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Friday, August 10, 2007
Friends don’t have to weigh you down
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Three days after I graduated from college, I started my first reporting job in my hometown with a journalism degree — and the “Freshman 15” I earned my first semester.
At various times, I would make half-hearted attempts to shed those unwanted pounds. But then the weekend would roll around. Inevitably, my other rookie-reporter buddies and I would end up stuffing ourselves at a favorite Mexican restaurant. But my frustration was nothing compared to Helen’s. In our circle of friends, she was the life of the party and a fabulous cook who struggled with obesity her whole life. She had tried every diet, with mixed — but never sustained — success.
Then one day, she told me about the new diet her doctor recommended. He called it “behavior modification.” He asked her to write down every bite she ate. He also asked her to keep track of other details: which room she ate in, what else she was doing while she ate, who she ate with and so on.
I started doing the same. We would meet every day and compare notes. Our other friends followed suit. Soon we were spending our weekends running 5K races or going on long bike rides. Within about six months, Helen had lost nearly 100 pounds; I had dropped 20.
Does it matter whether your friends are fat or skinny if you’re trying to lose weight? I don’t think so — despite what that recent study by the New England Journal of Medicine would have us believe. But it does help if they’re motivated, and supportive of your efforts. We even found a few examples and share their tips for success.
Do you think friends can influence friends to lose weight?
