The Spark & MizFit (video/give away post)

by

For your consideration:

MizFit Hearts the Spark: a brief yammering of love & bestowing of this:

gold_seal

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uhAJdYRNLA

As I yammered waxed eloquently about in the video I am a tremendous fan of the community that Spark People has built.

Ive been a lurker/reader there since the beginning & have found it to be a never ending source of ideas, tips, inspiration, & motivation.

The Spark is no different.

The Spark could be yours for the low low price of a comment below.

What has your experience been with Spark People?

Never been there? Never heard of em? feel free to share that as well.

Have a tip you wish you’d been able to share in the book? Deposit that below! You never know who might be reading…

FIVE winners announced 1.11.10 USA & Canada only

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Comments

  1. i have signed up w spark people, but i am the first to admit that i haven’t been really good with it. i think i may have logged my food only once or twice. i do like how it seems like a very supportive community. i do know that it’s ME that’s stopping me from doing the things i need to be doing to get fit. hopefully, if i’m lucky enough to win a copy, i can take something from it to translate in my own life. baby steps…but gotta start somewhere, right? :0)

  2. I have been using SparkPeople ever since I began trying to lose the wieght and live a healthier lifestyle. SparkPeople is where I got the number of calories I am supposed to be having, and it’s also where I go to find out the nutrition (and Slimming World syns through using the numbers) in recipes (SparkRecipes).

    I have slacked off in logging my weight losses (127.5 lbs down so far) and workouts there this year, although I used to log it all there quite regularly.

  3. My motivational match-up partner is Leah, who is featured prominently through the book and through all of the promotional material. 🙂 I would love to win it so that I can read all of the amazing stories in there.

  4. I have heard about SparkPeople, but haven’t visited. Perhaps I should….Hope you are having a good week…:-)

  5. I am like Kat. I have heard about them but not bothered to visit before.

    If YOU endorse them I will stop by. Will I get your biceps then? 🙂

  6. I’m just catching up on my holiday blog reading and wanted to say congratulations on being in Fitness magazine! You totally deserve the recognition!

  7. Watched the video again and laughed that you say you are drawing boundaries in Sharpie.

    I am totally going to steal that idea.

    (You were in Fitness Mag?!)

  8. Well….I signed up. I registered. I’m officially a Sparkster. But I never go there. I cruise blogs. I Twitter aimlessly. At the end of the day, there’s no time left to get Sparky.

  9. I give SP a big bunch of credit for getting me off to a strong start. I still go there for the recipes, to look up an exercise demo, or, occassionally, to log in my food intake. I never really found a “team” to gel with, so I didn’t use that aspect of it, but lots of folks really benefit from it!

  10. I am new to the blogging world and haven’t ever heard of Spark People.

    I will look at them since you said to and am happy this Canadian can win!!

  11. I haven’t visited sparkpeople. I’ve been hearing it mentioned here and there and dern near every where so I just stopped by for a look. It’s looks very busy. I don’t have time or want to take the time to wade through all that. I’m a PRO at wasting time in front of the monitor and one of my goals this year is to get more done.

  12. I have 1 million and 1 tips for healthy living! I will share one with you now…;-).

    Research shows that people who write down goals are 75% more likely to achieve them. Simple, right? It really is. Take 30 seconds to write and then GET TO WORK!

  13. So, I know of this Sparkpeople you speak of, but I have never visited (GASP!)

    Methinks I shall change that today, if I can tear myself away from the endless blogging and tweeting that I pretend (to my husband) is “work.” 🙂

    (love your vids)

  14. Love your videos Miz!! 🙂 You are so inspiring. I like Sparkpeople – have used it for many of my clients before and they LOVE it. I think it is very motivational for people.

  16. I actually just registered with Sparkpeople a few days ago, interestingly. I’d heard so much about it that I thought I’d give it a shot as I try to really get refocused. So far, I’ve used the nutrition and fitness trackers and have found that they’re not all that different from sites I’ve used before. The BIG difference, however, is that Sparkpeople is free, whereas most sites with these tools aren’t. So it’s definitely helping me get and stay focused on what I need to do each day.

