Episode #19 in the Motivation Assist Podcast series is How To Support Your Partner On Their Weight Loss Journey.
One of the main challenges on a weight loss programme is the feeling that their partner is thinking, ‘here we go again,’ or ‘more money down the drain.’ The reality with the Motivation programme is that when they start to lose the weight and keep it off, their partner, of course notices and for some, that’s when they tell them that they are doing the programme.
The overriding concern comes from previous failures – I’ve failed in the past so I don’t want anyone to know.
As we always say here in Motivation, those diet programmes failed you, you didn’t fail them.
We provide the tools to help couples understand what is involved and how to have constant dialogue so as to communicate their feelings and thoughts throughout the programme.
A big challenge for many is that their partner has no real understanding of what is involved and how important their weight loss programme is to them.
Partners are known to urge their partner to cheat. A common throwaway is to ‘live a little,’ and a great reply from one of Maebh’s clients was, “I am living. I’m actually living much better than I was before.”
It’s not dissimilar to one half of a couple giving up drinking (for a month or for an extended period) and the other partner wanting them to have a drink.
If something is said that is hurtful to someone trying to lose weight the partner needs to realise that they are actually almost pushing them towards food by doing that. This is the art of sabotage and it may happen consciously or subconsciously
Another important point for a partner of close relative of the person trying to lose weight, is not to ask about the amount of weight lost. This is a negative kind of pressure because there may be an occasion where there was no measurable weight loss – you may well have lost fat but retained excess water.
Overall, relationships blossom as a result of weight that is lost and wight loss that is is maintained. The extended family benefits are enormous – the know on effects are all positive.
Having an understanding of how to support your partner on their weight loss journey is an important ingredient to successful weight loss.
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