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The importance of having friends here.

Posts: 76 Member
edited February 19 in Getting Started
The first few days that I started here it was pretty lonely. I didn't have any friends on here. And I didn't want to add any of my real life friends either. I didn't want them to know what I was up to. I was afraid they would put too much pressure on me and monitor every little thing I was doing. But I also didn't want to drive my girlfriend crazy by talking about health and calorie deficit and things like that. So I wrote on the forum asking for friends and in about one day I had almost 70 people. And what a difference it made. They congratulate me when I'm doing well, they support me and pick me up if I feel like I've failed completely. They encouraged me to open my diary and made me more accountable for my actions. They offer advice when I need it. And of course I return the favor the best I can because that's how it works. What I'm trying to say is that for people here using MFP. You may be the only person able to do this fight. But it doesn't mean that you can't be surrounded by support and encouragement of friends while fighting. So if you feel alone, try making some friends here and you might just find the battle a little easier. :smile:

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Replies

  • Posts: 79
    Great post and so true!!!
  • Posts: 301 Member
    100% agree. Having friends here has definitely contributed to my success!!
  • Posts: 515 Member
    I agree, I was here for while before I discovered the forums and got some awesome friends!
    Great post!
  • Posts: 1
    I feel the same way I was doing really well and just fell off the wagon no discipline and lost my structure, started today with exercising again and want to continue..I think having a friend helps you keep on track.
  • Posts: 2 Member
    I joined awhile back and didn't add any friends. It's been a "fail" for me because of that. I just started adding real-life friends today. Hopefully a good support system (reciprocal, of course) will work better.

    Thanks for the advice!
  • Posts: 76 Member
    And of course if anyone wants to add me as a friend, feel free to add :smile:
  • Posts: 4 Member
    That is a nice thought. There is research that shows buddy-ing up works, and you are the proof. Congrats.

    I am "community shy" too. I did not want someone all "up in my grill" so to speak. But, I think I need someone there, because, I am doing a simply terrible job of losing. Terrible! Will enjoy hearing about other approaches.
  • Posts: 1,903 Member
    I agree! The friends I've made here have really contributed to my success.

    Also, when I started trying to lose weight, I just wanted to lose weight. The people of MFP have inspired me to want to be fit & healthy rather than just thin. This site has also given me some fitness heroes to look up to.

    Anyone looking for more buddies can add me if they want... the more the merrier!
  • Posts: 1,956 Member
    Well said, I agree! The support on here is amazing. My MFP pals rock! Anyone feel free to add me :drinker:
  • Posts: 97 Member
    Had a few before I left (I was gone about a year). No surprisingly I don't have many any more. But yes, it was always good motivation to see them working.
  • Posts: 639 Member
    I think having friends on here has really helped me, too. I heard about MFP on a wedding-oriented message board, asked people from there to be friends with me on here, and have been adding people since then! Having others congratulate me when I have successes, even small ones, and be there to "listen" to my weight-loss-related troubles has been great. I think it's definitely contributed to me sticking to this! I feel like I'm letting people down if I don't log in. Which of course is what the site is engineered to do . . . but it works!
  • Posts: 31 Member
    Very true and very well stated! I Joined over a year ago, but did not add any friends and consequently did not stay on track. I'm back now, adding friends as fast as I can and finally serious about my progress!! Anyone who needs an accountability buddy and looking for encouraging support can feel free to add me!!!
  • Posts: 233 Member
    I agree that it is important to be part of a group that has similar goals for weight loss and/or fitness but it does not have to be here though. This site can be anything you want it to be (within its technical limitations).
  • Posts: 37 Member
    Where is that darn like button when you need it. I totally agree!! Thank you MFP users/friends!! :):)
  • Posts: 513 Member
    It does help!! Feel free to add me (anyone) if you are looking for friends. I'm almost at a 30 day streak :):)
  • Posts: 39 Member
    I so agree with that. We can't constantly yap to our friends about our good days, bad days. They just don't want to hear it. But here, we're all in the same boat and know what the other person is going through.
  • Posts: 76 Member
    Thanks everyone for awesome replies. Gained even more of new, supporting friends today :smile:
  • Posts: 168 Member
    This is so great. And so true. :smile: :flowerforyou:
  • Posts: 459 Member
    I would have to agree with this. I've been on here since 2012 & have started & stopped without much progress many times between then & January of this year. The difference this time around was that I posted in the "Adopt a noob" forum & got a mentor, plus replied to a few threads looking for "20-something friends" or "college student friends" & it's helped a ton. Having people around to notice when I have good days & bad days alike, and people to remind me that it's not the end of the world when I do have a bad day has been crucial for my success. Now I've been on here about 110 days & lost almost 20 lbs, which I never thought possible. Just making some friends to hold you accountable & make you look forward to coming here rather than dread it can make all the difference.
  • Posts: 575 Member
    Very True!
  • Posts: 188 Member
    I totally agree! Having motivated active friends has changed my outlook. It is great to know that I am not alone. :) Feel free to add me!
  • So true. :flowerforyou:
  • Posts: 32,662 Member
    friends definitely help keep you going. I like seeing how people are doing on the day to day.

    anyone can add if they like
  • Posts: 126 Member
    Very well said my friend!
  • Posts: 132
    True, so true. Great advice for us all.
  • Posts: 76 Member
    I agree that it is important to be part of a group that has similar goals for weight loss and/or fitness but it does not have to be here though. This site can be anything you want it to be (within its technical limitations).

    Of course not. Some people prefer doing this on their own or with only a few people around and if that works that's great. But for me personally, having a group of friends made a big impact on my changes. :smile:
  • Posts: 322 Member
    So very true! :) Anyone is free to add me
  • Posts: 60
    Great post! you are all so inspiring! Anyone please feel free to add me too
  • Posts: 76 Member
    And as an example, I had a bad day today. Ate way too much and was feeling bad. But thankfully I had friends here, that were willing to hear me complain, help me up, dust me off and tell me that I'm not a failure and to keep going. :smile:
  • Posts: 41 Member
    We need a "Like" button on here. lol. Great post!
This discussion has been closed.