I'm posting less, although I should post more, primarily because work has gotten insane in the last year or so.

Consequently, I'm also up in weight and I probably need the help more than anyone else.

I haven't found another outlet -- everyone already posted the issues with FB and such -- and I love forums. I've loved them from before there was even a WWW and they were usenet groups.

*sigh*

I will try to be on more, but it is hard and I like the anonymity of the site. FB just isn't the same.

I'm wondering if there are too many subgroups on here that is spreading out members. Because I just read through this whole thread and most of you I don't recognize because we don't run in the same circles. It's not having so many subsections for specific support when there are a lot of us but now with less activity it seems to be too spread out and isolated. I mostly follow the 20-Somethings and Chicks Up For a Challenge groups. Occasionally I venture out. What if there was a way to unite those of us left (or as in my case, returning) just so we know whose out there.

Just trying to come up with some solutions.

Some people might not be aware that 3fc recently became a mobile friendly site, perhaps that amber advertised more? It's now easy to keep up with this site on the go however one trip up is that it's not possible to cue up to the most recent post of a subscribed conversation so you have to go there manually but otherwise the mobile site is fine.

With change in technology it's hard to keep an old site relevant. There has to be more engagement from moderators in perhaps bringing in guests. I'm part of a cooking forum that does this sort of thing. They have guest posters, giveaways, and live teleconferencing.

Another change that has affected foruming is the prevalence of blogs. People are very autonomous now on the Internet and everyone I know is starting a blog. That keeps someone very busy with no need to connect with forums.

I went through each of the support groups and found common threads that are not specific to that group but that could be great for everyone in the regular Weight Loss Support (and some are already there too). Maybe if we reserved those Support Group subsections for only their theme and kept these in the common room we can help bridge the gap with our shrinking forum.

The common threads are:
-Daily Weigh In for [specific month]
-Daily Check-In for [specific month]
-Year long accountability
-Let's get out of [specific weight range]

What do you guys think?

Eh that doesn't even matter, with the fact the blogs don't work properly or anything, makes me think that whoever runs the site after being bought out just wanted it to die out anyways. Happened to a forum I was a mod at. The site was full of people at one point, then it got bought out. The new owners basically shuttled traffic to their site and stopped supporting the forum, if you go there now it's a ghost town as well. The admin there (who btw they just stopped paying) even tried consolidating the groups but it didn't help.

Very sad as I used to love coming here.

I don't think its all that bad. It seemed to pick up a bit a few days after I posted (coincidental).

This thread is making me sad. This is the only forum that I have been apart of for all these years. I feel like some of the people I have grown to trust like friends. I have shared so much about myself here and have been given heart changing advice, not just on weight loss, but many issues I've faced in life. I joined this forum when I was 26, still controlled by and not wanting to heal from my ED. This was shortly after my first son was born. I was dealing with PPD. Over the years I have come to this site with issues of depression, the years of evaluations and eventual diagnosis of my aspergers son, the pregnancy of my 2nd, 3rd and 4th baby, 2 miscarriages, friend, family and even some marital struggles. Personal growth, reflection, my working through my binging and restricting and my journey to heal from my ED. And of course losing 50+ pounds after my 3 kids. Now I am over weight again after baby #4, and I have one more time of significant weight loss in front of me. I've come to feel more connected, especially with members that have been around for many years, even though I have never shared my real name or image. This was something I thought about doing after losing the weight for the last time. Anyway, I hope the long term members continue to come back and that new members that join see what a tight and supportive group this is and stay. I'm not around much right now because I just had a baby and I'm really busy with the kids, but I know over the next year as she gets a little older, my time will free up a bit and I'll be back more often. I hope the day doesn't come when people stop coming to 3fc. There are people on here that I would sad to never chat with again!

Glamour Girl, I feel sad as well and miss some of the people who used to post a few years ago. I hope wherever they are, they are well and happily maintaining.

I'm so glad to see you're still around. Congrats on the new baby girl, I'm happy for you!

I hope this forum is more active one day but sadly I doubt it will be. I find coming here and reading the posts to be a big motivator with weight loss.

Re
 

I'm on the mfp forums, but things flow by so fast it's really hard to keep up with things. It also doesn't seem as the discussions are as intellectual or feeling there.

The reason I like this site is that we go beyond weight, that we talk about the whole person. For example, I have an autistic son, and I've been able to talk about that with people who have the same situation. That makes a huge difference in my mindset and consequently my health.

I guarantee you I would not have lost that 120 lbs without this site. I know it gets slow, especially in summer, and maybe eventually it may die. It definitely made a difference in so many people' s lives though - what more can you ask for?

Cheryl

I wish everyone who cares about this forum (and we all do) would pick 1, 2, or 3 (depending on how much time you have) ongoing threads and post in them everyday, even if no one else posts, just keep posting. People tend to gravitate toward active threads. If they see it's not dead, they will eventually start posting in them too.

Also, I think we as a community are making a big mistake in not going to Introductions at least once a day and welcoming someone new. Here the newcomers have taken the time to open up to us, to express how excited they are to get started or to tell us how discouraged they are as they reach out for help, yet sometimes they get only 1 short reply. I've seen some get no reply. How does that let them know what a genuinely nice, supportive group we are, because we really are if they will just stay and get involved with us! Newbies are the future of this site. We need to make them feel welcome. :yes:

And I love the idea of combining more threads to bring the community together more, but I'm not so sure those who are already posting in those separate threads would be happy about that! :lol:

Jacqui Your ideas are spot on, as usual! Vex Wow, congrats on 120 lbs off. That quite an accomplishment!

Jacqui has some good points there. :)

Jacqui has done a great job of greeting new members :) I have tried to as well, but I do agree that if people feel welcomed, are given some initial tips/hints, then it will help them become active members of the community.

Aw, thanks, chickies! :grouphug: And yes, Nelie, you are really good about welcoming new people, and I know they appreciate it!