Weight Loss & Support
 As with any change, having the support of friends and family is important. When it comes to weight loss, this support is vital. Whether you need to lose weight for health reasons, or it is a personal choice to feel more confident and happy, knowing that you have a support system can make the process easier and more positive.
Outside of giving their moral support, people who are on the same page as you can actually influence you to change your habits through their own actions. The following are some weight loss support tips that you, and your friends and family, may find helpful:
- Make it a family affair - In order to lose weight in a healthy way, and keep it off, it's important to make permanent lifestyle changes instead of crash dieting or living at the gym for a few months. Many successful dieters have found it helpful include their family and make healthy changes together, rather than setting themselves apart. One way this can be done as a group is to substitute fast food and sugary treats with healthy, delicious options at family meals. When it is a family-oriented decision, it is often easier to stay committed, as well as have a healthier, happier family.
- Buddy up - If going to the gym is part of your weight loss plan, find a gym buddy. Many people find that they are more likely to go to the gym, and stay there for longer, if they go with a friend. If the gym isn't really your thing, find a friend to take up an active hobby with like biking or tennis. Weight loss doesn't have to be a chore; it can be fun, too!
- Join a group - If you live alone or find it difficult to find weight loss support among friends and family, there are many support groups available for people trying to lose weight. If you can't find an established weight loss program in your community, start one! There are also many groups that meet online to help one another stay committed to their weight loss goals. It's important to know you are not alone in your struggles, and there are always people who can help you along your way to meeting your goals.
Whether you are changing your diet, exercising more, or a combination of both, weight loss support is just as important as the means by which you lose weight. People with no support are more likely to give up on their weight loss goals, or to gain weight back. Speak with your health care provider to learn more about healthy weight loss and to create the best plan to fit your needs and goals, and to make sure you are healthy enough to make changes to your health regimen.
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