When it comes time to beginning your weight loss or health and fitness journey, I’ve found through my own experience and from working with clients that sharing what you’re doing with someone can make a huge difference. It creates motivation, keeps you accountable and, most importantly, shows that mentally, you’re ready to make a change.
Sharing Your Journey With Close People
There are a few ways you can share your journey, but you need to be prepared for both positive and negative reactions. The first option is telling the people close to you — your partner, a close friend, family members or even a flatmate.
This is important because when you start changing your lifestyle — whether it’s sleep, nutrition or exercise — they’ll understand what you’re doing and why. It also helps them support you when it comes to things like food shopping, cooking, taking time out for exercise, or adjusting your sleep routine.
But challenges can come up too. Someone you tell may react negatively. If that happens, try not to get defensive. Listen to them first. Once you’ve heard them out, acknowledge their concern and explain that this is about improving your health, and you’ll make sure it won’t negatively impact them. You simply want them to understand your why.
Remember, this journey is yours. Don’t push anyone to join you. If they’re interested, they’ll offer. Until then, explain what you’re doing, why you’re doing it and appreciate their perspective.
Sharing Through Social Media
The second way to share your journey is through social media. Just like sharing with people around you, you have to be prepared for both positive and negative reactions.
I have a client named Michael who has lost over 30kg while training with me. He shares his journey openly on social media. For him, posting keeps him motivated, accountable and gives him the opportunity to inspire others. He knows he’ll get negative comments from time to time, but he doesn’t entertain them — he focuses on the positive support. To me, that’s the perfect mindset for sharing publicly.
On the other hand, one of my clients Maddy chooses not to share her journey on social media. She prefers to stay focused without worrying about negative feedback. Instead, she keeps a personal log of her progress and plans to share her journey publicly once she reaches her goal. Again — a perfect mindset.
Sharing Within a Safe Community
Inside my private group page, clients have a safe and supportive environment where they can choose to share or not share. There’s no negativity — only encouragement and accountability. Even though Maddy doesn’t post on her public social media, she does share inside our private group, and the support she’s received has helped her stay consistent.
No matter which option you choose, it’s completely okay. The best choice is the one that keeps you motivated, supported and moving toward your goals.
