The Social Side of Weight Loss

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Growing up in the New Orleans area, I learned early that if I wanted to eat healthy, I had to work hard. Holidays and festivals flowed from one right into the next, all of them centered on food. People travel to NOLA with the sole purpose of eating, so living there meant facing food obstacles at almost every turn and feeling doomed in the process.

As I grew serious about losing weight, I had to evaluate how my social life affected my potential for success. Every interaction with friends revolved around food; my family cooked and shared large meals. How could I plan a social event and not start with the menu? Not until I left home for college did I begin to set the boundaries I needed to manage my weight.

When you feel like healthy changes mean missing out on all the fun, strike a balance by being in touch with your motivations for healthy change and keeping them at the forefront of your mind. When I go into social situations where I may be tempted to overeat, I wear a bracelet that reminds me of my goal. It helps me remember I’m there for friends and family, not food. 

Share your goals with friends and encourage them to join you, but be prepared to fly solo if they aren’t ready for change. If being around old habits is a slippery slope, look for new ways to socialize. For me, this meant meeting friends for walking dates during lunch instead of dining out, planning active outings, and bringing healthy foods to parties. Eventually, people expected me to cheerfully resist temptation, which is how I earned my nickname: Healthy Heather!

Many times, the people we are closest to help us navigate the ups and downs of weight loss. But sometimes those same people are our biggest obstacles, and we have to consider whether old relationships are compatible with new habits. Friends who sabotage you, undermine your values, or make you feel inferior because you’re choosing a different path may feel threatened by the changes you’re making and how they’ll affect your relationship. Others may be jealous of your success or resentful that they aren’t ready to make the same changes. They have the right to feel that way, but they don’t have the right to undermine your commitment to change. 
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When I visit my family in the Big Easy, I still watch what I eat, but I do much better when I stay focused on the real reason for being there. Living healthy when your social life revolves around food can be overwhelming. A combination of preparation, compassion, and downright stubbornness can help you change your lifestyle and still enjoy social gatherings.