Sometimes you need support on your weight loss journey. If you have a friend or a partner who is also trying to lose weight, you can rely on each other for support and understanding. If you don't have a support system around you, however, you might need to look for it somewhere else. Rather than focusing on weight loss for the sake of it, look for support that encourages healthy changes to improve your well-being -- changes that are sustainable for the long run.
Join a Weight Loss Group
If your local church, community center or hospital has a weight loss group, that might be a good place to start. If you're looking for something more structured, try a weight loss group that focuses on the types of issues you have. For example, Overeaters Anonymous caters to those who have a problem with food addiction, while Tops (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a weight-management group that focuses on wellness and healthy lifestyle changes, rather than just weight loss. If you need more guidance on what to eat, you could try weight loss programs such as Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. These programs help you come up with an eating and exercise plan and keep you accountable through weekly meetings.
Find a Weight Loss Buddy
If you can't find a friend to support your weight loss efforts, look for a buddy online. Many websites and organizations allow you to pair up with somebody who's also struggling with her weight and ready to start losing. Websites like Weight Loss Buddy and BuddySlim are free to join and use and offer a chance to interact with others, set up private rooms so that you can chat with your buddies, track your progress and log your calories consumed and burned.
Talk to a Therapist
If your weight issues have an emotional connection, a professional might be more suited to help you. Nutrition consultants, weight management specialists and cognitive therapists can all help you deal with food addiction. Some professionals are also qualified to help you design an eating plan that meets your needs without making you feel deprived. Martin Binks, Ph.D., from the Duke Diet and Fitness Center, recommends checking the website of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies for experts who focus on obesity and other weight issues (see Resources).
Join a Group Exercise Challenge
Group exercise classes can be fun, but unless you hit it off with the other members, you're still pretty much on your own when it comes to weight loss support. An alternative to that is joining a group that focuses on a specific challenge, such as losing a specific amount of pounds or training for a race. The Biggest Loser Weight Loss Challenge, for example, allows you to get a Facebook page to track your weight loss and compare it to others in your area or with similar goals. Or you can join the 100-Day Fitness Challenge offered by Co-creating Our Reality, a website that specializes in offering challenges to help you change your life. You can even create your own group challenge with coworkers or friends who have similar weight loss goals.
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