A major stumbling block to losing weight is keeping the
weight off once you’ve lost it. Clinically, this phenomenon of weight regain
after weight loss is known as relapse. When you relapse, you go back to many,
if not all, of the old behaviors that made you overweight in the first place.
A cause for relapse and going back to old habits is the company you keep. A survey of teenagers who smoked pot showed that those who smoked daily said that they were in good company because everyone was doing it. Their perception, however, was skewed. The survey showed that there were only 10% of their peers who smoked daily. The other 90% smoked occasionally, tried it once, or not at all.
Your social network definitely influences the way you think about yourself and your habits. Sometimes it takes getting rid of that social network in order to get rid of the weight.
While it might be hard to change your social network
entirely, having some new non-overweight friends who will be there for you is what
it’s going to take. These non-overweight friends will help reinforce the new
habits you used to help you lose the weight. Family members who get on board
and join you in reinforcing your new habits will also make it more likely that
you’ll maintain the weight lost.
A change in social network leads to personal changes. Here are some of the personal changes you can expect.
·
Since you are actively associating yourself with
the new social network and its norms, it will be easier for you to believe you can do what it takes to keep the weight off.
·
The coping skills you developed when losing the
weight will be reinforced anew by the social network.
· The network, in turn, will teach you some new coping skills so you don’t backslide.
·
The goals and rewards you select will most likely receive the support of your network as well.
So don't let keeping the weight off be a stumbling block. Try changing your social network and see what it does for you.
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