Yesterday we talked about the reaction other people will have when you successfully lose weight. In many cases the reaction is negative!  Here are some pics of me at my lightest weight in the past 15 years, I”m about 176lbs in these pics and my buddies rip on me for being “Skinny” or “tiny” now…Do I really look “skinny”?

A quick browse of yesterdays comments make’s it apparent that the reaction other people have to seeing someone lose weight is rather bizarre. I believe that it is rooted in the insecurities of the person who is seeing you lose weight (in many cases they would also like to lose weight but haven’t managed to so far).

This can become and sinister situation when friends, nurses, doctors, health care providers and even family members can ex-communicate you or lecture you about the dangers of weight loss. This is an unfortunate side effect of their own cognitive dissonance, lack of understanding and in many cases disappointment/shame in themselves for not achieving the same results you have.

It’s a tricky road to go down when you start making real positive changes in your life while others around you do not. They may feel as though you are surpassing them and leaving them behind. Of course this is not your intention at all, you are simply doing something for you. And if you’re anything like me you want to bring them along with you.

Heck I want to bring EVERYONE with me (hence the blog, the Adonis Index, Venus index and what I do for a living)

Unfortunately it’s not possible to bring everyone. In fact it’s hard to reach even some of the them (even if it’s those people you know who desperately want to change)

As someone whose made a real change your best effort can only be to lead/guide others who are willing to follow, and then gracefully accept that the majority are not yet ready and are simply scared.

Once you accept this fact, it’s much easier to deal with their criticism as you will realize it’s not about you at all and only a projection of their own fears.

John

P.S. Ladies, I’ll be doing a teleseminar in the near future about the Venus Index to explain what we’re up to. I’ll post about it when we’re getting ready, prolly in the next 3-4 weeks.