Many Americans are looking for weight loss help and wonder if they should shell out the cash for a weight loss program like Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. What several 2009 studies uncovered was that it was the combination of motivation and therapy, along with practical diet plans, that really inspire people to lose weight naturally. In the Journal of Consumer Research, Risto Moisio of CSU-Long Beach and Mariam Beruchashvili of CSU-Northridge concluded that: “The social function of weekly meetings extends far beyond the tricks of the weight loss trade.” Similarly, a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal reports that: “Many participants reported that the weigh-ins and the enthusiastic support provided by the nurse on those occasions and on the telephone were key determinants of their success.” It’s this reason why the social networking site www.sparkpeople.com has attracted thousands of dieters and has led to many successful weight loss stories.
Once visitors arrive at www.sparkpeople.com, they’ll be asked to complete a quick, free registration form to receive their free weight loss help. What makes this site unique is that members are not hassled to buy anything and 100% of the site’s revenue comes from very subtle advertisers and sponsors. Users enter their height, weight, amount they intend to exercise, weight and target date to receive recommendations for calorie, fat and carb intake. The main interface promotes three main areas of interest: My Tools, My Content and My Community. In the Tools section, individuals can track their nutritional intake, their fitness and exercise regimens and weigh-in or measure themselves every so often to chart their progress. At the top, the “My Nutrition” tab takes people who are interested in losing weight naturally to a page where they can input the foods they eat throughout the day, which automatically calculates how much calories, carbs, fats and protein they’ve consumed. There are also customized meal plans and weekly shopping lists for people who do better with a structured routine.
Some users in need of weight loss help are drawn to the My Content and My Community sections as well. My Content features healthy weight loss lifestyle news, a daily inspirational blog and recent health news. The My Community section lets members join teams specific to their goals or how much they gave to lose and participate in supportive, constructive forums where members share stories, trade tips and issue advice. Members may also create their own social networking page and add new friends for more inspiration and accountability. Along the side bar of the screen, those interested in shedding a few pounds can also find a daily exercise, saved favorite articles, check out hot message board topics, note their progress through points and trophies, and also get recipes to include in their health food weight loss diet.
The www.sparkpeople.com weight loss help site may not be for everyone. Of course, there is no true substitute for working one-on-one with a registered dietician who has spent four to eight years in medical school, learning all there is to know about nutrition, exercise and how the body loses weight naturally. Dieters who are looking for quick, easy, pre-prepared meals to squeeze into their busy lives will not find what they’re looking for here. Also, people hoping to find “magic bullet” supplements will not find those weight loss products here either. You’ll receive tools, do it yourself natural weight loss information and community support, but ultimately it’s still up to you to stick with your goals. For some people, it’s much too easy to avoid the computer and fall back into old habits again.
