TOTALLY!

    You have to want it for you. You have to be your own motivator. You have to depend on you. I have friends and I encourage them and I let them cheer me on. Spend some time in the success stories thread. I do let other's successes motivate me. If they did it then I can, too. I ask for help when I need it but at the end of the day I'm putting the food in and getting the energy out.
  • sweets7664
    sweets7664 Posts: 26

    Spend some time in the success stories thread. I do let other's successes motivate me. If they did it then I can, too.

    This is my suggestion as well. I've been doing this lately as a boost when needed. I understand people get busy (myself included), but when you try to be friendly and get nothing or ignored in return, it can definitely be a downer.
  • samanthalee87
    samanthalee87 Posts: 178
    Thanks for the huge responses everyone! I'm definitely a huge self-motivator but would be nice sometimes to have it from others as well. Usually my posts get a lot of feedback but over the last week or so I got MAYBE 1 or 2 responses. And I mean the forums are meant for support! So was just a bit frustrated but all this helps and it's good to know some others have experienced the same as I have.
  • Leeann1979
    Leeann1979 Posts: 1,090 Member
    I totally agree with the self-motivation!! I also agree with browsing through the Success stories. I am doing the 30 Day Shred and I keep looking at those stories to help keep me going.
    The forums can be completely ignorant. I have posted topics just asking people on their personal experiences with Hashimotos thyroiditis, and I get lectures on going to the doctors and I shouldnt be looking for help on here. When really, I was just making conversation with people who have similar health problems. Some people on here are extremely rude and think they know everything.
    But I do understand wanting to get some support!! It feels nice to have someone say some encouraging words!! Add me if you like!!!
  • thesoup11
    thesoup11 Posts: 72 Member
    I find that true as well same thing i wrote and nothin it seems u got to really reach out foor friends and send message but the foruum i agree with you
  • monicalosesweight
    monicalosesweight Posts: 1,173 Member
    While getting motivation from others does it, it's definitely not the most important part. You have to interact with others and post on their posts AND you have to want to lose the weight. Internal motivation is critical. I suspect that's why some people end up leaving. It's not that they didn't get the support, it's that they thought the site was going to be a miracle and suddenly help them lose the weight. That's not the case, you have to want to lose it and really push yourself.

    As for support from the forums, I'm not sure what type of support you're talking about. If you have questions, post them. I'd post them later in the evening when more people are online. During the earlier part of the day posts may end up sliding downward and get missed.
  • lauren3101
    lauren3101 Posts: 1,853 Member
    I've had a couple of forum posts that don't get many responses to. It just happens, it's nothing personal. This is a busy forum and sometimes there's a lot of threads going on at once and some get pushed to the bottom of the page and overlooked.

    This site is too much effort and I feel like except if you're exceptional in either losing weight, giving advice or burning calories, you're just another member who no one really notices. What I'm trying to say is, if you have added someone as a friend, you should be encouraging when they are doing well and demand to know why they haven't logged in for a few days when they disappear - your words could be the difference between failure and success. Not having any support from my 'friend's completely demotivated me. Sad but true :( (I speak only for myself in regards to the above. I am sure this site is fantastic for a vast majority of people)

    You can't rely on others to give you motivation, that's down to you, and anything you get from anyone else is a bonus. I basically read that as 'the reason I gave up is because I don't have supporting friends.'

    I have 69 friends when I last looked, and out of them, only 3 or 4 regularly comment and reply to my posts, and I to them, and that's fine by me. Everything else I need to succeed has to come from me.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    Find like-minded friends if you want some actual support from people who at least know a little about you. The forums are basically mindless and meaningless "support" from people who realistically couldn't care less.
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
    Definitely build up a good list of friends whom you feel comfortable with. They will know you better - your health, your finincial situation that would affect the kind of foods you can afford - all of that. The answers you get from the will be better tailored to your own life and capabilities.
  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,834 Member
    I think with Spring people are outside and enjoying the time of year more. I've noticed a drop in posts overall, so it isn't just you.
  • Sqeekyjojo
    Sqeekyjojo Posts: 704 Member
    A lot of people fall by the wayside this far past January 1.

    But that shouldn't really matter that much, because it's your health and your responsibility, ultimately - it's not somebody's else's to pick you up.

    That isn't meant harshly, but you don't want to risk using it as a reason to sabotage yourself or give up. There are great people on my friends list, but there aren't many that are still posting regularly from when I joined. Maybe they've reached their goal, maybe they've given up - but it was never their job to make somebody else comply with things that their their own choice to participate in or not. Peer pressure sucks, after all.

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