Recently I spent a weekend with a friend from college who really wants to lose weight. She asked me tons of questions about how I lost/maintained and a few days later she emailed me asking for recipes and how to order at restaurants. So hopefully I have influenced her to be healthier!
Lots of people have influenced me…fellow runners, healthy living blogs, friends and family.

Also those quiches look delicious!

It’s funny that you brought up the meaty texture of artichokes, because now that you mention it, artichokes really do have that chewy texture. Mmm..I had some on a salad recently at a restaurant, and they were so yummy. I need to try this sandwich combo. 😀

Influencing others can be tricky! I find that oftentimes the best way to “persuade” people is by living out the lifestyle. People don’t like to be told what to do, but living by example can truly speak volumes.

I think the best thing we can do is lead by example. No one likes someone to hound you about making changes. Since I’ve made some superhealthy changes in my life, my brother is now doing many of the same things (he can’t get into the idea of green monsters though — not yet!) and even training for a September marathon.

Someone very trusted tells me that every action we take has ripple effects on others like when you drop a stone in a pond. That’s why it’s important to do the right thing and trust that it will benefit us and others.

I have a serious boyfriend and he is seriously overweight. I think the key to bringing up the topic of change to someone you care about is to just be completely genuine yet straightforward about it. One night I brought up the topic of his overweight-ness to him and told him I just love him too much that I want him to be around for as long as possible. To my surprise (he’s a manly man) he actually CRIED! He mentioned how his mother (who obviously cares about him but probably didn’t go about it the right way) would just yell at him while he walked by “hey can’t you lose some weight??” which obviously did not help his motivation to lose weight at ALL.

Also, I’ve come to realize that guys can be somewhat perfectionists too, like girls. When I brought up losing weight to my boyfriend, I thought he could just cut down on some fast food, just hit the gym a little more, etc. But it wasn’t working for a while even after our talk and I got frustrated. Then I came to realize he needed a PLAN – he wanted the whole shebang! A starting weight, a google doc to track his progress and his daily food, before pictures, and a plan of workout (p90x), etc. LOL. Ever since then he’s lost 30 pounds in a little over 3 months. He really wants this for himself and I couldn’t be more proud of him.

i have actually influenced a lot of people that i barely knew from high school with my blog! i love hearing that they are leading healthier lives 🙂 my husband has also started eating better…he’s still not exercising consistently, but he’s at least TALKING about it which is a great step in the right direction!

i’m definitely influencing my husband in this direction. it helps that i pack his lunches and prepare all his meals! 🙂 we like to set little goals and rewards for ourselves, which works out really well

I’m hoping I’m influencing people with my blog! My husband has also definitely picked up healthier habits…he has no choice since I’m the cook in the house! But I’ve actually proven to him that healthy food can also be delicious.

I’d love to influence my mom to be healthier too, but she just has no interest in it. It’s so hard for me to watch, you know? I don’t know how to break through to someone who isn’t willing to listen.

I’ve actually found the biggest influence in my life on getting me healthier was blogs! I find them so inspiring…I’d love to influence my sister to eat healthier/exercise more, but I think unless someone genuinely wants to change, it’s so so difficult to do so, no matter how hard you try.

Reading + research has been my biggest influence to change. Then of course the food blog world has opened me up to even more. I didn’t really realize I was having an effect on people in a positive way with my blog..until a family member told me their friend now reads my blog…shops at whole foods more..and has tried a bunch of the foods I post about. I was floored. I mean I see that people are reading my blog..but until you HEAR the influence you are having, you don’t imagine it to really be true. 🙂

Thanks to me, my dad only eats natural peanut butter(and loves all the fancy flavors) and my mom found out she likes lentils. They may not eat healthy much, but it’s a start 🙂
5 kids? Dang she needs quick meals and more! all the best to that mother, lol.

I love to run. And talk about it often (not surprising since, when I’m not hurt, it seems to take up alot of my thoughts and time). And I’ve had two friends say they have started to run on a regular basis in hopes of getting to do a race with me, or just be able to run together when the weather starts getting nicer. I love that my friend Annie even went as far to say I had “inspired” her. It’s really touching!

