SubscribeCould Writing a Blog Help You Lose Weight?
Traditional ways of keeping diet diaries usually involve tracking calories, recording pounds lost or gained, and noting miles run or lengths swum. But if that all sounds too obsessive - or too much like maths homework -why not consider starting your own weight loss blog?
These are just some of the benefits of writing about your fat-busting efforts online:
- Community support from other dieters
The "dieting blogosphere" contains some of the most supportive and friendly people you'll meet online. Whether you need advice, a gentle word, or a motivational virtual kick, you'll find someone able to deliver it. An encouraging comment or a kind email may come at just the right moment to divert your attention from the kids' Easter eggs...
- Making yourself accountable to others
Have you noticed how much harder you work at the gym if an instructor or personal trainer is watching? Writing about your weight-loss for a potential audience of millions will be a big motivational boost: the shame of reporting "Today I ate three mars bars and a family-sized bag of chips ... for breakfast" will keep you on the straight-and-narrow.
- Seeing how far you've come
Once you've been blogging for a couple of months, look back at your earliest entries. Have you lost five pounds, taken up that sport you were tentatively considering, or bought clothing in a smaller size? Many bloggers post their starting statistics and give regular updates for their readers - and themselves - on their current weight.
- Helping your readers to lose weight
The challenge that you've successfully managed to overcome is almost certainly something that others are still struggling with. Writing about it on your blog could them the tips they need on how to cope.
- Fame and fortune..?
If you write well and consistently, and have a great story to tell, you just might get lucky and join the elite group bloggers who've won book deals. Several great personal weight loss blogs have made it recently: check out Shauna Reid's Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl blog and book, and Jennette Fulda's Half of Me blog and Half-Assed book.
There are lots of easy and free place to start a blog, such as www.blogger.com, www.livejournal.com and www.wordpress.com - it's no more complicated than typing an email. Why not give it a try?
I would say it's helped me immensely not only do I know more about food and ways to lose weight, I now have the makings of a successful blog. Which started out as a mere way to document my progess.
ReplyI wish!!
haha
ReplyI started my blog as a way to share my Men's Health Belly Off experiences with other guys going through the same thing. I figured if I was running into issues, experiencing problems or having great success, others would too and they could learn from me or realize that they're not alone.
But somewhere along my path the blog became an inspiration and motivation for me to. I started to receive emails and comments telling me how good I was doing or giving me advice based on posts I made. This community that has organically grown around my blog has been one of the major reasons for my success. My readers learn from me and I am inspired by them.
ReplyI think that once you publish your weight loss journey, the accountability to others is a huge motivation. It's like taking the humiliation of Weight Watchers' public weigh-ins and putting them on a much larger scale. :) I can definitely see how it would be helpful.
ReplyI know that writing a fitness flog has kept me on my toes. I notice more often when I eat bad or don't exercise enough.
The really great thing about the whole blogging process though is finding great stories like this while going through my RSS feeds looking for ideas
ReplyOn the downside it's another sink for your limited time, and lack of time is one of the main reasons people like to say they don't exercise.
ReplyGood point, Red. Maybe we need a way to combine blogging with exercising ... a treadmill-powered laptop, anyone? ;-)
ReplyI totally agree. I spend too much time in front of the computer anyway. I'd rather write in my trusty little notebook.
ReplyIn my experience, as long as you still put your health and fitness goals above your blogging goals (i.e.: don't let blogging take over your life, lol!), then blogging about your weight loss journey definitely helps you stay accountable. Whether you have 10 readers or 10,000, someone out there is following along with you, and possibly even counting on your updates to motivate them.
When you look at it from how your journey can help others as well as keeping yourself accountable, blogging about it is a winning positive - for you and your readers. ;)
ReplyIf you spend 24 hours a day glued to the keyboard, then you won't be eating! Instant weight loss!
ReplyUm, yes! It does help me.
ReplyI've been blogging for 4 years. It's cool to look back and see how my mindset has changed for the better.
