Find your community

The people in your life can be your cheerleaders, coaches, sounding boards, and/or sympathetic ears, helping you shed pounds—and keep them off. They can give you encouragement, fresh strategies you might not have thought of, and a motivation boost when you need it.

But here’s the thing...
Many of your nearest and dearest might not be up to speed about your weight loss or healthy living effort—and some might be not-so-immediately on board. A few pointers for getting them on your side:

• Plan for the specific help you want or need. Do compliments keep you motivated or do you respond better to a little tough love? Do you crave a buddy to help you get moving? Being specific about the type of help you need will make it easier to get what you need.

• Then ask! It’s generally more effective to ask someone to start doing something (asking if you want to go for a walk after dinner) than to get them to stop doing something (asking you if you want dessert). Keep your tone warm but firm. If they've helped you in the past, thank them for that; the reminder can help them feel invested in your success this time, too.

• Play up the good in your lifestyle changes. If you're feeling positive about the changes you’re making, share them with family and friends. Celebrate how they’ve helped you stay inspired. Tell your kids that the healthy changes you’re making will benefit them too—you'll have more energy to play with them. See? You all win!

• Be ready to stand up for yourself. You may get some protests at first, and some subtle (or not-so) pressure to make unhelpful choices. Nicely shake it off, and remind them you're counting on them to have your back.