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Shelly, aren't the game rooms there to use? How do you figure by using them, they are cheating? I go there and glad of it because I've "met" a really fun fellow gamer. We escape a while from our busy lives to relax and have some enjoyment. Keeping ourselves occupied especially during times when we sense wrong food temptations makes the game room a healthy choice.
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KNITTINGKITTY
6/23/06 9:34 P
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Shelly, I agree with you about the points. I probably wouldn't have started reading the articles, except that I wanted the points. But oh, how much I've learned from them!
What's the game room? I've never done that. I spend too much time on Spark now - maybe I'd better not know!!
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SHELLYSSTITCHIN
6/21/06 11:25 A
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I was very curious too at how someone just half through the month could have nearly 3000 points. I mean I certainly don't be grudge anyone their points and am happy to see people making progress in so many ways. I think I have a lot of points by following and working this program but I can't seem to really get over 100 points a day. So I couldn't understand how some people get so many. I mean there are max limits on following the steps and what you can actually log so where do all the extra points come from? Just posting?
I admit I do sometimes venture into the game room because it can be fun. But I do think of these as "cheating" post points. I try to make sure I answer at least 3 panic buttons, 3 woo hoos, & 3 staying motivated every day. I just like to feel I may somehow be contributing.
To me the points is just another motivational tool. I know I've earned my points by tracking my food/excercise, by drinking my water, by reading the informative articles -- basically by following a healthy lifestyle program.
Cheers to us all because whether you've earned 50 points or 150 points a day you've logged on and did the work!
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I am a week old on the boards. When I look at the points I see them as a guideline for myself. The more I earn the more I am working the program. If I wanted to cheat at it, I would be cheating myself and no one else.
Comparing ourselves with others tends to make us bitter and resentful. Work your own program. Be happy with your own successes. Share your success and your defeats and lets all of us encourage one another.
To all of you a wish much success and fulfillment.
Dusty
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I agree that we shouldn't be comparing our particular weight to that of other people and then getting discouraged about it. However, I think comparing our points to the points of Sparkers is a different thing altogether and is a helpful, friendly type of competition that can motivate many people.
This said, I agree that it would keep everyone on the same playing field, thus improving motivation, if the points could be tracked ahead but did not show up until the actual date arrived.
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AUNT_BETH_64
5/19/06 12:08 A
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I'm new here. To tell you the truth I haven't really noticed anyone else's points. For those who are discouraged by others who start the month with lots of points--as I read the posts it hit me---that is part of my hang-up that has lead to the weight problem in the first place. I have wasted way too much time and energy over the years comparing myself to others.
I use my points to motivate me. It is incentive to log in through the day and track my food, water, exercise etc. It is alos helpful to look up a recipe when preparing meals or read an article when I am feeling discouraged. This strategy is working for me so far.
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SISWILSON
5/18/06 12:43 P
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I think its important to remember that you are only responsible for what you do. You know you are honest and that's what counts. Even though someone is tracking ahead, it could be they are planning their menus for the week and thinking ahead. When you do that you have to make sure you make any changes along the way each day to indicate how your day really went. I have planned ahead and I have entered on a daily basis. For groceries, its easier if I plan ahead.
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| I don't know what I am going to eat or what excercise I am going to do till it happens. I track several times daily.
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| I agree with you all, I don't like seeing their points so high so early in the month, it can be very discouraging :( But I have decided it's not about the points, though they are fun, it's about getting to where I'm going! Yea us for doing it!!
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KNITTINGKITTY
5/7/06 8:37 P
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Yes, Sara, it's another motivator. How many can you get in a day, or a month, etc. I was trying to earn points, and I realized that you can earn a lot for exercising, so it's a tricky little way to get me to exercise - "just another five more minutes - it's one more Sparkpoint"!
Some people might find it silly, but hey, if it works, and I lose more weight, all the better!
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| What is the actual purpose of sparkpoints? Are they just to motivate us or what?
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KRYPTYCHYCK
5/3/06 10:30 P
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I think it is more motivational for me to earn my points day by day, but to each their own. I would hope everyone is being honest with their points. Although the competition is fun, any cheaters are really cheating themselves out of learning about a healthy lifestyle.
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I was wondering about that. It helps me more to go on SP once or twice a day and track my food and exercise as I go through my day. But I guess if they put things ahead of time it could motivate them if by putting it down they make themselves follow it. If you understand what I'm saying.
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| I agree that the points shouldn't show up until the actual date.
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KNITTINGKITTY
5/1/06 8:51 P
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| I think a change needs to be made. We should all start the month on an even field. If people want to work ahead, so be it, but the points shouldn't show up until the date actually occurs. It seems to defeat the purpose. After all, I could rack up that many points too, but what if I changed plans, didn't exercise, etc. Would I remember to change my points? I doubt it. I like to use the points as a personal motivator, but now I don't feel like I'm being rewarded for my honest efforts.
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| Hadn't thought about that. Well, I do feel a lot more able to catch up now and I'm OK with it. It is dicouraging to see someone have more points the first day that I will probably manage to earn for the whole month but it's a relief to know what the case is.
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| I don't like the tracking of the whole month ahead of time. If the SparkPoints are supposed to be a kind of motivator, it's somewhat discouraging to work your butt off and find out that someone got almost 1500 points on the first day of the month.
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JENNYBELL68
5/1/06 1:26 P
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| I noticed that too. It seems a little childish to do all your tracking for the month just so you can be the leader. It wouldn't help your weight loss efforts to track that far in advance, so why else do it?
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SCOTSTITCHER
5/1/06 9:38 A
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| Sorry I find it discouraging .. I like seeing my points add up..and seeing myself climb the board. Seeing someone have that many points when it is barely am in the US seems a bit sus to me, especially when that same person seems unable to "play" nicely on the games board! Oh well.. at least I know ALL the points I have against my name have been fairly put there, and just continue to challenge myself!
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SPARK_COACH_JEN
5/1/06 7:33 A
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Anelia,
A lot of those people are tracking all of their food and exercise for the whole month ahead of time. You'll find you'll catch up as the month goes on.
Coach Jen
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I couldn't help mentioning that even though it's the first day of the month there already are users on SP that have over 400 points. MM_lover even has over 1400.
Since the daily maximum is somewhat over 100 or, with a lot of one time and periodical bonuses, at most something like 250 points I can't help but wonder. Did those people get some kind of an achievement bonus? Can I hope to get one at a certain point in my programme or can I do something to earn one?
Just curious.
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