Here are some tips for using the boards. I hope these help you become an iVillage.com message board master!

• Our board tends to be a lot busier on the weekdays than the weekends. So if you post on the weekend, check back during the week. You'll probably get more responses.

• The board is divided into folders: general discussions, day-to-day (for daily plans and weigh ins), recipes, just for fun (for games and get-to-know-you questions, introduce yourself, and what's new on diet and fitness. Try to find the one most appropriate for your post. If you are looking for sample menus, the day-to-day section is a great place to start.

• The new format change has thrown a few people off. If you would like to see things the "old" way, click on the "Outline" link at the top of each folder.

• Don't forget to update your profiles! We love to get to know our members and profiles are a great way to do that! It also gives you those cool little pictures around your name and posts. Clicking on the name of someone who posted will bring you to their profile.

• Don't forget to click on the "Add this board to your favorites" button at the top of the page by the name of the board.

• Please be patient. If you post and no one has responded in a few days, then feel free to point it out or post again. But if you post and no one has responded in a few hours, it's just rude. I and the other CLs try to check the board as much as possible, but we do have lives and jobs as well. Just keep that in mind, and we'll love you for it.