IT'S NOT ALL RAINBOWS AND KITTENS....

Hard Truths About Changing Your Health and Your Life.

Unfortunately, there’s an untold side to changing your nutrition and fitness, losing weight, or improving your health that not very many people talk about.

That is the criticism that can and does come with these changes.

Most people in your life will be happy for you. They will be excited that you are making healthy changes, and maybe even inspired to start a health journey of their own.

But there are some who will not. Most of the random comments - whether from a nosy neighbor or “Sally” in the office who always has something mean to say about her co-workers - are going to bounce right off you. “That’s just how Sally is,” will be the fleeting thought before you move on with your day.

However, there will be comments or remarks that are going to catch you off-guard, and those comments are going to come from people you didn’t expect – a family member, a close friend, even your spouse. Something is going to slip out; a snide or snarky remark, a passive-aggressive comment, or a back-handed compliment that is going to knock the air out of you and make you start to question your journey and the progress you’ve made.

People will be Judge-y. When you order the grilled chicken and steamed vegetables at a restaurant instead of a burger and fries, friends or family may comment on it, “Wow, you don’t even order fun food with your friends anymore, way to kill the mood.” Or, “I made your favorite dessert and now you won’t even eat it!”

There will be remarks about how much weight you’ve lost. There will be remarks about your eating habits or exercising. There will be remarks about any and all of your health and wellness practices.

Finding ways to cope with the criticism and set boundaries will be important as you continue on your journey.   

People will be Jealous. You’re doing something HARD! Don’t kid yourself or let others make you think it isn’t! If it were easy to change your habits/lose weight/improve your health, EVERYONE would be doing it. What you are doing takes time, determination, perseverance, and a whole lot of WORK, both internal and external. 

Family, friends, and even your spouse could be jealous of what is required to accomplish your goals. They might think you’re making it “look easy” because of pictures you’ve posted on social media. They might not like that you’re fitting into smaller, “cuter” clothes. They may be jealous of the attention you get because of your changes. And they may be jealous because they wish they could do what you are doing.

Again, finding ways to cope with family and friends’ being jealous will be an important part of moving forward. It might mean an open conversation – explaining your feelings and listening to them explain theirs. It might mean a break – agreeing to give each other space to process the negative feelings. It might mean explaining your perspective and that what they think “looks so easy” is actually incredibly demanding and intended for your and your family’s overall good.

People will be Frustrated. When you start making changes, family and friends may start to feel those changes are encroaching on their lives. Choosing to make a healthy side dish for a family dinner instead of your usual triple mac and cheese. Or getting up early to go to the gym and asking your spouse to get the kids up and start getting them ready for school while you’re gone. Turning down dinner with friends or picking a restaurant that isn’t your usual haunt in favor of something with healthier options. Even family and friends simply wanting you to eat what they’re eating because that’s the way it’s always been, and they feel frustrated/jealous/insecure because you’re choosing to eat healthier and they still want less healthy options.

They might feel like YOU are judging THEM.

Again, this is when open conversations are important. Ask what is making them upset about the changes? What compromises can be reached? How can you figure out what works for you and for them?

And this is what I actually think is the “worst-case scenario”; People will act Immature and Stuck where they are. They do not want you to make any changes. They are not going to be happy to see your health improve, weight lost, or positive changes of any kind. It is a combination of judgment, jealousy, frustration, or other deep emotional problems that have absolutely NOTHING to do with you. No conversation is going to make them be more open to you making changes. No amount of compromise will work unless you give up your health journey altogether and keep things EXACTLY the way they are now.

In these cases – which are very rare – you might be in a situation where talking with a counselor or therapist is needed. It might be individual therapy, couples therapy, or family therapy to help. But again, these are the worst-case-scenarios and most likely NOT something you’re going to have to worry about.

No matter whether you’re dealing with judgmental comments, jealous attitudes, frustrated feelings, or immature actions, remember your health journey is meant for the overall benefit of not only you, but also your family and friends as well. Being present and healthy for yourself is going to carryover into all aspects of your life and improve the well-being of those around you. Stick to your guns and don’t give in to the pressure of others’ feelings about your health and wellness choices.

And if you would like to learn more about how Health and Nutrition Coaching can not only help you reach your goals, but also help you navigate the slippery slope of dealing with your health journey, Book a FREEConsultation with me.