Family Diet Saboteurs

I'm back at Weight Watchers and in honor of Easter – a family holiday where it's quite easy to be thrown from your plan – the subject this week was handling people who are trying to sabotage your efforts to improve your health. MY reasons for Weight Watchers are different than yours, even different than when I first joined. But the fact remains sometimes people in your life can throw you off track. I created this letter. Customize for your own situation! And Happy Easter!

Dear (beloved husband/significant other/co-parent/lovely wife/offspring),

You may have noticed that my (butt/gut/thighs/bitterness/dissillusion) (have/has) spread in the last few (decades/9 months/weeks/holidays/sweater weather season/elections.)

I am trying to (lose a few pounds/shrink the muffin top/fit into my old football jersey/see my toes/walk upstairs without oxygen/lower my blood pressure).

I have decided to (count calories/reduce carbohydrates/switch to light beer/count points/cut out sugar/move around more).

You may notice strange things in the crisper next to the ham, they’re called vegetables.

I will do this with or without your support but seeing as I (let you get the big screen t.v./tolerate your brother/never missed Muffins w/Mom/never missed Dough-nuts with Dads)would appreciate you respect my choices. Please don’t offer me (peeps, chocolate bunnies, seconds/pizza/the last dinner roll). When you say (but it's Easter/but it’s a birthday party/it’s only one/you deserve a treat/keep baking yummy cookies)I know you’re trying to be nice but it does not help me.

When I talk about my eating plan and you (roll your eyes/snort/laugh about it with your mother) it makes me feel (angry/sad/lonely/a teensy bit murdery).
Because I  know you love me and want me around to (wash the socks/mow the lawn/drive you places/destroy you when we play Jeopardy) for years to come, here are a few ways you can (help me/stay out of my way).

The proper way to ask me about my progress is to say how was your weigh in NOT to say did you lose anything? If I say (good/fine/horrifying) this means I’ve (not lost/gained/want to beat someone up)and you should just(give me a hug/suggest we take a walk together/shut up).

If I say I lost weight you can say (you look so great/way to go/I still don’t think you need to lose an ounce). I may or may not share how much I’ve lost or gained.

If I have inspired you to (get off your butt/eat a carrot/buy me something nice) great! But if you continue to (laugh at me/push food on me/load the dishwasher like a psychopath) I will file it away on the list I keep in my head.  If you are supportive it will also be duly noted.

And keep in mind I (love you just the way you are/support your choices/think you’re the bees knees/know you let me win at Jeopardy) and that taking care of my health means I can better take care of you. If you disregard this letter I have no choice but to (invite MY brother to come live with us/hide the remote/take a photo of you went you nap.)

Love,

The Nurturing Dieter