    Like Cammie, I doubt that I’ll use the teams feature much. Right now, there’s so much going on in my life that I’m a bit leery of jumping into a community, even though I know from experience what a tremendous asset that kind of support can be. So for now I’ll just lurk, but I’m using the tools. 🙂

    V.

  18. I am a huge fan of sparkpeople! I have been a member for just a few months now and have barely touched the tip of the iceberg as far as all they have to offer. I need to be more active with it. I would love to check out the book!!

  20. I’ve vaguely heard about them and want to check out anything that gets your seal of approval.

    Three cheers for Canada!

  21. Okay, I’ll admit that I live under a rock. I’ve never heard of Spark people before, but based on your review and some of the comments, it’s definitely something I’ll be checking out!

  23. Love Sparkpeople! After gaining weight while training for my first marathon, I was very frustrated. Sparkpeople was such a great tool in losing that weight and more! The food log really opened my eyes, I started to think about food as more than just calories…. but realizing I was lacking in various nutrients and in order to be a healthy running machine I needed a more balanced diet!

  24. I love spark people…been there for a log time…I do not participate as much now that I blog and have twitter but do check in about once a week and catch up on some of my faves.

  25. I love Spark People as well — there’s so many awesome stories & great tips on nutrition & fitness. The Daily Spark is probably my favorite aspect — there’s tons of great articles & motivational pieces that they post daily. Great for mornings when I’m already feeling

  26. I haven’t used SparkPeople, but I have met an amazing group of people who have helped me through my weightloss on the WW message boards. Now that we have all moved on from that site, I am interested in checking out SparkPeople to get tips and share advice now that I am in maintenance mode. I would love to read this book!

  27. I have heard of Spark for a long time but just did not go over there until recently after reading about this book on Cranky. It looks like a fantastic site & need to spend more time! I so love reading about fitness (based on the housework that doe not get done here so I can read fitness stuff!) so would love to win this book!

    I am not sure what is in that book but I would say, when it comes to fitness, age is just a number!!! I have done more from 37 years old on to now then I ever have fitness wise! From the bodybuilding to the HIIT to plyometrics to boxing/kickboxing. Don’t ever think you are too old to start!

  28. I have tried sparkpeople many times, but i never was able to get into it for some reason. anyway, I LOVE your tank top. 🙂

  29. I have a page on Spark People. I’ve used it sporadically. They have great resources. A place to go to journal, log your food and exercise. I just happen to be more of a paper person for stuff like that. But they have great articles and great support! <3 it!

  33. Hey Miz! Long time no comment 🙂 I used SP in order to track calories and I was pretty happy with it. I didn’t really use their boards, but that’s because I feel like comments sometimes get lost.

  34. I will admit I’ve signed up 3x’s.. deleted the first 2 accounts and am hanging by a thread now.. they say 3rd time is a charm right?? I used to be very diligent about tracking on there and then I stopped.. BUT I love the articles and reading material and spinning the daily points wheel.. I’m a sucker for that 🙂 it makes me smile.

    *off to go log in and spin the wheel*

  36. I used SparkPeople when I first started losing weight in 2008. In 2009, like everything else, I lost my consistency.

    So far this year I have been using it again to log my food intake, read articles, and everything else it offers.

    It’s an absolutely amazing site, it’s free, and the community of people are terrific. Everyone is so supportive.

  37. I love Spark People! I’ve been a member for a few years now. Keeping track of what I eat has been very helpful.

    I was very excited to hear that they have a book…and would be even more excited to win it!

  40. I lurk on Spark People every once in a while, it’s funny I want to buy this book and I work in Barnes and Noble but even with my employee discount I can’t afford it right now lol So it would be cool to win it.

  41. I have never tried Spark People. I got a random e-mail about this book and it definitely peaked my interest. Now with your recommendation, I’m going to check out the website and hopefully have a chance at the book! Thanks so much!

  42. Mmmmm I love books.

    I bet my mum would also REALLY enjoy this book. And the sisterroommate. They find things like this to be highly useful in the motivation and learning department. And I wouldn’t mind reading this book, either!

