Learning how to help someone lose weight when they don’t want to is something that can be difficult at first.
Usually, when someone becomes overweight, they either think that there is nothing they can do about it, or that it’s just genetics.
In this article, we are going to discuss the realities of weight gain and weight loss, and what you can do to help someone lose weight when they don’t want to.
Teaching about calories
One of the biggest turn offs to anyone trying to lose weight is the thought of counting calories. For some reason, it is ingrained in our society that you are losing freedom when you start counting calories.
I found it to be quite the opposite when I started counting calories. I gained more freedom because I saw the results that I was experiencing.
A lot of false advertisers will try to buck the idea of counting calories, which of course leads to others thinking that they aren’t cut out for it.
Here is what you need to count calories:
- A digital kitchen scale
- An app like MyFitnessPal
- Time
That is all you need. And if you have those 3 things, you are going to make it happen.
But you are still wondering how to help someone lose weight when they don’t want to. You are going to have to make it fun for them. Turn it into a game for them. Or better yet, find someone who they respect to do it alongside.
The first thing you will need to convince them to do is calculate their maintenance calorie number. Once that is done, you can start by getting them to eat in a caloric deficit.
A caloric deficit is when you eat below your maintenance calorie number. Your body is going to search for calories to consume somewhere. And the easiest place for that is your fat stores. This is how people lose fat rapidly.
A fun game would be to see how many days straight they can stay at 500 calories under maintenance. If you can convince them to do this for a long enough stretch, you will find that the weight comes off rapidly.
Thwarting bad decisions
Bad decisions are the starting point for any weight loss journey. And if you are trying to help someone lose weight when they don’t want to, it’s going to be your responsibility to help them not make bad decisions.
I know people who are desperate to lose weight, yet they still keep unhealthy snacks around the house waiting to be eaten.
It is up to you to make sure that bad snacks don’t end up around the house.
Also, what are they eating in general? Is it food that is low in calories, or is it food that is calorie dense?
These are all things that you are going to need to monitor. People who become overweight are creatures of convenience. So you are going to have to make it inconvenient for them to eat unhealthy food.
Another thing that people trying to lose weight will do is have a cheat meal all too often. So much so that it doesn’t really become a cheat meal anymore. A cheat meal should be calculated and precise.
A cheat meal should only happen once every 1 to 2 weeks. To read more about it, learn how often you should have a cheat meal when you are trying to lose weight.
You have to realize that people don’t gain weight overnight. You gain weight from habitually poor choices over many months and years.
And you lose weight by making habitually good choices over many months and years. It really is that simple.
Make good choices and help those who need to lose weight make good choices. It could be as simple as eating less fattening foods. Or skipping dessert. Every little thing helps.
Working out with them
While you can help someone lose weight when they don’t want to by guiding them through good habits, nothing says help better than walking beside them in their journey.
Be the friend or family member that drags them to the gym every week. Aim for 3-4 days per week, and don’t skip out on the high intensity interval training workouts.
For those that don’t know, HIIT workouts are some of the most proven workouts that you can do to burn fat. They work by getting you to 90% of your maximum heart rate.
Learn how to calculate your maximum heart rate for exercise before you commit to this plan. From there, you can make sure that you are at the target heart rate each time.
For further assistance, I recommend downloading our app All Workouts: Personal Trainer (iOS | Google Play). We have multiple FREE workout plans as well as built-in HIIT workouts to guide you through the process.
You will find that the key to losing fat rapidly is to consistently be eating in a caloric deficit while also working out regularly. And the best way to help someone lose weight is to be right there beside them as they live their life.
You aren’t going to be able to help someone lose weight if you aren’t on the same page as them.
One thing that you will find is as you progress through this journey, they are going to notice results. And when results are noticed, it fuels further action.
You are just there to jumpstart the journey. It may take a few months, but it will be worth it if you really want to see change in a person.
Main Point: How to help someone lose weight when they don’t want to
It can be very difficult to learn how to help someone lose weight when they don’t want to. It can be downright frustrating also.
The key to making it happen is to live their journey with them, and help them make better choices.
It starts with calories. Convincing them to know their maintenance calorie number can be a major victory in the battle. From there, it is important to eliminate anything in the house that might persuade them to indulge in unhealthy behaviors.
Remember, the best way to lose weight is by eating at a caloric deficit. Therefore if you don’t have any unhealthy foods laying around the house, you will be much more likely to naturally eat in a caloric deficit.
The best way to ensure that you are eating in a caloric deficit is to count every calorie. But I realize that isn’t always an option for some people. The next best way is to consume less calorie dense foods and give up on the excessive snacking.
The last thing I will say is to make sure that you are walking the walk, not just talking the talk. What does that even mean? It means that if you want to help someone lose weight, you are going to have to go through all the same motions while dragging them along with you.
After a while, they will see the benefits of what you are trying to teach them, and sure enough, the weight will come off with consistency and dedication.
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