Is a friend sabotaging your diet? Our social support counts.

The other week I caught up with a friend that has become more active in the last year and has felt the benefits of keeping an exercise regime. We chatted about fitness and lifting, and how good it makes us feel. It reminded me of how important it is that we spend time with people who support us in our health and well being choices and how much of a difference it can make when they do. Being able to communicate our goals with a partner (this can be a romantic partner or a friend) increases the likelihood that we will reach our goals and makes us feel more confident in our ability to reach our goals. Our friends or romantic partners can make lifestyle and weight loss changes easier for us in a few ways. They can help us chose healthier options by supporting us in practical ways (i.e helping make a healthy meal), they can help us with positive reinforcement and encouragement and they can support us by working towards weight loss or increased exercise together creating a joint goal (Theiss, J.).

Sometimes when we first make change it can be difficult for those around us but if we are aware and choose to communicate, they can become our biggest allies and us theirs. However, for sustainable changes in weight and exercise it is important that we feel it is our choice to make these changes in our lives. We are more likely to stick with them if they are made by us and we feel we are in control of our choices (Durayappah-Harrison, A).

So, if you’re looking to lose weight or increase your exercise make sure it’s your choice but don’t discount the power of our social support network. They could make or break whether we maintain these changes or not. Seek out people that make you feel good and support your long-term goals :) .

If you’d like to work with me get in touch via email, fb, or insta.

Happy training team.

Adele

References:

Durayappah-Harrison, A. Weight loss motivation: secrets to staying on track part 2

Theiss, J. The influence of romantic partners in weight loss