    I’ve heard of Spark People but never tried it out. I’ve only heard good things about it, however. It sounds as though it’s just as suportive and informative as the health blogging community, except that it’s got a way to track your nutrition etc as well. It doesn’t get much better than that 🙂

  43. I love it for tracking, it really made me realize what I was missing in my diet, NEED more protein, less freakin fiber. It’s a little bit of a pain and not really as easy as WW but I think it gives me a better picture of my diet. Plus I love charts and graphs, how sad.:)

  44. I LOVE the Spark book. I’m going to have my daughter read it too. What I like most about it is that it is motivational not just in losing weight but in every area of your life. You can take its principles (making goals and then breaking them down into steps) and use them for anything.

    The other thing I love is that it is so upbeat and motivational. Let’s face it, I’ve read a lot of diet books in the past. This is so different.

    After reading some of the book I joined SparkPeople. The positive vibes and motivation are just as strong there. It is a real sense of community and support. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone.

    Right now I am doing the SP Bootcamp. It’s been a great experience.

    There is a SparkTeens web site too. Get those kids out there to start living a healthier life too! My 14 year old signed up and I”m so happy to see her exercising on her own (no mom prodding her) and watching what she eats.

    (Sorry for the novel of a comment)

  45. I don’t even like to tell people I’m trying a new lifestyle but SP makes it so easy that I can’t help myself. I love everything about what I’ve found there!!

  46. I’ve been using My Food Diary online and have really liked that. I haven’t been to SparkPeople and I’m heading over to check it out. I’m always looking for inspiration to keep me motivated… plus, it gets the Miz seal of approval! 😉

  47. I do love the Sparkpeople and read their emails everyday. Lots of good tips and ideas on that website. I like that you can get help from other “real” people who have experienced the same thing. (vs a celebrity like you said)
    I’m not a fan of their “food showdown” though. Mostly because it either features food from places I never heard of or choices between Dunkin Donuts vs Krispy Kreme and I just have to say “no spank-you” to both, not try to make a choice.
    anywho, thanks for the review of the book, I’ve been curious about it and it could show up here in the future.

  48. I first joined SparkPeople almost exactly 3 years ago (will be 3 yrs in 2 days!). It was extremely helpful in the beginning because I had no idea what I was doing diet or exercise-wise. I was tracking food (as best I could, with no scale) and exercise for a while, but ultimately fell off of it. I gained a couple of pounds back but nothing life shattering. Now I use SP mostly for their articles, recipes, and exercise videos and tips. I don’t use it to track anymore. I do that on my own because I find it is easier for me. Ultimately, it was a great starting point for me.

  49. Sparkpeople took me from 235 to where I am now (around 155). Seriously, the only thing that got me there was Sparkpeople and my own force of will – which was not that strong in those days, so I’ll credit the early stuff to sparkpeople. I just decided to give it a month doing what spark asked me to, and I lost 8 lbs. I was hooked, and kept doing it and kept losing weight. I got into a few teams and challenges, tracked my food, and my exercise. It is a great way to get started with a sane plan that can help you achieve a lifestyle change little by little.

    What it does NOT seem to work for is that last 20 lbs, for someone who’s hyper-active like me. It tried to tell me that even with my half marathon training, to lose 2 lbs per week, I should eat 1200-1500 calories. I would collapse while running if I tried that. I no longer track my calories or exercise, but I stay active with teams and read the articles.

  50. I love the Recipe Calculator on SparkPeople. So many of my cookbooks do not give nutrition information, so I love that I can plug it into the recipe calculator and get the nutrition facts. It also comes in handy for my step son, who is type 1 diabetic, so we can find the amount of carbs in the meals I cook.

  51. I love SP!!

    You need to join forces and get your videos over there too, Miz!

    You rock.
    They rock.

    😉

  52. I have heard so much about this book and am happy that it receives your stamp of approval 🙂 I agree that it is motivating to hear about real people and real stories.

    Emotional hunger = I think we all need tips on conquering it!

  54. I find this hard to believe, but I just clicked on the sparkpeople link and I don’t think I’ve ever been to their website before! I’ve certainly read about other bloggers using them…now I must go investigate!

    Would love to win the book!

