When you are trying to lose weight, having a strong support network can make a really big difference. Partnering up with friends and family members who want the best for you and who will encourage you to make the best choices for your new healthy lifestyle can give you the motivation you need to stay on track and working towards your weight loss goals.

Unfortunately, however, not everyone has a built in support network that will be able to help them with their weight loss goals every step of the way. Instead, many people are faced with feelings of isolation and anxiety when they try to reach out to their loved ones for support with weight loss. Even if your support network means well, a few negative comments or an unreasonable expectation for you to put your weight loss goals aside for a special occasion can make the entire weight loss process more stressful.

This is why many people find it helpful to build a new weight loss support network when they begin a new weight loss program. By connecting with people online, you can easily find others who have similar interests, goals, and concerns as you. What’s even better, since you can find these support networks online, it makes it more likely that those in your network will be available to you at whatever point you need a little bit of extra help.

Here are a few places that you can start looking for online support as you begin your weight loss surgery program:

1. Facebook. Facebook groups have made it easy to find an online support group for just about any reason. In addition to finding weight loss support groups, you can also easily find groups that are tailored to your local area, and the specific type of weight loss surgery that you are considering.
2. Weight loss apps. There are plenty of weight loss apps on the market, and many of those apps have additional features to join a community of dieters. These community functions are designed to help you connect with others who have similar goals in mind.
3. Meetup. This website brings people together online who live close-by in real life, making it simple to schedule a real “meet up.” Talk with your weight loss surgeon to find out if there are any established support groups in your area, as well.

You don’t need to limit your support network to those already in your life. Part of making this big lifestyle change is opening yourself up to new opportunities, and new people may be part of that. Finding the right support group may make all the difference in helping you to stay positive about your weight loss progress.