Make Weight Loss A Reality, Step 3, Social Support

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Don’t try to lose weight all by yourself. You need social support to reach your fat loss and weight loss goals. Some need more support than others.

If you have no real experience with an exercise and nutrition program, you will probably need professional guidance to get you set on the right path. Believe it or not, there are some people who have never really exercised regularly or eaten healthy. There are others who need personal trainers to help them refocus their fitness efforts. Wherever you may be on the fitness and health ladder to success, you need some type of social support.

You must be positive to accomplish goals in life. Weight loss and fat loss may be one of the biggest obstacles in your life. If that’s the case, you must maintain a positive attitude and surround yourself with positive people. Those who will cheer you on and give you constructive criticism will qualify as positive supporters.

Research has proven that you are more likely to succeed with your weight loss and fat loss goals if you have a weight loss buddy (social support or accountability partner). Who are your weight loss buddies? It helps to have more than one because life's events are unpredictable. Ideal weight loss buddies are those who are serious about fitness and have made commitments similar to your own. You hold each other accountable.

You may have no idea why your workout program is not succeeding. Get a personal trainer to help you succeed. Don’t underestimate the value of the expert guidance and feedback that a personal trainer can provide. Personal trainers are the main source of social support for many people.

The trainer can also tailor the program to your individual needs. Two people following the same program can get different results. A trainer will take your “body type” into account when designing a fitness program.

Here are some other top sources of social support:

1. Spouse
2. Friend
3. Brother/Sister
4. Exercise group (boot camps, group classes, neighborhood groups, running groups)
5. Teammate
6. Co-worker
7. Social website like Buddyslim

As you begin your weight loss and fat loss journey, keep this one fact in mind: fat loss is more important than weight loss! It is more important to burn body fat and lose inches. You need to change your body’s composition (more muscle mass, less body fat) to speed up your metabolism and turn your body into a fat-burning machine. Then, you will lose the weight and keep it off. This mindset also keeps you from seeking short-term weight loss programs that don’t work long-term.

Look back and learn from your weight loss successes and failures. More importantly, look forward to a life of health and fitness! You are the one who must make this happen, with some help!

Mark Dilworth, BA, PES, CPT is a Certified Personal Trainer and former NCAA Division I athlete. Mark’s Fat Blaster Athletic Training System has been proven to give his clients the fit, sculpted and athletic-type bodies they want. Visit Mark’s sites:

My Fitness Hut http://myfitnesshut.blogspot.com
Her Fitness Hut http://herfitnesshut.com
Sports Fitness Hut http://sportsfitnesshut.blogspot.com

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