Many times being overweight runs in families.  This may be due to genetics but also may be the results of the way that a particular family eats or the level of physical activity that they engage in. One of the best ways to get the family back in shape and lose weight is to work together.

You may or may not have seen “The Biggest Loser-Family Edition” ( a popular, televised weight loss program). This show features families that need to lose weight. To accomplish this, they work out together and support each other in an effort to beat a competing family. Everyone is doing their part to whittle down to target weight. It’s difficult and grueling but even the family that loses (doesn’t lose as much weight as the family they are competing against) still takes a lot from the experience. They often continue their change of lifestyle once they return home and lose even more weight. Besides become healthier, families that have been on the show nearly always comment about how their experience brought them closer together.  Today, everyone can have their own edition of “The Biggest Loser” at home. Working together as a family to lose weight can make it much easier for everyone to get down to a healthy size.

Typically, things are much easier to accomplish when you have the support of others around you. There are many ways for the entire family to lose those extra pounds. Some of the best ones include, group exercise, setting group and individual goals, deciding on group and family rewards (for meeting individual and family weight loss goals) and weekly meetings.

Exercising together as a family is not only enjoyable but it also can go a long way toward solidifying relationships within the family. As children get older, stressors and busy schedules develop, it can be difficult to stay plugged in with each other at times.  Setting up firm times to get together and exercise can benefit the family both physically and emotionally.

Before any diet plan is started, every member of the family should sit down and set individual goals. After that is done, then as a family, the group should set goals. For example, collecting losing 300 pounds in 6 months may be something that is doable and can get the family excited and focused on losing weight.

Come up with group rewards as well.  Once the family goals are met, perhaps plan a nice vacation or a fun trip.  Whatever types of things that your particular family likes to do and that is not done all the time, would be a good choice.

Lastly, have weekly meetings. Get together and talk about your progress, your struggles and your setbacks. You might even all weigh in during this time. This type of support is given quite often in programs like Weight Watchers. They are set up this way because they work.  If it can work with people who do not know each other, it should work even better with those who not only know each other but love each other as well

If your family needs to lose weight, there is no time like the present to get started.  Consider exercising together as a group, setting individual and group goals along with group rewards and having weekly meetings to help each member stay on track and focused.

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