You Don’t Have to Diet Alone

Many dieters try to go it alone. Perhaps you’re reluctant to talk to people about your diet because you’ve tried, and failed, to change your eating habits in the past. Maybe you’re not sure who could help you, or how.

If you’re struggling on your diet, though, you might want to reconsider going it alone. There’s nothing wrong with seeking help (either from professionals or from other dieters) when things are tough.

These are six different types of people who can support, encourage and inform you – helping ensure that your diet is successful, and that you meet your weight loss and other goals.

1.      Dietician

Registered dieticians are experts in nutritional science, and they don’t just work with dieters – they can also help people who need a special diet in order to recover from or prevent a relapse of an illness. A dietician has the knowledge and expertise to create a special diet plan just for you, to help you live healthily, have more energy, and lose weight safely. You can ask your doctor for a referral to a dietician, or you could look online for registered professionals in your area.

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Dieticians can help however much weight you want to lose, as Laurie points out here. Consulting a dietician is an especially good idea if you need to follow a restricted diet for medical reasons. There are also a number of medical conditions which can be improved by dietary changes – and a trained dietician can help you with this.

2.      Personal Trainer

Personal trainers work alongside you in the gym or out on the running trail. They will devise an exercise plan that’s designed to help you meet your goals: which might include losing weight, strength building, training for a specific event, or toning and shaping. A good personal trainer will be encouraging and supportive whilst pushing you to go that bit further! They will also show you the correct technique and posture for different exercises, which ensures you get the maximum benefits and avoid injury. If you belong to a gym, ask at reception for details of personal trainers working there.

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If you’re new to exercise, it’s worth booking a session with a personal trainer to learn the basics. For dieters who need motivation and accountability to work hard, a personal trainer can be a great help!

3.      Counselor

Studies have shown that dieters are better at achieving and maintaining a healthy weight when they have the help of a counselor. Many of us end up overweight or obese due to emotional issues – and these may stem back to childhood. A counselor can help unravel these problems, and can help you have a healthy relationship with food. If you’ve struggled with your weight for many years, counseling may help you to get to the root of the problem.

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Various forms of psychotherapy have recently been shown to be effective in treating bulimia. If you have an eating disorder, or if you know that you are an emotional or “comfort” eater, you might consider counseling. If you are overweight due to depression or another mental illness, counseling could help you.

4.      Life Coach

Unlike counselors, life coaches tend not to be interested in delving into your past. They focus on the present and future, helping you to set goals, bolstering your self-esteem, and encouraging you to make progress. Although life coaches may tackle psychological issues, they do not normally do this in such depth as counselors. A life coach can help you with all sorts of goals – not just dietary ones.

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If you have a number of areas of life where you’d like to progress – perhaps your career and your health – then a life coach can help you with all of these. If you think you would benefit from talking to someone about how you feel and about your goals, but don’t want therapy, a life coach might be the best option.

5.      Friends and Family

Your friends and family have a big influence on your behavior and your chances of diet success – whether you realize it or not. How often have you ended up ordering dessert just because friends were, or eating a slice of cake just because your mom baked it? Some dieters keep their efforts a secret from friends and family – but confiding in the people you love helps them to help you! Can you talk to a close friend or relative about your diet, and ask for their support?

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The support of friends and family is free, so this is a good option if you can’t afford to pay a professional! If your family or housemates frequently cook for you, it’s going to be hard to diet without their support. Some dieters may not feel confident enough to talk about their diet, though: you shouldn’t feel obliged to tell people unless you’re comfortable with this.

6.      Other Dieters

Finally, one of the best, free and knowledgeable sources of support is … other dieters! Although most dieters don’t have nutritional training, they’ll be able to help out with suggestions of tasty low-fat products, new recipes, tips for when cravings strike, and other first-hand experience of the difficulties of successful dieting. You can find other dieters at local weight loss groups (such as Weight Watchers), or online – there are plenty of forums devoted to dieting, as well as some great blogs.

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Anyone who’s on a diet can gain inspiration and encouragement from other dieters. If all your friends are bored to tears with you talking about calories, you might also need someone with a similar interest to talk to!

Who’s helping with your diet? Who can you turn to if you’re struggling?

Written by Ali Hale

Related posts:

1. How Other People Affect Your Diet
2. How to Get Motivated to Diet When You Have Lots of Weight to Lose
3. Help With Your Weight Loss Diet Is Easy to Find!