Re: another article made it

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/10/2000 11:35:55 PM Eastern Standard Time,

michellelia@... writes:

<< fantastic article Barb, you have made me want to get off the chair and put

on a tape even if it is just the eight minute!!! Great job, looking forward

to more of your articles....

Mich >>

that is about the nicest compliment I can get and the whole reason why I have

been trying this writing thing

if it gets just one more person committed to a healthier life style, it is

well worth the effort

Barb

who believes Tae-Bo saved my parents lives and quality of life because they

came through this fall better than folks half their ages

[Guest guest]

First of all,

that article was already written before I posed the question to the group so

I added in some of the feedback before sending it to fitnessheaven.

If it is the lack of sensitivity that is your main concern, this is a time of

my life when I could have used more sensitivity since I am presently being a

nurse maid to both of my parents indefinitely

sorry if my article upset you but sensitivity can be a two way street

Barb

who knows Susie didn't mean to hurt me just as I didn't mean to hurt her or

anyone else with my article but the timing surely sucked

[Guest guest]

fantastic article Barb, you have made me want to get off the chair and put

on a tape even if it is just the eight minute!!! Great job, looking forward

to more of your articles....

Mich

>From: Horsemom2@...

>Reply-To: tae-bo_onegroups

>To: tae-bo_onegroups

>Subject: another article made it

>Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2000 16:58:08 EST

>

> <A

>HREF= " http://www.fitnessheaven.com/athletics/sports_injury/82,27378.asp " >

>FitnessHeaven.com - Athletics</A>

>is my latest contribustion to fitness heaven

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[Guest guest]

Barb,

First of all, let me say that I really enjoy reading your articles,

and I like the way you write. I think it takes a lot of courage to

write articles that will be read publicly, and I applaud ,

, and you for doing so.

I am concerned, however, about some of the things that you wrote in

your last article. I debated whether to write you about it privately

or within the group, and decided on writing within the group because

I would like to hear the feedback on other members. Maybe I am

overreacting...maybe I am not. Only other people can help provide

perspective on that.

My first concern is this: In your article, you logically go through

a number of " excuses " as to why one doesn't work out and provide

logical reasons to argue those excuses. While I completely

understand your logic, most of the time, logic is not what is playing

a role here when people aren't taking the steps they need to be

healthy. It is often an emotional struggle for them that isn't black

and white; it is grey. I'm not saying what you say doesn't make

sense, just that it isn't that cut and dried for most people.

I think I have shared this story before on the group, but I will

share it again. When I was 18, I was in Weight Watchers, and I was

doing extremely well. There were other people in the group that were

talking about how hard it was for them, and I could not understand

what the big struggle was...it was so easy for me. At that time, it

was black and white for me. Ever since then, I have regretted my

insensitive thoughts at that meeting. They have come back to haunt

me one thousand times over. Since then, I have NEVER been at a point

where it has been easy for me. There are a myriad of circumstances

which now make the whole process " grey " for me. I think the same

goes with the struggle for fitness.

My second concern is some of the language that you used in your

article to describe these different excuses. For example:

" The most amusing excuse to me for not exercising is the lack of time

or not having your fitness quest be at the top of your list of

priorities... " OR

" Tossing in the lame excuse of not wanting to sweat or mess your

hair... "

To me, a person who is extremely busy, the fact that you find

my " excuse " of lack of time amusing appears insensitive to the " grey "

I talked about earlier. I'm not saying that you don't have a point

with what you are saying, but if my struggles are deemed as " amusing "

or " lame, " I don't feel that the person listening to me is being very

supportive.

My final concern, and probably the most important one to me and why I

wanted the group to consider this feedback, is this sentence:

" In fact, my online buddies are the main source of material for most

of this article. "

I understand that you were using this statement as a way of

explaining how useful online support groups can be, but I'd like to

provide you with a different perspective. Just about every " excuse "

you referenced in the article was discussed within this eGroups forum

(with the possible exception of not wanting to get sweaty). I

believe that when we have shared those " excuses, " it was because we

were struggling and looking for support. I'm not sure I feel

comfortable with my struggles being enumerated in a published

article. In fact, as a result, I am much more hesitant to discuss

what may be personal for me because it may be used as material. I

hope that makes sense to you.

My reason for writing this is not to cause a problem, and Barb, this

is not a personal attack by any means. It is simply to open the

floor up for discussion. I'm interested in how other members of the

group feel, and I'm interested in your perspective on my comments as

well, Barb.

Susi

[Guest guest]

Barb,

I do agree that the timing sucks. I don't know if " hurt " is the

right word to use in terms of my reaction to the article, but it is

clear I hurt you. That definitely wasn't my intention, and had you

not posted that things were looking up for your folks, I may have

posted at a different time. Again, I apologize for hurting you.

Susi

> First of all,

> that article was already written before I posed the question to the

group so

> I added in some of the feedback before sending it to fitnessheaven.

> If it is the lack of sensitivity that is your main concern, this is

a time of

> my life when I could have used more sensitivity since I am

presently being a

> nurse maid to both of my parents indefinitely

> sorry if my article upset you but sensitivity can be a two way

street

>

> Barb

> who knows Susie didn't mean to hurt me just as I didn't mean to

hurt her or

> anyone else with my article but the timing surely sucked

[Guest guest]

Barb

Congratulations again, another fantastic article

Jill

> <A

HREF= " http://www.fitnessheaven.com/athletics/sports_injury/82,27378.as

p " >

> FitnessHeaven.com - Athletics</A>

> is my latest contribustion to fitness heaven

[Guest guest]

> <A HREF= " http://www.fitnessheaven.com/athletics/sports_injury/82,27378.as

p " >

> FitnessHeaven.com - Athletics</A>

> is my latest contribustion to fitness heaven >>

Barb, I really liked this article. Again I am amazed with your attitude.

You really have figured out what exercise is all about -- doing it regularly

for the rest of your life regardless of weight plateaus. By writing these

articles, you are sharing your wisdom with the rest of the world. Keep on

writing.

Elena

[Guest guest]

> <A

HREF= " http://www.fitnessheaven.com/athletics/sports_injury/82,27378.as

p " >

> FitnessHeaven.com - Athletics</A>

> is my latest contribustion to fitness heaven

Barb,

I loved your article. It was right on the money. I think your

spirit is awesome. I totally agree with you about the positive

effects of exercise.

Peggy