Reflections

Before I added the SparkPage, I didn't feel I was actively involved in the community. After having my SparkPage, I feel that I have my own community now who actually "knows" about me. When posting on big forums, there were over 100,000 members posting as well. and I did not feel like most of them were replying to each other. They were rather replying to the question the starter posted.

But now I realize that the SparkTeams are in more intimate settings where people know each other (their faces, interests, progress). Also, friends would visit each other to motivate each other with statements like "Happy Tuesday..!! Have fun working out cuz the scale is going DOWNNNNNNNNN!!!!!..... lol." ( CINDYY0O 4/14/2009 12:03:43 PM)

In a way, SparkPages are similar to Facebook in that you can set your status, and your recent activities such as leaving comments, changing status, becoming friends with others) are logged in the page. Once I am a friend of another user, I will get a feed of her activities. Also, I have the option to receive emails in regard to forum post or comments that I left on others' pages. This is convenient in that I do not get emails for all little activities that other users do, but only for activities that I care.

It was very easy for me to become involved in SparkPeople. Not only were people friendly, but they are also positive and motivational. They would reply me with detailed, and friendly comments. I wonder if this is the culture in SparkPeople. I am also curious that if getting featured in "SparkPeople Motivator!" has to do anything with that.


Anyway, I am collecting questions to ask once I get to know some of these members pretty well.
1. Why did you decide to create a SparkTeam by yourself? What was the motivation?
2. You seem very honest and detailed about your health life on your page. Can I ask why?
3. How do you spend your time in SparkPeople (Forums, SparkTeams, SparkPages, articles, logs) and how long?
4. Do you know most of your friends personally?
5. Have you invited friends to SparkPeople?
6. Are you honest with your progress?
7. You seem not to be bothered posting your images or weight. Why is that?
8. Where do you mostly get your motivation from?
and more to come!

Support Chain

I made 3 friends today! and I already feel motivated to continue my workout.
I simply went to College Students SparkTeam and read people's posts. I visited a user's SparkPage if the post was interesting or motivating. When I visited AZILEE80's page, I wanted to know how she set the background image. So I left her a comment on the page asking her how to do that. Within 30 minutes, I got an email saying that I got a new comment.

AZILEE80 4/15/2009 2:02:24 PM
Hi! Thanks for the comment on my blog!
If you go up in the top right to edit page and then when the edit screen comes up, you go to where you can change the colors and everything. You select upload background image and you should be able to go to any jpeg file and add it. Hope that helps!

Then, I went to her page again, and this time I gave her a SparkGoodie that says "Best wishes." In the optional message box, I wrote "I want a SparkGoodie lol =)."
Within an hour, I got my first SparkGoodie which is a smiley face!

Browsing other members' SparkPages and their profile pictures, I realized that I wanted to have friends who are similar to me in terms of physique, interests, and age. So I visited KENDRALONG's SparkPage. She has a big icon that says "Lost 10 pounds with SparkPeople." Losing 10 pounds is not an easy job! Also, I admired that she wrote detailed, honest descriptions about her life on the main page.

I wrote a comment, "I like how you're honest about your story! You are my motivator of the day!" Within thirty minutes, she also added me as a friend. This was great because it showed me that she wanted to help me out.

My own SparkPage

I decided to get more involved in the community. So, I visited College Students SparkTeam that I joined to introduce myself to the community. Then, I saw a post "A Few Spark Starters" that said I should first create my own SparkPage. So I went and created a page.

It took me about an hour all together to finish the page. Because I am into web design, I wanted the page to look decent. I first changed the colors for the background and text. I also added pictures of me climbing up the tree to show my adventurous side and of Cornell campus.

I also FINALLY realized how to get the weight loss tracker that is on every user's post. Weight loss tracker shows the user's progress to his/her weight goals as an image. I chose an ocean background with the sun pointing at my weight.

Also, I edited "My Goals," "My Program," and my "Personal Information."
Writing this helped me to really think about what my health goals are and the steps that I could take everyday to achieve it. Here is what I came up with:

My Goals:
1. To go to the gym twice a week Monday and Wednesday mornings

My Program:
1. Sleep early the day before going to the gym

2. Set the alarm clock an hour before I wake up so I don't be lazy and get my butt up dancing to the music

3. Stay motivated with the help of other members!

Personal Information:
I'm from NYC.
Hit me a message or leave me comment! I'll get right back at you =)

Ultimately, I am very satisfied with my page and I want to add more content by adding a blog entry, adding friends, and SparkGoodies (free gifts that others can give you!).