ReplyMy blog has helped me more than I ever imagined. I just started it to have a place to "think out loud" as I tried yet again to lose weight. But it has snowballed into something bigger than myself, and I have lost more weight than I ever have in my life. I guess my blog is like a conscience, bugging and prodding me into eating right and exercizing because who wants to post on their blog that they binged on pastries and chips and gained 6 pounds??
ReplyThe thing I personally like most about blogging is it's a place to take all knolwedge I've gathered over the years and use my insights to help others, while also learning more through the process myself.
ReplyIt's amazing what you discover you know when you have to put it into a coherent post for others!
I love the people I've met through my blog, and the advice and insights I've received.
(It's a general fitness blog, not really weight loss)
ReplyI don't have a blog, but I keep a journal on an online fitness community and I think the personal accountability is a HUGE reason for the success I've had. We have "challenges" (not just weight loss, but for fitness goals, food choices, etc.) and it's fun to encourage each other and kick each other in the butt, too.
I also think that when I write stuff out, it forces me to think about it (why the heck DID I eat that piece of cake anyway?) and I can get lots of input from others on what they'd do in similar situations. Plus, you find that you are definitely NOT alone in your struggles and lots of people have the same cravings as you do, the same obstacles, and a similar lifestyle. It's kind of fun to swap recipes, share workout tips, etc. It's like having a weight-loss support group that you'd pay money for, but it's free.
ReplyGreat tip. I've long been a proponent of using a blog for weight loss support and accountability. It also keeps things interesting.
ReplyThanks for the link! I suppose I have a little, teensy, bit of fame, but I'm still waiting on the fortune :)
ReplyWhen I read this article I had to comment. I created a blog for this very same purpose....to report on my progress, ups and downs, moods, foods etc., all of which are intertwined. I think it's a great idea to share this experience with others and maybe it will help to motivate them. Thanks so much for doing an article like this!
ReplySometimes I blog to change you, sometimes I blog so that you don't change me! :-)
ReplyCheers for the mention, Ali! After 7 years I have to say the thought of all those people watching is still a big factor in keeping my mitts off the chocolate too often :)
ReplyGreat post! I definitely think keeping a weight loss blog is helpful. If you search for weight loss blogs, you can find lots of them out there and almost all of them describe normal people who feel accountable to their readers, and end up sticking to their diet or exercise routine BECAUSE they know they're going to have to write about it if they sneak in an extra candy bar or miss a workout...
ReplyWriting blog is one good way to keep us busy as our fingers and mind work together to achieve weight loss. The part that involves sharing and accountability to oneself is great when you blog.
ReplyI've been blogging about my weightloss since Oct and it's totally helped me! Highly recommend doing it. My website: www.kalililla.com
ReplyAlright, I've done it. As of last night, I'm the proud owner (well, not really, I guess WordPress owns it) of Bellynaut. Thanks for the inspiration, and feel free to drop by sometime. No need to bring anything, just come on over. Thanks for a good idea.
ReplyMy work in progress, The Cold Turkey Cookbook, has helped me shed 40 pounds in less than a year, and counting:
http://sisu.typepad.com/sisu/the-cold-turkey-cookbook.html
Plus, lots of good food for thought. :-)
ReplyHaving the group of people you are accountable would be a big push to keep you consistent. Blogging about your results is a great idea.
ReplyI have been using a weight loss journal called WRITETOLOSE. I have lost weight and been able to keep it off for a very long time. I hope that this journal can help others out there. I was told about WRITETOLOSE.COM from a friend and am so glad!
Sincerely,
Julie K.
ReplyWriting can also be therapeutic, and help you feel better and your weight loss goal/achievement.
Dakota Andrews
ReplyHand Hewn Author Empowerment
http://www.handhewn.co.nr/
'Every person's life is a contribution to the story of mankind and each person's story that is not recorded is like a missing page from the greatest story ever created.'