We all want to be fit. I want my clients, family and friends to experience the joy of fitness. One important thing that can be very helpful in your effort to stay in shape is to surround yourself with other active people.

This is crucial because research states that obesity is “contagious” and that when we eat with other people, their food choices affect us — how much we eat, what we eat, and how we feel about it.

We are always making decisions based on other people’s thoughts, actions and habits, which is why it’s so important to surround ourselves with people whose values and habits support our healthy lifestyle.

Habits are definitely contagious. When our friends feel down, it’s hard not feeling the same way. If your family loves to eat, you may find it hard to say no to certain foods. If your friends are constantly on and off the weight-loss roller coaster, you may not have the support you need to exercise on a regular basis. Surrounding ourselves with active people who enjoy healthy foods and living healthy, makes us more likely to make the same healthy choices.

I feel incredibly blessed to have friends and clients who are into fitness and healthy eating. I often call my girlfriends “ride or die chicks” because they are always ready to join me in whatever craziness I dream up. We go for beach and hill runs, have workouts on the beach and even yoga classes. Throughout the week we talk about our homemade lunch menus and give each other ideas for the following week. Sometimes we even bring each other treats that we’ve made. A few weeks ago my friend brought in turkey-stuffed zucchini!

Healthy living is definitely a lifestyle for me. I tend to find and hang out with people who have the same interests in life that I do. It’s not always possible to convert our friends into healthy lifestyles, but we can all lead by example. As you begin living a healthier lifestyle, remember you owe yourself nothing but the best and B-Active For Life.

• Betty Doyling is a certified fitness trainer and figure competitor with more than eight years of experience. Check her out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/B.ActiveForLife