My boyfriend has lost 20 pounds since we moved in together in September. He used to order pizza and subs all the time and rarely had veggies. Now he raves about roasted asparagus and sweet potato fries! Occasionally he’ll even have some of my green monsters, which he used to look at with disgust!

I think the key is to realize that you can’t make lots of big changes all at once. Once my BF saw results, it motivated him even more. And I’m so proud of him.

YOU have definitely influenced me to eat healthier and be kinder to myself.

=D Thanks Caitlin!

I have noticed recently that a few of the friends in my local area have started asking me about healthy eating tips, new products they’ve seen on my blog, etc. and I find that so inspirational to know that my lifestyle choices may have a positive impact on someone else 🙂 The other day a girl I work with told me that “bc of me she has started changing the way she eats and is ready to lose weight & get healthy” and how she “thought healthy foods were all gross (just like alot of people to stereotypically) and after trying some things from my blog has a different outlook” — it almost brought me to tears!

One of the greatest things I have learned in the wellness coaching program I am doing is that motivation has to come within the person looking to change. A kind of motivation that speaks to who they are and who they want to be. Motivation that stems from their desires, not what other people desire for them.

I think it is so wonderful to hear how comments on this blog have helped you realize some of your points. And what wonderful things he is doing for his own health now! Celebrate that!

I have inspired some people to change the way they eat after seeing how much weight I have lost. I am glad that not only are they becoming healthier for themselves, they have stopped offering me junk food!

I am going to have to try these green monsters since you keep talking about them! I don’t like milk (of any kind), so hopefully the banana can mask the spinach and the milk.

I’ve influenced my wife to be healthier(I know different side of the coin from almost all of the other comments) When we got married right after college we both packed on some pounds, but I definitely packed on more than my share(260lbs at 5’11”). We went through a bunch of fad diets together which I did many of them to be more supportive than anything. Then, one day I just decided to change my eating habits by portion control initially, then exercise added in, then I got the running bug, and now, I’m into eating healthy all the while keeping each lesson I learned and using it as well. Along each step I just explained to her what I was going to do and see how it worked for me. Of course, I’ve always told her that I’m doing this for myself to be healthy and no other reason. She could do whatever she liked. She has resisted every step, but as she has seen the results I have had(105lb weight loss), she has adopted each step in her own way to become a healthier, happier person. She’s lost 40lbs herself, but as I always tell her. Its not the weight that matters, its how you feel everyday that matters and you must do this for yourself and not me if you choose to do it. I’ll love you no matter what. She’s even been bitten by the running bug it seems.

I LOVE making mini quiches – they are so delish – her picture looks fantastic – I just want to grab one. Her kiddo is super cute too!

Have a fun girls weekend!!

I am trying to influence my boyfriend, but it stressful, frustrating and seemingly useless. It’s a huge point of contention in our 2 year + relationship, and something I think about on a daily basis. I had tried literally EVERY trick in the book (leading by example, praising, encouraging him to run with me, trying to get him to run a 5k, grocery shopping WITH him, meal suggestions and plans, helping him cook, being generally REALLY supportive, friendly competition, and the list goes ON), until two nights ago where i broke it down and got really honest and kind of harsh. He’s gained about 50 pounds since we started going out, and the physical attraction is hanging on by a thread. The problem now is that if he doesn’t actually make the changes, it is going to be a blatant rejection of everything I’ve said and feel, so that will be a whole other issue in itself 🙁

Caitlin, your T1 and T2 post was so awesome! Thank you for breaking it all down. I might do one of these one day and will be sure to refer back to that post.

Do you have any concerns about chafing once you transition from the water to the bike in the wet sports bra? Maybe I will wait for your race report for this info. Good luck!! I will be living vicariously! 🙂

My hubby was afraid of veggies when I met him. Now he eats them all and loves them!

Your artichoke sandwich looked so good when I first saw this blog that I went out and purchased the ingredients. I tried my first sandwich this evening, and it was seriously delicious! I gave you a shout-out on my blog (hope you don’t mind). Thank you for all of the delicious recipes!