Getting rolling

[muck_a_luck]

Hey, everybody! Hope everybody gets a chance to exercise today! I envision us each just doing a post to the community every day we get a chance to exercise.

This is supposed to be a low pressure, supportive scenario. But it is also supposed to be encouraging adn motivating. Would people like me to do a Monday roundup, of who posted during the previous week?

Like:

CK - 4 days
Rydra_Wong - 6 days (and one rest day! :D )
and so on?

Or is that WAY TOO COMPETITIVE AND STRESSFUL OMG?

Alternatively, we could split it. Anybody who wanted to be on the roundup could let me know, and anyone who found that too stressful could let me know, and I would only round up the ones who wanted that. I could even cut the round up to make it easy for people who might find it stress inducing to just not look at it.

I'm trying to think how a mod could add to the usefulness of the community. However, maybe there isn't anything really for me TO do, but sit back and enjoy the fellowship.

Thoughts?

Comments

[just_ann_now]

I'm in another mutual support group comm, picowrimo, a month-long thing for folks not anywhere wordy enough for Nanowrimo. What we do is post our goals for the month, adjusting them as necessary, and then report on how we're doing. We don't have to report every day unless we want to; when we do, it's to great mutual cheering and celebration. *g*

What the Mod does is start the daily post rolling (we reply in comments), welcome new members, and generally acts as head cheerleader. How does that sound for us?

[muck_a_luck]

That is definitely an interesting idea. I thought about doing a daily post and requesting responses, but decided I didn't want to go that route. I feel like that takes the focus off the people and puts it on the day. To me, it is not the day that is important, but the people, and I want their posts to be out, front and center, easy to see, read and respond to, not buried in nested comments. As a mod, I don't think it would be value added for me to create a daily umbrella post.

I could see it becoming both more and less possible if we got really large and active. An umbrella post could spare our friends pages 50 updates a day. On the other hand, 50 responses to an umbrella post would be even harder for us to respond to as a community.

[just_ann_now]

Ooooh, wouldn't fifty entries or even comments be a lovely thing? You don't see that much on comms that don't involve Chris Pine, or any of the Supernatural guys.

Whatever we decide to do is fine by me! I haven't posted or responded to your other post yet because I'm hoping to get some more exercise in during my afternoon off. (Also, need to get more icons over here - I keep looking for LJ ones that haven't uploaded yet.)

[muck_a_luck]

Haha! Well, IF teh community members are actually posting their daily exercise, we would have eleven or so updates every day already! :D

Yes, you can't post your exercise til it's done! Mine was just done at 6:15am, so I am an early poster. Usually, if it is not done by 7am at the latest (and that's for weekends), it's not gonna happen.

[carolyn_claire]

I was wondering about whether we were to make our own daily posts or comment to one you made--thanks for clarifying that. I wouldn't prefer to be part of a round-up, myself, if you do it--I would find it too stressful. I'd start comparing myself with others and develop issues, because it's what I do. :/

Would you like members to make intro posts, talk about their fitness levels, their exercise routines, goals, etc? Or would that be edging into flist clutter territory?

[muck_a_luck]

We are so small now, I think intro posts as you describe are a fine idea. I posted my intro with my exercise post this morning, putting the non-exercise post behind a cut, out of respsect for people's friends pages.

I like the idea of the community being a real community, where we all are aware of each other's situations and hopes for our fitness routines, so we can do a better job of supporting and encouraging each other. Even if most of the the time all we say is "You can do it!" or "Go you!"

Maybe after this post has time to marinate in the mental juices of the community, I will come back to it and glean the necessary community "rules." I have never done any serious work as a mod before. I am inclined to encourage intro posts, and updates on goals, but maybe to ask that intro posts go behind cuts, and goals updates be behind a cut and part of an exercise update?

[carolyn_claire]

That all sounds good!

[rydra_wong]

Rule-wise -- it might be a good idea to suggest that stuff about weight/diets/nutrition should go behind a cut. Obviously for some people it'll be a significant part of their fitness goals, but it can also be seriously triggery for other folk.

[muck_a_luck]

*nods*

[green]

I'm fine with a roundup, it would keep me on my toes, so to speak. But others might find it too stressful or competitive, so maybe it's not a good idea. I don't know.

