By Chris Dowbiggin
As the new year gets fresh underway, it is not uncommon to find someone making a list of resolutions to improve and enhance their lifestyle, and to just be happier in general.
For Kimberly Marks, her primary resolution came to be on Christmas day.
“I was opening my gifts, and my husband bought me some clothes in size 20. So I had to take everything back and get it in bigger sizes,” said Marks.
Instead of getting down about the incident, Marks decided to help herself achieve her weight loss goal for the new year by helping out others with similar issues at the same time.
Marks directed her intentions towards the internet, starting a facebook event lasting from January until April, inviting friends and spreading the message to others battling the same weight problems to join and encourage each other to lose weight and be healthier in the future.
The event, entitled: “I am BIG and need a PUSH,” has received a generous amount of attention so far, gaining 153 members in just a few days.
The event is continuing to grow in members, both around the Amherst area and out of province.
“I was shocked, I was going to delete the page because I thought I was going to insult some people,” said Marks.
“I went to delete it, but there was already 10-15 people just like that. I was amazed.”
The page serves social gathering spot on the internet, where those looking to lose weight can interact and motivate each other to chase their goals for the long-term future.
Event members are able to post encouraging statements on the wall, share photos, and invite other members, spreading the word across the facebook.
Shirley Sachs has not met Marks, but has already exchanged friendly conversations with her, and looks to help push Marks and others to motivate themselves into being healthier and happier.
“My first impression when I got the invite was ‘Oh, another diet,” said Sachs.
“I had made a new years resolution, and I never make new years resolutions. But this time I made one to lose 30 pounds. And that’s why I got the invite. I had posted it on my facebook (status). I had made it public so I had to stick to it.”
After reading the group information tab, Sachs thought it sounded pretty good, but it didn’t have much of an effect right away.
“I looked at the information (Marks) had put and what she was trying to do, so I thought ‘Oh, well I guess I’ll join and see what happens,” said Sachs.
“Maybe we’ll be able to give each other a little bit of support. But it just kept getting bigger and bigger and I would invite my friends and they would invite theirs, and my Aunt who lives in Ontario joined, and there’s even members out in Alberta. It’s really taking off through facebook, and it’s only been going on for a few days.”
As far as long-term plans go, both Marks and Sachs share the same primary goal: to lose weight, while helping others at the same time.
“Just eating properly, trying to look after myself more and probably start walking again soon. But also trying to push others and support them,” said Marks.
“Kim’s given me a lot of motivation because she has a long road ahead of her,” said Sachs.
“If she can do it I can do it. There’s another girl there I used to work with, she just finished losing a whole pile of weight in the last year. She’s joined the group as a motivator, and she’s gone from a size 18 to a size eight. It’s just nice to know there’s other people out there doing the same thing as you, and not be criticized for it.”
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