BlubberBusters Tips from Lucy

Motivational Mates
(MMs for short)

The Blubberbuster website has many kid and teen users trying to lose weight. Losing weight can be hard work! Many of you have found a weight loss buddy. You know going through the tough stuff with someone else may be easier. It may keep you motivated!

Here are some ideas for you and your motivational mate or MM for short:

• Agree to email or IM (instant message) each other. Some people decide they want to chat with their MM one time per day. Other people decide one time per week is best.

• Talk about what you need from your MM. Everyone wants different things from this. Some people what someone to chat with about the hard parts. Other kids and teens want someone to look at their food intake. Talk about what you are looking for!

• Try to include your food and activity diary in each message. This will help you remember to keep track. Your MM can write back about your journal. Also, you can read over her or his journal. Together, you can make your food and activities healthier! For more on food journals, click here.

• Try meeting in the Blubberbuster chat room at a certain time. Here you can chat about your struggles. You can chat with your MM or other people in the chat room.

• Support each other. Keep your messages positive. The more you help motivate your MM, the more she or he can help motivate you!

• Try to make a goal together. Some goals you can try are

  • Drink 8 glasses of water per day,

  • Eat 5 fruits and veggies per day,

  • Get 30 minutes of physical activity per day,

  • Write in your food journal everyday,

  • Practice eating until you feel full not overfull (for more on using hunger and fullness scales, click here.)

  Pick a new goal every week to work on together. Check in regularly to see how things are going!

• Make sure your MM knows what makes weight loss hard for you. Chatting about what makes weight loss hard can help you overcome these challenges.

• Make sure your MM knows how proud you are of her or him when she or he reaches a goal. What a great reward!

• To keep yourself safe, be sure to talk with your parents or guardian about your MM. Do not disclose personal things like where you live, go to school, or your phone number. For more on safe online chat usage, click here.