Fast-5 Diet and Lifestyle: [fast5] Re: Invitation

I felt gratified, relieved, and validated in my feelings when I came in here today to see if there were any responses to my invitation post. I tried to be as tactful as I could so as not to "offend", even though I have been offended by an individual in the past, telling me how wrong I was to eat the way I do, etc. I didn't feel safe to post anymore after that. "Food Evangelism" really is the right term for it. I agree with everything everyone has said, and also what Heather said about Fast-5 NOT being about one true diet. One size does not fit all and we are all an "experiment of one".

I went into Yahoo Groups yesterday and saw that this group is on "unmoderated" status. I emailed Dr. Herring yesterday to get his permission to quote him at Spark People and elsewhere, and let him know that I was the new administrator at SP Fast-5 group. He graciously gave it and offered me his support and help. About this group, he said, "The details that a lot of people on the Fast-5 group are sweating probably don't make as much difference as keeping a good attitude and spending time with friends, family and enjoying life." He's a wise and kind man.

I like Heather's idea for setting "ground rules" here. I'm not sure how it would be enforced, but it would be nice to make this a forum where everyone feels heard and respected, not bullied. And I might add: the majority of the people on this forum are respectful...it's a minor few who are causing problems, in my opinion.

I'm not leaving this forum either because I enjoy much of the intelligent, informative discussion. I like the Yahoo format better than Spark People too, but I promise to do my best to stamp out any evangelism there. But I've tried to start some interesting threads and am open to any suggestions. I don't like the emphasis on calorie counting that most of the groups there have, since I have been committed to intuitive eating the past 5 1/2 years. That's what attracted me to Fast-5....it's the solution I needed to reduce my portions without going on an "Accounting Diet".

I don't want to take anybody away from this group. I just want to offer an additional place to go to discuss our Fast-5 journey.

Best to all,

Joy

--- In fast5@yahoogroups.com, Heather Twist <HeatherTwist@...> wrote:
>
> That's a good term, "food evangelism". It bothers me too, which is why I try
> to post "counterpoints". Fast-5 is NOT about "one diet". I mean, it's
> a very good thing to post "what works" and "what doesn't work" ...
> that is how we learn. Or "in this study, they found that ... ". Fast-5
> is largely about experimentation.
>
> But it's a different thing to say "You have to do this!". It does kind of
> ruin the ambiance (and maybe the willingness for people to share
> their own experiences).
>
> Perhaps we can put it to Dr. Herring: if the consensus is that
> "food evangelism" is off-topic, people who indulge in it can be
> put on moderation? I tend to agree with Flippetskater, the people tend
> to follow people around, so ground rules are maybe more effective than
> unsubbing.
>
> Personally too, I dislike Sparkpeople because of all
> the ads, and their emphasis on certain kinds of foods (mostly food
> products, not what I would call "real food". I really don't care which
> is better, McDonald's or Wendy's!). Being bombarded with the concept of
> counting calories leads me away from my primary goal, which is to figure
> out "what really works" for my particular body, largely based on what
> my own appestat is telling me.
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Apr 1, 2011 at 7:20 AM, <msdanacat@...> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > This group used to be much more friendly, helpful and inclusive. Heather
> > and others were and still are very interesting and educational, and I've
> > learned a lot from them.
> >
> > For some time though there has been a bullying atmosphere brought on by
> > several members who are, as has been said, overly "food evangelical." The
> > attitudes on display are obnoxious, rude and off-putting, regardless of the
> > merits of the eating program they promote.
> >
> > I can't blame those who wish to leave, but I will miss reading their
> > contributions. I don't intend to unsubscribe myself, but think I will also
> > check out this newer group.
> >
> > - Dana
> >
> >
> >
>