Sabotage

Do you have friends that lift you up or tear you down?

Or to reframe that, what kind of friend are YOU when a friend or family member makes a positive change to their diet or lifestyle? Asking the tough questions here.

I’m talking about SABOTAGE.

It’s an interesting thing and surprisingly common.

It really saddens me when my clients experience this manipulative behaviour from anyone - let alone their friends/family. In fact, it pisses me off!

Although some people literally don’t even know they’re doing it, or at least don’t realise the impact it has, it’s basically a form of bullying.

Why is it that filling yourself with complete and utter crap is often more socially acceptable than choosing to eat smarter not harder, and align food choices with your health & fitness goals?

Who do you think ‘gets more comments’? The healthy eater, trying to reduce/eliminate inflammatory foods, keep their blood sugar under control, or feel better in their own skin...or the person having a burger and chips, and grazing on the office treats all day?

Peer pressure to break your diet, eat junk, or have a drink when you’re trying to stay consistent with healthy habits is POOR FORM.

I’m going to be brutally honestly here and call some people out:

It usually stems from jealousy of another person’s resolve to commit to healthier habits, a severe lack of integrity with themselves, a desperate need to validate their own poor habits, or a need to bring others ‘down’ to their level because of how they feel about themselves.

Pretty sad really.

Making healthy choices is no one’s business but your own - and no one else’s reward either!

YOU are the only one who lives in your body & mind. That person sabotaging you will not think twice about you after the fact, but YOU could potentially beat yourself up all day/week!

So if this is something you experience, do your best to deflect these comments and diffuse the attention. Don’t give them any energy. I know this is hard.

And if it comes to the crunch, have an honest conversation with this friend/family member about how much it means to you to be looking after yourself right now and that you’d really appreciate their support!

For anyone reading this who may have just realised you kinda do this a bit to your friends yourself...please stand down. It’s mean-spirited.

Ask yourself:

Why do I do that??

What am I getting out of it if this person eats something they hadn’t planned to, or has a drink simply because I’ve basically forced it down their neck when they’ve already said “I’m not drinking tonight”?

What am I REALLY feeling?

Please be kind. To yourself as well!

You might even like to join them.