Drain or Radiator Friends?

jericenkins

There are two types of friend that I keep coming across in my life; drains and radiators. This has been particularly apparent on my fitness journey...

- Radiators -

Radiators first. Radiators are the people who put the life into the saying 'smile and the world smiles with you.' Radiators are infectious. They naturally make people feel good about themselves. They radiate their energy and enthusiasm like rays from the sun. They are inquisitive and playful but focused too. They have a cup half full mentality.

Fitness-wsie, these are the friends who tell you you're looking healthier and fitter than ever before, who ask for advice with their own fitness journey and give you useful and positive advise about yours. These are the friends who help encourage you to get to the gym, and who suggest other fitness activities you might even do together.

- Drains -

The Drains are those people in your life who one way or another leave you feeling diminished after you've been with them. You know the feeling - you started off a conversation bright and positive and you came out of it dull, negative and frustrated, or maybe unexplainably cranky and irritable.

With regards to fitness, these are the people who constantly ask you why you're bothering, or tell you you're getting 'too skinny' or that they 'can't wait for you to get over this phase'. They mock you when you choose the healthier option on a night out, and bemoan the time you are spending at the gym when you could be spending it with them (not that you shouldn't be with friends, but should strike a balance!).

I had my first 'fitness drain' experience on Saturday, when a friend commented that my legs were like 'skinny little bad chips' (fries, for non-UKers!). I'm a healthy size 12 with still a way to go to my goal.

So, anyone else out there experienced the drain/radiator phenomenon in their lives? What did you do about it?

Lunnunis

Not something I've experienced re weight loss, at least so far, but I think there is much less pressure at my age. I've certainly experienced negativity in other situations and my first reaction to someone being negative like this is to privately feel smug and superior to them - they are the ones with the problem as they feel threatened by your success and are so insecure they need to try to pull you back down. I don't say anything of course, but I know it inside. I realise this is not the most charitable reaction but it works for me!