How Do You Approach Friends About Weight Loss?

jenniferv38

You want to see how fast your friend can drop 152 pounds? Approach him about his weight and tell him he needs to go on a diet. He will drop you so fast, you won't know what happened...lol. Honestly, I would leave him alone and just be a good friend. He is not blind. He knows he is overweight and he notices the choices you make and the benefits you enjoy. You're not being a jerk (not yet, anyway)...you live your life, let him live his. If he wants your opinion, he will ask for it.

Booksandbeaches

I don't.

It's a topic I won't touch with a 10 foot pole. Their body their life. Unless they ask me outright for advice, I don't give advice on fitness.

thatjosiegirl

You don't. It will be a waste of your time and could potentially ruin or strain your relationship with these friends.

I say lead by example! It's really the only card you have to play.

SLLRunner

I'm not that big but we all have bigger friends. You know people close to you. How do you approach them about getting fit in a way they will listen? My friends aren't into the idea of scanning bar codes and recording work outs. If they were they'd already be doing it. Any ideas? A lot of you guys are going to say the motivation has to come from with in. I don't know, I golf with a group of guys and I've asked a few if they were curious to know what their diet actually did for them which is met with jokes about me being a calorie counter in a negative way. But what I see is the guy who has wings, fries and beer before golf and polishes the round off with some burger king. He constantly reminds us that he should stop smoking as it's killing him getting up the fairways. And all I can think is I can so help my friend. It's so easy. The first step is just committing to wanting it. Maybe I'm just a jerk.

It's not my place to talk to others about weight loss because it's their deal and their body. However, if they ask how I lost my weight, I will share my journey and leave it at that.

_KitKat_

Never but if they are complaining about physical ailments, I will suggest a visit to the doctor. Hopefully the dr. will say something.

If they complain about weight, then complain they get too tired or looks and still refuse to even attempt or ask questions, most likely I wouldn't be friends with them. Sorry, but true. I prefer people that attempt to change things they don't like and to better themselves.

asciident

True change does have to come from within oneself.

I don't think anyone other than doctors and very close family should bring it up. I would be irritated with any of my friends if they felt like bringing up my weight and that's even after I started working to change it...

cwolfman13

Don't underestimate the power of just being a good example. It's taken some time (like a couple of years) but I finally have some friends that are trying to better their overall health and well being largely because they've seen what I've done and they've seen me stick to it having maintained now for over a year. I never said anything to them save for inviting them out on occasion for a bike ride or hike or something...took awhile, but I finally got some, "yeah...that might be kinda cool" responses from some of them.

Unfortunately I also have other friends that have no interest...but I will continue to be an example regardless.

Ang108

I don't, unless I am specifically asked for advise or help. Just like I don't like people/friends interfering in my life and state of health, I don't interfere in theirs

nicjustine

This is a tough topic. I, too, have people close to me who could benefit health wise from diet and exercise- and I'm talking like they already have issues from it, be it back pain, diabetes, etc. However, you can't just approach them with "You need to lose weight." That is, although in their best interest, rude and hurtful; it'll get you know where. If you are genuinely worried about them, I'd say the way to go is to ask them to go on walks together, ask if they want to start training for a fun run/ do a fun run with you, or do other physically active stuff with them. People don't do things they don't want to, so maybe the added buddy system would be a great motivator for them, and you might get a rad workout buddy out of it! I know that's what helped me the first time I lost weight.

If you are genuinely worried about them and just asking them to make healthier choices with you doesn't work, depending on how close you are with said person, a delicate conversation may be the way to go. Just remember that maybe they're happy with the way they are, and they're weight is really their business. They need to make the decision to get healthy on their own. It's sad when you see such a quick and dramatic drop in health in the people you love, but you can't do it for them. Just continue to be a positive, supportive, and inspirational figure in their lives and hopefully they'll be able to pull themselves out of it.

RavenLibra

Advice says ONE thing... BE more like me... & it's only helpful if it is asked for... note.. I am NOT advising you.. merely sharing MY perspective...

if I have read your topic correctly.. it's like telling your "friends" YOu really need to go back to school and get a degree in philosophy because it will make you a better person... or hey... instead of going to church ... you should join a seminary...

nEXT topic... this one's ridiculous

cebreisch

For me, none of the "talking to's" in the world would have made me move in that direction. My siblings even wanted to do an "intervention". My dad talked them out of it saying that when I was ready, I'd do it.

It took an event for me to get my whack on the head for me to decide to do something.

He knows he should do better. But it takes more than knowing you should to warrant taking action.

Tanie98

strong this