Be a GOOD Influence :-)

I'm in Atlanta right now, getting ready for a day-long Take Shape for Life health coach conference. It's fun being with other people who are currently on or who have been on Take Shape for Life (and now at their goal weight), and it makes it easy to make healthy choices when it comes to eating because that's what we're all focused on doing.

Surrounding yourself with people who are supportive of your healthy lifestyle is SO important, and if they actually HAVE a healthy lifestyle, that's even better! It's not a lot of fun to be the "odd person out" and try to make healthy choices when everyone around us is intent on chowing down . . . it's still possible to make those healthy choices, but it's not always a lot of fun :-).

The good news is that even if the people surrounding you aren't into a healthy lifestyle, you can be the one to start a whole new trend. I can promise you that the people in your life are watching you, and even if they are making lousy choices when it comes to food, they are still watching you. If they are making unhealthy choices, some of them are overweight and probably not very happy about it. As they see you choosing to stay on plan and making healthy food choices, and especially as they see you lose weight and KEEP it off, some of them will decide to give the program a try, too.

Weekends can be really challenging for a lot of people because weekends are when we kick back, relax, and get together with family members and friends. If your get-togethers are anything like my get-togethers, they always involve food. I talk to people all the time who do great on plan all week and then fall apart on the weekend because they are influenced by the people they're with.

This weekend, my challenge to you is for you to be the GOOD influence in other people's lives :-). I'm not saying it will be easy, but you'll be much happier with yourself on Monday morning if you choose wisely this weekend (you know you will!), and you may also have the opportunity to encourage someone else to start on their own journey towards health.