Aiden Ryley & Fynn Jennings
On the GLP-1 journey, your family and friends will have a huge impact on your attitudes, commitment and behaviour without realising. It can be a real huge concept towards the decision-making process whilst on the road to weight loss.
Peer influence: Exposed to influence around GLP-1
Every day we make thousands of decisions, often not consciously knowing why.
Whether it’s how many sugars you put in your coffee, scrolling on Facebook for just 5 more minutes or taking weight loss medication, these decisions require some form of motivation. According to social learning theory, we are more likely to replicate a behaviour or decision if our family or friends have also performed it.
This means that if your friends and family are using weight loss drugs, or are even simply talking about it constantly, you are significantly more likely to think, “well maybe I need to take these too!” This does not necessarily mean that weight-loss drugs will not be advantageous for you but make sure when you make decisions like taking GLP-1, you are making an independent and informed decision for yourself, and not because family and friends “think you should too.”
Family and friends attitudes towards it: Motivating or deterring your journey
But how can your family and friends motivate or deter your attitudes towards your GLP-1 Journey?
Everyone has opinions, attitudes and ideas about different things, and your bound to hear others whilst walking through the shop or waiting for the next bus in the rain. You can’t help but listening to other people’s opinions, but how does this change your attitudes and behaviours, specifically to GLP-1s whilst on your journey?
Social influence has been shown to impact the way that we value objects or a situation, and without us realising a negative comment about how somebody else’s day can manipulate your thoughts and beliefs to feel the same about your day. Even if you have had a great one!
Your friends and family have a bigger impact on your opinions and decisions over others. If your family have a negative impact about the GLP-1 process, you are more likely to be hesitant towards them. Whereas, if your best friend is supportive towards the journey, you are more likely to feel positive towards the journey. So having a positive environment around you is important, guiding you on whatever journey you take!
The importance of support whilst taking GLP-1: talking, motivation, using SMART goals for the foreseeable future
This is why it is so important to ensure that your family and friends are educated about GLP-1, and your journey on it.
Common misconceptions about GLP-1 include:
It is a “miracle drug”
It is the “easy way out” of obesity
That you do not put any work in during your journey.
All of these are simply untrue, however, if your family or friends believe these opinions, then they affect your motivation to complete your GLP-1 journey.
Educating your peers not only stops them from hindering your journey, but it can lead to them motivating you to continue with it! As stated before, positive environments make you feel positive, therefore their attitudes can single-handedly motivate you to complete your journey.
Conclusion
In conclusion, surrounding yourself with the right people will motivate your journey, but it is important to educate your family and friends about both GLP-1 and your journey to create this positive environment.
Doing so, the use of SMART goal setting can be essential for the foreseeable future; keep your eyes peeled for the SMART goal blog for everything you need to know!