Helping Others Make Healthy Lifestyle Changes



I have worked very hard for the past several years to lose weight and to adopt a healthy lifestyle, and I know how difficult it can be, and how important it is to have the support and help of others who are doing the same thing. I was inspired by someone else's success, and got some great advice, and found a sympathetic listener just at the precise moment when, otherwise, I might have given up.

I have someone important in my life who is struggling with weight problems and making healthy decisions, whom has asked for my help and support. I am hoping that I will be able to help this person. He really seems to want to change his lifestyle and lose weight. I am trying to think of ways that I can motivate him to do what I know he needs to do.

Conventional wisdom says that you can't motivate someone else. Maybe I can, however, inspire him with my own good example, give him the information he needs to solve problems, and support him when the going gets tough. I know I need to realize that this person is not going to change his behavior unless and until he wants to change it, and is ready and willing to do what has to be done. The desire and readiness have to come from inside.

I know there are many things that I should and should not do to try to help him. I definately do not want to nag or bribe him in any way. I do not want to make him frustrated in any way either. I think it will be best if I do more listening that talking, and lead by example. I want it to be as fun and as pleasurable as possible for him.

A healthy lifestyle is something that most people find pleasant and rewarding, once they give it a chance to grow on them. You can't make it happen for others, or even convince them to try when they don't want to. But with a little thought and luck, you might just provide the spark that gets the fire going. I am hoping to be able to do this for that special person in my life.