Whole Body Wellness

Are You Getting Support from the People Closest To You?
This topic is close to my heart because I know that getting support from the people closest to you can make or break your efforts to be healthy. Many times I speak with clients whose significant others or friends get in the way of them making changes in their food and lifestyle.

Do you experience any of the following with your significant other, roommate, or friends?

· They bring unhealthy food into the house or to your work
· They suggest you go out instead of eating at home
· They complain when you prepare healthy food
· They choose restaurants that don’t have healthy options
· They suggest you skip exercising and spend time with them instead

I want to point out that typically the people closest to you aren’t doing these things to purposefully hinder your efforts. What I have found is that they simply need time to adjust to the changes you’re making, and they need you to be clear about how they can support you.

Don’t expect them to read your mind. We sometimes think that the people in our life should know what we need, without us asking for it. That would be nice, but unfortunately, this doesn’t usually happen. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need. If you’re not accustomed to asking for what you need, think of this as a muscle that you need to work. The more you do it, the more comfortable it will become.

How can you ask for what you need? It can be really helpful to start by explaining your goals for yourself, the changes you’re trying to make, and why this is important to you. Then, simply ask if they are willing to support you in reaching your goals. While they may not know what’s involved, they will almost always say “yes” because the people closest to you love you and want you to be happy.

Get specific with your requests. Once the people in your life have agreed to support you, make one or two specific requests (giving a huge list will be overwhelming). I recommend asking for the things that will have the most impact on you. Realize that it may be challenging for them to fulfill your request, since it will likely affect them. Give them praise when they support you, be patient, and remind them frequently of your request(s) and why they are important to you. Give back to them by asking what you can do to support them, and then fulfill their request.