I find that I go many places. I run into random people. I am usually feeling good about the weight I've lost, even if random people can't see it because they didn't know me before that point in time.

Occasionally I run into people that have seen what I've done and even more occasionally they have friends with them that hear about my weight loss. In the first couple of months I decided to print out some "Spread the Spark" cards. I have actually been able to give out a few of them and one person actually came to this site because I talk about it so much and gave her a card.

I even love this site so much I posted a link to it in the signature section of a mom's site I frequent. Between that site and my facebook page I have Sparked 7 new Spark People. I don't know if any of them are still active, but I know it was at least a thought and perhaps it was at least a jumping off point for them. My husband is #8 on my Sparked new people referred points and he's jumped back on the wagon with me.

It's just amazing how people flock to something that is so positive for their lives. I guess I might be a little obsessed at the moment since it's such a vital part of my day. It helps remind me that I can't eat the whole box of cookies, but also that I need to eat enough to give me energy to live my life. It has many good articles that occasionally give me some new information. I say occasionally because much of it should be common knowledge and I knew some of those things before joining, but never implemented them until I came here and started actually doing the work.

I probably wouldn't be where I am today had it not been for Spark People. I probably wouldn't be here if it weren't for creating a Spark page and joining groups. I definitely wouldn't be here if I didn't have Spark Friends. I likely would have given up months ago because this really is hard work paying attention to what I do to my body.

If it weren't for this social site and all the people that comment on my blogs and page, then I probably would still feel lonely and gone back to my old habits. I probably wouldn't care about what I'm eating and how it affects my day. I'd likely still be eating whole boxes of cookies, especially those frosted ones out of the bakery section. I'd probably still feel badly about having eaten that whole box of cookies and growling at people like I'm Gollum with the One Ring.

I want to thank each and every one of you for following my progress and helping me when I'm having a rough day/week/month. I couldn't have gotten through some of the stresses I've had if it weren't for all the real people out there looking into my virtual world where I try to be as honest about my life as possible, even the bad and ugly parts. Thank you for understanding the days where I could have gone to my usual "comfort" and helping me remember why I can't do that.

That is why I think this site towers over other sites I've used in the past. It is the best place to get that reminder. Some other places do calorie counts and the occasional article, but the ones I've used before don't have this added element of other users doing similar things and going through similar situations. The people make the difference!