Great idea!

1) I like having a place to check in daily. It keeps me mindful
2) I like having a group where I can voice my frustrations and ask questions. You were all extremely helpful even about non-weight loss topics like the home buying process.
3) It's nice to have a space where no one is doing fad diets or acting like 1200 calories is an appropriate amount for a grown human and then wondering why they're starving all the time.

I suppose habit of having enjoyable interactions with fellow goadies.

@Al_Howard , I've been wondering how you're doing. I hope you're getting on well!

As for why I'm here, I might fit the classic guy GOADie who wandered in on Day 1 of WW, right after I signed up online. I had been to my first meeting. I was relieved there were actually one or two other guys there. Reading many of the archive posts introduced me to the then-cast of characters and tone of the board. After a quick review of the other boards, GOAD was the only one that appealed to me. It wasn't just the name; it was the topics covered and the straight answers given. The whole 'there are women GOADies too' thing made sense to me also.

Especially in the first year or so, I had a lot of questions. GOAD was still pretty active then and it was almost like having a 24-7 (maybe 24-5) reference desk. I came in at the tail end of the 'old GOAD'; it still had a decent mix of newbies and veterans. My meetings were great (still are, with a great leader) but that was once a week and GOAD was there whenever I needed it.

I had zero interest in whoever the celebrity was that WW was featuring at the time. My heroes quickly became the GOADies who had met their goals and maintained for several years. Their experiences and guidance was a huge help to me. Those were the people that had walked the walk, done the deed and lived to tell about it. But I learned from most everyone on the spectrum, regardless of their time in-program. Though some members had a terse delivery, I quickly looked passed that and glommed on to their insight. Between the active threads and the archives, I learned how to approach weight loss for the long-term.

Why am I still here? Like many others who've come before me, I often think 'oh, I've got this. I can walk away from meetings and GOAD and do it on my own.' However, I have learned so much from those who've been there and done that, and then come back with more to lose. Weight loss is not my life, but it's enhanced my life. I made a point not to obsess on it in the losing phase. My goal was always to have a better, healthier life, not to reach a number on the scale. GOAD is a place for me to check in and set my compass for the day, actively participate with this community and provides an anchor of sorts for the weight loss aspect of my life. I don't hang out here because I have other interests that give me far more satisfaction. However, this is a critical part of my program and I've acquired enough experience to throw my $0.02 in the ring from time to time with both newbies and veterans.

I believe I could live without GOAD if I had to, but fortunately I don't have to.

At this point, it's a reminder. I just got back from Pickleball for lunch before yoga.

I was going to be a reasonably young guy, if alive at all, sitting in a wheelchair, drooling in my shirt.

This is better.

Reason 1. Accountability and support is one reason I am a member of GoaD. I was not a member of a WW meeting group. My work and time commitments for a weekly meeting didn't fit in where I could commit to a weekly same day schedule. So when I found Goad I was able to fit right in and

Reason 2. I enjoyed being associating with people that had lost weight and those who were maintaining all whom had a lot to contribute.

Reason 3. It was motivating to be a part of a group that people were willing to contribute to all sorts of post with worthwhile ideas for those of us that needed the support and feedback with questions we had.

I find being a member of a weight loss group is very beneficial to me as a motivation factor and for moral support and emotional support. Most everyone in a loss weight group has either lost weight, maintained weight after losing weight or in the loss mode group. I also find that being in a weight loss group gives me ideas and motivation in other areas of my life.

1. Interaction with fat guys.
2. Interaction with not so fat guys.
3. Interaction with guys who possess a sense of humor.

Rachel0778 wrote: »

Jimb376mfp wrote: »

3. Enjoyed the back and forth “banter” and learned how to”behave” like an adult on line. I was banned once from Atkins for an inappropriate post!

I've got to ask, do you remember what the post was? LOL

@Rachel0778
It was a joke that I copied from somewhere. I forget the joke but remember the punchline was a double entendre that was too “blue” for some.

The Board Administrators would give warning but after a few they would ban you from posting. I learned not everyone has the same sense of humor as me.

I re-joined WW in November of 2002 and immediately started posting to a board on the WW site. I quickly realized that it was not going to be the right place for me! I didn't join WW to listen to women make excuses about WHY they couldn't lose weight. So I started looking for another board and found Guys On a Diet. I lurked there for several days because I figured that the "guys" wouldn't want a female posting to their board. Then I noticed that there were several women posting to the board. My first post was on January 22, 2003 (some things you never forget!) and my first question was, "Is it okay for another female to join this board?" I was warmly welcomed, but given the RULES for posting there. There were two main rules -- no mention of sports bras and no mention of TOM unless we were talking about a man's name.

I always said that women have been on some kind of diet most of their lives because it's "expected of them". Men, on the other hand, wait until THEY decide it's time to do something about their weight. And once they decide they're more likely to stick with it and be successful.

I posted there religiously until WW, in their infinite wisdom, decided to do away with the message boards.