How Your Social Life Can Affect Your Weight

If you are serious about committing yourself to long-term weight loss, then you will most likely find that devoting part of your schedule to maintaining a strict exercise and diet can severely affect your social life. Not only are you at risk for becoming a social outcast if you closely monitor your food intake at public events such as a dinner party, but you also risk alienating your close friends if you being spending an inordinate amount of time exercising.

As with all great things, it is important that you find a balance between your desire to exercise and your desire to spend time with friends. While one activity should not negatively impact the other, it is sometimes difficult to draw the line, especially in the beginning of a new weight-loss routine.

Here are some tips to help you maintain an active social life while simultaneously sustaining a measurable weight loss:

Train Together
Grab a Buddy and set a goal together. You and a friend can train together for a local race, such as a 10K or even a marathon. By having a goal set, you and your friend will have a set deadline for working out. The deadline will likely inspire you to take your workout routine seriously.

Also, when you work out with a Buddy, you will be building your bond while at the same time building your body. When the race is over, you will not only have a slimmer body and the satisfaction of having completed a race, but you will also have a closer friend.

Join a Team
Sports teams are a great way to meet new people or to spend time with people you already know in a relaxed, competitive environment. Look around for athletic teams in your area, such as softball, Frisbee, kickball or tennis. If you do not play a sport, then join a running or canoeing club.

You will find that getting out and playing a sport will help you to feel better about yourself, especially if you do not enjoy working out. When playing sports with others, there is a tendency to forget that you are working out. Instead, you are too busy enjoying the game. Most adult athletic leagues also have post-practice happy hours at a local pub.

Head to the Park
Grab a group of Buddies and head off to the park for an afternoon of Frisbee. You and your friends will enjoy the sunshine, camaraderie and athleticism of a fun game.

If you live near the mountains or a walking trail, then gather a group together for a small hike. You will find that the more fun activities you can share with your friends, the closer and more athletic your entire group will become. Go ahead – be a leader.

Join a Class
Participating in a group fitness class is a great way to stay motivated, work your body into shape, and meet new people. If you are a member of a gym, then get your hands on an updated schedule of classes and enroll in one that you think fits your needs. If you are not a member of a gym, then find a local Yoga or athletic studio that appeals to you.

Author : Joey Dweck is the Founder & CEO of WeightLossBuddy.com a community committed to 24/7 support, expert advice, and helping people find a buddy(s) who will support their effort to lose weight, and live a healthier lifestyle. And it's all Free. Sign up for the Free, award winning, 12-Part E-Course “Losing For Good” www.weightlossbuddy.com

Article Source: http://www.wellnessarticlelibrary.com

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