When you are dieting, it’s nice to know that you are not the only one who has packed on the pounds and needs to get back in shape, but is it true that friends can make you fat?
Maybe not literally, but hanging around people who are always discussing their diet (or lack thereof) can have a positive or negative impact on your own success.
“In the realm of dieting, there is evidence that social support is a positive factor influencing weight loss,” says Kenneth Schwarz, PhD, who with his wife, Julie Schwarz, wrote the book Maria’s Last Diet: How to Break through the 15 Obstacles to Achieve Diet Success.
My arthritis pain is off the charts, so I am always interested in exploring different ways I can achieve pain relief that doesn’t involve medication. I have been studying foods that cause inflammation and cutting them out of my diet.
I’ve been eating fish such as salmon, snacking on nuts, and cooking with olive oil. When I go out to eat, I always order vegetables. I have stopped drinking milk because dairy can cause inflammation.
Before you pair up with a diet buddy, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Choose Someone with a Positive Attitude
Choose someone who isn’t an Eeyore when it comes to life. In the Winnie the Pooh story, there’s an old donkey who always thinks the worst of every situation. The last thing you want to bring you down is a diet partner who complains constantly about what they can’t have or what they have to do to lose weight.
Choose Someone Who Has Similar Weight Loss Goals
It’s discouraging to watch a diet buddy hit all her goals, while you take forever to shed the last 10 pounds. And it’s also harder to stay motivated if you need to lose 50 pounds and it comes off slower than your friend who needs to lose 200 pounds because they may drop their weight faster before they plateau.
Choose a Partner That Inspires You
Choose a partner that can inspire and motivate you. There are some people who you just know will achieve their goals once they set their minds to something. You want to be connected to this type of diet partner – especially if you struggle with being a quitter yourself.
In my case, I am super motivated, because I don’t want to be the only one who is not losing weight, so I look at it as some friendly competition.
Stay Away from Nitpickers
This has always been a pet peeve of mine. I follow a certain diet, and someone is always nitpicking about every bite I take. So, if your potential diet buddy is just eating in moderation but you are on a high-protein diet, and she wants to scrutinize every bite you eat, she is not a good fit for your needs.
Determine What You Need from a Diet Buddy
A 2018 North Carolina State University study of 704 people enrolled in a 15-week online weight-loss program, found that participants with buddies lost more weight and waist inches than those who took the course without buddy support.
Make plans to meet at a mutually agreeable time, and encourage each other. It’s also a good time to discuss problems that have come up since the last time you met.
Use a Diet Buddy App
It seems like there is an app for everything these days, and for healthy eating tips, try the Diet Buddy app.
The primary goal of this app is to eat healthily and get fit. I like this app because it has a step goal, and I am always looking for ways to take more steps. At the end of the day, I am always amazed at how far I have walked.
Whether you want to lose weight, count steps, or talk about anything related to weight loss, this app is for you. It can be downloaded from Google Play.
Summary
Take this process seriously and give yourself time to pick the right diet buddy. You may find someone who has arthritis, and you can exchange tips and ideas. Try these tips and see what works for you. Your dreams of having a healthy body may soon become a reality.
