The Power of Community for Weight Loss

A weight loss journey can feel overwhelming and lonely without the right support and guidance. It can be difficult to maintain motivation and self-control, particularly if you don’t have family or friends on a similar journey as you. Finding a supportive network can be a powerful tool when it comes to weight loss success by providing advice, accountability and encouragement. 

This is why we dedicated a section of The Fast 800 Programme to an interactive community of our wonderful members, aptly named Community. This invaluable addition to our weight loss programme provides a supportive network of like-minded individuals going through the same journey, which can be that make or break difference to success.

Benefits of support during weight loss

Scientific research has shown that when it comes to diet and exercise, finding communities and programmes where there are others who share the same goals can help with weight loss success.¹ Here are just a few of the key benefits of support during weight loss: 

• Accountability: Support from real people often provides accountability to stick to your new lifestyle. For example, finding a workout buddy has been shown to help with sticking to physical exercise as it provides more enjoyment and accountability.²
• Emotional support: Research has shown a link between support networks and lower instances of emotional eating.³ A supportive community can help provide a healthy helping hand to turn to when you feel stressed or upset, rather than turning to “comfort” food and sabotaging your weight loss efforts.
• Advice: If you join a community of experts or others who may have found their own tips to share, it can be a great source of advice when you’re unsure on something or need a little encouragement. Our team of Programme Health Coaches are always on hand to answer any questions, so you always have valuable insight from real people when you need it.
  

What’s so good about online communities?

With advances in social media, there are more and more opportunities for community. Similarly, online forums and online charity communities are excellent ways of getting in touch with others who may suffer from the same health conditions or struggles as you in order to share stories, advice and support.

The benefits of choosing an online community, rather than in-person meetings, are extensive. Available through your electronic devices, you gain access to support wherever you are, whenever you need it. It connects you with people globally, rather than just those in your immediate vicinity, and when it comes to workouts, accessing online groups from home is often preferable for those who don’t feel drawn to group classes or PT sessions in gyms. 

Although online communities can be helpful, there is often little regulation and they may offer inaccurate advice, so it’s vital to seek support from professional experts when it comes to health. Additionally, online communities for weight loss don’t always mean you’re going to be approaching weight loss in the same way, or at the same pace, which can lead to excessive comparison, and even competition.

This leads us to our Programme’s Community, where members all around the world can connect through their shared experience of following our weight loss approaches, and where you can rest assured that our expert advice is always backed by science. Our Health Coaches post regularly in our topic focused groups and host regular challenges to keep you motivated and excited every step of the way.

The Fast 800 Community

The Community aspect of The Fast 800 Programme is just one way our weight loss approach is set apart from other ‘diets’. We approach weight loss holistically, addressing diet, exercise, mental health and community support to achieve the best results in the most enjoyable way. 

Our Community social platform is available exclusively for members to gain support and advice from our team of Health Coaches and others going through the same journey. You’ll find topical groups based on your lifestyle and interests, covering everything from meal plans, recipes, and exercise to mindfulness, managing the menopause and men’s health. These groups are particularly useful when you consider that one 2018 study found being part of a group results in more pounds lost during weight loss efforts. 

We know that our Community tool is an invaluable feature of the Programme, but don’t just take our word for it. Here’s one example of the way The Fast 800 Community supported a member’s weight loss journey:

The bottom line

The research showing that peer support helps with weight loss success is irrefutable, so if you’ve been struggling to lose weight up until now perhaps this has been your missing puzzle piece. For a Community of other members and exclusive advice from our team of Health Coaches, sign up to your 7-day free trial of The Fast 800 Programme today.