Fit For Life: Friends? Let Them Eat Cake

Sunday, August 09, 2015

Matt Espeut, GoLocalWorcester Health +Lifestyle Contributor

We talk a lot about eating right and working out in ways that will get you results. You want to join the right gym. Make sure you are eating good, wholesome foods, and not junk diet foods. Get rid of those sugar-laden beverages and opt for clean water. But what can often be a derailer for all your best laid plans, are those who are closest to you – your family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances. Today, I want to talk about these people and how important their support – or lack of it – can be to your success.

Common sense.

It’s common sense to know that you want people around you who will support you when you start any new venture – whether it’s a new job, a marriage, having children, or changing your life around to be healthier. You assume everyone around you will be pulling for you. They’ll encourage you to bring out your best, right? Change your schedule to include gym time. Change your menu at home. Change what you eat – and drink – when you go out. Change the way you dress. Even the way you talk –how your thought processes have turned from negative to positive. You’re pushing up against and resisting laziness, temptation, and negative thought in yourself. You come to the gym not only for guidance and skill – but for being around those who will support you, too.

Be strong against those working against you.

As a fitness professional I have seen many clients who want to change their lives around by adopting new healthy fitness regimes. And I’ve heard their stories about the negativity around them, too. People who, for whatever reason, may not want you to succeed. Friends who are as overweight as you, or those who are lucky to have a metabolism to be naturally slim and fit looking. They are the ones that will encourage you to have those fries as a side at the restaurant, or one more drink. Or, the family members, who, while they love you, might not like this new healthy way you have of cooking, or who tempt you with cookies and cake. They might even think what many people have commented about me, that this lifestyle is too strict, overboard, and even neurotic. They just don’t see what we do. They don’t see this passion we have for life, for taking care of ourselves, for feeling good about who we are, and what we have accomplished.

Like you, when I am out socially, or with family, and someone says: “Eat this dessert (usually some chemical laden fake food, from a supermarket chain), you need to live a little", this drives me crazy. I go out of my way and encourage others to have the knowledge and discipline to avoid these foods – so, how is this living it up? Eating something that is going to make me tired, feel lousy, maybe feed disease and sabotage the time I spent working out, is not living it up in my book. But! Eating a nice filet medium rare, or getting a good night’s sleep, is!

Fight the resistance.

When you are out with friends, and you stay out later than you wanted to, or you drank too much, maybe due to peer pressure, or you get the" c'mon lets have one more, or I don't like to drink alone, or just one shot for old times", remember: you are the one that has to suffer the next day. You will be dehydrated, tired, have a headache, or feel nauseous - you will be useless and miserable because you didn't show enough discipline. It's your choice; but I suggest you fight against this resistance.

You know what’s right.

Don’t we tell people to avoid something bad because everyone else is doing it? We tell that to our kids, and we we’re raised with that advice. So, let’s not give in to peer, or society pressure, and let’s make the right choices. It's all about you doing it for yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you. Big food manufacturers don't want you to eat healthy food, no profit for them. Even healthcare settings are said to be more about managing illness than keeping you healthy. Same with big pharma.

Let them join you.

One way to fight against that constant temptation and what I call “resistance” is to let those around you just watch you as you reach your goals – as you feel better – look better – become more positive a friend to have around, too. Make no mistake, fighting this fight to be healthy is all out war. And you need to fight it. Because you’ve decided you want to. So, turn a deaf ear to those who tempt and doubt you. Read inspiring information, blogs, follow us on social media, and here at GoLocal. Come, hang out in the gym – watch people just like you sweat and delight in their success. There’s a high five here for you – even if there isn’t one for you at home or when you’re out with friends. Maybe not yet. But, here, you can count on it.

Matt Espeut, GoLocal's Health & Lifestyle Contributor has been a personal trainer and health & fitnesss consultant for over 25 years. He is the owner of Fitness Profiles, a one on one, and small group personal training company, as well as Providence Fit Body Boot Camp, located at 1284 North Main St., on the Providence/Pawtucket line. You can reach Matt at (401) 453-3200; on Facebook at "Matt Espeut", and on Twitter at @MattEspeut. "We’re all in this life together – let’s make it a healthy one!"

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