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!
My wonderful husband watches the kids for me and will even order me to go to the gym if I don’t take the initiative myself 🙂
Asking my husband for help so we can both eat healthier and be an example for our kids.
hang out with positive people…don’t let the negative rule ya!
Knowing that you need help and allowing others to provide help is a big step in reach your weight goal.
Thanks for the advice. My husband is very supportive. And I am beginning to see results YEAH!
I know my people, there for me 100%. It is just what, where and how, that is the tricky part.
I definitely like the friend suggestion might hit up my ladies for a walk and chat instead.
This is hard–I’m not used to asking for help! But obviously I need it.
On the rare occasion the kids and I go out to eat, I only give them the options of healthier places. They don’t even bother asking for anything else any more!
Where do I start in getting help and reaching my goal. I will need encouragement and support to continue doing things that will be good for my health.
I have already done this. My hubs provides the most help and support. I am very blessed.
I asked my husband and son not to disturb me or yell that they need me during my 30 minute workouts every other day. We’ll see how it goes.
I asked my husband that when he suggests he “cook dinner” by bringing something home that we get salads instead of burgers/fries.
I have asked my boyfriend to go on more frequent pppy walks with me. He also has agreed to no more junk food.
Told my family that chips and cookies will be purchased for special occasion only.
My husband is in great shape, but he exercises with me (at my pace) just to spent time with me. I also told my son my goals so he can help me stay accountable. He also gives me praise when I most need to hear it.
Asked a coworker to go walking after work a few days a week. She was thrilled because she tired of walking alone.
I asked my son and husband to help with “good food choices” and to not ask for junk foods when I make the weekly trip to the grocery store.
This is my biggest struggle of all the things so far…have to put more than 10 minutes of thinkings into this one.
I’m checking in. I’ve actually asked a friend to be my sounding board of sorts. She’s someone I can be honest about with what I’ve eaten…even when it’s something I’m ashamed of. I send her daily reports of what I’ve had to eat. It may sound silly, but it helps.