(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Ill admit it, in the past, Ive felt pressured to lose weight just because my friends have in whateverway, that my friends have.
I havent been happy with my body for a long time, and recently, Ive started attempting to change that.
Ive started eating better, Ive started drinking more, Ive managed to suppress the urge to binge on an entire family-sized bar of chocolate each night. You catch my drift.
But Im doing all of this in my own time. Im slowly weaning out different foods, Im going to pace myself when it comes to clean-eating, because I know myself.
I know that if I dont, if I restrict myself too quickly, Ill end up craving really sugary foods and Ill think to myself, one night wont hurt, and before I know it its been a week of Ill start my diet again tomorrow.
Its just not worth it to me.
But its incredibly hard to continue this thought process when I have friends who are always telling the world how little theyre eating.
Whether this is over social media, photos of thinspiration, texts to congratulate themselves on eating next to nothing or a phone call to ask how your diets going before comparing it to their own.
Luckily, I know what works for me and what doesnt. While I am sometimes tempted to change my routine to join in the competition, I know that what theyre doing isnt right for me.
Sadly, many people who are new to dieting dont realise this and they follow their friends lead in losing weight, and feel miserable when the weight isnt dropping off in them in the same way it is for their friend.
Which is why I beg of you: Dont fall into the unsustainable, competitive diet trap.
When it comes to losing weight and not just losing weight but learning to love your body youve got to remember that everybody is different.
Some people are top heavy, some people are bottom heavy. Some people are athletic, others are curvy. All body types are different which means all body types require different routines to feel their best.
I mean, a person who is insecure about their arms but has strong legs isnt going to do squats, now are they?
Friendships can very quickly become competitive whether thats wanting to buy the better top, or something more sinister.
Its the absolute worst when you feel youre in competition over body confidence.
There are many reasons for competitive dieting between friends and lets face it, nobody wants to go out with a friend feeling insecure.
But Im writing this to tell you theres no need to be insecure especially because (and you may not think it), its likely your friend is feeling insecure too.
Instead of feeling under pressure yourself, support them. And I dont mean support them in obsessive dieting, I mean let them know how beautiful they are, inside and out. After all, you wouldnt be friends if you didnt love them, right?
Pressured diets can quickly turn into eating disorders, so help them to see that there is nothing more beautiful than being healthy and loving the skin theyre in.
And dont you forget that either. Remember to accept that your body is different to your friends. You shouldnt feel in competition with someone whose body is entirely different to yours.
If you see a Facebook status regarding losing weight that acts as a trigger, hide that persons posts.
If your friend brings up fad dieting and calorie counting when youre attempting to steer away from that sort of pressure, kindly ask them to stop and to talk about something else.
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The reality of not having a best friend
And if it makes you feel insecure scrolling through Instagram (which lets face it, weve all experienced), just log out.
There is so much more to you than just a body, remember to nourish every bit of it.
MORE: Heres how to get the right nutrients in your diet when youre vegan
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Please stop feeling under pressure to lose weight just because your friends are - Metro
