I got a business tip sent to me that read, "Your family and friends are the hardest to sell."  Isn’t that the truth!   The poet, Kahlil Gibran said it this way, "A prophet is forever without honor in his own land."  Here’s a much more known saying you’ve probably heard, "Familiarity breeds contempt."

Now I know there's probably an exception here, but when it comes to trying to make a major change in your life, DON'T count on your family for initial support.  They’re used to you… just the way you are.  They LIKE you that way, for good or even bad reasons.  And friends are just as bad, maybe worse, but at least they go home.

This is especially true when you try to lose weight.  Just try to stick to a diet.  It's like a game for them to try and make you give up on your resolutions.  They’ll wave your favorite dish right under your nose, laughing all the while… tempting you!   They’ll mock you, all day long.  They’ll belittle you, in every way possible, just because YOU want to make a positive change in your life.

Why?

Think about it.  The implication is that you are not satisfied with your current status. Any change you make is an implied criticism of THEM.  At least, that's how some people will see it. And they're just fine with how THEY are.  After all, it takes real resolve and a lot of effort to change. Most don't have what that takes. So, it’s much easier to make fun of you.

And if you DO cave, why, no harm, no foul.  You were going to fail, anyway.  Everybody knows THAT.  Hey, they were just relieving you of the full measure of guilt, by speeding up the process.  And now they can then settle back into their own little comfortable world, content that you're just like them, again.  Ouch!

Does any of this sound familiar?  No?  Yes?  I'm not surprised if you said “yes”.  I've LIVED through it, myself, more than once regarding several different things.

Here's MY tip, if you want to lose weight: Don't tell anyone about it, until you're already a few days into it.  When you can point to a few pounds already lost, now you've PROVEN that you're serious. Sure, a few will still try to give you the crazy talk, but you've taken the wind out of their sails, by your actions. It's NOT just talk… it’s your walk!

And then, you can ask for their help and support, especially if there's a health issue involved. In fact, at THAT point, telling your friends and family will greatly HELP you stick to your commitment.

Going public will add another layer of commitment and psychological pressure and help you stay true to your purpose. After all, you won't want to be revealed as a failure to all your friends and family and prove their doubts correct, will you?

You see, there are powerful psychological factors involved in weight loss, not just physical ones. And the “mind” ones are just as important, maybe even more so as the research begins to show.

But YOU have to take action now, or nothing will change.  So, step up.  Admit there's a problem.  Make a commitment to yourself to change.  And align yourself with those who are on the same page as you are with your plan and purpose.