How to Help a Loved One Lose Weight

Thank you to Shaklee for providing the Shaklee180 products to make this post, and my weight loss, possible.
 

If you’ve ever tried to losing weight, then you know first hand how difficult it is to actually do it. This year, was the first time I’ve ever tried to lose weight. I’ve been fortunate for most of my life that my weight has been healthy and I’ve loved how I looked. Things changed this year.

It comes with getting older, I suppose. An extra pound here, and an extra pound there. I breastfeed my son for more than a year, and during that time the weight from my pregnancy quickly fell off despite the increased calories. Yay for free snacking, right?! That’s a bonus to pregnancy and extended breastfeeding! Anyhow, after my son weaned, I forgot to reduce the calories I was consuming.

One day, I looked in the mirror and I felt fat. I didn’t like how my clothing fit – or how it looked. Determined NOT to buy a larger size, I sought out the Shaklee180 blogger program. To say that I was thrilled to be selected was a gross understatement. I’m pretty sure I read the email at least three times before believing that I was chosen! I could not wait to get started, those extra pounds that were sticking around needed to go!

And go they did. Remember my photos from my March post?

Over the last five months, I’ve enjoyed delicious smoothees with kale, started drinking more water each day, exercised more, and cut back on the alcohol and snacks. Sure, I’ve slipped a few times and given into THE CHEESE. But, I don’t beat myself up about it. Every day is a new day. Every day is another chance to get back on track – to reset and get going again.

I find it curiously interesting that I am part of a group of people that are losing weight together. I prefer to do things alone. At my own pace, with my own rules. I like to think that I can do everything myself. Just call me Miss Independent. What I’ve learned through this is that there are several ways that others support me and that I can support others. I think I’ve mentioned it before, but my husband has been beefing up his weight loss goals and focusing on becoming healthier too. I didn’t recognize it at the time, but he’s been supporting me while I’ve been supporting him. And here I was thinking I was doing all of the supporting. Marriage really is a partnership 100% of the time!

Here are my five tips to help a loved one lose weight. These are things that The Texan and I have been doing the last few months. And, we’ve been seen wonderful results and we’re following different programs! If it works for us, it will work for you.

• Be a Cheerleader – Recognize their fears and encourage them when they haven’t met their goals
• Join the Program – Maintaining a healthy weight is a life long journey. Eat the same healthy meals and offer to prepare favorites in a healthier way.
• Encourage a Healthy Lifestyle – Take walks after dinner, play tennis together, or go swimming. Being supportive means participating in a healthy lifestyle, too.
• Don’t Tempt Them – Don’t buy foods that your loved one is trying to avoid. (see THE CHEESE above).
• Don’t Be Judgmental – It’s your job to encourage them, not to criticize.

Losing weight isn’t easy, and it isn’t fun. But, it can be done with support, encouragement, and the desire to be healthy. I’ll be sharing a video tomorrow about my fifth month on the Shaklee180 program and next month – THE BIG REVEAL – with photos and inches and more!

Are you, or a loved one, trying to lose weight? What are you doing to make it a success?

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating in the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. My opinions are my own. I am also a Shaklee Independent Distributor. My opinions are my own.People following the weight-loss portion of the Shaklee 180™ Program can expect to lose 1-2
pounds per week.