Are you having a hard time committing to living a healthier lifestyle? Have you ever considered that your friends may be influencing your weight? Weight gain and/or loss is not contagious, but it can be influenced by social behaviors. Just for a moment, reflect on how many of your weekly activities revolve around food – happy hour, weekend parties, working lunches, breakroom treats, comfort food temptations and the list goes on and on…..
Don’t let the activities you engage in with friends undermine your weight loss efforts. Instead, chose healthy activities that will help not only you but everyone to achieve their personal weight loss goals:
Happy Hour:
Happy Hour does not need to be a daily activity. Limit it to once a week or every other Friday. Pace your empty calorie intake by alternating a glass of wine with a club soda or glass of water and choose the pita and hummus appetizer instead of the wings!
Comfort Food Temptations:
Having a hard day or week? Instead of meeting up with a friend over pizza, have your friend meet you at the park and go for a walk together. The fresh air and physical activity will help fight off depression and help you avoid the the tendency to use food as a comfort tool.
Breakroom Treats:
Every office has a co-worker who loves to bring in treats that you just can not pass up! Suggest they consider bringing in healthier versions of their homemade treats that won’t sabotage everyone’s diet efforts.
Weekend Get Togethers:
Who said all get togethers need to revolve around food? Skip the dinner party and ask your friends to go for a bike ride or meet up for a friendly game of tennis, volleyball, softball, etc….
Exercising and dieting together may improve your chances at hitting your weight loss goals!
