Friends/Family Sabotaging Your Goals?

A SMILE IS A CURVE THAT SETS EVERYTHING STRAIGHT!
The following is my philosophy on HOW to change even with resistance from others around you.

While the ideal situation when one wants to make a change and start eating healthier and exercising would be to get 100% support from family and friends, what more than often happens is a resistance from our loved ones. While it is not done with the intent to sabotage our goals, our friends and co-workers can make us feel like we are crazy, over-the-top, or just "need to relax" when it comes to our weight loss goals. They still have the attitude of, "What's the harm in a few drinks and a night out?" Or maybe you've heard this one before, "Just because you're on a diet, does that mean I have to be on one too?" (By the way, you could come back with, "Just because you're eating junk, does that mean I have to?" HA!)

Approach to succeed in your nutrition choices:

#1: Sit down with office co-workers, friends and family and explain to them your goals and the new choices you will be making for YOU. Explain to them you are NOT "going on a diet", but that you will be eating healthy from now on. This is the new you and you are not expecting them to conform to your new choices, and that you would appreciate their support, understanding and the same non-expectation-to-conform to their eating habit as you are giving them.

#2: Count the cost. What ARE your goals? Do you have a clear picture of where you want to be, say, in 6 months from now? Are your goals WORTH any resistance you may feel from friends and family when choosing healthy food options?

#3: Resolve to stay focused on you. We put so much pressure on ourselves to make others happy. We feel guilty for turning down office friends when they want to eat out, or even ordering a salad at lunch instead of the greasy food they are ordering. Often though, we put these feelings and thoughts in our own head, when they are really admiring us, not thinking bad of us. Forget about what they think. YOU have decided you want to be healthy. They may be feeling guilty they don't have your focus and resolve and want your company of unhealthy choices. Don't give in. They will admire you in the long run!

A personal in-site into my home-life. My husband doesn't like to eat healthy. I have a 4 & 5 year old who love junk food, hot dogs and cookies! But, they got me for a wife and mother! HA! So, they know that we eat healthy, no discussion! It's my JOB as a mom first, and a wife, to plan the meals, do the shopping, prepare the dinners, and get it on the table. My husband complains about some recipes, and I just make a note to not serve that again. But more often than not, I find things to cook that he will eat. He might not LOVE it. He might prefer chicken friend steak and mashed potatoes, but if he is still hungry after dinner or feels unsatisfied, he is a free person. He is free to get up and fry himself up something or go grab fast food for himself. I don't judge him for that and he let's me cook healthy. We are all our own person and we are each responsible for our own food choices. The longer we are married the more I realize he can eat what he wants and I can, and will, eat the way I want.

I'm also relaxed a few times a month. We do make healthy food choices the majority of the month, so occasionally we go out for Mexican food (once a month) and we indulge! It's the daily and weekly indulgences that have to stop. It's not to say you will never have another drink, dessert or decadent meal. You will! But what are your day in and day out habits? These are what will make up your body weight, body fat, the way you feel, and ultimately your self confidence, happiness and overall success of your health and fitness goals.

My kids nutrition is my responsibility, but when they grow up, they will be free to make their own choices.

Kids will eat healthy! My kids eat cereal for breakfast, grapes, apples, cheese sticks and yogurts for snacks, peanut butter & jelly for lunch (on whole grain bread with natural peanut butter and All-fruit jelly). They get snacky food made from Back to Nature, Cascadian Farms or Annies. And for dinner we do our best to make them try what we are eating for dinner. We offer fruit salad at dinner, applesauce and protein in the form of chicken or low-fat sausage. They love it when we go somewhere else and they get the chance to eat a hot dog, but it's not a staple in our house.

Hope this helps and please feel free to respond and share your struggles, questions and concerns.

Have a fit, fabulous and nutritious weekend!