It Takes A Village: Why Community and Support Matter in Your Health and Fitness Journey

Picture this: It’s Day One of what is supposed to be the journey that will completely transform your health and fitness. You got up early, spent some time meditating with your app, went for a quick morning run, then had a healthy breakfast of fiber and protein before heading to the office. You’re feeling great, energized, and ultra-focused at work, and you’re breezing through your to-do list to prove it.

Lunch break rolls around, and you head out for lunch with your co-workers… who all want to gorge themselves on burgers and fries. “Ayaw mo talaga ng smash burger na may double patty, at yung potato wedges nila?!” Your mouth starts to water, you feel your resolve begin to slip, and somehow, you feel your feet carrying you in the direction of the burger joint, slightly embarrassed because of the teasing.

Ask anyone who’s tried to commit to a healthier lifestyle, and they will probably tell you that sticking to it is the hardest part. And while there are many factors that can affect just how closely you follow your health and fitness plan (like schedules, sickness, other commitments), the influence—and support—of the people surrounding you plays a bigger role than you think.

Allure Philippines spoke to fitness experts and professionals to find out just how crucial your community is for your health and fitness journey.

No man or woman is an island

In anything we do, it’s difficult to discount other people—their thoughts, opinions, and actions. And that little realization boils down to one fact: humans are social beings. Licensed sports psychologist and former competitive athlete Justine Joseph, RPsy, explains: “As social beings in general, we love being around others. We need to be around others.”

Throw in the close-knit Filipino culture, and this fact holds even more weight. “Us Filipinos,” Joseph explains, “we’re very collectivist. A lot of us still live with our families, live with other people, or we feel some sort of pressure to conform to society.”

That said, when you’re living in close quarters with others, and sharing in communal meals, it becomes difficult to stick to a meal plan. “That’s the biggest part, actually, when it comes to eating,” Joseph shares. “It becomes hard in a family setting if you want to change the way you eat, but the food available is very different. So then you’re the odd one out, and oftentimes people don’t like that.”

Joseph also points out that Filipinos love to comment on others’ meals or workouts. “I noticed, in our culture, people like to point out the way you’re eating,” shares the former competitive athlete. “If I say no to eating something, everyone asks, ‘Are you on a diet?’ And it gets annoying and frustrating.”

All those comments, all the reactions, Joseph shares, make people self-conscious, and less steadfast in reaching their goals. “It becomes quite hard to become fitter if the people around you don’t support it,” Joseph says.

That said, your community can also work to your advantage in a health and fitness journey. “Since we are social beings and [are] collectivist, when a whole group of people is doing something together, it then becomes a system of accountability and motivation,” says Joseph. “You think, ‘I’m not alone in this.’ It becomes easier to achieve success if the environment around you is also geared towards [your goal].”

Chappy Callanta, head of the University of the Philippines’ High Performance Department of the Office of Athletics for Sports Development and a strength and conditioning specialist certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association shares, “You have a higher chance of building the habit when there is the support of a community.”

He also points out that, especially for beginners, exercise can be intimidating. “Being in a group and sharing your challenges with each other can help you get through them. Accountability partners and communities also help build consistency.”

If you’re in search of support

There are, of course, a select few who prefer to go at the challenge alone. But if you’re struggling to stay on track in your health and fitness journey—and support, or lack of, has something to do with it—don’t lose hope. Below, our experts offer some advice on how you can stay on the health and fitness train.

1. Get an accountability or fitness buddy.

Support doesn’t always have to mean big numbers. Sometimes, just one or two people cheering you on makes a difference. A fitness buddy who you can work out with, or someone who can check in with you about your meal choices can spell the difference. “It’s really hard when you don’t feel like it,” Joseph shares from experience, “but when you have someone else to do it with, it becomes a buddy system of accountability. It can be really helpful because it gives you the feeling of not being alone [facing your challenge].”

2. Make friends at your gym, or in your classes.

If you believe that the more, the merrier, then all you have to do is create your own crowd. “Sometimes we won’t find a buddy in our circles,” Joseph says. “But if you put yourself out there, in the fitness communities, like in the gym, or workout classes or run clubs, or tennis or golf, you’ll start seeing the same people around.” The fitness communities, she says, are quite open and welcoming. “Go out and make friends!” Joseph urges. “Eventually you find someone who is kind of on that same journey as you or who wants to have a buddy as well.”

3. Get a coach.

As a coach himself, Callanta says that the hardest part about designing an exercise program is getting clients to stick to it. “But that is also why a good coach is what you need, if you don’t have a community around you, or if you would rather go through this journey alone.”

Although nowadays, many health and fitness enthusiasts scour the web for programs or tips, “what you might need more—aside from the guidance of an expert who can actually see for themselves how you are progressing—is accountability,” Callanta says. That said, hiring a coach might be a worthy investment if you are serious about your health and fitness journey.

4. Break down your larger goal into smaller goals.

Joseph suggests changing the way you look at your goal: Instead of always seeing the bigger picture, break things down into smaller goals, so it’s easier to tackle one day at a time. “The long term goal usually seems so far away, so sometimes, it feels unreachable,” says Joseph. “So, also focus on the smaller goals, maybe for the day.”

This could mean breaking down your end goal into daily, weekly, or monthly goals, so you’re not overwhelmed and feel like you’re making progress. “When we anchor on the long-term goal, but then translate it into a present-day action, that’s when we are able to keep the ball rolling,” Joseph says.

5. Keep yourself accountable through technology.

If you’re not keen on hiring a coach, but you still need extra outside motivation and accountability, Callanta suggests harnessing the power of technology. “Other ways that you can keep the consistency of exercise might be through fitness apps or trackers,” Callanta suggests. These might keep you on track when you’re dangerously close to falling off the wagon.

6. Stand your ground.

At the end of the day, you just have to stick to your guns, with or without the support from your community. “Sometimes, family doesn’t understand [your goals]. Sometimes people won’t understand why you won’t eat out with them. Don’t be afraid to go against the grain,” Joseph says. “They might comment, but if you’re sure of yourself, they’ll stop questioning you.”

Captain of your own ship

At the end of the day, it bears remembering that the person on the health and fitness journey is you. Not your family, not your roommate, not your officemates. The decisions that you make are your own, and will ultimately serve to benefit the one who matters most in this quest—yourself.