By Dalal Akoury, MD Act Now cortisol and weight management Diet pills for obesity treatment Family meals Family oarticipation Family pain Fitness and Exercise Fitness programs Food addiction Global weight loss Good weight management Group weight loss Healthy Aging Healthy feeding habits Healthy holiday food stuff Healthy lifestyle Healthy living Wellness Retreat March 16, 2017

Incorporating weight loss in the family: Seeking family support in losing weight

For effective weight loss in the family, everybody must be involved. This may not be easy if it has not been in the family culture to feed on healthy diet. It is therefore, important that each family should consider inculcating healthy living from the beginning. However, the following are some of the process you could consider along the way:

If you’re the only one trying to lose weight, others may see your attempts to change the family eating habits as unfair.
One way of dealing with this, of course, is to cook separate meals for yourself. Another is to make mealtime changes less about your weight loss goals, and more about upgrading the family to a healthier way of eating.
Don’t just say Mom or Dad is on a diet. Instead, tell them you are all going to work together, as a family, to improve everyone’s health through healthier eating.
To get your children on board, talk about the advantages of sports nutrition, brainpower, and muscles and energy to work and play. When talking to your spouse, mention things like aging gracefully, better sex, more stamina.
Get them to see an advantage for them if they adopt some of your healthy eating plans.

What can also help: Coming up with healthful activities you and your spouse can do together like doubles tennis or a walking program. Getting the whole family involved in at least one group activity every week can also help.

Recognize that you really don’t need anyone but yourself to succeed.
We should also use this time to teach our children about things like healthy portions and mindful eating; reminding them that it’s not a good idea to eat until they’re stuffed, but only until they’re full.
This is a great time to teach others good, basic principles of healthy eating things that will make a difference in their life down the road.
It may help if you mention that the suggestions for change came from your doctor.
You don’t want to scare the children or even your spouse, but if you mention your doctor has suggested some dietary changes for the whole family, it does elicit a level of respect that encourages people to cooperate more.

Incorporating weight loss in the family: You’ve got to have friends

Remember that you’re the one to be on top of everything. Yes weight loss should incorporate the whole family but if your effort to involve them is failing, you must recognize that you’re the vision bearer and the success of this journey is on you with or without the family support. You have the power to do it on your own. You have to want to do it for you and you have to take control. Beside, losing weight isn’t easy, and having some encouragement somewhere is important. So if you can’t get that team spirit inside the home, look for friends at your gym or find a workmate who is either in the same place as you are, or has already been there and can help to coach you. Finally involve the experts in every step you take. Doctor Akoury will be there for you all the way.