In my personal weight loss journey of many years, I’ve seen
some patterns among the people with which I have been surrounded–either by
chance or circumstance. Some of these are family members, some are work
colleagues, some are barely acquaintances, and some are close to me. These are
just a few of the character types that have emerged and several are
overlapping, but think on your own journey and see if you’ve encountered these
people or know them personally or maybe you are one of them.
Sue Saboteur: overweight; has weight-related health issues; offers
you unhealthy snacks & treats; tells you “one little bite won’t
matter”; reminds you that” life is meant to be lived”; invites
you to a cookie swap; has tried every M&M flavor
Natalie Knowing: needs to lose a few pounds; hasn’t tried “your
diet,” knows it isn’t the “right one” for her or for you; knows
exactly the “right things” to do; knows what’s wrong with what you’re
doing; knows what you should be doing; doesn’t do any of the “right
things” herself; sends YouTube links with horror stories about “your
diet”
Rosie Reminder: no weight issues; she’s seen you fail before;
reminds you of your past attempts; reminds you of your past weight issues;
reminds you at every meal to “be careful so you don’t fail again”;
reminds you that you said you were not eating/drinking (insert food category,
item, etc.); lots of disapproving looks at your plate
Diane Downplay: has lost weight on her own; makes light of your
accomplishments; makes diminishing remarks about your successes-big or small;
doesn’t want to see others succeed; doesn’t compliment you or your hard work;
rolls eyes at your excitement
Fay Fitness: struggles with weight; can’t lose those last few
pounds; belongs to “the gym”; goes to “the gym” everyday; works
out for hours; hires a trainer; does online workouts; has all the latest
equipment/dvds/streaming programs; has a subscription to Fabletics
Maggie Magic: lifetime of yo-yo diets; has the latest “magic
cure” for weight loss; has purchased every quick fix powder, pill, and
potion; always ready with the “next big thing” that will work; loves
late-night infomercials
If I’m being honest, I see myself in some of
these women, but at this stage of my journey, my personal motto is “know
better, do better.” These are all toxic relationships in their own right,
some worse than others. They are all battles we face daily and must work to
overcome. I think we often seek out these women subconsciously (I know I have),
some we are stuck with (family ties), and some seek us out. We know our own
weaknesses and they see them, too.
My goal is to recognize these women for who they
are, meet them where they are, and find a relationship that works….for me.
