What is a lifestyle change?  How do I go about making one?  Do my friends or family have any effect on my decision making process?

While there are many tools that one can develop and exercise on a personal level for making that lifestyle change, for the purpose of this article we will focus on how Friends; Family; or any association can play multiple roles, both positive and negative, in affecting personal change.

Lifestyle Change -    “A way of life or style of living that reflects the attitudes and values of a person or group;” - This can be expressed through a “Political Lifestyle;” “Marketing & Advertising Lifestyle;” “Hollywood Lifestyle;” “Healthy Lifestyle;” and of course a 1000 other variations or combinations.  Basically, the lifestyle you choose is reflected in your actions more than your words...i.e. saying you want to be in the movies is different than taking acting classes and doing the necessary work to get you there.  Same in Health and Fitness, one is not living a healthy lifestyle through lip service alone, they need to be making decisions that are in alignment with their goals and their lifestyle they want to live.

It is hard enough to try and change from an unhealthy lifestyle to a healthy one with all the tempting TV commercials; advertisements; great dollar deals out there...which is why it is so important to have a good support system in place.  Who is your support system?  Do they share the same values, same attitudes you do?  Friends and Family can really make it difficult to break old habits if they don’t agree or even understand why you want to make that change.  After all, they have always been there to offer you a cigarette when you were stressed out; or buy you that desert when a solution doesn’t present itself out of thin air.  Thinking through and analyzing life’s problems can be very difficult, and having that cigarette is not going to solve the problem.

Fortunately, true Friends who care about your well being will understand that you are not happy with your current health and will offer whatever support they can muster according to their own capacity.  This may be in the form of simple verbiage, which at the right time can make a big difference, all the way to making that “Healthy” lifestyle change with you, so you are not going it alone.  The amount of positive influence Friends and Family can have to help with your lifestyle change cannot be overemphasized.  However, the converse is also true.  Be mindful of those that try to bring you down by criticizing your positive decision making; by talking about doing, but not doing themselves; by downplaying any of your successes...no matter how small; or try to keep you from achieving even your daily goals.  Friends and Family, if they do not understand or agree with your lifestyle change can be a real detriment and will prevent you from achieving your goals if you allow them to.

For instance, you decide that you are not happy with your health, especially after just getting back from your routine physical at the doctors office to find out you now have Diabetes as a result of poor diet and not exercising.  You also have two children who watch and follow everything you do, including how you eat.  You decide to take control back of your health so you can set a good example for your kids, hopefully preventing them from following in your footsteps.  Your friends and significant other however, don’t believe it’s too big of a deal, after all, more and more people are diagnosed with Diabetes everyday and we like our comfort foods and TV shows!  This happens all too often, one person would like to lead a healthier lifestyle and make that major change, while the people that they have surrounded themselves with all these years don’t want to make the same change.  This exact example has been a deal breaker in many marriages and friendships, but it doesn’t have to be.  Communication is the key...and the sooner the better.

Communicate with your significant other, friends, family that you would like to make a change because YOU are not happy and express how important this is to you.  Enlist their help if they are up to it in keeping you on track, this doesn’t mean they have to follow the same rules you are applying to yourself, however make sure they are giving you the positive feedback and input you need, not attempting to deviate you from your course by offering things you are trying to avoid.  You are making a change, evolving so to speak, and those around you may not be...this is going to cause friction.  Ultimately it comes down to priorities again.  How important is this change for you...now....and 5; 10; 15 years from now.  It is hard to guess what type of repercussions can happen as a result of leading a certain lifestyle, however...especially in todays day and age, we have a great wealth of statistics and information when it comes to health & fitness that can aid in our decision making process.  Ignorance is no excuse these days...it doesn’t hold up in court when you break a law, why would you let yourself rationalize it when it comes to life?

There are always going to be quick fixes...i.e. miracle Diet pills, out there that will attempt to distract you...however, keep in mind that these do not offer lifestyle changes, but temporary fixes, or Band-Aids to underlying issues...if they fix anything at all.  As you start to take the necessary steps to change your lifestyle, new doors will open up, new faces will come into your life which will make continuing on your path more bearable.  Studies have shown that surrounding yourself with like minded individuals make achieving your goals that much easier...i.e. a gym buddy or work out partner; eating with a colleague at work that shares the same healthy eating habits; creating a family bonding opportunity through a fitness or physical outing (Beach, Zoo, Hike...etc.) as opposed to watching TV; making new friends by joining different active clubs (running, biking, rock climbing...etc.) in your area; bicycle around your neighborhood with your significant other as a little date; the possibilities are endless and are only limited through imagination.  However, it’s ultimately up to you to walk through those doors; make those hard decisions and work for your results.  You don’t have to be alone if you don’t want to be!