Overall, individuals using Twitter lost more weight than their peers: Every 10 tweets corresponded to a 0.5 pound loss. The ongoing engagement inherent in Twitter deserves much of the credit for this success, says study author Brie Turner-McGrievy, PhD, an assistant professor at the Arnold School of Public Health.
Looking to tweet your way thinner? Take the following steps to add Twitter to your weight loss program.
Create a virtual support group. People you follow (and those following you) should be trying to lose weight, too—but you don't necessarily need to know them. Instead, Turner-McGrievy recommends searching for weight loss blogs or publications, to see if the author is on Twitter. “What is really beneficial is finding other people who are in the same situation as you are, who can relate to your challenges and respond,” she says. “Having someone check in and say, 'Hey, I haven’t heard you Tweet in a long time,' or congratulate you when you stick to your calorie limits—that was really the important component of the study.”
Tweet yourself motivated. Because Twitter is such a quick, responsive platform, sending a tweet means you'll get a kick in the butt right when you need it. “Being able to get those immediate responses from other people is really invaluable,” Turner-McGrievy says. Not feeling the gym today? Tweet it. If your followers are as committed as you are, they'll respond back with some energizing phrases to get you out the door. (Psst...You can stay motivated 24/7 with tweets from Prevention's Fit Team.)
Stay active on (and off) Twitter. Want followers to keep you going? Then keep them going, too—by posting and responding throughout the day, you'll develop meaningful relationships with your online community. Keep posts motivational and supportive, and offer compliments, empathy, and encouragement. Plus, try tweeting lessons you're learning on your weight loss journey: Finished a new strength workout? Let 'em know. Discover a divine, low-fat frozen pizza? Spread the word!
More from Prevention: Log On, Lose Weight?
Questions? Comments? Contact Prevention's News Team!
