People love to bemoan this new age of technology that we've found ourselves in. I get it. It's been an interesting transition that has brought many negatives. For example, the most ridiculous app I've ever heard of - Snapchat. I mean giving teens (and some sneaky adults) the opportunity to send messages and pictures that automatically delete after you send them? Come on...really? Might as well just have a tagline that says, "Send dirty pictures and obscene texts without your parents or spouse ever finding out." It's frightening. And we've definitely redefined the norm when it comes to having face to face interactions. Many of us have problems separating ourselves from whatever device we have long enough to look people in the eyes and connect. Some have become obsessed with chronicling the boring minutia of each step of the day and snapping duck face selfies in the bathroom mirror before leaving the house every day.
But that's not even what this post is about. I actually am a defender of social media for the most part.
Right after I got married my husband and I moved to Philadelphia. I was a new mom. I didn't know many people outside of family and one or two other people from our church. Living in a city of almost 2 million people, I had never felt more lonely. I craved interaction with people who were in the same stage of life as me and who thought like me. It was only through social media during that time that I was able to talk with friends regularly, connect with new people, and join groups with people who shared common interests. Of course instead of using Facebook, Twitter, and Messenger I used a website called Pleonast, AOL Instant Messenger, and chat rooms. As long as my dial-up didn't disconnect I felt like I was a part of a community again. And for that, I was thankful.
Nowadays I am blessed to have a myriad of people in my life who are close both in proximity and in Spirit. That's not the issue. The issue is time. Between school, family, church, and community there isn't a lot of time left for things focused on self improvement. And when that time does come, it is usually late at night or in short bursts throughout the day in between other responsibilities. So again, I have found social media to be a medium of communication that has filled a deep need in my life that I didn't even realize was so needed.
I signed up for Weight Watchers as you all know. Well one of their selling points is the weekly support and weigh-in meetings with others who are in the same boat. But as the woman on YouTube said, "Ain't nobody got time for that." So I joined the online version so I still had access to the point tracking app and I could get general guidance as to how many points to use on a daily and weekly basis, recipes, etc...But in lieu of meetings, there are several people who I am close to who are also struggling with weight issues or just general issues surrounding food. We hold each accountable, we send notes of encouragement, reminders, and we pray for one another. And for the most part we do it all via social media.
On more than one occasion I have been tempted to make poor food choices and have been thwarted by random texts or messages just saying, "I'm struggling today" or "did you remember to drink your water" or "Praying for us all to have good days today." Crap. When you've got a piece of cake in one hand and a fork in the other, you can't eat it after getting a messages like that. So I've put it down and grabbed an apple. And felt better for it afterwards. And after two weeks, I am happily down 7.5 pounds.
We have chosen Thursdays as our weigh in days. Some of us weigh at home, some at the doctor, and some at my house (since I have a medical scale) and we either post or text our gains/losses for the week. And there is no judgement. Only encouragement and understanding.
So my whole life I have heard that people typically are more successful with weight loss when you have an accountability partner. And I've tried it in the past and must have not been in the right mental place yet. But this time I feel like it's working. And I couldn't have it without social media because I don't have time to commit to being somewhere at a certain time every week. Now I can send a message asking for advice or prayers whenever I want and the people on the other end can check it when they have time.
So if you're trying to get motivated, I know you've heard it before but I would highly recommend creating a small group with some people who you feel comfortable being real with and start holding each other accountable and supporting one another. This time around, it's making a world of difference for me.
"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12
But that's not even what this post is about. I actually am a defender of social media for the most part.
Right after I got married my husband and I moved to Philadelphia. I was a new mom. I didn't know many people outside of family and one or two other people from our church. Living in a city of almost 2 million people, I had never felt more lonely. I craved interaction with people who were in the same stage of life as me and who thought like me. It was only through social media during that time that I was able to talk with friends regularly, connect with new people, and join groups with people who shared common interests. Of course instead of using Facebook, Twitter, and Messenger I used a website called Pleonast, AOL Instant Messenger, and chat rooms. As long as my dial-up didn't disconnect I felt like I was a part of a community again. And for that, I was thankful.
Nowadays I am blessed to have a myriad of people in my life who are close both in proximity and in Spirit. That's not the issue. The issue is time. Between school, family, church, and community there isn't a lot of time left for things focused on self improvement. And when that time does come, it is usually late at night or in short bursts throughout the day in between other responsibilities. So again, I have found social media to be a medium of communication that has filled a deep need in my life that I didn't even realize was so needed.
I signed up for Weight Watchers as you all know. Well one of their selling points is the weekly support and weigh-in meetings with others who are in the same boat. But as the woman on YouTube said, "Ain't nobody got time for that." So I joined the online version so I still had access to the point tracking app and I could get general guidance as to how many points to use on a daily and weekly basis, recipes, etc...But in lieu of meetings, there are several people who I am close to who are also struggling with weight issues or just general issues surrounding food. We hold each accountable, we send notes of encouragement, reminders, and we pray for one another. And for the most part we do it all via social media.
On more than one occasion I have been tempted to make poor food choices and have been thwarted by random texts or messages just saying, "I'm struggling today" or "did you remember to drink your water" or "Praying for us all to have good days today." Crap. When you've got a piece of cake in one hand and a fork in the other, you can't eat it after getting a messages like that. So I've put it down and grabbed an apple. And felt better for it afterwards. And after two weeks, I am happily down 7.5 pounds.
We have chosen Thursdays as our weigh in days. Some of us weigh at home, some at the doctor, and some at my house (since I have a medical scale) and we either post or text our gains/losses for the week. And there is no judgement. Only encouragement and understanding.
So my whole life I have heard that people typically are more successful with weight loss when you have an accountability partner. And I've tried it in the past and must have not been in the right mental place yet. But this time I feel like it's working. And I couldn't have it without social media because I don't have time to commit to being somewhere at a certain time every week. Now I can send a message asking for advice or prayers whenever I want and the people on the other end can check it when they have time.
So if you're trying to get motivated, I know you've heard it before but I would highly recommend creating a small group with some people who you feel comfortable being real with and start holding each other accountable and supporting one another. This time around, it's making a world of difference for me.
"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12
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