As you prepare for a weight loss journey, there are a lot of plans put in place. Maybe you stock up on healthy groceries, make a meal plan, or schedule a walk with a neighbor to help with your weight loss efforts. As you make your commitment to yourself and your health, do you ever feel like every good plan and intention meets with some roadblock? For instance, you planned a walk with a friend after work only to get a text from one of your kids that they need a ride, and your plan is thwarted. Maybe you’ve researched and prepared new healthy recipes only to be met with grumpy criticism from your family.
This can feel very overwhelming and discouraging, but creating expectations for others in your life is really just about setting boundaries and committing to them. This tends to be easier said than done! When you’re making REAL lifestyle changes, it takes REAL work. You don’t want your hard work to be sabotaged at every corner. This can be very frustrating and just make you want to quit sometimes, right? To keep your plans and goals at the forefront of your everyday life, it’s really important to understand that personal boundaries are integral to putting a healthy lifestyle together.
There are already some boundaries built into the weight loss process. For instance, in managing our portions, we need to have boundaries around how much we make and serve. You may also have some calorie or macronutrient boundaries you’re committed to. Boundaries might sound stifling and oppressive, but they really just provide some structure and security for your healthy lifestyle habits.
Here are some things you can do to get into the right mindset about your boundaries:
Set a Good Example
If you are constantly cancelling your own plans or changing your routine, others might follow suit. If your spouse knows that you will easily cave to an offer to splurge on dinner choices, they will quickly learn that your boundaries aren’t solid. And if others in your circle see you’re committed to your healthy lifestyle, they will eventually learn to understand and respect your boundaries. It could even inspire them to follow your healthy lead!
Plan Ahead
Planning ahead as much as possible can help to reduce unexpected scheduling conflicts. For instance, if you have a plan to go to an exercise class, SCHEDULE IT with yourself, and write it on shared calendars so that you (and anyone else) won’t schedule over it. If something unexpected comes up, just remember that YOUR boundaries are within YOUR control. You have the right to your own time and activities, so get comfortable with saying “no” when you need to.
Be Realistic
If you have a busy family life and demanding work schedule, you will of course need to make your plans accordingly. This can be challenging for parents in particular because our kids require a lot of our energy and effort. But, if you’re so overscheduled that you can’t find a moment for yourself everyday, you may need to step back and see if the family calendar needs some boundaries. Our roles as parents are important, but to be there for your kids, make sure you’re allowing enough time, resources and energy to care for their parents.
Build a Support System
If you are feeling lonely and isolated because of your new lifestyle habits, make an effort to find a group of people who will support you and who are also focused on their health. In a perfect world, when we embark on a journey, we would hope that our loved ones would be cheering us on at every moment. But realistically, you can’t always expect that everyone around you will always be there for you. So, if you don’t have a built-in support system at home or work, you should make the effort to make your own healthy support system. You could lead a weekly neighborhood walking club, organize a healthy recipe exchange, or form an online support group to stay in touch and be inspired by others.
Be Committed, Yet Flexible:
The absolute best thing you can do for yourself than to commit to a healthy lifestyle. But, there’s more to a healthy lifestyle than diet and exercise alone. The truth is that for your healthy foods and regular activity to be consistent habits, a lot of other things need to be in place. If your job or your family life is constantly taking priority over your plans, it’s time for you to set some boundaries around your needs. Talk with the people in your life and state what your needs are and how they can support you. If you can find some proactive ways for people to support you, then you will feel more empowered and supported along your health journey.