Sparkpeople is a free motivational Web site that is user-friendly. Sparkpeople stresses that developing a healthy lifestyle is the way to lose weight and maintain the weight loss. Sparkpeople is not a fad diet program.
Sparkpeople is based on the idea that a tiny spark can create fire. By setting small weight loss and fitness goals, you’ll be able to gradually add more healthy habits to your routine and make then part of your lifestyle. The idea that you can make a goal to walk every day for 10 minutes may seem small, but once you mark that off everyday and see that you can accomplish what you set your mind to do, you’ll be able to add to that goal and steps things up a notch.
The Benefits of Using Sparkpeople:
- It is a place to find positive support.
- You can interact on the community message boards.
- You can join weight loss teams that share a common goal, interest or location.
- There is a food tracker to see how many calories you are consuming, as well as track specific nutrients.
- You can create a personalized Spark Page, where you can share your weight loss journey, pictures, blogs and connect with friends for support.
- The meal plan is based on your personal caloric needs as well as your tastes and preferences.
- Access a personalized exercise plan.
- Try new Sparkpeople approved recipes.
- Watch exercise video for quick office workouts.
- Get expert advice on nutrition, exercise, motivation, health and wellness.
- Read success stories for inspiration and motivation.
- Learn about nutrition, exercise, motivation and more by reading Sparkpeople articles.
- Earn points for everything you track, including food, exercise, message posts on the community boards, reading articles and logging in daily (you get to spin a wheel to determine how many points or which prize you will get.)
- You can use your points in friendly competition with other Sparkpeople members.
- You can also earn trophies based on your total points.
- You can set small and long term weight loss and healthy lifestyle goals.
Getting Started on Sparkpeople:
Losing weight on Sparkpeople is easy. Just sign up on the Web site and fill in your information to have a program designed that meets your personal needs.
Getting started is easy according to Linda Shellhorn, Sparkpeople user and weight loss success story. “The tools and support have been wonderful benefit. I started with the food tracker and reading almost every article on the website. I graduated to posting on the general boards and then finally joined some teams and started interacting daily with the same people which has really been the greatest. I also am very "point oriented" and do all the steps each day to earn as many spark points as possible, my own personal challenge,” she said. “I also joined the spark community team and by motivating others it truly does keep my motivation high.”
