What is the "point" of adding friends on MFP?

For me, I have a habit of obsessing about things, to the point of annoying my friends and family about it. When I was ready to start here, I was already turning annoying about my biking. Add in the newly discovered simplicity of "count those calories already!", and I was ready to become somebody who talked about nothing else.

With friends here, I can talk about those topics. I can brag about my progress. I can ask for their feedback on something I'm doing. And all of this is well received, since they're all doing the same things. All of us are obsessing about it, and it's all good.

That's why I have them, and why I'm always willing to add more. I need that outlet, and maybe I can help somebody else be successful by being that outlet for them.

I'm pretty self-motivated so don't need anyone to motivate me. But having friends helps me feel less frustrated with the roller-coaster nature of weight loss.

It helps me feel better when I see others go through what I'm going through. I'll see someone post, "I'm doing everything right and I GAINED 2 pounds!" And it is nice to know I am not the only one

I'm an old fashioned social media hater. That bit out of the way, I'm hooked up with quite a few here that are just good, solid people. We chat, banter and encourage back and forth and always offer support with our common goals.

Doesn't mean I'm going to open a FB account or any of that lol, but the folks I "met" here - good peeps

I think it's like any other form of social media...some 'friends' will be supportive, some just want to get their own number of friends up. And...people come and go from myfitnesspal. I drifted away for almost a year, but of course, I'm back now that the weight is creeping back. Recently participated in a Zumbathon for 2 hrs and posted 1000+ calories burned...didn't get any comments from 'friends' ... not even a 'like'...lol. I also believe that some people have so many friends, that they only comment on, or 'like' the big things like weight loss entries. Otherwise it would be impossible. I purposely kept my friend limit to a manageable number that I thought I would be able to truly support. That number will be different for each person. In the end though...remember you're doing it for YOU!

As a generality, human beings are wired to respond to social norms. Through thousands of years of human history, fitting in with your group (tribe) was a major, major factor in whether your life was as happy/successful as it could be, or not. That's why 90% of us tend to listen to the same popuar music, wear basically the same clothes, eat the same fast foods, and consider ourselves totally unique.

In our daily life, many of us as fat people are surrounded by other fat people. We see a norm of over-eating, hear people make jokes and talk about the impossibility of losing weight, are served up c**p on TV/blogs/written matter that is unhelpful in various ways, etc.

The social side of MFP - forums, friends, blogs, newsletters - is a counterbalance. It gives us a peer group where getting healthier is a common value, and can give us a different norm to move toward.

Of course, every individual is different, and has different needs. The above is just a broad generalization. But having MFP as a virtual peer group did help me, I think, stay on track when many times it would've been easier and pleasanter to stop thinking about this weight-loss/health-improvement stuff.

Also, other people's diets are boring to regular folks who :"just eat". MFP gave me a place to talk about it, get support/feedback, and spare my real life friends the tedium.

I am going to add, they don'tr call the site, "My Fitness Solo" it's "My fitness PAL". Your fitness pals are here!

Still not convinced. I'll keep going the way I have been.

I've been here 4 yrs, and in cruising the boards I've seen people posting that I admire. Many of them are intelligent and know their stuff. When they asked me to be friends, I was frankly honored. I don't say no to people when they ask and sometimes I don't know who they are. I check in and see what people are doing. Some are consistent and awesome exercisers. I just personally like them.

And it's kinda odd. I don't think the people I'm friends with here actually post on the forums....?

Lounmoun wrote: »

mom22dogs wrote: »

I have a question - everyone keeps talking about your "feed" or "wall" that you can see people's updates, likes and comments. Where is this? I've never seen it. I guess I just come to the website and click on community and never noticed anything in the menu bar that said anything about a wall or feed.

On the web site it says my home, food, exercise, reports, apps, coomunity across the top. Go to "my home" and scroll down to see the newsfeed.

Oh, I guess I've never scrolled down on that page. I just look at the calories and never paid attention that there was more on the page below it.

Support and motivation in the main. I have a few friends that have the same step recorder and it's really useful if you're having a lazy day.