The other day, a writer with Health magazine, interviewed me about how to prevent the weekends from derailing our “diet.” She asked, “What do you do when you go out to dinner with your girlfriends and everyone is ordering high calorie drinks, dinners, and desserts – and you are tempted to do that, too? My answer was, “Find new friends.”

I know…sounds callous, doesn’t it? But, research shows that friends can influence how we eat. So, it’s best to dine out with those that eat healthfully, than with friends that choose high fat restaurants and chow down more, in one sitting, than you need in a whole day! Turns out, it’s not just your friends that can influence your weight. A recent 10 year study of Australian women (published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine) found that women who get married, or live with a man, gain more weight than their un-hitched friends.

Does that mean you have to dine alone – or live alone? No! But, if you choose to eat healthy and exercise on a regular basis, it’s a good idea to hang around with people who do the same. And, you’ll find yourself encouraging each other to continue with the healthy habits.