Jogging and Blogging: How online communities hold members accountable
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Being held accountable can help us all stay motivated to live healthier. For some, working out might be a little more fun (and effective) with a pushy friend by our side, urging us to jog that extra mile. And surely most would agree that dieting is much easier when those around us are dieting too. (Nothing beats a great salad, but it’s not easy to love lettuce when your dining partner is devouring a burger.) To get to the point, people in our lives provide support and hold us accountable.
Enter 21st century technology. It has changed the way we communicate and interact with one another. Websites – particularly Facebook, Twitter and blogs – and mobile apps have taken our social activities into the vast virtual world. Online communities full of people with similar interests are just a few keyboard taps and mouse clicks away. It’s here where you’ll find people who, just like you, want to exercise more, eat less, and just be healthier. They want, and need, a pushy and supportive friend to hold them accountable, and they’re willing to return the favor.
Log in to Facebook or Twitter and you’ll undoubtedly see status updates or tweets from friends or people you follow that say something like “going to dinner at McDonald’s [or any other restaurant],” or “I had raspberries for breakfast.” Sound like someone you know? While it’s easy to poke fun at people who think that anyone cares about where, when or what they eat or do, it’s important to remember that these people might just have the right idea. They’re seeking, and ideally getting, interaction – and being held accountable – by everyone who sees that status update on Facebook or tweet on Twitter.
A lot of people, especially the more tech savvy or those who find pleasure in writing, have staked their claim on the blogosphere. They create wellness-related blogs about everything from their weight loss journeys to tips and secrets for staying fit. Check out Erika Nicole Kendall’s blog titled “A black girl’s guide to weight loss.” This popular blog has almost 22,000 subscribers, almost 19,000 “likes” on its dedicated Facebook page, and almost 4,500 followers on Twitter. So apparently, there are more than a few people who care to hear and read what Erika has to say and write.
For a long list (emphasis on long) of inspiring, motivating, and just plain cool blogs about fitness, wellness, weight loss and more, check out healthylivingblogs.com. Take a 21st century approach to living healthier by getting involved in a community of supporters. Our guess is that you’ll become more calorie-conscious and wellness-aware just by tweeting what you’re eating, or something like that.
