If you’re into health and fitness, you probably want everyone in your life to be into it too. That’s an admirable goal, but going about it the wrong way may do more harm than good. You might end up pushing your loved ones away. Sometimes a softer approach is more likely to win over people to your healthy lifestyle, and often, being a good example is enough to get others motivated.
Learn about the signs that you might be pushing your friends and family a little too hard.
1
You Push Them Too Much
Most of us have the best intentions when we advise and suggest—we want the people we love to live healthy, happy lives—if they would only understand what they have to gain! However, bringing up the benefits and directing and controlling your friends and family might backfire. Change happens in stages, and people have to be ready before committing to change.
What to do instead: Encouragement and praise for the healthy things they are doing may make more of a difference than trying to push them to be at your level before they’re ready.
How to Use Behavior Change to Reach Your Fitness Goals
2
You Use Ultimatums
Balance is wise when it comes to diet and exercise. There are no particular right or wrong answers for each person regarding how they choose to meet their nutrition and fitness goals. While you may believe you know the best diet or exercise routine, your friends might have other thoughts. Even if you are more dedicated or consistent, your picture of health may not match those around you.
What to do instead: Sharing your struggles may encourage friends to open up as well, allowing you to help.
3
You’re Judgmental
Being judgmental is another trap we sometimes fall into. Some judgmental phrases you may wish to avoid saying include:
- “Should you really be eating that?”
- “Oh, you’re ordering that? I call that a heart attack on a plate.”
- “You mean you never do any high-impact workouts? Don’t you know they are the best for results?”
What to do instead: We sometimes shame people into making better choices, but no one likes to feel bad about what they’re doing. Some gentle nudging (e.g., “I had this salad last week, and it was phenomenal.”) without harping on calories may be enough to get them interested. Focus more on being a good role model and offering support when appropriate.
4
You’re a Know-It-All
As fitness lovers, we have a vast database of fitness knowledge inside our brains. The knowledge helps us make good choices, but it also may come off as overbearing if you’re always offering that knowledge without being asked. It’s a good idea to refrain from always providing insight and advice that isn’t invited.
What to do instead: While fitness enthusiasts tend to know a lot, they don’t know everything. Wait for someone to ask for advice before giving it, and don’t be afraid to say you don’t know something. People respect honesty.
5
You’re Inflexible and Strict
Some fitness enthusiasts have an all-or-nothing approach to living healthy. Take it too far, and you not only push others away, but you also may not be enjoying life as much as you could. If you push away the birthday cake every time, it can make others feel like a healthy lifestyle is too rigid, and you are unwilling to relax to celebrate them.
Of course, your dietary choices are your business but allowing some flexibility might serve you well and demonstrate to others that a healthy way of life is not all about restriction.
What to do instead: Being healthy means making healthy choices most of the time. However, allowing some indulgence from time to time can enrich your life and make you more approachable to others.
Health and Safety
6
You’re One-Dimensional
As a fitness enthusiast, you may love talking about exercise, sometimes to the point of being over the top. Sharing enthusiasm is exemplary, but if it’s all you talk about, other people may tire of it. If you dominate the conversations or only relate to your recent training or competition, it could push others away.
What to do instead: Fitness is important, but trying other things, like photography or travel, is invigorating and makes you more interesting. Demonstrating interest in others’ passions outside of health and fitness shows you care about your friends’ endeavors as well.
7
You’re Intimidating
Many fitness enthusiasts have been exercising for so long that we forget that other people don’t have the same knowledge or stamina. That may creep into the advice we give, sometimes without realizing it. Remember that everyone starts at a different place and may not progress the same way you may have.
What to do instead: It’s great that people come to us for advice, but we don’t always know what other people can handle. Remind advice-seekers that they may need different workouts when they’re just starting out and that what you do may not work for them.
Dealing With Gym Intimidation
A Word From Verywell
Some people will not be swayed to join you in your healthy living endeavors no matter what you do. Remember that others’ choices are not your responsibility. Conversely, if there’s someone who constantly picks on you because you’re a health enthusiast, you may feel like you have to defend your position, but you don’t. How you choose to live is no one’s concern but your own.
Remember that being healthy, fit, and strong isn’t something to apologize for. If you’re engaging in some of the behaviors listed above, you may wish to adjust those behaviors. However, if you’re simply living your life the way you like and you feel good about yourself, then that’s what matters. Keep up the great work!