Is it easier to lose weight with a partner??

Hey, I've never tried losing weight with a partner.  But I was just wondering if it was easier.  Also, what are the dynamics like??  ... like I know some people look for weight-loss buddies, but how effective are they.. and do you actually keep in touch??  Or do you drift??

I'd like some support, some one to talk to... is it best to get a counselor??

Honestly, I don't think it's easier... but I didn't have a good experience.  In my case I was motivated and she wasn't.  So I finally just stopped doing my exercising around when she would go (and not do much) and started doing it on my own.

Hey Michachu, thanks for the response.

Do you feel as though you need a support system of some sort??  Like who do you go to talk to??  CC??

sounds sad.. but I'm afraid to talk to people about this stuff.  i'm ebarassed...

Its sometimes easier to exercise with a partner, but the majority of your weight loss is going to be the result of changing your eating patterns, which has to happen at home.

Things like grocery shopping for healthier snacks, planning low-calorie meal options before you go out to restaurants, controlling late-night binges...all of that is up to you. (you can do it!)

And dont be afraid to talk to us CCers! Were all going through the same thing.

It really depends on your partner. My best friend is also currently on CC and losing weight, so it's nice to have someone to talk to about it. She is much better about diligently keeping track of calories, I am more fitness oriented, so it works well. She motivates me to keep up better with my calories, I show up at her house and tell her we're working out : )

The problem with partners is that you need to have a plan for when they drop off. If they call and want to go for cake, or push back a workout, you have to be careful not to end up giving up your diet together.

Also, when I first started using CC, there were several members I emailed back and forth with, for the extra motivation and just to be able to ask people very detailed questions about their diet and workout and such.

I think support is important, because most of the world doesn't want to listen to you talk incessantly about your diet, and I think that's why many of us are here on CC.

Azirra:  Okie doke - yah that's what I keep telling myself.  It's up to me to change all this.  And I was wondering how you make friends on CC??  I don't want to just randomly add people... is the best way just to stay active on the forums??

Minda:  As for people on CC.. how did you find those people to talk to??  Yeah, support is very important.. because other wise, there's no emotional outlet or help in solving problems.

Also, is there anything that isn't allowed to be talked about on CC forums??  As far as weightloss goes??   ....usually I don't write on these things.. but lately, I've been trying to force myself, just so I can makes some friends.

Original Post by samwich:

Minda:  As for people on CC.. how did you find those people to talk to??  Yeah, support is very important.. because other wise, there's no emotional outlet or help in solving problems.

 Well, I started a post about my view and strategy for weight loss, and received some messages in response. Otherwise, when I see someone in the forums and like them or want to know more about them and their diet, I send them a message. Most people are happy to respond.

ETA: There are no particular banned topics besides those in the forum rules. No promoting starvation, no profanity and such. There are posts about poop, and boobs and whatnot : ) As long as it doesn't break a rule and is posted in the right forum, post away : )

Original Post by samwich:

Azirra:  Okie doke - yah that's what I keep telling myself.  It's up to me to change all this.  And I was wondering how you make friends on CC??  I don't want to just randomly add people... is the best way just to stay active on the forums??

 

A good way to meet people on CC is by joining in a monthly challenge. Or you can find friends by looking around for people who have successfully lost weight or have goals similar to yours, or who you admire for whatever reason. Sometimes if you post a journal entry describing your weight loss challenges, people will make helpful comments on your journal - that's a good way to make friends too.

I would say that it depends on what you need to reach your goal. If it's someone to talk about it with and ask and sort of hold you accountable for not following your diet/work out plan (even if only that you have someone you'll have to admit it to, not that the person would make you feel guilty over it) then I'm sure it's a good idea and you'll probably be able to find several people on this site that you can talk to (feel free to add me as a friend if you want. I'm trying to stay active on this site a lot.)

If it's that you need someone to push you out the door to actually do the exercise, it might be more difficult because you'd need someone in your real life, outside of this site, to do that. And here, you'd have email and a larger group of people to talk to (as well as the journal feature) but if it's in RL, then you need to learn how not to lean too much on the other person. You would also have to push them as much as they are pushing you in a way that's not the same as if you had a friend on here and you just straded emails and comments about your ups and downs regarding weight loss.

That said, I really do think that having someone to talk about it with is a good idea. While it's you doing the work, and you living in your body, it's nice not to have to feel as though you're going through it all alone.

i've been out running with a few people before- but they are either too quick for me, or too slow- and i found this quite difficult. Now, i go running on my own, but do go walking and swimming with others, but more for active/social element, than a workout.

as for using CC, its great for chatting about 'diet' stuff. Basically, we, as weight losers, need to get a little obsessed to focus our minds and start that all to tricky motivation. CC allows me to do this without pestering my family and friends every 5 minutes by talking about it!!

i think a healthy combination of doing it alone and working with friends is best.

thats the balance that works for me.

Good luck finding your balance  you will get there XX

I typically lose weight better on my own. I tried once to lose weight with one of my friends but it seemed we just brought each other down more then motivated one another. We would set dates for the gym, she would flake or I would flake. There were times she was around 20 minutes late which would just piss me off. When she got upset and would eat bad foods, I would be tempted. I think its all about finding the right person, a person who is in it for you as much as you are for yourself. I find blogging and logging my cals into a website is as good a diet buddy as any.

Original Post by samwich:

Hey Michachu, thanks for the response.

Do you feel as though you need a support system of some sort??  Like who do you go to talk to??  CC??

sounds sad.. but I'm afraid to talk to people about this stuff.  i'm ebarassed...

 I have a email pal that I met from this site... and I do talk to my parents but they're like 1000 miles away from where I live.  My dad just found out he's diabetic and so they're both eating healthier now.  But otherwise it's me, me and me.  I just moved here though so I don't really know anyone here.