  55. Oh yes, I always, everyday, log my food on sparkpeople. Have for years. I use sp to log my weight daily and my body measurements every 1 pounds. I love the charts/graphs to see my progress! I dont use any other aspect of SP because I just dont have time, but I truly appreciate having a FREE resource to log calorie intake so easily!

    Oh, and the recipe calculator is the bomb!

  57. I’ve been on Spark People since mid-April 2009. I LOVE it!
    I’ve lost about 35 pounds since joining — I utilize ALL of the available sources there: trackers, forums, teams, videos, recipes!
    I didn’t get the book for Christmas — I’d love to have it!
    outofthemist AT gmail DOT com

  58. Sparks has a great community and the recipe website is pretty cool. I think I prefer the daily plate though personally.

  59. I like SparkPeople. I don’t track my food or participate much, but I do track exercise and enjoy the articles and the sense of community, even when I’m just lurking. I’ve found that it’s a good way to keep myself focused on just being healthy, even when anything beyond that just seems like too much–as long as I can keep that basic idea in mind, I won’t stray too far.

  60. I was fortunate enough to have the bound manuscript too and I agree with you that its a good read, its simple and to the point and lots of good info inside. I don’t want to be included in the give away (I already have it :)) I just wanted to give it a big thumbs up!

    As Ever
    Me

  61. As much time as I spend on the computer and blogs, you’d think I’d spend more on Sparkpeople. Especially in using the recipe calculator. But I haven’t yet. Maybe tomorrow…

  62. I like SparkPeople but didn’t keep up with it. The tracking part was too time consuming and I preferred to just use a paper log. I would really recommend it to beginners and would love to get a copy for my daughter.

  63. I am an active SparkPeople member and visit the site every day. I lost 20 pounds with them so far and am working on the last 15. I love how easy it is to calculate calories and track fitness goals, and their information resources are amazing!

  64. I have been using SP daily for about 11 months and I love it. Having my food and exercise tracked at one site is a time saver. I also get daily emails from SP with recipe ideas, food swaps etc. So many resources!

  65. I recently signed up for their email list and it has been every helpful. Their encouraging and motivating messages always seem to come at the right time. They have so much information available that I can get lost on the site. I would love to read the book since it is more organized. I am always looking for new tips and tricks!

  66. I joined sparkpeople but it was very “Busy” I am struggling to find time to Blog/Tweet/Facebook….and Dare I say Playout that there’s no time left to “Spark” it up!!! I would love to read the book on my upcomong cruise….*wink wink nudge nudge Batting eyelashes* LOL!!!
    Love Ya Lots!
    Monique

  67. Yes, I’ve been on Spark People. I even have their iPhone app ~ the best part. I am very on-again / off-again with tracking my food, though.

    I would love to read the book, though!

  69. I’ve been a member of Spark People twice. The first time was 4 years ago and it really got me motivated to lose weight. In fact, from there I joined Weight Watchers online and lost 12 lbs. After my weight watchers subscription expired, I didn’t do good keeping the weight off, but I didn’t want to pay for their services again. So just yesterday, I signed up with Spark People again, and I’m really excited about staying on track. I have a laptop in the kitchen and it is easy to enter food, or check calories of food I’m thinking of eating.

  70. I’ve heard of Spark People and visited once but have not taken the leap to join. Sounds like a great resource and I would love to read the book.

  71. I used to love Spark People – the whole concept just seems to be the Internet at it’s best! But I haven’t stopped by in ages. Thanks for the reminder!

  72. Oh, a place I keep meaning to check out. And now you’ve got me really interested! Love your review….but did I detect something of your own going on behind the scenes? Put me first in line!

  75. I have to echo whoever said they must be living under a rock.

    Thanks for the recommendation as I’ve never heard of Spark People.

    Love ya Miz!

  76. I do weight watchers but tried out the spark. I like it but too complicated for the everyday for me. I did calorie counting for 2 years before weight watchers. But I love their workout suggestions.

  77. I love SparkPeople becasue I find it so much easier than writing my food down. Each night I think about what I want to have the next day and I can log it all to see how many calories it is going to be. If I need to add snacks or Lowfat milk, if it is going to be a workout day, it is so simple it is all there for you in black and white. LOVE IT!

