Buddy Up for Weight Loss

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Buddy Up for Weight Loss

By Felicia Megginson

A diet buddy can provide you with companionship, motivation, and

positive encouragement. Here's how to find the right buddy for you!

Why Seek Support?

You've decided once and for all to finally take off the extra weight

you've been blaming on your last pregnancy -- which was years ago!

But this time around you're going to do it right; no quick-fix diet

pills, or every meal in the form of a shake for a month. So you've

met with your doctor to set realistic weight loss and timeline

goals; you've chosen a food management plan that fits your

personality and lifestyle; you've even signed up with a personal

trainer at a local gym. All your bases are covered. Right? Wrong.

You've overlooked an essential component of any successful weight

loss plan: support.

Success in Numbers

As kids we were told there was safety in numbers. We were encouraged

to buddy up when we were out and about, the idea being our buddy

would look out for us, keep us out of harms way, and give us help

should we need it. That same kind of support can be extremely

beneficial to anyone trying to lose weight. However, buddying up for

weight loss isn't about safety in numbers, it's about success in

numbers, where fellow dieters team up to help one another achieve

their weight loss goals.

Any successful dieter can tell you that will power and discipline

are important, but that a nurturing support system makes the

difference between sticking with it and giving up. A buddy provides

the moral support needed to help keep you focused and on track by

being your confidant, cheerleader and drill sergeant all rolled into

one. They can make it so you won't feel as if you're in the weight

loss game on your own.

Finding a Buddy

You may think the encouragement of your family is all the support

you will need, but don't count on it. While they may be sympathetic,

your family may not always understand the frustrations you will face

with regard to your weight. Your buddy will be the positive, non-

judgmental advocate you need. The concept is pretty simple, and

finding one can be as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Step One: Establishing Your Need

The first thing you need to do is figure out precisely what kind of

support you will want your buddy to provide-because it can differ

for each individual. Are you hoping to find someone who will help

you stick to your diet, especially during the tempting hours at work

(you know those two hours immediately before or after lunch when the

munchies come calling), or to go with you to market on grocery day

to keep you away from the snack aisle? Maybe you want a workout

buddy; someone who will not only encourage you to maintain your

exercise plan, but who will go on that power walk with you each

morning. Or perhaps you're looking for a peer group where you can

share tips and advice, and receive positive feedback when you hit

your weight loss wall.

Whatever your need(s), you should clearly establish them before

beginning your search. And once you find your buddy, be sure to take

the time to discuss your mutual goals with each other; remember this

will be a give and take arrangement.

Step Two: Finding the Right Fit

Your ideal buddy should be like a comfortable pair of shoes: a

comfortable fit. When thinking about candidates, consider:

Location -- you'll want someone who is readily accessible. A hard to

reach buddy is going to be less effective than someone who can be

there for you in a flash.

Lifestyle -- the best candidate will be someone who has a similar

schedule as yours and is available to meet when you are. If you're a

stay-at-home mom with two small kids, your single friend with the 9-

to-5-office job may not be an ideal match.

Personality -- someone who is supportive yet stern is your best bet.

Your buddy shouldn't intimidate you, nor should they be overly

indulgent. They should be even handed in their ability to encourage

you without being too tolerant of whining or laziness.

Step Three: Making Your Choice

So where can you go to find a buddy? Anywhere, really, but again,

it's about finding the right fit in terms of location, personality

and lifestyle. Consider the following:

The Office -- work based buddies can help each other by bringing in

healthful lunches and snacks on alternating days, taking a lunch

hour aerobics class together several times a week, or setting aside

an allotted period of time at the end of each work day to discuss

any progress or setbacks.

The Office -- work based buddies can help each other by bringing in

healthful lunches and snacks on alternating days, taking a lunch

hour aerobics class together several times a week, or setting aside

an allotted period of time at the end of each work day to discuss

any progress or setbacks.

Friends and Family -- whether it's your mom, your best friend or

your baby brother, the people close to you are often ideal choices

because they know your limits as well as your strengths. And it's

all the more rewarding to be working towards a healthier you with

someone you love.

Organize a Group -- organizations like Weight Watchers? champion the

idea of group support as an aid for weight loss. You can create your

own support group by starting with a pre-existing group-like your

playgroup, or friends from your local church or temple-then setting

a weekly meeting time and place. As the saying goes, " If you build

it, they will come! "

Connect Online -- this is ideal if you live in a rural area where

friends are often far away. Many women's issues or parenting web

sites often have {entire community areas} dedicated to weight loss

where you can be sure to find a like-minded soul ready to team up

with you.

Shaping Up Discussion Group

Being a Good Buddy

Remember that to truly benefit from the buddy system you need to

establish a give and take relationship. It's just as important for

you to bolster your buddy when they hit an exercise rut or to be

there in their time of crisis. But also keep it light. Make time to

do nurturing things like going for a manicure when one or the other

reaches a significant goal; or have a potluck lunch with your group,

where you can try out each other's tasty, low-cal recipes. By

keeping your buddy relationships energized and upbeat, you'll all

reap the benefits of strength in numbers.