The Hardest Part of Changing Isn’t the Workouts or the Diet—It’s the People Around You
When most people decide to get fit, they think the hardest part will be resisting junk food, staying disciplined, and pushing through tough workouts.
And yes—those things are difficult.
But what no one prepares you for is the resistance from people closest to you.
It’s one thing to battle your own cravings.
It’s another thing to battle the constant pressure from family and friends who don’t support your goals.
I learned this the hard way.
Personal Experience: When My Own Father Made It Harder
A few years ago, when I first committed to my health journey, my main goal was to clean up my diet. I wanted to eliminate junk food completely because, in my eyes, junk food is poison.
It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
🚨 DoorDash was tempting.
🚨 It was easy to stop for fast food after work.
🚨 Junk food was an easy way to cope with stress.
I was already fighting against cravings, but what made it ten times harder was my own dad.
My Dad Kept Buying Me Junk Food, Even After I Said No
Every time my dad went to the grocery store, he would buy me gummy worms and donuts. And every time, I would eat them. Not because I wanted to, but because I felt bad saying no.
So I told him:
“Dad, I don’t want to eat junk food anymore. Please stop buying it for me.”
Did he listen? No.
The next time he went grocery shopping, he brought home more donuts.
I was frustrated, but I still ate them. Again, I told him:
“I’ll eat these, but please, no more. I don’t want to eat junk food.”
Did he listen? No.
More donuts. Again.
At this point, I was pissed. I made my stance clear.
“Stop buying this for me. I don’t want it.”
And still—he bought more.
But this time, I did something different.
As I pulled the donuts out of the grocery bag, I made silent eye contact with my dad.
Without breaking eye contact, I walked over to the trash can and threw the donuts away.
I never saw another bag of donuts in my house again.
The Lesson: Talk Is Cheap—Action Is What Matters
That moment taught me something: People won’t respect your words. They will respect your actions.
For most of my life, I had been an unhealthy person. That’s the version of me my dad was used to.
That’s the version of me he still saw, no matter how many times I told him I was changing.
And he was going to keep treating me that way until I ACTED differently.
That’s the reality of dealing with friends and family when you start your fitness journey.
🚨 They are used to seeing you as one person.
🚨 They will subconsciously try to keep you in that box.
🚨 They will only believe in your change when you prove it through your actions.
How to Deal with Unsupportive Friends & Family
If you’re on this journey and the people around you aren’t supporting your goals, here’s what you need to do:
1️⃣ If It’s Your Family: Stick to Your Guns
Your family might not respect your choices at first. They might try to push food on you, mock your habits, or act like your goals don’t matter.
💡 Your response? Stay firm.
- Continue to exercise.
- Refuse to eat junk food.
- Set clear boundaries—and enforce them.
If they keep buying you junk food, don’t eat it.
They will get the message.
2️⃣ If It’s Your Friends: Try to Get Them on the Journey With You
Some of your friends will support your journey and maybe even join you. Others… not so much.
You’ll hear things like:
“Bro, live a little, just eat the burger.”
“You go to the gym too much.”
“You’re not fun anymore since you started this fitness thing.”
A real friend will respect your decisions—even if they don’t understand them.
If your friends mock you for wanting to be healthier, stronger, and better, ask yourself:
Are these really the people I want to be around?
Do I want to surround myself with people who hold me back?
If they refuse to respect your journey, you might have to find a new circle of people who actually support your growth.
Final Words: Prove It to Yourself First
Not everyone will support your journey. That’s okay.
Your actions will earn respect faster than your words.
The people who truly care about you will adapt.
And those who refuse to respect your growth? You don’t need them.
At the end of the day, this journey is yours.
Prove it to yourself first. The world will follow.
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