I made a new friend today and she is AMAZING!  Like me, she has been on a weight loss journey and has lost 51 lbs.  We actually got together to discuss her company’s special events needs, but we ended up talking about losing weight.  It was wonderful to share our experiences of what has worked for each of us and what our plans are going forward.

Step 3 in TAKING ACTION is about getting the support you need and the power of friendship.  I remember a time in my not-so-distant past when I would start a new eating plan, but didn’t want to tell anyone because I was afraid I would fail and then everyone would know about my failure.  Does that sound familiar?  If you just admitted to yourself that you are thinking this way, then I have to call BS right here, right now.  Failure is not an option.  Let me repeat: FAILURE. IS. NOT. AN. OPTION.  Move away from wherever you are reading this and go to the nearest mirror.  Look yourself square in the eye and say this, out loud:  I will not fail.  I will have good days and bad, but I will not fail.  I’m committed to my health and to living my best life.  I love myself too much to fail.  Failure is NOT an option.   

Let me give you the first bit of shocking news:  Your friends and family love you and they want you to succeed.  Better yet, they want to help and support you.  Yeah, sometimes support can be a bitch, especially if you tell them that you have switched over from white carbs to brown and then you decide to have a piece of pizza at dinner.  You might get some razzing, sure.  But what they are really doing is telling you that you are worth the effort that you are putting into your healthier ways and they are encouraging you to keep going.  So what if you have to patiently explain that you are just having one piece as a splurge for the week?  Don’t get cranky with them!  Accept their love and support and listen to what they have to say.  You never know…they might actually say something valid that you need to hear, like “hey, good for you!” or “I’d like to lose a few pounds too.  Can we do it together?”  Or spout some truth that pushes you forward.  You get the picture.

Here is the second bit of shocking news:  You can pretend that you aren’t THAT overweight and you can act like not discussing it with family and friends will make them think you don’t have a problem, but the awful truth is…THEY KNOW BETTER.  They see it in the way you carry yourself, in how tired you are, in how uncomfortable you look.  Some will not want to hurt your feelings by bringing it up.  Others will bring it up and hope that you don’t shut them out.  Ultimately, YOU need to reach out to them and tell them that you don’t feel good, that you want to make some changes and that you really, REALLY need their love and support.   And then tell them exactly how to give it.  Maybe it’s keeping your binge food like chips or cookies out of the house.  Maybe it’s choosing and sticking to a plan as a family.  Maybe it’s just kind words.  You know what you need.  Don’t be afraid to ask for it.

The power of friendship in making positive changes in life is beyond compare.  My BFF in Chicago called me a couple of weeks ago and said that she wanted to get healthier and asked if we could do The 4 Day Diet plan together.  That was some of the best news ever!  We both went out, got the book, bought the groceries for the first 4 days and jumped in.  We talk daily (or text if there is no time for a phone call) about how we’re doing and we lift each other up.  If either of us veers a little off the plan, the other one encourages and supports and reminds that there will be good and bad days, but that overall, we are making healthier choices.  Together, we have lost about 12 lbs in the last 2 weeks and dang it…I think that’s pretty impressive!

So call your BFF and ask him/her to do a healthier eating plan with you.  Sit your mate and your kids down and explain that you want to feel better and live longer so you can have more quality time with them and ask them to support you.  Heck, go start a blog, post on Facebook, share on Twitter.  The more people who know what you are up to, the more support you’ll get.  I know…I KNOW, without a shadow of a doubt that without the encouragement of my Facebook friends, my sweetheart and my bestie, I would not be nearing a 50 lb loss.  So let me tell them right now how much I thank them, how much I love them, how their support means the world to me.

Finally, if you can't think of a friend to call and you are just too scared to talk to your family, then email ME!  I will be your support system.  This is no joke.  Email me at jillmoore77@yahoo.com ANYTIME!  If you're a creeper and you just want to talk dirty to me, go for it.  I will still probably give you some tips on living a healthier life.

Step 3 in a nutshell:  Refuse to fail * Ask your friends and family for support * Get your best and dearest friend involved * Share your successes and downfalls publically.

Now, go forth and conquer.  You can do this, you can!  You, yes YOU…you are a badass.