If there is anything that makes a difference when you are trying to lose weight, it is finding support for a good diet. This is not always an easy task. Often, the people close to you are not supportive and sometimes discouraging. If you have tried to lose weight many times in the past without success, or if you have lost weight but gained it back, perhaps you have heard people say that they were going to lose weight before. It’s natural that they won’t support you now, but this is often the reason why people close to you are not excited about your new efforts.
If you feel that someone close to you has this attitude, do not tell them about your efforts. If they don’t know, they won’t be able to support your diet. However, if they won’t support you anyway, it’s better to keep it a secret than to deal with someone who discourages you.
Sometimes our loved ones may unintentionally sabotage our efforts. For example, if a wife announces a new diet, the husband will start bringing home candy bars. People who are afraid of change, or who want us to lose weight or change ourselves when they see us slim, may engage in this kind of sabotage when we need the diet support the most. Most people don’t even realize they are doing it.
If your friends or family members need your diet but don’t care about it right now (or at least don’t mention it to you), be careful about what you say about your efforts. At worst, your success may make them feel as if you are pointing out their own failures. While it is natural to ask your loved ones to support your diet, you must also take into account that we are all human and will react to your efforts and successes in different ways.
If you feel discouraged by this, be brave. There are two great ways to find support for weight loss without unintentionally alienating family and friends, and without giving them the opportunity to unintentionally (or intentionally) hurt or discourage you. Look in your local newspaper for weight loss groups that meet once a week for the purpose of supporting each other. Some, like Weight Watchers, charge a certain amount of money per week, while others, like OA and TOPS, only require a donation.
Another great way to meet people who are on the same path is through online support groups. This method offers anonymity and convenience. If you search the Internet, you will find many places where you can get great weight loss support online.
