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Originally Posted by visotech
...Is it my territory to help her reach her goals, or should I step back and let her handle it?
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I wouldn't say it's your sole responsibility, but if she's willing to accept your aid, then it doesn't hurt to nudge her in the right direction. I think the least offensive and most supportive way to go about this would be to do it together. Or rather, choose to be healthy and invite her along.
I'm not reading everyone's suggestions, but I'm sure they are probably in the same vein...
1) Don't make it about losing weight. We know that's what she wants, but to get there she need to be healthy. Make it about choosing a healthier lifestyle.
2) You say she eats junk food. Make a date with her and cook a meal. If she asks what type of fast food tonight, offer to shop together at the grocery store. Experimenting with recipes could be a bonding experience. (The thing about recipes is that they tell you what to do, so you don't really need to know how to cook to cook because it's all there. If you are unfamiliar with a cooking technique like how to make a
roux... that's what Google is for. Everyone can cook, no excuses.)
If she is hestitant, discuss with her the financial benefits of homecooking. Chronic fast food eating is a lot like smoking: an unhealthy and expensive habit. Not to mention saving your tastebuds.
Dieting makes up 15%, at most, of weight loss, everything else is exercise. Please note, a diet is a permanent lifestyle choice, not a temporary weight loss binge. Calorie counting is the best form of dieting for the purpose of losing weight, but it's very tedious and requires commitment. It's much easier to just aim for small to medium sized well-rounded meals, three times a day or more. Small healthy snacks in between to stifle hunger. You could get together to decide on recipes or meals for the week ahead so there is less fumbling about when it's lunch or dinner time. And don't forget the vegetables!
3) Walking. Buy two cheap odometers (you can buy them for less than 5$) and compete with each other who can get the most steps in a day, week, or month. A healthy person squeezes in about 8,000-10,000 steps in a day (5+ miles). It doesn't have to be all at once and having the meter there makes you conscious of when you could sneak in a few more steps. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking at the far end of a lot, getting up from the computer every 30 minutes to stretch as recommended to save your back, and taking a casual walk around the block after dinner to digest are all ways to sneak in a few steps. You could even gift her a journal so she can keep track. Or if she's geeky, set up an Excel sheet that calculates averages and totals for the week, month, or whathaveyou.
4) Offer to sign up with her for some beginner yoga classes. Or rent some instructional videos if you both don't have any known injuries and are generally speaking healthy individuals. Just 20 minutes a day, every day, of yoga or stretching can get you into shape. Try making it a morning or evening routine. Not only is this healthy but could add a little spice in bed. (Kama Sutra anyone?)