If you want to lose weight or change your eating habits, let your family and friends know what you are doing, and be specific about how they can help you. Let them know how important, as well as how challenging, this is for you, and that you need their help.

People may also be able to support you in other ways.
Here are some ideas:

• Ask them if they would like to join you in changing their eating habits.
• Request that they give you encouragement and praise for sticking to your plan. Not every day, but once in a while.
• Encourage them to send you supportive voice mail, e-mail or text messages.
• Ask your family members to avoid eating dessert in front of you and not to offer you junk food.

Source: Living SMART: Five Essential Skills to Change Your Health Habits Forever, by Joshua C. Klapow, PhD, and Sheri D. Pruitt, PhD, DiaMedica Publications