For many people living with their family, dieting can be frustrating. If you live alone, you can easily take charge of your lifestyle choices. However, if you live under the same roof with people who don’t share the same habits as you, you may get sidetracked or discouraged entirely from dieting.

If you’re determined to lose weight, you can try to get your family on board. If your family is unlikely to follow your lead, consider adjusting – after all, they’re still family. Here are five practical tips to help you stick to your diet.

Schedule your meals

If you find it difficult to hold back on those carbs during dinner, you can try eating ahead of your family. Don’t wait to be tempted – go ahead and eat your meals earlier than everyone else. That way, you won’t have to stare longingly at plates of food you’d rather eat. Plus, you get to enjoy your meals in peace without unsolicited comments about your diet or weight.

Drink plenty of water

Is your family the type to insist that everyone eat together? Don’t fret – just drink water prior to meals. In doing so, you trick your body into feeling half-full already. Hence, when it’s time to sit down to lunch or dinner, you can resist the temptation to load food onto your plate. You can even supplement this strategy by going for a low-calorie diet.

Prepare for social events

If your family values reunions, holiday get-together and birthday celebrations, which all involve tremendous amounts of food, you must prepare yourself for these events. You can eat a protein-rich meal prior to leaving the house so you won’t be too hungry when the food comes out. Prepare to decline invitations of food without being rude. You can also bring a bag of healthy snacks like fruits, berries and peanuts in case there are no healthy foods available at the event.

Establish boundaries

As with most differences within a family, clashing opinions on food may cause friction among members. Hence, it is important to proactively establish boundaries and initiate discussions if needed. For instance, you can try letting your parents, spouse or siblings know why you wish to eat healthy. Doing so can help prevent hurtful weight and diet jokes from becoming full-blown arguments. It is also important to openly communicate how your family can help support your lifestyle so that you can continue to live with them without resentment or ill will. Keep in mind that family members are not out to sabotage your new-found lifestyle.

Set a good example

Finally, it is important to set a good example to the rest of your family. If they can see that you are serious about your weight goal, they might be encouraged to help you out by preparing meals in line with your diet. You can also try to encourage your family to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Changing habits is not an easy task, and you may be met with resistance. This is especially true for older parents, siblings or spouses who may already be comfortable with their lifestyles and do not plan to change anytime soon.

If you can’t entirely convince them to adopt healthy diets, they can still benefit from understanding exactly where you’re coming from. Be open about your motivation to be healthy, whether it’s because you want to lose weight, to boost your self-esteem or to control what you eat. Additionally, you can volunteer to prepare meals on certain days or offer to do a healthy spin on some favorite family dishes.

At the end of the day, keep in mind that what works for you may not work for others. Sticking to your diet and lifestyle choices doesn’t have to cause trouble between you and your family. By following these strategies, you can stick to your diet without compromising on your closest relationships.

Sources:

Ravishly.com

MyBodyTutor.com