Creating a Support System for Yourself

Losing weight is one of the most difficult challenges many of us face. Having a support system makes success much easier to attain.

Not only will a support system help motivate you through the tough times, but it will make it much easier to succeed and cheer you on when you do succeed.

Creating a system of support to achieve your goals is that much easier with these five great ideas:

Support System #1 – Family

One of the easiest support systems will most likely be your family. They love you unconditionally, they want you to succeed and they are always around.

Moms are great for complimenting you on your goals …
“You look great today!”
“I can tell you have been exercising, it’s really paying off!”

Our children are superb at calling us out on our slip-ups,
“Did you eat the last piece of cake, mom?”

And of course our extended families are helpful by asking about our status,
“So have you dropped those ten pounds you were working on losing?”

Husbands or wives are there to cheer for you when you succeed and hold you when you slip.

By providing you with an environment of support, your family members can help you attain your goals. This is great for goals other than losing weight as well. Such as if you are trying to quit smoking, your spouse or family members may try to quit with you, or smoke outside, and of course never offer to pick up a pack for you when they’re out.

Support System #2 – Friends

Friends challenge you to succeed, making them a superior support system. They keep you focused on your goals and make you laugh.

More importantly, they will often join you on your quest for a healthier lifestyle. You can join (or create) a walking club or exercise group where you get together three times a week for laughter and fitness.

If all of you are trying to lose weight, weekly calls or coffee meetings to discuss your trials and successes during the week can help keep everyone motivated and on track.

Support System #3 – Online

Chat rooms, forums, and online support groups are incredibly successful tools. Because of their success, specific chat rooms have been created to help people meet and attain their fitness and weight loss goals.

Besides chat rooms and social networking support sites, there are many other online tools available to help you track your success. There is a Google plug-in that tracks your fitness. You can use it to track your mileage if you’re running, swimming or cycling and you can also track your weight lifting progress. This allows you to track the statistics of your workout, and how you felt afterward.

Support System #4 – Programs

Many weight loss programs offer some kind of support system. It is crucial for us to have support as we embark on something important (and in many cases difficult).

Weight Watchers offer meetings, Jenny Craig has in office support or online support, and Curves offers support with their fitness programs, eDiets offers support via online meetings, phone consultations with a nutritionist, fitness support and of course their multiple forums.

Program support is often the best support because other people in the program are going through the same thing as you – or they have been there before. They understand your struggles. It is easier to offer advice and tips to one another, because you understand what each other is going through.

Support System #5 – Journal

You can always count on yourself. Journaling your successes can help you stay motivated. Tracking your struggles can help you understand yourself better.

When you are having a bad day, read about your successes and the goals or milestones you’ve already achieved – this helps you stay motivated. Use the slip-ups to figure out what triggered those moments of weakness – this helps you to find alternative actions you can take the next time and helps you to avoid certain situations in the future.

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