Enneagram Type 2 Diet Strengths and Skills

Type 2 Diet Strengths:

Empathetic Types – join fitness programs and coach others

Power Skills (1st Step) for Type 2: Social Support, Coaching, Label Saboteurs

Social Support: Use the power of peer pressure to help you stay strong on your path to fitness. Social Support is broad and can range from one quality peer or workout partner,  a group of teammates,  a weekly group meeting, scheduled gym class or social networking for your goal. Social Support can come from your immediate social circle like your friends or family, a coworker or anyone that encourages you. Just having another person to help you is encouraging and “misery loves company.” There is a synergy that occurs when someone shares your goals, especially if that person provides feedback, reminds you of your goal or provides technical advice. Social Support also helps on the emotional aspects of attaining your goals — someone to complain to, who will be understanding and be kind to you. Finally Social Support can be the enlisting of your family members to help with you goal or assist in your other competing responsibilities such as child care. Classic examples of commercial Social Support groups include Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, or Take Pounds Off Sensibly (TOPS). In final, Social Support is a two-way street and you will have to offer help to the group or your partner if they are going to help you.

Coaching: This technique is broad, but easy to understand — you reinforce behaviors in yourself when you have to teach them to others. There is a saying, “see one, do one, teach one,” which relates to this coaching concept well. Once you have become versed in your healthy lifestyle change, then you being to teach the others around you about the benefits and technical aspects of the lifestyle change. The more people you teach and “bring with you” then the more it solidifies your behavior change. Coaching can be literal — you can become an athletic coach for a kids team that gets you more physically active.

Label Saboteurs: When starting any weight loss program, you must prepare yourself for resistance from the family and your peer group. Saboteurs are a very common unfortunate inevitability when you are trying to lose weight. An article in HubPages.com categorizes saboteurs as Food Pushers, Critics, Enablers, Compeditors, The Unaware or your Soulmate. Each saboteur has their own reasons for encouraging you to quit your program.  These saboteurs protest or may make you feel guilty and selfish about the change. Start by informing your loved ones of your plans, kindly point out their sabotaging behaviors and ask for their support. In this About.com article, the author recommends specific things to say to saboteurs such as ”I would prefer it if you didn’t offer me seconds,…Please don’t take offense when I refuse.” Being direct and steadfast is important.  Also, try to find other ways to bond with your friends and family than by going out to eat such as nature or beach walks, hiking, active hobbies or bike riding. If the saboteurs do not stop then simply try to avoid them.

Tips for Enneagram Type 2

Coaching: I coach others regarding physical activity.
Social Support: I have told my family and friends that I am trying to lose weight.
Social Support: I have asked my friends and family for encouragement and help with my weight loss.
Social Support: I am able to eat healthy meals at the same time that my family eats.
Social Support: I have asked my spouse/partner for encouragement and help with my weight loss.
Social Support: I have someone who faithfully exercises with me.
Social Support: I believe that my weight loss is a gift to my family. Self-improvement is not selfish.
Social Support: My family knows that I have scheduled time to exercise and are supportive.
Social Support: I do not expect people to know what they need to do to help me.
Social Support: I am enrolled in a charity exercise event.
Social Support: My workspace contains healthy food options instead of a candy bowl.
Social Support: I keep my intake low during food preparation.
Social Support: If I make someone a gift, then I make crafts instead of baked goods.
Social Support: When I volunteer, I choose tasks that involve physical labor such as beach clean-ups, habitat for humanity, or dog-walking.
Social Support: When eating with others, I only have a tiny dessert portion to share in the experience. Then I nurse a coffee or tea.
Social Support: I take a talk-walk twice a day. I walk with my spouse, friend or my dog.
Label Saboteurs: When I am offered high calorie food I politely decline.
Label Saboteurs: I “stand up to” or ignore those who are critical of my weight loss efforts.
Label Saboteurs: I enjoy time with my friends in other ways than with food.
Label Saboteurs: I have standard responses that I have already rehearsed that I say to people who try and thwart my weight loss efforts.

Action Skills (2nd Step): See Type Eight’s DIET Strengths and Skills

Maintenance Skills (3rd Step): See Type Four’s DIET Strengths and Skills