When it comes to working
out and losing weight, the whole process is hands-down easier when you
have your friends and family standing behind you.
Don't just listen to us,
either, science agrees. In a university study cited in the Journal of
Consulting and Clinical Psychology, those who recruited three friends or family
members to assist them in their quest to lose weight had better weight
loss results than those who had no buddy system to fall back on.
We get it, though. There's
not always someone just waiting around to be your support system when it comes
to the long journey that is weight loss. While getting your friends to join you
in your weight-slashing aspirations may seem daunting at first, it's important.
The good news? Harvard researchers Dr. Walter Willett and Dr.
Malissa Wood have the suggestions you need to make losing weight with
friends and family efficient (and even fun!). Check out their three suggestions
for losing weight with friends, adapted from their book Thinfluence.
Make
it cheap
If you want to get a group
of friends together to exercise regularly, it's super important to be mindful
of the costs. Generally speaking, the less expensive you make it, the more
people can join you and the more likely it is that people will stick with the
group. Doing things like walking around your neighbourhood or a local
school's track is obviously free, save for the cost of a pair of walking
shoes. Not to mention, there are loads of other budget-minded activities you
could do together, too.
