If sabotage has been making you think things like "It’s not fair to put my needs before others'," or "I don’t want them to be upset with me," then you need to challenge your thoughts. If you choose to eat a carrot stick instead of a chocolate chip cookie, how does that burden anyone?

Dealing with sabotage isn't always easy or comfortable, and you may look for reasons to avoid the problem. You may be hesitant to speak up for yourself because of your own uncertainty, or fear that you will displease others. But remember that if you easily concede to discouragement from your goals, you won’t reach them.

On another level, each time you say "yes", when you mean "no", you can create a passive anger within yourself. Passive anger can boomerang in the form of guilt and depression, making lifestyle changes much more difficult.

Losing weight and changing your lifestyle is difficult; you need all the support you can get. So it’s better not to flare up and battle every time sabotage rears its ugly head. Hostile confrontations create stress, and stress makes it difficult to lose weight, both psychologically and physiologically. Instead of knee-jerk reactions, sit down and explain why you are serious about losing weight.

If, after all your efforts to explain what you are doing, you still can't get the support you want, be firm in your own resolve. You are not the problem. The problem is the need in others to maintain the status quo or control.

At all times be assertive about your decisions, but not aggressive or obnoxious. And if you refuse food, make sure people understand you are not rejecting them personally! You are just rejecting their offer of food.