There was that look again.\u00a0 My friend\u2019s eyes began to glaze over — and I realized I had been talking too much about my weight loss plan.<\/p>\n
It happens. We talk about the things that concern us, the things going on in our lives.\u00a0 When we are on a life-changing quest for health, we can\u2019t help but describe our experiences and the things we are learning — our victories and our falls.\u00a0 It\u2019s just that our friends are often through listening before we are through talking about it.\u00a0 Either they don\u2019t want to hear about something they should be doing themselves, or they aren\u2019t vitally interested in the things that interest us at the moment.<\/p>\n
So we need to find the friends who ARE interested.\u00a0 It helps to find others who are on the same page so you can encourage each other.\u00a0 Support groups are important.\u00a0 If there isn\u2019t one around, you might want to start one. At least find one friend who is willing to be your partner.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve also found that writing down my experiences in a journal helps on several levels.\u00a0 It gives me perspective as I look back over my ups and downs and I see the upward trend in my health and the downward trend on the scales.\u00a0 Sometimes, especially on a \u201cdown\u201d day, the progress isn\u2019t that clear, so it helps to have an overall picture to pull out and review.\u00a0 Besides, once it is written down, I feel like I\u2019ve already talked it out, so friends and family don\u2019t have to listen to me.<\/p>\n
But, what if your friends and loved ones NEED to be joining you and you are genuinely concerned about their health?\u00a0 Can you talk them into a healthier lifestyle?<\/p>\n
No.<\/p>\n
Not one person was ever nagged into better health.\u00a0 Everyone has to decide for himself that he needs to change. The best thing you can do for your friends is to SHOW them rather than TELL them.\u00a0 It will soon be apparent that you have more energy — and that you are looking good in your smaller-sized clothes.\u00a0 Demonstrate for them that it can be done and that the rewards are worth the effort.\u00a0 Your success will prompt them to change more powerfully than words you can say.<\/p>\n
So try to keep the weight loss discussion to those who are on the journey with you — and watch out for that glazed-over look in your friends\u2019 eyes.\u00a0 You don\u2019t want to have to get new friends to go along with your new, smaller wardrobe!<\/p>\n
Eating to live and living for Christ,<\/em><\/p>\n Susan Jordan Brown<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There was that look again.\u00a0 My friend\u2019s eyes began to glaze over — and I realized I had been talking too much about my weight loss plan. It happens. We talk about the things that concern us, the things going on in our lives.\u00a0 When we are on a life-changing quest for health, we can\u2019t…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":423,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[75,129,14,15],"class_list":["post-605","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-helpful-tips","tag-fat","tag-friends","tag-health","tag-weight-loss"],"yoast_head":"\n