Ways To Support Someone Who's Trying To Lose Weight

Want to help your loved one reach a health goal? Check out these super helpful ways to support someone who’s trying to lose weight.

One of the best things you can do for loved ones is to support them on whatever journey they might be taking. When it comes to health, it’s even more important.

Weight loss is hard, people. But it’s worth the effort to get healthy.

And, if you’ve ever been on your own weight loss journey, you probably know that it’s easy to get off track when influenced by others.

Most of us don’t want to be a, “Stick-in-the-mud,” per-say, and we just do what everyone else is doing so that we don’t disappoint people.

(Raise your hand if you’ve ever offended someone by not eating their delicious creation? I swear I upset my husband’s grandma every Thanksgiving by skipping the third dessert. Lol.)

I am a people pleaser most of the time. I can’t tell you how many different times throughout my own weight loss journey that I’ve changed my own rules to adjust to someone else’s agenda.

It’s so easy to let your plans be thwarted by a change in plans, or the desire to please someone else.

I get it!

That’s why I decided to write this post. It’s so hard to do something that is JUST for you, and it’s hard to do the thing that you know is right when everyone else is doing something different.

Imagine if those around us could actually help instead of deter us?

I think that our loved ones probably have the best intentions most of the time, but that doesn’t erase our personal goals.

Sometimes, people just don’t know how to support others. And, if we’re being honest, I think that most people actually secretly wish they had more self-control over food and drinks, but they don’t want to be a party-pooper.

I just chalk it up to society.

We Americans just want to have fun. (A little too much fun?)

Anyway, I think that besides these ways to support someone on a weight loss journey, there is one more thing I HAVE to leave you with.

YOU are in charge of setting boundaries and making your expectations and goals clear.

1. Be inclusive when it comes to food.

Just like you probably wouldn’t take your vegan friend out to a BBQ joint, you wouldn’t want to take your friend who’s on a weight loss journey somewhere they couldn’t enjoy something healthy.

The same goes for holiday parties, family get-togethers, and the like. You should always try to include foods that are low carb, low sugar, etc.

Offer a lean protein options, veggies, and other healthy choices if you really want to help your friend.

Otherwise, they will feel like they have no choice but to break their own promises to themselves. (That’s the worst.)

2. Take a break from drinking.

Most alcoholic drinks have a lot of calories, carbs, and/or sugar. Drinking is typically not weight-loss friendly, unless you are talking about a very small serving or periodic drinking.

If you really want to support your friend who is trying to lose weight, you should try to come up with new and different ways to hang out!

So go somewhere new, have a game night, go on a hike, or do one of the millions of other things adults do for fun!

Even if they don’t say as much, your friend or family member that’s trying to lose weight will be relieved.

Bonus points if you do something active together!

3. Get creative with drinks.

If you aren’t willing to take a break from drinks with friends, get creative with them.

There are a lot of ways to cut sugar and calories when you drink, but it does require that you try new things sometimes.

For example: Beer is typically full of carbs and calories, whereas vodka has fewer of both.

You can do shots or add some lemon juice to make it, “healthier.” (Although your body doesn’t really benefit from alcohol consumption.)

There are also many “diet” mixers and other products on the market to help you make your drinking a little healthier. Try it out!

4. Don’t stop inviting them to things.

Even if you know your friend or family member might take a rain check, it’s not a good thing to stop sending them invites to your next shindig.

Weight loss can be a lonely journey, and just because someone wants to lose weight, it doesn’t mean they want to lose friends or family.

So, instead of leaving them out of the fun, just adjust your expectations and let them make their own choices.

Please, please don’t let them feel left out for wanting to live a healthier lifestyle. It hurts more than you know!

5. Keep gifts food-free.

So many of us have a tendency to give treats, food, and gift cards for food as gifts. This is especially true for us around holidays and birthdays.

While I totally believe in cake on your birthday and pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, I think we’ve taken it a little too far.

We’re eating ourselves silly, and sometimes it feels as though we don’t know any other way to celebrate something or someone.

So, if you want to help that loved one of yours on a fitness journey, give gifts that support their goals!

There are things, sure, but you can also give experiences or adventures. Think about gym memberships, new workout gear, books, and more!

6. Join them!

Studies show that people lose more weight and keep it off longer when it’s a social thing.

That means that everyone is more successful when they have support and accountability.

You don’t have to commit to a year-long challenge to support a loved one who is trying to lose weight. Keep it simple.

Offer to go for a run together, meet up at the gym, or swap healthy recipes.

If you want to take it further, I’m sure your friend or family member would appreciate it! No one should have to do such a hard task alone.

Do you have any other ideas for ways to support someone who’s trying to lose weight? Share them with me below for the rest of us to ponder!

Thanks for reading,

Chantal