So you've set your fitness goals, you are finally ready to commit to the lifestyle changes necessary to improve your health and fitness levels. You are committed to eating healthy and exercising consistently! You are so excited about your new goals and the lifestyle that you can envision for yourself!
Naturally you want to share your aspirations with the people you love and care about the most. So you go to your family and friends. You are bubbling over as you tell them how excited you are to get your health and fitness on track! Then it happens. You get that skeptical look which says, "I'll believe it when I see it", or you hear a comment such as, "Why do you want to do that," or "I've heard you say that before". Can you picture it? Have you been there? Isn't it amazing how that look or comment can feel like someone just punched you in the gut! Your excitement begins to drain. You lose your enthusiasm and even feel embarrassment for sharing your ideas. Self doubt comes creeping in, "maybe they are right, maybe I have said it before, maybe it is silly to think I can change." Stop right there! Don't let those doubts creep in! If you have experienced this type of negativity from someone close to you, someone who's opinion matters to you... you have been a victim of Fitness Sabotage!
Why does it seem like the people closest to us try to sabotage our fitness goals? As soon as they find out you are trying to eat healthy, they taunt you with poor food choices. It feels like they want you to fail. It feels like they are intentionally trying to hurt you. So how do you deal with it?
First, realize that you are in charge of you! You are responsible for your choices and decisions when it comes to food, exercise and the habits that you want to create in your life. Even if you have been a "victim" (I use that term very lightly) of fitness sabotage you must recognize that this is not an excuse to abandon your fitness goals!
Second, realize that if your saboteur cares about you, they aren’t intentionally trying to bring you down. It’s likely they are oblivious that they are hurting and not helping you. Perhaps they are afraid. If you make these changes, maybe they will have to make changes as well, or if you succeed they will have to recognize their own need to make better choices. You see, if someone is a fitness saboteur it is probably not about you, it's about them.
My final piece of advice is to talk to them. Let them know how important these goals are to you, and let them know you need their support. You aren't going to judge them for the choices they make, or try to force them to change, so make sure they know that. Ask them if they will be willing to support and encourage you as you make behavioral changes which will improve the quality and quantity of your life!
Diana Chaloux is the co-founder and owner of Destined 2 Be Fit
(http://www.destined2befit.com). Diana is also a certified personal trainer through ACE, AFAA and FPI, a certified Fitness Coach through Wellcoaches, Lifestyle Management Nutrition Specialist, NPC National Level Figure Competitor
(http://www.dianachaloux.com) and Fitness Model. Diana also has her own personal training studio located in San Antonio, Texas allowing her to work with clients and members both online and in person! For more information on how you can work with Diana visit one of her websites or write to her at
contact@d2bfit.com
