Profiles in Blogging

Blogger #1 announces that they (I am refraining from using "he" or "she" in this blog post) are going to go for the gold after having lost a significant amount of weight in a month and then proceeding to gain twice the amount of weight back in the ensuing months. They are going to go all out again to lose that weight as fast as possible. Readers are enchanted and respond enthusiastically, sending in words of encouragement and essentially backing up the blogger's decision to crash diet yet again.

After many failed attempts, Bloggers #2 and #3 both finally set about losing weight. They both take a calm approach, based on calorie counting. They give themselves a reasonable number of calories per day and begin moderate exercise (essentially walking). One of them uses just calories as a guide--no foods are off limits. The other realizes that at least in the beginning, certain foods will automatically trigger self-defeating behaviours. Over time, this blogger begins to master the art of having an occasional treat without completely losing control. Both of these bloggers have been very successful in losing weight and increasing exercise. Visitors to these two blogs learn about the bloggers' trials and tribulations and their successes; their blogs are infused with compassion, care and concern for others. They both have large (pardon the pun), appreciative readerships who respond enthusiastically to all their posts.

Blogger #4 is losing weight very slowly, but losing nevertheless. This blogger is filled with self-loathing and believes that the only way to lose weight (at least in their personal case) is through constant self-flagellation. Readers respond enthusiastically and kindly oblige with additional flogging on occasion.

Blogger #5 posts long, thought-provoking, highly analytical reflexions on weight loss. This blogger has taken an extremely personal approach to weight loss that (and I am no doubt over-simplifying) blends calorie counting with elements of intuitive eating. It is the fruit of long reflexion and analysis. The result is a significant and on-going weight loss. Much weight remains to be lost but the scale is consistently going in the right direction. Readers respond enthusiastically, often with their own similarly long and analytical reflexions.

Blogger #6 is on a military mission to lose weight, using an extremely low-calorie, restrictive diet and a "boot camp" approach that includes the verbal bludgeoning of other bloggers. Readers are enchanted and respond enthusiastically.

It's an interesting world we live in.