How to Keep Others from Sabotaging Your Weight Loss Efforts

You've finally made the decision to change your eating habits so that you can lose weight and be healthier. This time you are doing it for the right reasons. You are no longer doing it to please others who feel the need to point out the fact that you have more than a few pounds to lose. This time you are doing it for yourself because you know that you deserve to live a happy, healthy life.

For some reason, you find that the very people who were so quick to point out the fact that you need to lose weight are now the very people who are trying to sabotage your weight loss efforts.

Here are some of the ways that others may try and sabotage you:

-Bring home your favorite high calorie treats

-Try and talk you out of exercising

-Make you feel guilty about participating in anything that helps you in your journey

-Discourage you from buying healthier food at the grocery store

-Complain about how you are "changing" (both mentally and physically)

Why would someone who wants you to lose weight also try and sabotage your efforts? It seems contradictory. The fact is, it happens often.

A loved one who sees you going through a major life change will often feel scared. Suddenly you seem different. The person who used to pig out watching TV is now sipping water. The person who used to be a couch potato is now up every morning walking a couple of miles. The person who used to hide behind her weight is now going places and making new friends who support her efforts. The person who didn't care much about her appearance is now doing her nails, her hair and walking with a newfound confidence.

When a loved one sees this, it makes everything seem less certain. The loved one is not so sure he even knows who you are anymore. In a last ditch attempt to keep things the same, the sabotage begins.

I remember when I started my weight loss journey, my entire family worked at sabotaging my efforts. I don't think all that they did was intentional. It was just to see if I was still the wife and mother they had loved for so many years. I seemed different to them. They would always try and keep me from attending my weight loss support group. My husband was notorious for bringing home Krispy Kreme doughnuts or my favorite candy anytime he thought I was being successful in my weight loss efforts. My kids would always need me to take them somewhere at the exact same time my support group meeting was. Still, I knew I was being tested. I stood firm and told them that nothing other than a life or death emergency would take me away from my meeting. They soon came to understand this and stopped trying to stop me from going. They started calling those couple of hours as "Mom's time".

I finally talked to my husband to find out why he was bringing me Krispy Kreme doughnuts when he knew I was trying to lose weight and eat healthy. He admitted that he had a fear of losing me if I lost weight. He was afraid that I would get thin and some man would come and sweep me off my feet. I told him that a lot of men like larger women and that could happen to me anyway...regardless of my weight. I assured him that I had no intention of leaving him if I lost weight. Soon his efforts to sabotage me stopped, and he came to the realization that what I was doing was something good for me and for the family.

If you find that others are trying to sabotage your weight loss efforts, here are some tips for you:

-Try and understand why the person is trying to sabotage you. Is it based on fear or jealousy?

-Stand firm and do not fall victim to the efforts of your saboteurs. Let them know that what you are doing is important for your health.

-Ask for your family and friends to be supportive. Let them know that you realize it can be difficult seeing you go through emotional and physical changes, but that you are still the same person, and that you really need their support in order to be successful.

-Express your appreciation for any support that you receive during your journey.

Remember that taking care of your health is the most important thing you can do for yourself. Don't fall victim to anyone who would seek to keep you from your weight loss goal. Stay focused on the end result, and it will all be worth it in the end.