Are we going to have a daily check in post, like yesterday's? I would like that instead of posting on our own. I'm more likely to check in than make my own post.

[muck_a_luck]

Interesting. I am inclined not to do check-ins, for reasons posted above, but I am intrigued that you think it would actually help you to have the mod post. Something for me to think about.

Would it be stupid to put a check-in post, but to encourage individual posts?

[green]

I don't think that's stupid at all! Good for everyone. :D

[rydra_wong]

I'm more likely to check in than make my own post.

Ditto. It feels psychologically easier somehow than starting a whole new post.

[green]

*nodnod* I might make my own post from time to time if I want to talk about something specific, though. I think her idea of encouraging individual posts while making a check-in post at the same time is a good idea.

[cathalin]

Me, too! I've gotten over most of it, even establishing comms and stuff, but I'm still a lurker at heart in some ways. Making a new post just for me... I just wouldn't, whereas I might pop a comment in on a daily checkin sometimes. (If that's okay? If not, and you want more active participants, I totally understand and can unjoin... I'm still just in the "getting myself motivated to start again" phase, plus will be traveling a ton for the next three weeks or so, so won't even have internet for chunks of that.)

Other exercise boards I've lurked at (hee) have usually had daily posts and people comment to those. One thing I've seen that could be an idea -- but again, I'm not one to listen to because I really am not actively participating -- is by type of exercise. So, for example, someone could post about yoga practice and people could talk about that, etc. This comm is probably too small to need even that, though. There could be, in addition to daily checkin posts, a weekly roundup post or something, for people who keep track by week and don't have time to post every day...

But one thing I've learned about comms is, it's yours and you and the active participants should make it what you want it to be! <333

[just_ann_now]

Maybe the weekly round-up post could be something like, "This week our members' activities included yoga, pilates, free weights, and swimming?" To encourage and inspire a variety of exercise types?

[muck_a_luck]

I like this. More like a newsletter. Maybe I could say "60% of our 13 members posted that they exercised 6 of 7 days this week!" And maybe highlight any accomplishments people posted about, like 3-chin-ups or getting upside down on their own for the first time.

[cathalin]

That would be cool, and wouldn't feel like pressure/competitiveness for those of us who didn't do stuff or post about it, and more like motivation/encouragement. <333

People could also post whenever they wanted to discuss something specific or get advice, etc. Like, what rotations have you liked for X issue/goal, that kind of thing...

[cathalin]

You could even -- just a thought -- make it be, 60% of people who posted a goal met it this week. That way, people who couldn't or didn't, wouldn't feel like they were weighting down the averages. Or, "members reported a combined 50 hours of strength training and 60 hours of aerobics," stuff like that, plus individual people's cool accomplishments.

Lol that I've become a ~voice for the lurkers/inactives. (I'm super active in fandom on lj, is why it's funny).:) I do suspect that this comm will grow, though -- it's a great idea, and when people catch on I'm sure it'll increase dramatically, so you're bound to have other people who just want inspiration, but don't post goals, etc. Unless, like I said, you *want* it to be only more active participants, which is fine too.<333

[muck_a_luck]

I could just report on the statistic for the number of people who posted at least once that week.

There should always be a voice for the lurkers! :D

[cathalin]

Aww, very true about the lurkers. A lot of people don't realize just how many there really are! Especially if posts aren't locked.

I feel like I recognize your name a bit... were you ever in the sga fandom? <3

[muck_a_luck]

I comment there, and I have written there very occassionally. I'm brainofck in my alter ego.

But if you are a reader of sun_salutation it's more likely you recognize me from my blah blah yoga blah there! :D

[cathalin]

I think I recognize you from sga.:) I don't have my icons over here on DW yet, but read and wrote John/Rodney near the end of the series' run. I'm still friends with a bunch of SGAers as well. <333

I did join sun salutation in hopes it might inspire me to actually start yoga again, which I love.

[rydra_wong]

Awesome idea! One of the climbing boards I read has a "Fit Club" which does round-ups like this:

http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=417643

So people get cheered on for their individual achievements, or commiserated with if they haven't been able to do anything because they've been ill or injured, etc.

[alphaviolet]

I wouldn't want to post/comment about my goals more than weekly. If I keep it to weekly, is that OK?

Even the idea of a daily check-in would reduce my motivation to work out.

[muck_a_luck]

Whatever works for you! :)