Supportive Partnership Can Help You Reach Your Goals
Long term partnerships can add so much value to our lives, and they can also be a huge source of stress. One thing that can really add stress to a relationship is when one person embarks on a health or weight loss journey that the other is not ready for or supportive of.
When you begin to shift focus to your health and wellness, your lifestyle will probably change dramatically. If your partner, friends, or family are not on board with these changes, it can introduce a lot of friction between you and your loved ones. Sometimes you may even need to create some distance in order to focus on your own path.
However, there is a lot of research that shows that a supportive partnership can actually benefit your path to a healthy lifestyle by providing you with support and accountability.
In one study, researcher Dr. Verweij explained that, “Couples often have comparable lifestyles, and changing habits is difficult when only one person is making the effort. Practical issues come into play, such as grocery shopping, but also psychological challenges, where a supportive partner may help maintain motivation.”
If you can, sit down with your partner to discuss what changes this new lifestyle will bring to your day-to-day routine and start to make a plan. See if you can agree on a few things that you can change that work for both of you.
Maybe it’s adding in a morning workout together or an evening walk. Maybe you limit eating out to once per week or even take the time to write out a whole meal plan for the week. Whatever you come up with, make sure that it feels sustainable for both of you and when you feel like you’ve mastered the habit, build on it!
Throughout the process of weight loss, try to be supportive of your partner. Celebrate each other’s accomplishments as well as being a soft landing place when they are struggling. Validate their experiences and feelings and try not to put extra pressure on them by making comments about their weight or appearance.
Health can be extremely personal and sensitive, and being your partner’s cheerleader will take some of the pressure off of them when they are dealing with excess stress already.
The best part is, when you support your partner on their journey, you are likely to get that support right back. After all, it is so much easier to accomplish a big goal with a team than it is on your own.
