Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Losing weight is a personal journey, but having support from your partner can make a big difference in staying motivated and seeing success. Weight loss is one of the most common goals people set for themselves. But few see sustained success! Whatever your reason, whether you are trying to improve your health, build confidence, or feel more energetic, getting weight loss support from your partner can make this a lot easier. But how do you go about making sure you supported by your partner? Let's look at some ways to talk about this, set boundaries, and communicate your needs!
Sharing the Reason Behind Your Weight Loss Goals
You certainly have a reason in mind when you set a goal to lose weight. Your partner on the other hand may not fully understand why! You have to make sure you clearly explain your motivation. Whether it is to feel better physically, reduce health risks, or boost your self-confidence, an explanation can help them see why this goal is important to you. As with most things in life, open communication can strengthen your relationship and encourage them to support you.
Explaining How They Can Support You
What ways can your partner support you? It can come in a lot of forms. They can:
- Keep you motivated to make and stick with healthy changes.
- Normalize the experiences and emotions involved in weight loss.
- Help you recognize that you are not alone and that they understand what you are going through.
Setting and Respecting Boundaries
Most people need support when making a big life change. But you also need to set up some boundaries. Your partner may have their own experiences with food. This could be a past struggle with an eating disorders and being conscious of their feelings is just as important! If they are not comfortable making big changes, talk about compromises that work for both of you. Healthy boundaries make sure that support is positive rather than controlling or judgmental. It is okay to ask your partner not to bring certain trigger foods into the house, but you also need to acknowledge their preferences and needs.
Explaining How They Can Support Your Weight Loss
A supportive partner can help you stay on track. They can:
- Encourage your progress and celebrate your successes.
- Help with meal planning or prepare healthier meals with you.
- Offer positive reinforcement instead of criticism.
- Join you in workouts or other physical activities.
- Avoid negative comments about weight, body image, or food choices.
The Influence a Loved One Has on Weight Loss
If you are in a relationship, your partner is naturally going to change how you behave, and vice-versa! This is perfectly normal and often healthy. Your daily routine may change, the activities you look forward to doing or plan on trying may be different than before. When it comes to weight loss, this can be both helpful and challenging. So what are some positive (and negative) influences they can have?
Positive Influences
- Cooking healthier meals together.
- Keeping junk food out of the house.
- Buying gym equipment or a membership.
- Taking on more household chores so you have time to exercise.
- Finding creative ways to make workouts more enjoyable.
- Joining in by eating healthier and staying active.
- Giving you encouragement and recognizing your progress.
Negative Influences
- Making it hard to plan meals or being controlling over food choices.
- Bringing unhealthy snacks into the house and encouraging "cheat days."
- Discouraging progress with negative comments or guilt trips.
- Suggesting that weight loss goals are unnecessary or questioning your motives.
How Can I Handle People Who Are Unsupportive?
You may find that not everyone is in your corner when it comes to a weight loss journey. This might include family members or friends! Unsupportive people can make it harder for you to stick to your goals. If you run into anyone like this, make sure you advocate for yourself by talking about your needs. Let the people around you know how their actions or comments affect you! Sometimes, people may not realize how their behaviors impact your progress, and a simple conversation can change their mind. When you run into negativity, it helps to pause, take a deep breath, and reflect on your feelings. Recognizing unhelpful comments for what they are can reduce their emotional impact and help you stay on the right track with your goals.
Communicating Your Feelings Throughout the Journey
Being open, honest, and vulnerable with your partner about your weight loss journey can strengthen your relationship. Let them know when you are struggling and what kind of help you need. Regular check-ins about your progress and challenges can make sure that both of you stay on the same page and still support each other.
Working on Your Ask in Therapy
If you are struggling therapy can be a valuable resource. Alma is a platform that helps connect people with licensed therapists who can help with goals, navigate relationship dynamics and set boundaries! They have over 24,000 in-network providers, and users often find a therapist within three days of submitting a request. Alma partners with major insurance providers like Aetna, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. For those not ready for therapy, try practicing how to express your needs and rehearsing what to say to your partner. This can help you feel more confident in your ask.
Getting weight loss support from your partner can be incredibly helpful. It does take open communication, mutual respect, and clear boundaries! Working together to create a supportive environment will increase your chances of success. A supportive partner can make all the difference in helping you reach your weight loss goals!
Taking control of your health has never been easier with PatientsLikeMe, a platform that empowers you to manage your wellness journey proactively. By joining a community who share your experiences and insights, you gain access to invaluable support and information tailored to your unique health needs.