Have you ever tried to make a change, perhaps in your diet or lifestyle, and got a negative response from friends or family in Morgan Hill CA? I certainly have. And I was reminded of this when a client of mine recently relayed a story about how his efforts to control his diabetes wasn't supported by his friends. I think the comment he got was something like, "Oh, you can’t have fun anymore."

Hmmm. Who gets to decide what food is fun? And does anyone think that having a metabolic disease or an autoimmune issue is fun?

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Sharing and Understanding in Morgan Hill CA

Change is really hard, and when you change something about yourself, it can make others feel uncomfortable. If your friends are accustomed to eating fast food or sugary snacks with you, they may feel judged or intimidated when you change your behavior. They may even make negative comments about your efforts. Just know that it's probably not about you!

We may not be able to change the way our friends and family respond to our new lifestyle, but we can share our journey with them and do the best we can to understand where they're coming from.

Share what led you to make the change.
It really helps people to understand that you are doing this for you. You are not judging friends and family for not doing what you're doing.

Be open about your struggles.
It doesn't mean you're no longer able to have fun with them. It just means that you're making different choices. When you're honest about how hard it is to make these changes and that you're not perfect, it may help them feel less intimidated.

Ask for support if you need it.
Be specific! If it's a close friend, a family member, or significant other, including them as as a support partner will help them feel included in your journey.

Remember that negative comments are probably not about you.
Realize that making healthy changes makes people uncomfortable because it gets them thinking about their own habits. Seeing you losing weight or getting fit may bring on feelings of guilt or insecurity and, especially if they know they need to be doing the same! Withhold judgment and be gentle with them.

It's not your job to change anyone else.
It's wonderful to share your journey, but don't make that the only thing you talk about. Lead by example.

Flip the narrative and turn negative comments into positive ones.
Hopefully you are not inundated, but an offhand remark can mess with your mood. So turn it around! For example, I mentioned something that I ate for breakfast and I got a "YUCK" in response! I just said, "Oh, I love it!" I bet you could come up with something better. What would you say to someone who commented that you are not going to have fun anymore?

Find a community that supports you.
Whether online or in person, try to surround yourself with people to understand and support the changes you are making. So even if your coworkers don't understand why you are passing on the office birthday cake, you can send a quick text to garner the support or encouragement you need.