Are You Assertive Enough?

Are you a doormat? A steamroller? Either extreme can get in the way of your weight loss, good health and happiness. Find out here where you stand.

Your grandmother's a great cook, and her favorite thing to do is feed people. What do you say when she insists you have seconds of her delicious but high-calorie specialties?

"No thanks, Grandma. It's delicious, but I'm working hard to lose weight."

Nothing. I eat it without argument to spare her feelings.

"You're the reason I'm overweight in the first place!"

I tell her I can't eat all the bad stuff she eats anymore.

I just say it. And then I ask her if we can go on walks for our afternoon break instead.

I say, "I'm on a diet, but I'll go with you." Then I usually end up getting ice cream anyway.

"Honey, don't forget, I need you to help around here so I can go exercise."

Nothing. I forget about the exercise and start furiously chopping vegetables.

Nothing. I just leave him there to figure it out. Hey, I warned him!

Nothing. I don't want to cause a fight.

"I'm trying to lose weight now, and it would help me a lot if you didn't make jokes like that."

"Shut up."

I make a deal with them. They can get one snack, as long as they help me with my weight-loss plan by picking out some fruits and vegetables, too.

I get them what they want. It's not fair to ask them to change their eating habits, too. Is it?

I tell them that we're all eating healthy now and that they'll eat what I buy them.

Yes.

No.

Yes. And I complain to the manager, too.

"Can I do it for you first thing tomorrow? I have that meeting we talked about."

"OK, I'll get right on it."

"No. Remember when you told me I could leave early on Tuesdays?"

Only if he talks to me about it first.

Yes. I want to make sure he knows why I'm doing this and that I need his support.

Of course! I yell at him about it.