Relationships

How to get your husband to lose weight

loseweightIt’s the top of 2016, which of course means one thing. That I’m still writing 2015 on all of my checks. No wait, not that. Well, yeah, that. But, I meant to say that New Year’s resolutions are still on everyone’s minds. And weight loss is a very common resolution. And with dieting and healthy living on the brain, it’s easy to shift that thinking onto your loved ones and wish that they would lose weight and get in shape. So, if you want your husband to lose weight in the near future, then I have the perfect advice for you. Keep reading and learn how to get your husband to lose weight.

Assess your reasons

Wanting your husband to lose weight is a really common desire among women. So, know that you’re not alone. And women can want their husbands to lose weight for a variety of reasons—health, aesthetics, snoring, comfort, etc. Figure out why you want your man to lose weight and then assess if it’s a worthwhile reason. For example, if your husband has been putting on weight for the past ten years and the extra weight has turned him into such a loud snorer that you can’t sleep with him, that feels like a worthwhile reason. Sleeping together is important to the health of a relationship. And if his diet and exercise habits are leading to a situation where you two are in different rooms every night, something needs to change. Or, if he put on weight very suddenly and you’re concerned that he’s depressed or something dramatic could be going on physically, another good reason. If your man used to have a six-pack and is still healthy, but now has an ab-keg and you miss how ripped he used to be, that’s not really a good enough reason to want him to lose weight. Basically, if you’re worried for his health or the basic needs of your relationship, go ahead and get him to lose weight. If you’re grossed out by his man muffin top, you’re gonna just have to deal with it.

Talk to him

If you’ve decided that the rational behind your weight loss desire for your man is legit, the next step is to talk to him. Bringing up weight or anything body image is very touchy and it’s easy to feel so awkward about the topic that you avoid it all together. But, he’s your husband and life partner. Open, honest communication is key to the success of any relationship, no matter the topic. You don’t have to cut right to the chase, call him tubby and demand he lose 20 pounds. But, you could bring up the aforementioned health concerns or relationship issues and discuss the causes, which would inevitably lead to his weight. Or you could talk about how your goal is to be healthier as a couple and try to come up with goals you both can stick to. Make this conversation about how the two of you can work together to make his health or your relationship better and stronger and he won’t be offended that you’re essentially asking him to lose weight.

Be healthy

If you want your hubby to get in shape, then you better be open to shaping up as well. Even if you’re fit and healthy, but especially if you’re not, you’re going to have to get on board with whatever plan your husband decides to go with. This will turn his new journey towards a healthy lifestyle into a team activity, which makes it a lot more fun and manageable for him. Plus, it will show your support, which is really important during something as tough as weight loss. If you’re doing it together, he’s more likely to be successful.

I 100% stand behind these tips as the best way to approach weight loss with your mate, but I also want to say that you can’t make someone, even your husband, do anything he doesn’t want to do. So, do your best to show your concern and willingness to help him. But, also know that weight loss is a deeply fraught topic with many people and your man might not be open to the work it takes right now. But, if you keep supporting him and living a healthy lifestyle yourself, he should come around. Just keep up your healthy lifestyle and he’ll hopefully get started on his eventually.

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