Day 11: Ask For Very Specific Help | 30-Day Weight Loss-athon
Welcome to Day 11 of the 30-Day Weight Loss-athon.
All tasks in the 30-Day Weight Loss-athon are adapted from the 52 Weight Loss Missions program.
Read the steps first, then take 10 minutes to think about them and take action. Ready?
What You Need:
- Willingness to ask for help.
Step 1
The people closest to you – your family, the friends you see often, your close work associates – can all play a significant part in your weight loss success… or failure.
But the fact that they play a part doesn’t mean you can play the victim or offload your own responsibilities – not in this program, baby!
The onus is on you to ask for what you want in a way that makes it easy for them to support you. Don’t expect them to know what you need. This is frustrating for you and unfair to them.
So our first step today is to explain to a key person or people in your life that you’re focused on getting slimmer and would really like their support.
Keep it brief and don’t over-explain the myriad psychological complexes or childhood dramas that brought you to this place.
Step 2
Next ask for something specific and not too onerous.
For instance, it’s blatantly unfair to ask someone else to take responsibility for getting you to the gym, or keeping you away from chocolate.
Here are some examples of support you may choose to ask for:
- Ask your partner to look after the kids for an hour, 3 nights a week, so you can exercise
- Ask your work colleague if you can go to healthier places for lunch – eg the new salad bar, the sushi place – instead of your usual burger joint
- Ask your friend if you can go for a walk when you have your weekly catch-ups
- Ask your mother to make a yummy fruit salad instead of your favorite dessert every time you visit (but I urge caution when it comes to mothers and food!)
- Ask your boss if you can have fruit for sale instead of only vending machines
- Ask your family to keep their snack food out of the pantry so you don’t see it every time you’re in the kitchen.
Step 3
Accept that not everyone may be able or willing to help you, and you may get some ‘No’s.
That’s fine – once you know where you stand you can evaluate your options. Other people’s support can be a big help, but if you don’t have all the support you’d like, then accept it, and move on with the resources you do have.
Check in!
And you’re done!
Be sure to leave your comment below to check in and stay accountable. If you’re reading this by email or in a reader then please click here to leave your comment.
See you tomorrow!
Well, I didn’t comment yesterday, so I’ll com one it with today’s. I went through the pantry and threw away anything tempting. I “scolded” my husband for bringing home a bulk bag of peanut m&ms. 🙂 My husband supports me with discouraging me from eating things I shouldn’t!!!
Fortunately my hubby is in this with me. That helps keep me accountable, and him too! He’s been doing lots of reading to really make a difference in his food choices, so I think this time it is a true life change and not temporary. Plus, I’m putting this on my blog and a close friend is also trying to slim down, so we’re helping each other. But I know that it still falls on me to do this, but the extra support is nice:-)
This was a tough one for me. I don’t like asking for help or asking people to change things (when I moved my husband’s junk foods yesterday, I just did it without telling him!). With only two people in our family its impossible to make two separate dinners each night. I had to talk to my husband and ask if he’d be willing to shift his diet too. I was surprised when he told me to do whatever felt right for me and he’d be right there with me (eating what I make, exercising with me, etc.). I am a lucky girl :-). He also keeps tabs on how much water I drink, per my request.
I like what Hanan said below about asking herself to stay committed to this blog! That is an excellent point we NEED to ask ourselves how truly we are committed to this project. I have ask my husband, mom, closest friends/family to “watch out for me” and not let me over indulge but considering my birthday is in a couple days, this may not work out exactly as I planned…but I’m still only drinking water! YAY!
I have lots of these types of things inplace. My sister and I are each other’s workout accountability partners which is great on the days that we don’t want to doit. my best friend is also awesome because she always is understanding when I want to go to a restaurant where I can get healthier fare or would like to go on awalk rather than sit and watch a movie. I also believe that my healthier habits have fueled her ambition to be healthier too. That makes me feel really good!
My resources are my grandchildren. I don’t snack when they are here because I don’t want to share. They are with me 4 days a week.
I’ve already done this! Thankful for a husband who is willing to watch the kids every night of the week so that I can exercise. He’s amazing!
I have already asked DH to join in on the strategies I’m going to use. Two Diet plates arrived for us on Monday which will help us both with our portion control 🙂
My son will keep his snacks out of the kitchen. My husband says he will cook/grill fish or chicken breast for me when he cooks/grills. My bible study group encourages me by keeping sweets on the table farthest from our group.
My husband is very supportive, and our walks together also help him to be healthy. He may not do things exactly as I do, but I’m blessed that he would never seek to undermine me or deter me from my fitness/health/nutritional goals. My daughter is a good influence, even though she lives in another town.
I asked my husband to work out with me & so we started P90X on Monday! Asked him to try some new foods as it is so hard for me to cook 2 meals & he has agreed & liked what I am cooking! Woo! Hoo! My sister walks with me early every morning.
I have stopped buying snacks.
I have a very supportive husband. He helps me to stay on track! 🙂
the people I work for eat really healthily and cook nice healthy lunches for us which is great, mum is doing the weight-loss-a-thon so we are keeping each other accountable, and my sister is my gym buddy to keep each other motivated. its a great network of people 🙂
I asked my daughter to hold me accountable to eat healthy.
I have asked my friend on MyfitnessPal to hold me accountable and to pray for me and I do the same for her. I have my neighbor who walks with me occasionally:)
I told myself that I would keep on with this 1 month program and maybe hopefully make new friends at the end and we can continue our walk towards a happier and healthier mind and body:)
My husband has seen my “naughty” list and is careful not to get any of these foods. He is also making sure we take at least a “walk around the block” each day.
Asking one of my friends to check in with how I’m doing each week. She’s pretty good about “pushing” when needed.
Asking another friend to help me make better choices when we go out to eat – she’s good about selecting smaller portion meals, where I usually get combo plates.
My mom is helping by making more vegys available when I see her.
I can do this. I’ve tried asking my hubby to make sure I get to the gym, but I totally resented him nagging me about going to the gym when he is slim and fit! I’ve since learned the best plan is to ask him to be home to take care of my kids and home while I go to the gym! Thanks for the idea!
I have let some of the family know I am on a mission to lose weight and I have done my session on the treadmill twice today and up to 13000 steps on the pedometer. I only gave in and ate one chocolate and then told my husband to eat the rest so I don’t have to be tempted, so pretty pleased with today.
I have asked everyone at our house to make sure all dinners include vegetables or salad……And I bought a Yonanas. Counting the minutes until the bananas freeze!
Already done:
– Asked my brother NOT to give me anymore chocolate!
– Asked my mom to add vigs when she makes food.
– Asked MYSELF to stay committed with this blog!
– A friend and I planned to walk together.. but in June, so I will be off some kilograms and any exercise won’t have risk.