PYQOD....6/11

Ditto on the site tour

Patricia: DEFINITELY the glue!

The best piece of advice I received when I joined was to make this experience a very personal one that I could live with and that would fit in best with my lifestyle and time of my life. I met many wonderful people who gave me great advice over the years. I still think that the friends you meet here are the glue.

look at the different spark teams that peak your interest, join them and get active and post. Don't lurk in the team and not say anything. The more active you are the more successful you are.

1. Go to the start page . . . take the site tour.

2. Questions?? ASK AWAY! Someone will be able to direct you.

3. You need to plan your work and work your plan. That means putting things in writing, black-and-white so you make that mental commitment.

4. KNOW you're not alone on this journey.

5. Take things a day-at-a-time. Doesn't matter how much weight you want to shed. . . it is overwhelming if you don't just take it day-by-day.

6. Join communities and get active in them.

7. Know that the 2 most important things in changing your lifestyle habits are perseverance and persistence. YES bumps in the road will happen . . . they do to everyone. BUT get up and dust yourself off, start all over again.

8. Always go back to the basics -- plenty of rest/exercise and proper nutrition.

What would your advice be to newcomers to Sparkpeople?