In my forthcoming book, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Hormone Weight Loss, I outline seven principles to losing weight by putting your hormones to work for you. Here is one of those principles, Enlist the Help of Others.
Having a partner to help with your diet and fitness goals keeps you on track and leads to successful, long-term weight loss. Studies have shown that people with emotional support during the time of weight loss and after are more likely to not only lose weight, but keep it off as well, and those who go it alone are twice as likely to fail in their efforts.
A Gallup Poll conducted for USA TODAY and Discovery Health of 769 Americans, ages 18 and older, who have tried to lose weight shows:
- 68% say their circle of friends and relatives has done more to help than hinder their efforts to slim down.
- 88% say they’ve been complimented on their successes when they’ve been able to drop pounds.
- 57% say it would be helpful to them to partner with a friend or relative when trying to lose weight
If you have tried and failed at losing weight, you are in good company. Up to 95 percent of dieters fail within a year and more than 70 percent of gym-goers quit in less than 90 days. Often, it seems easier to just give up or try the next fad diet again and again. This can lead to a sense of failure, increased stress levels and further hormone imbalance with weight gain. The truth is, having a partner will lead you to better weight loss success as well as improved health as compared to trying it on your own and running the risk of failing. Accountability is key to ensuring your weight loss efforts stay strong, sensible and successful. You are more likely to let yourself down than a partner, so losing weight really does take a village!
Tags: dieting, fad diets, Hormone Weight Loss
