Trying to lose weight in a household with excessive amounts of high-calorie, high-fat food or with loved ones who don’t quite get what you’ve set out to do can leave you feeling frustrated and alone.  When I work one-on-one with clients, I invite them to bring family members to the visit. Sometimes this helps. Hearing my professional opinion is enough to get some people onboard; however, not always.  Does your spouse or do your children undermine you?  Try this:

1. Sit together when food’s not involved. Explain your efforts, including where you are and where you want to go.  Why do you want to eat differently?  For weight loss?  Cholesterol?  General health?

2. See where they stand.  Do they know why you need to lose weight or change your diet? Do they feel threatened?

3. You are in charge of you.  You can’t make your family support you.  But you can ask.  Gently.  And from time to time.  I wouldn’t pester though.  That backfires.  Until they support you 100%, you are in charge of what you eat.  (In fact, you are always in charge of what you eat.)  That might mean cooking something separate or having a backup meal/snack/side item always handy.

4. Slow and steady wins the nutrition race.  While I’m not encouraging you to work toward perfection–because it doesn’t exist–I am suggesting that you continue to model healthful eating as much as possible.  Eventually your family should come around.

5. Plan quarterly or monthly family health meetings.  Maybe discuss your observations while out on family walks or family hikes.

What’s worked for you?  What hasn’t?