If you’re trying to lose weight and reduce your belly fat, but your husband keeps bringing home pizza every night and your kids are always eating ice cream while you’re in the room, you may find staying on track challenging. To be successful, you may need to recruit support of all kinds, from friends and family, from professionals, and from the Internet.
Creating a support network with friends and family
One of the best ways to stay on track with your healthy lifestyle is to tell your friends and family about your weight loss and health goals (and why you’re striving for them). If your family and friends know you’re trying to eat healthier options, such as whole grains instead of refined carbohydrates, they may try to be more supportive.
Family and friends can also be a great support team when you’re trying to include more physical activity in your daily routine. So ask around. Maybe a friend would love to walk with you in the mornings, or perhaps your kids would love to kick the soccer ball around together at night. Finding a consistent exercise partner helps to make you more accountable as well.
Bringing in professional help
Sometimes you need more than just the support of your friends and family to be successful. In these cases, you may find that professional help is just what you need to achieve and, most importantly, maintain your health and weight goals.
For example, if you’re struggling with eating due to emotional reasons rather than hunger, speaking to a licensed mental health provider can be a great way to learn strategies to fight emotional eating. And if you need help customizing your meal plan to meet specific dietary or medical needs or help finding motivation to get started with a weight loss and fitness routine, consulting with a registered dietitian, such as myself, is your best option.
To find a qualified health professional, ask your primary care physician for referrals, contact your insurance carrier for a list of names of in-network providers in your area, or look online in healthcare provider directories for someone who specializes in your needs.
Getting online weight loss support
Finding support doesn’t mean you have to leave the comfort of your own home. You can find plenty of motivation and advice online. For instance, you can find many great low-cost or no-cost communities online that allow you to talk with other folks striving to lose weight and improve their health. This type of forum can be a great way to share tips, gain motivation, and foster support. Here are some great online forums to check out:
Erin Palinski online: Need advice on your Belly Fat Diet plan, getting motivated to lose weight, or adjusting your meal plan to meet your specific health and weight loss needs? This website, provides online and phone coaching, custom meal planning, webinars, and even a free newsletter with tips and ideas.
Hello Life: This website contains many active forums on areas of health and wellness, including everything from mental health to weight loss. It also provides insightful articles and Q&A from health experts.
Weight Loss Buddy: This is a great site to gain support. You can blog, share pictures and videos, and even keep track of your food and weight loss efforts. This site is a great way to connect with others that share the same goals as you and receive praise and words of encouragement to maintain your motivation to stay on track and achieve your goals.
Be careful when looking for information online. Remember that anyone can put up a website or blog. When looking for health information online, make sure you do your research. Look for credible sites run by true medical professionals or organizations. And look for information that’s backed by scientific research.
