Sometimes weight loss can really feel like a solo battle. Armed with your calorie counter, your running shoes and your constant vigilance, you’re a lone warrior against fat and sugar. But let’s be honest, this can become exhausting! When you have to decline offer after offer to go out for ice cream with friends, when you’re the only one passing up a piece of cake at an office birthday party, when you’re family is eating steak and you’re eating salad, weight loss can become a very lonely undertaking.

It doesn’t have to be this way! Instead of seeing weight loss as a solo endeavor, enlist the power of community! Rather than waking up an hour early to go for a jog by yourself, invite a friend to come with you and catch up while you’re getting your fitness on. Instead of preparing a different meal for yourself than for your family, which is-let’s face it, less appetizing- bring your spouse and kids on board in eating more veggies and less fat.

Involving the people that care about you most in your life in your weight loss regime makes the process less isolating, and can also serve as an extra source of motivation. (This can be especially true if you have a friend who is also trying to lose weight.) When you feel like giving up and digging into a carton of ice cream, if your friends and family are involved, they can suggest a healthier choice. They can celebrate your triumphs when you are shedding the pounds, and provide emotional support when you’re feeling discouraged.

It’s also just more fun to do things in community than to do them alone, whether it’s preparing a healthy picnic or joining a swim team. Think of your support network as just another tool like your calorie counter, or your running shoes that you can turn to to help you with your weight loss goals.