We talked to New Jersey-based nutritionist Erin Palinski for her advice when it comes to sharing your weight loss intentions. Here's what she suggests:
"It is true that some people have more success with keeping their intentions to lose weight to themselves. Not only does the recognition of your efforts perhaps decrease the motivation to continue to improve your health/weight (since you already received positive recognition for the effort to try), but many people find co-workers, friends, and even family member sabotage their efforts at times, even unintentionally.
"For instance, those who announce they are trying to lose weight may have friends or family tell them they have done so well with their weight loss efforts for a few days, that it's okay to splurge. Or they may think the individual is depriving themselves and offer tempting foods to the person trying to lose weight.
"I have many clients who find telling those around them their intention to lose weight can be defeating. Others will constantly ask them how much weight they have lost, may comment on every morsel of food they put in their mouth, or even comment on their rate of weight loss not being fast enough. These comments can be discouraging and over time decrease motivation and make the individual feel as though their efforts are 'not good enough' so why bother?
"I often advise clients to only tell friends and family members they feel will be supportive of their efforts, weight loss goals, and intentions. I also like to have my clients tell those around them they are trying to eat healthier, and make healthy lifestyle changes rather than saying they are working to lose weight to help avoid some of these situations."
What do you think? Is sharing your weight loss goals with a loved one more likely to keep you accountable, or are you afraid they might sabotage your efforts?
