A Friend Indeed
One of the most important parts of a successful and ongoing weight loss plan is finding support. Not just from family, but support from your peers and friends may be even more important as you adopt a new, healthy way of life. One study published by the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007 states that if your friends are overweight, your chances of becoming overweight increase by as much as 71%.
Some people resist the idea of telling others about their goal of losing weight. After all, it's your battle to fight, right? Well, yes and no. Of course, the real work is up to you. However, you'll be much better equipped to succeed and the battle may not seem as treacherous when you have people helping you. Here are some ways to build and capitalize on your own personal support network.
- Identify the people in your life who will support you, and tell them what you're doing.
- Ask them what you need from them. Be specific. Example: "Can we change our dinner date to a walking date?"
- Be aware of sabotage. It's sad, but true. There are people who don't want you to succeed. You're not going to change that, so just be aware and you'll be better prepared to deal with whatever they throw at you. Focus on those who do support you.
