How is your support system?

My husband is no support. He has CHF and gains water weight, which can come off if he cuts back on salt. He has been sick for a while, but about six weeks ago he had to add another fluid pill to keep from going into failure again. He lost 8 pounds that week and made the comment that he had lost more weight than I did and he didn't even have to try. I wanted to smack him and then tell him, at least mine was fat and won't come back and if his keeps coming back it will eventually be his demise but I didn't. I just said "well you work on your weight and I'll worry about mine".

My children and grandchildren are awesome. Two of my grandchildren are also overweight and they have joined my at a Zumba class. We go 2 or three times a week depending on whether I have to work on Saturdays. They make comments and are so supportive. They all want me to lose it without having surgery and do everything they can to be there for me.

My housekeeper is awesome and leaves me little notes all the time of how proud she is of me. She goes with me to a support group for bariatric surgery in the event I do have it at some point in time. (As long as I lose 5 pounds a month I am steady as she goes without it).

My co-workers are awesome. They recognize new clothes that fit, the changes in my body and any new things I am trying, such as a new hairstyle and makeup again.

My Zumba class members almost made me cry at the last class and made my heart just burst with encouragement. During the first class I went to one girl came to me and said "I sat out 12 of the 20 songs we did the first time I came. You have moved with every song we have done. I am so proud of you" During the last one, we were doing sit ups and I can barely get my head off the floor, but I tried every one and after about six reps (2 sit ups and 2 butt lifts) the row across from me were saying "you go, girl, you are rocking it" I told them I would be sixty in six months and this was trying to kick my butt. The entire class stopped and clapped. I was overjoyed.

And the best place in the world for support is right here. MFP's have been so supportive and it is just the best feeling in the world to know there are strangers who don't know me from Adam's house cat, but are recognizing the strides I have made to get this weight off. If I have a temptation moment, I come on here and verbalize it which makes it much easier to avoid doing. I feel I have people on here who will recognize the effort it takes to pass up Carrot Cake and they cheer you on when you do. But at the same time, they are here when you mess up and eat a bag of chips or pizza. It is an awesome group of folks here.

I have bounced back and forth all my life, but I have never had the support system I have now. I use to think If I didn't have encouragement from my husband then why the H would I worry about whether I was 100 or 300 pounds. He didn't care. He could make all the negative comments when I am fat, but if I lost 10 pounds he couldn't encourage me to make it 20.

You don't need the world, you need someone. Pick someone who will be encouraging, who you can call or text when you are feeling food crazy. Pick someone who makes you feel special when you say "you know, I only lost 2 ounces this week and I've worked my butt off trying." Let those who are being negative know that they are a part of your life, but if they can't be supportive, then don't say anything. It's not about them anymore, it's about you and your health. Once you can say "I am number one in my life" you will recognize the comments as they are. either they don't know what to say or they are negative in their own way and need to be educated to what you need. Tell your mom "I love you mom and I know you love me, but I don't know if you realize how some of your comments make me feel. IF I tell you I lost ten pounds, just say That is great." I don't need the negative of how much more I have to go. When I get within ten pounds of my goals then ask me. You can do this and we are all here if you need the support.

Be your own support system, or find people that have similar goals so you can help each other. If you focus on the negative your thoughts will center on the negative it will affect your progress.

My MFP Friend List and fellow lifters at the gym is pretty much all I have! But YOU IS ALL AWESOME!!! All I Need

Only one is my husband.

It's understandable that the people closest to you are not supportive of your decision to get fit. However, that you shouldn't be discouraged by it. They have also developed bad habits throughout the years that seeing you do a 180 degree change is uncomfortable for them. As much as I hate to say it, people hate seeing other people being successful.

Anyway, you can always come to MFP for support. There are thousands of people here seeking the same support you are! I am apart of a support group on FB and it has helped me stay accountable and begin getting results. The funny thing is that because I decided to stay consistent and lose weight, there are other people around me that have been motivated to do the same thing!

You can do it my friend! We're all with you on this journey

I have zero support outside MFP. Most people think I'm crazy with my workout schedule, which is pretty subdued, if you ask me; 3 or 4 days a week for no more than an hour. One of my best friends thinks its all I do is workout. It's crazy.

Anyway, no one supports what I do and some go so far as to point out how it's bad for me when I say I'm sore or whatever. But, I just do it anyway. They are all fat and lazy. So, why would I listen to them?

BAM!!!! Right there. Whenever someone makes a remark, I will give them a quick lookover. If they are packing 2-3 spare tires around their waist (I'm a guy so that's usually where it is on guys), they probably don't have a clue anyway!

Yup It's me, myself and I!...at the end of the day I am accountable for what I do or not do. I try not to look to others for approval and/or recognition as that could easily sabotage my efforts when they don't react or notice when I expect them too and when they do it's even nicer!
Thats' why I'm on MFP same minded people all here on similar journeys and we understand the difficulties / bad days and good days and are here to support, encourage and help each other thru it all to a successful finish!!