One of the great things about the electronic age is the number of resources we now have right at our fingertips. You can find information about just about anything on the Internet - in some cases way too much information! Healthy living is a perfect example of this. There is so much you can find about exercise and eating and associated topics, I think if it was all printed out we'd have to chop down every tree on the planet to do it.
Of course, a vast amount of this information is absolute shit. Anyone can put anything they like on the Internet, no matter how ill-informed they are, no matter how flawed their research, no matter what their own personal (or corporate) agenda.
So, the new trick is not getting information, but working out if it's any good.
I think it's one of the good things about blogs. Everyone has their own opinion, everyone has access to slightly different resources, lots of people have tried lots of different things. Instead of trawling through 432 million web pages (75% of which are actually thinly disguised porn sites), I can read the blogs of people I know have similar interests to me. Then I can take the pieces of information that interest me, choose the things I think might work for me, and include them with my own research and experience - and come up with my own vastly ill-informed opinion!
It's very interesting to watch trends in blogs, too. We all reach plateaus, lose motivation, get lazy or generally lose our way at different times. At the moment, lots of people seem to be searching for ways to kick-start their weight loss. This has brought some interesting fads (go on, you detox girls, you know I'm talking about you...), some of which work for some people. Not all things are right or wrong for all people, it's just a matter of figuring out what works for you.
I still think the best thing about blogs is the sense of community. Think of all those people out there who you would have never otherwise had any contact with - people who you know are interested in what you're doing, who care about your ups and downs, who are in turn either inspired by you or giving you inspiration. People from NZ, Australia, Scotland, Canada, America, Spain.....
In my long-winded way, I'm just saying thank you to you all.
13 comments:
Well said, Sue. Thank you!
It's heartening to see people in all their different states of trying and succeeding. Watching people come out of their shells, sharing their joy in their new sporting, fitness and personal endeavours and attempting to help them get up when they're down.
While now I participate in this community to continue the friendships that started here, initially it provided the support I needed to pull myself out of a major slump, and I hate think where I would be without it.
Totally agree with you... I find when I am down that there are people going through the same loss of motivation and that is when they are there motivating me and I try to do it in return...
Isn't it funny... I was just thinking how everyone is doing the detox thing at the moment to kick start them off and good on them for trying because in the end it makes them aware of what they are eating and what they are missing too... (not for me though he he he I find if I can't have somethign I want it even more he he he).
Loved this post hun.
Glad you are posting again
Chubbymum
http://cmlosingit.blogspot.com
Right back at you *wildly blowing kisses*
I love the internet. And consider myself quite a good searcher. I avoid the crap most of the time and can generally find what I need. Which is how I found this community in the first place.
And life on the blogs mirrors real life in so many ways. Life changes. We change. What we need from people change. And so our blogging and health patterns go up and down and around and around (to many arounds in my case LOL). But it shows that with consistenancy and support we can all get to where we need to be.
As long as it is all served with a hugh dash of humour :)
I totally agree too Sue. We are kindred spirits in our bloggiing community and even if we haven't met in person, or never do meet in person, we are all connected. :-)
You be welcome chickee.... it has been neat meeting so many blogging girls (and boys) in the time I have been blogging! Just love it too.
By blogging I've found the most amazing support group. A hard thing to explain to anyone who doesn't do it!
So well put Sue, and may I say a big thank you to you too. You've been an so inspirational to me, I downloaded your blog one year and took it on holiday with me and you blow me away. And you have always provided us with a lot of support.
On one of your posts I can remember you writing about blogland being in a bit of funk and if you won lotto you'd visit every single one of us and give us a rev up.
So thank YOU.......
I agree with Anne and am so happy to have started blogging at last. I also have the bonus of having some of you live close so that we can meet in person and although I am probably the eldest it doesn't matter :)
Thanks to you too Sue for your inspiration and I agree with you about there being no one thing that we all do the same except maybe to eat less and move more!!! LOL :)
You missed out England!
I agree wholeheartedly Sue. Sometimes I read an entry on someone's blog and think 'what a load of tosh' and then the next time might think it was brilliant.
I love blogging because I can pour out what I'm thinking and the people who know me take that in their stride and the ones who don't do whatever they do with that info. Actually I've met some fabulous people via blogs (not physically met as yet but maybe soon) and since I've been doing the extreme meal replacement regime I have found a great support network of others doing the same thing - which helps when you're doing something so different to everyone else.
Sandra
www.livejournal.com/users/kiwirevo
What a great post and so so true - thank you for the support you have given and for the funny light you shed on situations at times !
Have a great evening and take care !
Me
It is soooo useful to read what others have tried! There seems to be a lack of real WL information out there - it's either total b.s. or it's aimed toward a really specific group like competition bodybuilders. The blogs are priceless for finding what worked for a real person!
I love having met so many people from so many places. I always say that when I win the lottery, I'm going on a world tour to visit everyone.
p.s. could you give me the urls of some of those porn sites?
Well said Sue. The blogging community have provided me with a whole new set of friends and I love it.
So happy to hear how well your life is going.
Z xx
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