spark people....

most of the experts tend to take a hands off approach to the message boards - there aren't many squabbles to mediate.. ad thread turnover is so quick that stupidity tends to get lost pretty quickly

and as you well know, people who've lost a few pounds, tend to consider themselves experts...

Spark has a fairly generic approach to weight loss and fitness, it's really up to you, the member what you do with it, and some people really do buy into the one size fits all, there's only one right way, one answer to every situation...

I feel like I'm a major spark groupie, I'm really a Steve groupie, but don't judge spark by a few people on the message boards... you know darn well you'll find those people everywhere :)

Just add it to the list of mistakes to not make when you have your own empire :D
 
Last edited:
I like Sparkpeople's tracking abilities....as for the message boards, there are some threads that are helpful to me (like the ones stating changes and the ones talking about what they're looking forward to when they reach their goal) but other than that, they're pretty crappy. I've looked into a few teams and the only one I really keep up with is one that's for people 18-25, mainly because I don't know any people my age that are trying to lose weight. Heck, I'd keel over if I ever found someone around my age and my size that I could talk to about issues others don't quite understand.
 
maleficent said:
most of the experts tend to take a hands off approach to the message boards - there aren't many squabbles to mediate.. ad thread turnover is so quick that stupidity tends to get lost pretty quickly

and as you well know, people who've lost a few pounds, tend to consider themselves experts...

Spark has a fairly generic approach to weight loss and fitness, it's really up to you, the member what you do with it, and some people really do buy into the one size fits all, there's only one right way, one answer to every situation...

I feel like I'm a major spark groupie, I'm really a Steve groupie, but don't judge spark by a few people on the message boards... you know darn well you'll find those people everywhere :)

Just add it to the list of mistakes to not make when you have your own empire :D
Click to expand...

Haha, thanks Mal. And you don't have to defend the place.... I truly do see it for what it is. I also see the positives.... but that's not why I started this thread, lol.

That said, I'm not so sure I agree with the hands off approach. It seems to me that A LOT of people use the message board for obtaining information..... and if a dispute arises with regards to information, I'd think an 'expert' would come in and clear things up considering the traffic.

I think I am going to make myself a name over there. Then again, it will probably last all of 3 days.... but whatever. I'm bored and this site is quiet today!
 
Okay, I went and read the thread that Steve linked to, and man, every time someone asks about spot reducing I want to punch them in the face. I'm so glad that I found WLF before I found Sparkpeople....you really can't take any info you get from the message boards themselves seriously- the articles by most of the experts are good, though. This place is much better both.
 
The hands off approach may be my impression.. The nutritionist does step in occassionally when questions are being asked ... but it's rare I've seen a fitness expert step up...

Take care of yourself over there... :D some of those people are underfed and can get alittle hostile and there can be a bit of a mob mentality sometimes :)
 
maleficent said:
Take care of yourself over there... :D some of those people are underfed and can get alittle hostile and there can be a bit of a mob mentality sometimes :)
Click to expand...

Might be since their calorie recommendations seem a tad low. I know the range they have suggested for me seems low.
 
thats why i said it's very generic... but it's easily changable.. people just need to educate themselves :) There's a few articles on why having youor calorie range too low isn't a good thing...

I think they tend to shoot low because people tend to be inaccurate about reporting calories and their activity levels...
 
maleficent said:
The hands off approach may be my impression.. The nutritionist does step in occassionally when questions are being asked ... but it's rare I've seen a fitness expert step up...

Take care of yourself over there... :D some of those people are underfed and can get alittle hostile and there can be a bit of a mob mentality sometimes :)
Click to expand...

haha, i'm sure i'll get banned or some stupid crap like that.
 
Just log in everything & make sure that it (ok, reality check TRY to make sure it) stays within a range that I am comfortable with. I notice I get cranky & tired when I stayed within their range. Then I had nothing in me to exercise with.

Can't you get banned from Sparkpeople? Seems really open to me.

Steve I think they need you as their fitness expert over there.
 
Do what you gotta do...

just ...

oh...

nevermind...

