You may be trying to lose weight and get into shape but there are some things that may be holding you back. Of course your family and friends want you to succeed with your weight loss goals but there are some things that you may not even realize are happening that could be slowing you down in your weight loss efforts. Let's consider the following:
Your Relationship - It has been known that once you have settled down with your significant other that you both become very comfortable. There is no longer a reason to impress someone to get them to go out with you. You have that permanent person in your life so you slack off in your eating and exercise habits. You can fix this problem by getting your significant other to join you in your fitness journey. If your spouse won't workout with you, at least make a compromise by limiting the amount of junk food in the house.
Your Children - Kids are notorious for wanting sugary snacks and if you have been used to giving it to them, your home may be full of sugary cereals or "kid food" like pizza rolls, chicken nuggets, and artificial fruit drinks. These items are just as easy for you to eat as it is for them. Get rid of the junk and start limiting your children's sugary treat intake. It will work out well for everyone in the home.
Your Friends - Many of your friends may want you to go out to eat after work or on the weekends. That may mean social drinking and eating a lot of fatty, high-calorie foods (appetizers, burgers, fries, pizza, etc.) You don't want to stop hanging out with your friends but at least tell them that you can't consume those kinds of foods with them. It may even help to eat your healthy meal before hanging out so that you're less tempted to indulge out of hunger.
It helps to be aware of those around you. They are not purposely trying to hold you back but you may find yourself following their habits more often than not. Make some healthy changes and plan ahead to stay focused and meet your weight loss goals.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I know what you mean. My mother will cook some fantastic food but it is very high in calories and fat. I know I shouldn’t be eating it but it taste so good.
Yeah Jared, it can be tough when you are around some really good home cooking!
I whole heartedly agree!
its easy to eat the same size portions as your spouse too, you have to bear in mind that your exercise levels and nutritional needs are different
Chris
Very true. It’s too easy to follow what your spouse is doing in terms of nutrition, portion sizes, etc.
Change is scary to most people.
They may not even realize it, but when you try to change your life for the better, your friends & family can’t help but reflect upon how your change impacts THEIR life.
If they eat like crap & never exercise, your new exercise & diet programs are a threat to their fragile little egos.
Ergo, they try to sabotage your efforts.
Here’s a link to an article on fitness/diet motivation – http://www.healthhabits.ca/2008/08/27/obesity-how-to-motivate-the-un-motivated/
So true. Some people don’t take well to change.
Oh this is so very true. The worst is when you go on vacation to see your family, and you make all these excuses as to why you can eat whatever you want on vacation and then it comes right around a bites you. Willpower is a good practice, and a hard one too :/
Right, you want your family to be supportive about your healthy lifestyle but it can be tough. It does take discipline.
I definitely agree with this…it’s so hard to diet if you’re the only one focused on eating healthy. I solved this problem with intermittent fasting twice a week. Now I have a lot more leniency on weekends when I see family and friends and still have a caloric deficit each week.
There was a study that was published a few years ago that essentially said that having overweight friends and relatives will keep you overweight and some of the reasons were basically the ones you cited above. If only the afterwork suggestions from friends and co-workers were about going to work out instead of going out for pizza….
Great blog. I’m glad I found it.
I think there is some truth to this. I’m wondering if the opposite holds true…If you’re thin and live and hangout with thin people, will you stay thin?
You are right,especially when you talk about friends, I remember last year when I was preparing for contest and often me and my wife were invited to to different parties or were simply hanging out with friends and I told them that I am on a diet so I will select food which I will eat and even now many months ago when we go somewhere with friends they always ask me: “are you still on a diet?”, “may be we shall prepare something special for you?” but I want pizza too sometimes