What To Do And What Not To Do
To Help A Dieter Succeed
WHAT TO DO TO SUPPORT A LOVED ONE LOSE WEIGHT
1. Encouragement - encourage the dieter on the things they are doing right and applaud them for reaching their goal or even trying to reach their goals.2. Adapt their healthy behaviors - Eating some of their meals with them or by joining them in their daily exercise program. This will not only show how much you support them in making positive changes to their lifestyle, but it will also be beneficial to you.
3. Develop healthy rewards - If the dieter has met their weekly or monthly goal, plan celebratory rewards for them that don’t focus on food. For example, plan a weekend getaway at a beach, a massage or a hair appointment.
4. Care about the person, not the diet - it is of utmost importance that your loved one who is trying to lose weight knows that you care about them and that they can count on your support in their life - no matter what their size.
5. Listen, don't judge - Enquire the dieter about their progress and make sure you are there to listen if they are having a bad day. This will help the dieter to deal with stress by talking to someone who cares and will listen, instead of turning to food for comfort.
6. Be supportive - Dieting is emotionally demanding and it really important that the dieter knows that you are there for them and wanting to help. If the dieter is a person who you don’t see every day make sure you call, message or email frequently to let them know you are thinking about them – not their weight.
7. Celebrate the small goals - To keep the dieter motivated, it is important to be creative in finding ways to celebrate the dieter's successes which doesn’t focus on eating. For example, bring them flowers, or treat them to a movie or a sporting event.
8. Encourage a healthy lifestyle - Don't just tell someone they need to go to the gym more, go to the gym with them. This will not only encourage the person to go to the gym but it will also show them that you support them in achieving a healthy lifestyle.
9. Learn about their weight loss program - Make an effort to learn about their diet plan (such as the kinds of foods they're eating, how it works, and what the plan involves). This will give you a better understanding of what the dieter is going through and it will help you to be more supportive.
10. Be positive - Being positive is the most important tip for anyone who is supporting a loved one to lose weight. If the dieter has a bad day and wants to throw in the towel, remind them of their accomplishments and encourage them to move forward and let them know you believe in their abilities to achieve their goals.
WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE IS ON A DIET
2. Don't become the "food police” - Such as locking away food you think the dieter shouldn’t have or reprimanding them for having the “wrong” thing.
3. Don't put the dieter down - An easy way to ensure you don’t do this is by ‘not saying anything to the dieter that you wouldn’t want said to yourself’ and remember that words can be hurtful.
4. Don't be judgmental - Avoid phrases such as ‘why did you eat that?’ or ‘did you stick to your diet today?’ You are not the umpire of the dieter’s life, so it is not your role to judge or criticize.
5. Don't overdo your support - Don’t bombard the dieter with subscriptions to fitness magazines, weight loss books, or low calorie cook books (unless the dieter says that’s what they want). Although, this is a helpful gesture if you overdo it, it can come across as rude.
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