I think i've spent entirely too much time defending a site that I don't find the least bit supportive :D but it lets me bluster :D
 
don't get me wrong. I use it daily. I like it & without it as a place to log food & see the charts, I don't think I would have stayed on this path this long. I probably would have been gaining rather than maintaining right now. I just like this place better for support & I tend to read the emails, but the message boards just don't strike me as a place for truth. I am open minded about the stuff there, but I use it to spark an idea that I research elsewhere as well.

I do enjoy the articles & post them at work for others. Most are brief enough to "spark" interest. :)
 
MoonGoddess said:
Steve I think they need you as their fitness expert over there.
Click to expand...

Haha, I don't need to wear the 'expert hat' to hand out some good advice..... I think that's where I'll start.

But it's tough. Your typical conversation goes something like this:

Person A: How can I get rid of saggy skin?

Me: Try this, this, that, and this...

Person B, C, D, E, F....ZZZZ: I lost weight and didn't have saggy skin, I've lost 40lbs, blah blah blah.

You very quickly get drowned out by a lot of personal banter that has nothing to do with answering the original question. It's amazing people don't get fed up with that.... but I guess they don't know any better.

Hahahahaha, I was actually referred to checkout bodybuilding.com for good advice via email.

Too f-ing funny!
 
If I had a nickel for everytime I have said this -I'd be very wealthy...

Anyone who's lost more than 5lbs fancies themselves an expert and thinks whatever worked for them is the absolute way of losing weight... It's seen here, it's seen on every weight loss and fitness site on the internet... and we've also seen that People DO NOT know how to listen or read - and see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear... ad think they're being helpful... I can't believe I'm saying this given how much I really dislike most people, but I think the intentions are generally good, that they want to help in their own way however misguided...
 
maleficent said:
If I had a nickel for everytime I have said this -I'd be very wealthy...

Anyone who's lost more than 5lbs fancies themselves an expert and thinks whatever worked for them is the absolute way of losing weight... It's seen here, it's seen on every weight loss and fitness site on the internet... and we've also seen that People DO NOT know how to listen or read - and see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear... ad think they're being helpful... I can't believe I'm saying this given how much I really dislike most people, but I think the intentions are generally good, that they want to help in their own way however misguided...
Click to expand...

I do agree with this. It's not like they're intentionally handing misinformation out. And it's sometimes hard for me to take a step back and remember this at times.

Regardless though, it's still a case of ignorance and stupidity, haha. My tolerance sucks when it comes to those two things.

I'll add that I'm fine with people stating what's worked for them personally. But don't explode that into being The Law of the Universe. That one chickidy from above in email had the audacity to argue the nuances of metabolism with me in SP language. What on Earth makes someone think they are universally intelligent in a given field b/c they lost 5 lbs?

Again, by all means share. Don't preach unless you can back it up.

My 2 cents.
 
Regardless though, it's still a case of ignorance and stupidity, haha. My tolerance sucks when it comes to those two things.
Click to expand...
Patience grasshopper patience :D

Again, I'm really uncomfortable defending people here, but if people are only shown one way - and that way was effective for them, it's not really ignorance or stupidity - they just don't know any better... it's when they are shown other methods - and refuse to adopt them, and continue in their original path,, then it's ignorance and stupidity..

What on Earth makes someone think they are universally intelligent in a given field b/c they lost 5 lbs?
Click to expand...
exactly the question I ask when we have 'experts' come into this forum :D
 
Last edited:
Steve said:
I do agree with this. It's not like they're intentionally handing misinformation out. And it's sometimes hard for me to take a step back and remember this at times.

Regardless though, it's still a case of ignorance and stupidity, haha. My tolerance sucks when it comes to those two things.

I'll add that I'm fine with people stating what's worked for them personally. But don't explode that into being The Law of the Universe. That one chickidy from above in email had the audacity to argue the nuances of metabolism with me in SP language. What on Earth makes someone think they are universally intelligent in a given field b/c they lost 5 lbs?

Again, by all means share. Don't preach unless you can back it up.

My 2 cents.
Click to expand...

If you find a good debate thread on a topic and want backup give me a shout, there is nothing I love more but a good internet argument.

If you think I'm naughty here, you have no idea how much I like to argue heh.

Michael
 
Man, if you think you're an expert after 5 pounds you really need a wake up call. 5 pounds is nothing compared to some of the things people have done on here!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top