It Takes Two. Two Heads Are Better Than One. A Problem Shared Is A Problem Halved. You know the songs, the sayings and the theories, and they do all point to one thing – it can be a lot easier to do something when you have a bit of help to do it. Of course, there are sayings that argue against this – “If you want something done properly, do it yourself” springs to mind – but the fact remains that if you want to lose Fat, you could do a lot worse than ask a friend to join you in your efforts.
The principal reason for this is that a Fat loss program can feel pretty lonely. For instance, a bunch of people at work decide that the time is right to go out for lunch as a group. If you are the only dieter in the group, it can be very tempting to say “stuff the diet – they’re all having pizza and I want some too”. Or if all your friends want to go out for a night of drinking and dancing – being the only one nursing a glass of fruit juice can either unleash your rebellious side or crush your enjoyment of the night – neither are particularly pleasant.
It’s not just about the things you cannot or should not do, either. The things you should be doing are equally important. If your Fat loss plan involves exercise – and most do – then stepping into a gym alone can be a terrifying prospect. Although most people there will be too absorbed in the exercise to really bother with you, it can still feel like there are a thousand eyes on you. It doesn’t matter how accurate or inaccurate that impression is, it still makes things hard.
Having someone with you who is going through the same process can really lift the Fat – no pun intended – from your shoulders. If people are looking when you go into the gym, it suddenly matters a lot less because you have someone there who isn’t judging you, a partner in the process who will ease the stress on you. The highs and the lows can be shared – the highs are enhanced and the blows are softened, so it really makes things a lot more manageable.
Of course, it would not be wholly accurate to suggest that buddying up will make Fat loss a total breeze. Sometimes one of you will lose Fat faster than the other, but whether that is good or bad depends on your reaction to it. An element of healthy competition can be beneficial to your efforts, as can the encouragement and advice of someone who is getting the results you wish you were getting. It’s still going to be difficult, and there is no avoiding that fact, but having something of a team mentality can make a major difference. It doesn’t need to just be two people, either. Another old saying springs to mind – the more the merrier. What cannot be denied is that things become easier when you aren’t alone.
