I recently caught up with a friend from Germany who is a professional dancer there. We spoke and almost relived some of the wonderful old times we had during our dance training back in Germany. I remember when we were studying dance, he was the fittest and the hottest dance in our dance college and all the dancers would admire his fit and toned body.

He would have all the admirers of dance come to him and praise him not only for his dancing skills but for his amazingly fit body.
But today he is not the same dancer I had known. After a rough patch in his personal life, he had lost a lot of self-confidence, and had even left dance for few years, which led to weight gain. This turmoil in his life made him a different person. When I met him I was shocked and after hearing his side of story, I felt bad and helpless for my dear friend.
But he was all praises for me, and the way I had helped change the dance scenario in India. But I was worried about my fit friend who once made people skip a heartbeat with his dance and fitness.
If you are fit and healthy, that’s great news. But if you have a friend like me whose flab looks positively unhealthy, then perhaps you shouldn’t just let things be. And that is when I decided to talk to him and help him get his life back on track. A little encouragement from you could really make the difference. The best way to lose weight is to combine diet modification, exercise and behaviour therapy. It’s all do-able, but some people could do with support. And helping your pal will have a positive effect on you too, it’ll keep you firmly on track as well.
Educate you friend and make your pal understand that our bodies don’t just define the way we look. They also clearly dictate the state of our health and the state of our minds. A fit and healthy body will bring in positive thoughts and make life happier and help us face the problem in a more optimistic way.
Also make them realise that excess weight can have far-reaching medical implications that could, at some time, truly hurt. The fact is that nobody can lose weight for anyone else. So the only thing you can do is be the motivator.
Reason it out with your friend and remember two heads are better than one when it comes to pinpointing the reason for a gain in weight. Low physical activity, social eating, bad food habits, a hyper response to the taste, appearance and smell of food rather than actual hunger are the usual triggers. And if the person is emotionally low, it adds up to the carelessness and increase in the weight gain. Help your friend figure out her or his problem areas, then work together to chalk out a strategy that will effectively deal with them.
Be there for them, remember a friend in need is a friend indeed. A morning run or swim together, a partner workout at the gym or a game of tennis these will help your pal get through the weight loss regime. And it’ll all help you as well.
Always remember, what works for your pal works for you too. It’s what’s called a win-win situation for both. Pave the way for your friend, help him or her set realistic weight loss targets, tempt them with stylish clothes and remember it has to be one size smaller. Give them a gift for every kilo lost, give them information on healthy eating from magazines and good websites Encourage them to maintain a detailed record of their eating habits and weight fluctuations.
If stress is the weight gain culprit, help them combat it. Introduce them to yoga or reiki or meditation or simply be a good listener. Remember, being there for your friend can heal your friend emotionally in many ways.
That is what even I did with my friend, after he had finished with his emotional outburst, we went out to the Juhu beach for a run, I took to the dance class with me and made sure he dances to revive his old feelings again, took him to dance parties where I did not allow him to drink, I also took him to my gym to workout with me. After two weeks when I saw him choose fruit juice over a beer at the restaurant it made me feel proud of my friend and yes he had lost two kilos already. This was the same friend I knew who was dedicated and committed to himself.
So be a true friend and help your pal achieve their goals in a positive manner.