Help boost our confidence, and you will survive the diet journey we are on.
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It’s January, and your old lady has decided to lose weight as her New Year’s Resolution. For most of you, that means you’re about to have a cranky, hungry companion. How can you survive this new plan, and how can you support her?
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We know how far we can push ourselves and what our limits are.
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Of course, you want to support her, but it seems that everything you say or do goes wrong. Let’s face it. You need help. Here are the top six things that women would like you to know to help them meet their weight loss goals.
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1. We don’t need the food police!
There is nothing worse than having someone reminding us that we are eating something we probably shouldn’t be. There is such a thing as Eater’s Remorse, and I promise we have it as soon as we guzzle that giant ice cream shake. We do a pretty good job of beating ourselves up without any help.
2. Encourage, don’t discourage.
We know how far we can push ourselves and what our limits are. Instead of putting limits on what we are capable of doing (either in food habits or exercise), say encouraging lines like, “You got this.” Or, “You can do this.” It goes a lot farther than, “Are you sure you should be doing that?” We will be a lot happier with you because of it.
3. Plan activities that will help keep us busy (but not chores).
No, this doesn’t mean making more dirty dishes for us to do. It means making plans to go for a walk with us. Since you know that we are working to make a healthier habit, find ways to help us with that. Tread lightly, though, because there is a fine line between planning activities and making it a chore. Think playing cards together, not taking a 50-mile hike together. Keep it simple.
4. Don’t send us to go buy fast food for you.
We know that just because we are on a diet, doesn’t mean that you are on a diet. However, sending us to pick up your fast food will only make us want to pick up something for ourselves. It’s hard to resist one of those cheap apple pies when you are staring at it in the drive-thru. Instead, ask us if it will be too difficult for us to retrieve, or do us a GIANT favor and don’t eat it around us at all.
5. Stop bringing home those desserts/snacks!
We know it is still football season. We also know there is nothing better than sitting in front of the television having chips and salsa. But, sometimes the temptation of eating right can be too much for us to handle if you are eating those snacks in front of us.
We can easily convince ourselves in a matter of seconds that we can just have “a few” of your snacks. The problem becomes that often, “a few” turns into the entire bag, box, etc. See if you can find a healthier alternative to your favorite snack, or better yet, find a snack that your mate doesn’t like. Just a tip, though, chocolate in any form, is dangerous in the house.
6. Don’t rub it in how fast you lose weight.
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Excuse our grumpiness and our bad attitude when we are hungry.
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We get it. Men lose weight faster than women do. Haven’t you noticed our frustration? It can be very discouraging for us when you talk about how “easily” you have lost your weight when we are struggling to lose a half pound. When people notice how much weight you have lost, be proud and accept the compliment. If you can, remind them of our weight loss, too. After all, there is nothing more discouraging than no one noticing our weight loss. Help build our confidence by throwing a compliment our way. Plus, it will probably save you from a lecture later!
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Dieting is difficult for women. We didn’t put the weight on in a week, and so we certainly aren’t going to get it off that fast either. Be patient with us as we travel our weight loss journey. Excuse our grumpiness and our bad attitude when we are hungry.
After all, the slimmer we become, the more confidence we will gain. Help boost our confidence, and you will survive the diet journey we are on.
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Photo: Flickr/ Ed Yourdon
