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By: Ikedi Ani-okoye

For a long time, most of us have believed that the secret to natural weight loss is having just the perfect combination of diet and exercise. There is no denying the fact that both are equally important in getting fit.

As a matter of fact, workout plans almost always include a diet guide, because one without the other, while possibly helping us to shed some pounds and build some muscle, will not optimize our body’s capacity to become fitter.

However, while the importance of diet hand in hand with exercise cannot be undervalued, a recent study has shown that there is a third element equally significant in achieving weight loss.

A study from Stanford University showed that social support is actually the number 1 factor for success in female fitness programs. It was proven that those who constantly received encouragement from family and friends were more likely to succeed in meeting their workout goals than those who felt alone in doing it.

The likelihood of a successful workout program also significantly increased for those who, aside from receiving moral support from their loved ones, were also made accountable to an authority figure, either a doctor or a physical trainer.

This applies not only to women, but to men as well. Most males are able to continually inspire themselves to work out when they have the approval of their wives, girlfriends, and children, who want to see them get fit and live longer and healthier lives.

It is like a soldier going to war. A soldier does not really become brave and unafraid of death just because that was what he learned from military school. A soldier becomes brave because even if he knows he could be facing death, he is comforted by the knowledge that his comrades in arms are facing the same thing as he is.

Gym goers are a lot more motivated when they know that there is at least one person supporting them in their battle against the bulge. They also push themselves harder when someone is directing them towards their goals.

That is why it is highly recommended to those who are on workout programs to communicate effectively with their families to gain their support and to seek professional help in conducting their workouts so they can be motivated more to lose weight and become fit.

Do not undermine the value of a good support system in a weight-loss program. Remember, the journey towards a better and fitter body is not a lone fight. Get help from your instructor, friends, and family.