I like both kinds of check-in forums, although I've never joined one on VF since I am relatively new here and haven't ever really felt a part of the friendships here.
That truly is not meant to be snarky either lol or like I'm sensitive or bothered by it (don't care all that much, I like the forum, really good info going on here, but it makes me care less about being friendly, so it is a chicken/egg thing lol). It is just that in the short time I've been here I've received some negative feedback via pm (lol, I disabled that feature) and only a very few times has anyone expressed friendliness to me or even acknowledged a post. So a check-in with people where people just give the facts would probably be the best for me, but at any rate I blog my exercise streak (no day missed since Jan. 1, 2009) on blogger where friends who care can comment if they want.
But VF is great and everyone here sounds so fit and knowledgeable so huzzah and hello and happy new year!