By Jenn Trepeck, Certified TLS Coach, nutraMetrix Consultant
Lifestyle changes aren’t easy to make; they take time and consistency. Can we make them easier? Absolutely! When you’re crushing health goals, having a community that fosters supportive accountability can help us stay consistent. Choosing who we enroll in our journey, who we share our victories with, and who we see only on occasion, can make all the difference. Here’s how.
1. Decide who you share with
This is key. Who we enroll in our journey is important to consider? We want to spend the most time with those who are supportive and non-sabotaging. Notice how friends and family respond to your new, healthier lifestyle. If they’re the kind of people who watch your plate and make you feel like you’re under a microscope, maybe don’t share with those people. If they’re always a cheerleader and offer you support in other areas of life, maybe share your new focus. Identify the subtle saboteur and veer away. Instead, include the people who choose healthy restaurants or make plans that involve non-food activities. We don’t have to cut off old friendships; we just intentionally choose who knows about our health goals and progress. This could be one or two people. It doesn’t have to be every friend unless you want it to be. It’s all about what works for you and your goals.
2. Find fitness and health buddies
Did you see the movie, Brittany Runs a Marathon? If not, it’s absolutely worth the watch. Notice how she starts to gravitate toward her running friends. It’s no coincidence. Support from people who are on similar paths is incredibly helpful. It reminds us that we’re not alone; we can do it! Talking to people with shared experiences can make healthy choices easier. We can borrow each other’s strength, commitment, and energy and share ours with others as well. Maybe it’s your gym crew or the people in your TLS group, or the TLS Facebook community. These people understand the journey with its challenges and triumphs more than most. Not to mention when we make friends at the gym, our workouts become social events, and you can look forward to them.
3. Confide in a health coach
I have been on both ends of the spectrum! I understand that feeling of not wanting to make a big deal out of your food choices and not wanting your friends to watch everything you put on your plate. At the same time, you want to share your victories, have a resource to ask questions to, and someone with whom to celebrate. That’s where a health coach comes in. They can provide emotional support for victories and challenges. They can also help cultivate tools through education and practice to keep you going and create a lifestyle of health and well-being.
But what if the roles are reversed, and you are the wellness ally? Simply take these tips and follow them in reverse. Let them drive the conversations. No need for you to offer what you think they should or shouldn’t be doing. Instead, compliment them on their energy and effort rather than results. Be someone they feel comfortable sharing with. You can be a support system and offer accountability on their terms.
Overall, decide what kind of person and friend you need and want to be as a wellness ally. Evaluate the people around you, set boundaries where needed, and share when it works for you. Remember, at the end of the day, the community is a critical piece of our lives. When we lock arms, we are stronger and healthier. Here’s to your health.
The persons sharing their stories are independent distributors of Market America products. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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