  79. I was REALLY active on SparkPeople about a year ago. When I stopped logging my food and participating there, I (not coincidentally) also stopped losing weight. I just reconnected there 4-5 days ago, and I already am making infinitely better choices.

  80. I’m a member of SP, and used it for a little while a few years ago, but I’m in Australia, and trying to log my food was quite difficult because many things are quite different over here. It was taking me, on average, about an hour every day just to get an approximate account of what I was eating, and even then, when I couldn’t find something and chose a food that seemed similar, I really wasn’t sure if it was really equivalent. Even manually entering foods was annoying because it requires converting from kj to cal, and if you don’t have the package right there with you… well, you get the idea. All too hard!
    I did like that it told you how many grams of protein/fat/carbs you should be having though, and I try to keep that in mind. I also liked the fitness tracker and the articles.
    I used to get the email newsletter, and have spent many hours article-hopping, reading a lot of the content and always found it interesting and helpful (and distracting and entertaining, fantastic for killing a few hours!)

    I’m using WW online now, which is so much easier because it’s all Aussie. I wish there was a free site for Australians though, cause paying for the WW e-tools is a real strain, and I would love to have access to a site like SP with local food info!

  82. I love love love spark. I’ve been hooked for 1.5 years.
    I just got the book from amazon yesterday.
    Can’t wait to read! SO proud of Chris!
    (My SP name is aka639)

  83. Never heard of it, but definitely planning to check it out! Since returning to full-time work I no longer run with friends several times a week and need some extra motivation.

  85. I’ve been with SP for over 3 years and went from over 230 pounds down to 150 pounds; from way too tight size 18 jeans to a very comfortable size 6. The credit for keeping me on track goes to SP. I continue to use all the features there. The initial setting up of my foods did take some time, but now it’s a breeze. I would rather spend my time with SP than FB or even my email because it not only has helped me with my weight issues, but is teaching me to meet other goals as well.
    lhlady517 at SP

  86. I have an account but don’t use the website to it’s fullest potential. Someone suggested that I track my food on there but I already do that on the WW website. I like to read other people’s blogs. I like how the sight is geared to what ever city or area you live in. I found some 5Ks I can plan to run.

  87. I joined spark people in April of 09 and it has helped me a great deal. The website has tons of information and resources that are ggod for weight loss and maintenance..

  88. I’ve only been on Spark People to find recipes and that’s about the extent of my knowledge which I’m looking to enhance. 😉

  89. I have signed up for Spark People but I find that I don’t tend to use it 🙁 Not because they aren’t great, but I love that I can log my food and exercise on my phoone a lot easier…I do love to go to their site and get insight on some things….i find it tough though because i know the basics, i just need to get my arse up and do them…plus I do better with encouragemnet from folks I know vs someone who I know won’t show up on my doorstop to give me a lecture lol…with that said, I’d love a copy of the book though….i’m always interested in learning as much as I can….and I love to read while I’m working out on my bike…..helps me motivate myself to workout…since that is the only time i let myself read 🙂

  90. Did you say Canada??? I am so happy. I have read articles on Spark People and find them to be very informative. Great resources and lots of ideas!

  91. I checked out SP briefly when I started my journey. With the buzz around them lately I may have to check them out in more detail.

  92. I have been a member for the past three years, and have been off and on good at using the tracking tools (which are great by the way, I’m just not good with that stuff long term!)

    The thing I love the best about sparkpeople… is the people! I am hypothyroid, and the hypothyroid forums on spark have the most amazing people with advice and information. They get you informed enough to be able to speak to your doctor– or know when it’s time to change doctors. They are a newbie’s best friend.

    While I may not always use spark to track my exercise and eating… I will always keep up with the people.

  95. I have heard Spark People mentioned, by haven’t researched it or know enough about it to form an opinion. Maybe I should give it a bit of a gander!

  96. I had not heard of Spark people before and went over to check them out.

    Pretty neat!!!

    You need to share your videos with them. The motivation and exercise ones, Miz.

