Tell Others What You're Doing

There is a little pinned post that you see at the top of every dietbet at some point or another about sharing with friends and family what you're doing. They add that those who share end up losing more weight and being more successful overall. I believe every word of it.

I've seen it so many times. Well, actually, I've DONE it so many times. Started a diet or exercise regime and told myself that I can do it by myself. I can get it done. I don't need anyone to know what I'm doing, as they will all notice when I'm successful. The problem with that thinking is that if no one knows what you're doing, no one will mind - or hold you accountable - if you make poor choices. You can convince yourself that 'just this once' or 'just this one piece' will not kill you. Clearly, one choice isn't going to kill you (well, technically, it could, but I'm talking like cake here, not dangerous activities).

The point is that it isn't the ONE choice that kills you, but a lifetime of poor eating choices. A lifetime of poor health choices. Not exercising is a choice, the same choice as sitting on the couch every single night. Why do we do such things to ourselves?

I truly believe that the first step of being successful on a lifestyle change is sharing your choice with those around you. It's much easier to pass up a donut when everyone around you knows that you're trying to lose weight. It's much easier to get up and go for a walk or run when others know that you are trying to be healthier. I find that I'm more motivated to do all of those things when I've shared with many what I'm aiming to do. The feeling of not wanting to disappoint others is powerful for me. Sometimes that's what it takes to get off my behind and actually do something.

I don't mean to make this sound like I'm making these changes for anyone but myself. As I said in another blog post, I am making these changes so that I will be healthier. But if I can get a little motivation by knowing that others know and expect that I'm working off weight, I'll take all the help I can get.

bahhhhh

05/15/2015 8:24AM

SO the opposite for me. I think it's my inner 3 year old petulance. I feel like dieting is my secret. It makes me happy to know that my carefully portioned lunch smells like 1000 calories when it's 250. If I pass up bad food I like the "Oh, how restrained!" kinds of comments-- I feel like I'm getting away with something, b/c they don't know it's such a carefully planned restraint. Good lord I sound crazy. Oh well. If it looks like a duck and sounds like a duck... :) That said, DietBet is kinda my not-going-it-alone, so I can see that too.

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Alice W.

On any one of my eleventy billion trips to the restroom per day, I have a stare down with Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies. In my steroid-and-time-of-the-month induced struggle earlier this week, I lost, too.

Squats!

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