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I have worked with individuals who have wanted their efforts to lose weight, to remain a complete secret, even from close family members and friends. Logistically this is a problem, particularly when changing eating and exercise habits. Furthermore, it is the support from people closest to you which will help you through the tougher periods of weight loss and also encourage you to keep moving forward.
The Guardian published a front page article on the 28th December 2009 about the futility of New Years’ resolutions. Apparently making such resolutions “is pointless because we break them, become dispirited in the process and finally more despondent than we were before”.
In their survey, one of the most common resolutions was losing weight. Of the people they surveyed who gave up on their resolutions, (78% of total number), they relied heavily on self-help books, visualisation and good old fashioned willpower!
Those who kept their resolutions on the other hand (22% of total number), broke their goal down into manageable steps, kept records of their journey and achievements and recruited assistance from other people to hold them accountable as they progressed towards their goals.
Whilst good self help books and visualisation can be enormously powerful, they both need to be backed up with a firm strategy and plenty of support. If anything, the article in the Guardian not only supports the idea of employing a coach to maximize your chance of achieving your goals, it also emphasizes the importance of having a support network to rely on.
I encourage my clients to invite someone or some people who are close to them and who they know will challenge them, be honest with them and care enough about them to help them move forwards in their efforts to live a healthier life.
When it comes to weight loss, doing it alone greatly undermines your chances of making long term changes to your lifestyle.
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