Zeroing In On Health - The Forum!

I wrote about this subject rather extensively in my journal, but I have received many questions regarding this. Let me share with you more of the rationale as to how journaling fits in with ZIOH.

When you are asked to journal your experiences, please don't feel picked on. Regard it as your opportunity to "pay it forward." If ZC is doing anything at all for you that improves your health, then it's good to spread that for others. Not only that, but sometimes, helping others is a way to overcome your own issues. We have many selfless people on ZIOH who are dealing with multiple personal issues; yet they still find the time and energy to assist others and this helps their motivation and allows them to see their own issues in a more positive light.

The most compelling thing about ZIOH is the journals. Some might argue that it's really the science and it's difficult to argue against that notion. However, from my experience running this forum, it's clear that people are inspired by the successes and struggles of others. Therefore, ZIOH depends on having this experience made available. As far as I know, this is the most comprehensive collection of ZC experience available in the world. This is not mere speculation but actual experience living on meat and water.

There are some members who have not been required to journal, but it's usually because they were well-known members prior to the journaling requirement. The original purpose of the journal was to get to know strangers. If we knew you (either in person or because you post a lot), we weren't so concerned about the journal. Today, it's still a balancing act. We encourage everyone to journal, even those who are exempt because ZIOH needs the experiences of all ZC'ers. Heck, even I journal.

What would ZIOH be without "A New Girth", "Women Can Succeed", or "Caitllin's Gettin' Down with ZC?" Those are all fantastic journals, but once upon a time, they were small just like yours. It takes the experiences of all of us to truly make ZIOH a great place to share your ZC journey.

Enter my journal at your own peril,

I have tended not to journal because right now I am not a success and am struggling to get back to zc (even though I believe it works and is right way to eat, carbs have gotten to me) so I haven't wanted to put my negativity out there.

Kim

Kim, I say you should journal and let us help you find your way back.

Agreed!

Great post, Charles.

There is just one thing I would say - and I wish I had a solution to the dilemma but I don't, perhaps someone else has a bright idea - Charles says,

Charles Wrote:The most compelling thing about ZIOH is the journals.

That is very true. There are absolute gems hidden in the journals, amazing insights and experiences that give others hope. However, journals grow and I find it very difficult to scroll through all the banter to get to the meat (excuse the pun). If there are thousands of posts in a journal (a great many of them having nothing to do with their ZC experience at all), I feel there's no way I can catch up with that person's story.

Here's a thought... could we have a "Members Stories" board where everyone could post their story in a nutshell, what they have experienced on ZC, perhaps copy in some extracts of their own journals if they think fit; lock those threads for comments, so it becomes more something like a "reference" file. And those members who posted their stories can always update that post.

How about it? Just a thought...

OH, I LOVE THIS!!!! Great idea, Bridget!! That way, people could just post their "history/story" one time and not have keep posting it over and over. I would LOVE to know the past of some of the members, but it takes so long to read the journals to FIND it. Having them all in one place would be awesome!!

Pretty please?

Kelly

Sorry. I'm already doing quite a bit of hard work chronicling my ED story. I don't want to add another thread to my participation here. "My story" is in my journal or the ED thread.

I'm with Carolina on this one. Sounds like too much work. Almost without exception, the "backstory" is usually contained on page 1 or 2 of every journal. It's not very hard to get to Page 1.

Yes, Carolina! You've already done this, you know? I mean, you've already made a thread to tell your story. Basically, I think it would be great to even have a quick little summary about your past...for all the long-term members. Even if it was just a paragraph on your profile page.

Something like, "I'm 30 years old and used to weigh over 160 pounds. I have a past with disordered thinking when it comes to food and weight, which drove me to overexercise. I used VLC to lose over 120 pounds. I came to ZC in October of '08, hoping to regain my fertility and to put an end to the abusive exercise. I have been eating unseasoned meat, drinking water, and avoiding the gym ever since. I'm still waiting on fertility, but I am already seeing many positive changes in my body, my mind, and my life."

You won't really find that on page 1 of most journals, because at that point, people were still "writing" their stories. Maybe they had JUST STARTED ZC, so they didn't really know what it was going to do for them yet. I didn't!

So, I wouldn't need a whole THREAD for this. But then again, if I put it in my journal, it will quickly get buried. So, maybe just put it in my profile...or perhaps the new thread that Bridget suggested.

I'm not thinking that it would be much more work for anyone. But I do know that when I was new here, it was very hard to figure out "who was who"...as in, who was here trying to gain weight, trying to lose weight, coming from a bulimic past, coming from an overweight past, etc. I think it'd be helpful....but I'm certainly not going to put up a fight for it. Just liked the suggestion.

Kelly