The First State of the Spark Address

I was reading reviews of Weight Watchers, trying with NO enthusiasm to get myself to try it one more time, when I saw a comment about SP. What drew me here was not so much *that* it was free as *why* it was free: that you wanted to genuinely help people rather than scam them out of their money. Every day I thank you and the woman who posted that comment! For the first time I feel like I may actually keep off the weight I lose. Losing the weight: $1000's. Keeping it off: priceless! - 5/4/2013 8:44:54 AM

Chris, thank you so much for turning your vision into a reality. This is the most wonderful company and resource. My husband and I started following the program on March 25 and it is changing our lives in profound ways. We are so grateful for the tools on the website, and every day we learn something new about how to achieve optimal health through nutritious foods and a commitment to exercise. THANK YOU! - 5/2/2013 8:53:15 AM

Chris you are truly AWESOME! I followed a link from facebook and now I am addicted to your site. It offers so much more than the others. From all of the motivational articles, blogs, etc., it really makes it fun for me on this life journey. I'm not all alone anymore. Thanks for everything you have done to make this possible. Cathy Mattingly, Webster, KY - 4/18/2013 1:22:05 PM

Chris and his company have truly come up with a working solution. I've been a member for 2 years, lost my weight and just had my one year anniversary at that weight. You have to really drink the koolaid and try hard to replace any bad habits about food or fitness with good ones (especially food) but I can testify that it really works. I feel great! and my husband of almost 40 years seems more in love with me than ever. I had a lot less than others to lose but I'm super proud of my accomplishment and never want to go back to the unhealthy life style I used to embrace. I have used Weight watchers on line and this works better so it is a genuine bonus that it is free.

Thank you so much Chris and SparkPeople! - 3/24/2013 2:49:25 PM

Thanks Cris! You gave me the hope and motivation I needed. - 3/1/2013 6:00:31 PM

I am very impressed with your values and the quality of this site. Above all, I am grateful. I am one pound from achieving my original weight goal but this success has given me confidence and hope that I can go beyond that to a truly healthy weight (and meet other goals in my life). So I will continue. I feel better than I have felt for years and I am seeing many crossover benefits in other areas of my life. So thanks! A million thanks and more! - 1/18/2013 6:32:42 PM

Words can't express my true gratitude towards this free site that you have founded. I can't thank you enough! I have spread the spark to my family doctor when I was in to see him about my last lab work results this month. Compared to my lab work done in July for high cholesterol and triglycerides, he thought that the most recent one was a mistake. He couldn't believe his eyes! He said, it was nearly impossible! The improvement was out the roof! When he asked me what I did and what changes I've made, I said....I joined SparkPeople the same day I received the horrendous lab work results back in July. He asked for the website and told me that he will highly recommend this site to any of his patients who have struggled with weight, cholesterol, diabetes issues. He was so impressed, that he will be also spreading the spark! Thank you, thank you, thank you Chris! You are a forever gift to us!! - 10/21/2012 4:54:33 PM

I am so grateful for your vision. It would be impossible to really express what Sparkpeople has been for me so I will sum it up by saying that SparkPeople has been a lifesaver. I don't have much support with family and friends in reaching my health goals. Either they try but they just don't have the right information or they are negative people. Coming here has given me a place to become educated about health, support, and motivation. And because it is free I don't have to worry about whether or not I can afford to continue. There is relief in knowing it is going to be here. I'm fine with the ads. I have stumbled onto several things that I was interested in.

I do believe this site will be very profitable for you SparkGuy. You come up with the greatest ideas and people flock to them. So the ideas you have to monetize some things here will be well received.

And just in case you read all of these, I hope that you will partner with local farms to advertise their products, services, and hours so that we can locate healthy foods from the source to help us along the journey. - 10/21/2012 4:48:38 PM

Thanks. I had tried on my own to lose weight and didn't stay with it. I had talked to my daugther about weight watchers , I had done this years ago. I knew they had the right concept and she had even said she wished she had the money to pay for jenny craigs for me. I liked weight watchers because of trackers. I knew I could do better with trackers. Then when I was at doctor's office I was flipping through a magazine and seen a story and wrote down the site ,came home and checked it out. I honestly joined for the trackers. Oh what a surprize I was in for. I found support, friends and I learn everyday. I can blog and get help, all kinds of ways to find out answers to the questions I have.It is like having your own cheer leading squad. This is not a diet, but it a heathy change of living. While losing weight , I am building a new me spiritualy, emotionly,and I like the new me. I tell people about this sight and that it is not a diet. It is the balance that everyone needs to secede.And they don't have anything to lose, except weight, because it is free. They will gain allot ,just check it out. I am glad to be a sparks person. - 9/28/2012 7:03:58 AM

I love Sparkpeople and it is helping me to make healthy eating and fitness a way of life, rather than something one does while trying to loose weight. I tell anyone who will listen just how great a site it is.
Thanks
Valerie (lost 15 pounds sofar) - 9/28/2012 3:23:19 AM

Dear Spark Guy,
Thank you so much for creating this program and this site. I have tried several diets that I didn't have any success at. I like what I have seen so far and am excited to have a life style change. Thanks for all the hard work you have done. - 9/18/2012 3:43:59 PM

You are changing my life. You sir are a gift.
Thank you.
THANK YOU!!! - 9/17/2012 5:20:12 PM

Thanks SparkGuy for your dedication and commitment. Love SparkPeople, this site has been a blessing to me. I am living a better fit and healthy new lifestyle and have a better sense of well being too. Spark On! - 4/28/2012 1:28:21 PM

Hello Chris,
Just as i was ready to give up on weight loss your program was discovered.I am 72
years old and have struggled with weight all my life. I had lost 40 pounds with Jenny
Craig about 4 years ago. I think you guessed it . I gained all the weight back plus 16 lbs.
I started with your program on January 11,2012 and have now lost the 16 lbs.
I thank you every day.
Unlike Jenny Craig you offer this life saver for free. Not against JC, just can't afford this for life. I love having the power to win with your program. I will spread the word and eventually add to your success stories. Thanking you again Chris.
Janette - 3/9/2012 1:50:28 PM

Yes, there is a lot of advertising, but that's WAY better than any site that lives in order to sell you a product. I use this site because of its economic independance, so I am willing to live with the advertising. The ads here are a bit larger and a bit more ostentatious than on Facebook or Google, but about the same as on most online newspapers and magazines. We consumers have learned to expect this.

Good decision. Good site. Keep up the good work! - 2/18/2012 6:36:13 PM