Monday, September 13, 2010

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.

11 comments:

  1. It is interesting, and just think how boring it would be if we were all the same. :-)

    I have to admit, I read some approaches and I wonder what they are doing. However, some people make strange things work.

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  2. ...or what doesn't work, eh?
    Super-great post today!

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  3. Absolutely incredible post. You're amazing. Incredible insight--so true, all of it.

    Thank you and you know...

    My best always
    Sean

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  4. Haha! I love this post. Very perceptive! The blogworld is indeed a very interesting one.

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  5. Verrrrrrrrrrrrrry interesting indeed!
    Another great post...
    (Took all my self-control just a few min ago, when I skimmed a cyber-friend's weight loss blog & come across this comment: "Sometimes we make loosing [sic] weight much more complicated than it is: Calories in vs calories out!")
    Better to remain silent & be thought ignorant than to open one's mouth & remove all doubt ;-)

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  6. lol. Yeah. people like to be liked.
    nuff said.
    I don't care what anyone else does. I worry about me and try to be encouraging. Hope I do a good job at both.

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  7. Hey girl! I'm Blogger #1 I assume from reading your comment on my blog. I know you have your opinion, but to say I'm going to "go all out" isn't really accurate, as I tried to detail in this morning's post. I really don't think 1800 calories a day is extreme. I would say anything under 1200 a day is extreme. And I'm not even able to do any solid exercise yet due to spraining my left ankle 2 weeks ago. So to say I'm going all out really isn't fair....the good thing is, this is YOUR blog, so you get to say whatever you want. Thank you for allowing me to disagree with you. :)

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  8. I find blogland very interesting! Quite a few people believe their way is the only way.
    To tell the truth i haven't found what works best for me yet, but i'm learning something new all the time.
    You hit the nail on the head with those descriptions :)

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  9. I'm pretty sure I'm #5 on this list, and what a lovely description of what I have done. :-)

    Thank you.

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  10. Hmmmm. I wonder if I am blogger #4?

    "Filled with self-loathing"? Nope. Must be someone else. I sincerely hope it is.

    I like to think I am filled with honesty and perhaps prone to calling a spade a spade, especially in relation to my own efforts. People may just relate to the truth..with no sugar-coating and faux-positivity?

    I have to be my own cheer-leader and my own critic. If my criticisms are truthful and I have a whinge, or even beat myself up, so what? Isn't that what blogging is all about? It's very cathartic and much cheaper than going to see a shrink:)

    I think those who reply can relate to the things I am going through and the way I think. I am just a little more blunt perhaps. 'Rah-rah-rah all is well' phoney-ness and uber-positivity 24/7 just doesn't do it for me.

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  11. Grumpy,

    Blogger #4 shall remain nameless. I certainly am with you on "rah-rah"ing. It doesn't fit my personality either.

    If being blunt suits you, more power to you. But a little kindness to oneself never hurt either.

    Keep up the good work.

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