    Just a thought.

  98. Huh.
    There is somewhere besides here?
    I’m heading over Mizzy.
    I hold you responsible if I don’t like it LOL

  99. Love SparkPeople! The site and community over there motivated me so much a few years ago. I also used their sister site BabyFit during my pregnancy and am still a part of that community. I’m currently getting my Spark back. I’d love to read that book!

  100. I’m feel’n’ kinda sparky today!
    Never heard of the spark people but I’m always up for a good dose of inspiration and motivation!
    Thanks for the seal of approval
    Cheers

  101. LOOOVE me the SparkPeople!

    Been on there for over 3 years now (ladyrose if anyone wants to stop & say hi) and have found so many amazing, inspiring, open, warm, compassionate people that I’ve become close friends with. It helped get my on my current path to the physical success I’ve had on my healthy body weight journey, and I’m blessed to be able to share the self-love wisdom I’ve learned here with so many others!

  102. I’ve heard of spark people, but it wasn’t until this post that I actually looked around at the website. It looks like something I will try to get involved with. Thanks!

  103. Hi, everyone. It’s Stepfanie from SparkPeople. I’m a new friend of MizFit. I met her through our mutual rockstar friend, Shauna Reid (of dietgirl fame)! MizFit rocks, and she inspires me each and every day.

    I am honored and humbled that she thinks so highly of our book, and everyone else here at SparkPeople is equally pleased.

    Keep reading her blog, but take a few minutes to check out SparkPeople. MizFit and SparkPeople go together like (all-natural, salt-free) peanut butter and (all-fruit) jelly!

  104. I discovered SparkPeople about a year ago while watching a weight loss story on the Today show. I signed up, but have not been very consistent with visiting the site. I do love the community aspect of it, though! I would love to read the book!

  105. I love love LOVE sparkpeople! Especially now that they have an iphone app! Unfortunately I’ve been really lax about using the site recently, but it’s always a great resource for me, and one I’ve been trying to make better use of lately!

  106. As a new stay at home mom I have learned very quickly that the pounds add up quickly. When I decided it was time to lose my prego weight and the extra pounds that I acquired over the years, the first place I turned is sparkpeople. I have just begun my journey, and it seems daunting, however SP makes it easy to begin the journey to a healthier me!

  107. I never have used Sparkpeople, and just started journaling my food again. Any tool to help me reach my goal would be awesome!

  108. I’ve been on Sparkpeople for a few months now and browse the site for inspiration. I am inspired by all of the people who contribute to the site and all of the support that is given! I have recently lost 15 pounds and for me the “trick” (in addition to exercise) was through diet.

    I have three kids and over the years succombed to mindless eating of leftovers, not paying attention to how many calories I consume. For lunch and throughout the day I would graze and eat mostly non-perishable foods from the pantry vs. fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains–that took too much time!

    Then I realized that I would be willing to spent the time to make my children healthy lunches every day, so why not me?

    So, I started to make a big pot of turkey chili that would last me for a week, and I would freeze some as well. The next week I would make fresh vegetable soup, and add garbanzo beans and ground turkey and they both made DELICIOUS meals that I could heat up in the microwave in under 2 minutes! No prep work during the week, I have a nutritious, low-calorie and low-fat meal, high in protein, that is very filling.

    So that’s my schpiel. I am always looking for good ideas and inspiration in fitness. I would enjoy the book and pass it along to my parents, as they are in great need of support. Thanks for reading.

  109. Sparkpeople is filled with so much valuable *FREE* information! Supportive sparkteams just add to all the many other wonderful tools on the site. I am constantly telling friends to join! If you can’t beat it….join it!

  110. I LOVE SP (Spark People). Why? Because they LOVE me too!!! It’s that simple. The really do care, and they DON’T tell you that just walking to the mailbox won’t do you any good. That is one of the biggest lies in the fitness communities there is. If all you can do is walk to the mailbox (or even half way) then DO IT!!! Next week you may just be able to walk back, heeheehee. Seriously, Nike coined the phrase “Just Do It”, if all you can do is walk to the end of your driveway, then “Just Do It”, soon you’ll be walking around the block.

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