Post # 1
Member
194 posts
Blushing bee
Fiance went to the doctor recently and his doctor told him he needs to lose about 40-45 pounds for health reasons. He fully agrees that he needs to lose the extra weight and wants to do it. I’ve been doing weight watchers for the past year and have lost about 40 pounds (only ten more to go until I get to my healthy weight!) and I know how hard it can be at times. He’s always been incredibly supportive of me and I want to do the same for him.
Has anyone else’s SO/FI/DH had to lose weight? How did you encourage them/help keep them on track? He has started becoming more active and making better food choices but his willpower totally stinks (who’s doesn’t haha!). Any tips would be great 🙂
Post # 4
Hostess
11163 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
@tropicalfish914: My DH after years of me suggesting has just started to do the couch to 5K and seems to enjoying it. I actually saw him eating celery with peanut butter the other day and about died of shock!
For me my encouragement comes in two ways. The first is I do not buy unhealthy things that I know he will eat. If I don’t bring it into the house he won’t be able to eat (and I don’t eat those things anyway so no great loss). The second is I ask him about his running but I don’t remind him/nag him/pressure him. I ask him how he feels it is going and if he did it today etc.
I also try to find activities we can do together. I am more active than he is so easy walks and hikes or bike rides are about all he can handle but they are better than nothing.
Post # 5
Member
1161 posts
Bumble bee
@tropicalfish914: Well Fiance is losing weight and getting healthier but it took a lot to get to this point. Before he finally started, I just kept encouraging him about how much healthier he would be and how much better he will feel if he gets in shape..and not in a nagging way, but in a “you can do it” type of way. I also told him I want him to be around for a long time so both of us need to take care of ourselves so that can happen.
Then he finally started going to the gym and eating healthier…and that developed further into walking to and from work everyday (2 miles each way). Each time he added something new to his regimen I would tell him I’m proud of him, and when I notice his clothes fitting better or his body getting more slim/toned I always compliment him. I think this is one of the best ways to help someone without coming off overbearing or nagging. They always need to feel supported and not like you’re trying to force them into something.
Post # 6
Member
1406 posts
Bumble bee
excercise together! its fun and will benefit both of you.
Post # 8
Member
442 posts
Helper bee
Maybe you and him can go to the gym together? Fiance and I do that and it’s more fun than going on your own. It also helps motivation to have someone do it with you.
Post # 9
Member
20 posts
Newbee
Go to the gym together, cook healthy meals at home and eat them together! The great thing about guys is they lose weight soooo much easier than girls. Cut out any candy and snacking on junk food. No soda PERIOD. Not even Diet. If you do it together it wont seem so hard. Some easy healthy meals are baked salmon, lean meats like turkey and baked / steamed veggies. Anytime I have cooked these for my man he has loved it! Focus on filling him with meat and veggies, very minimal carbs and the weight will come off! Plus it is delicious. Work as a team. You don’t need to “say” anything, just act on it! 🙂
Post # 10
Member
2959 posts
Sugar bee
Oh if you find the answer, let me know.
At least FH has a good excuse – he quit smoking! I have tried to help. I cook healthy food (no processed foods, no frying, etc.), I bought him a Bowflex (which I use, he doesn’t!) and I am constantly suggesting things like going for a hike, canoeing, etc. Oh yeah, I bought him the canoe!
Much to my chagrin, I discovered that he is a closet junk food junkie – chips, baked goods, and candy! I don’t buy that crap – I only make breads and desserts for company or holidays. HE buys his own junk food. Argggggggggggggh!
Post # 11
Member
194 posts
Blushing bee
@trueblue14: Oh I hear you! I’m pretty good about keeping the junk away. I always try to buy organic wherever possible, lots of fruits and veggies, lean proteins etc. We do both have a bit of a sweet tooth, but I make all of our sweets from scratch and portion control it all. Whenever he goes out with his friends, sometimes after work/at work, I know that he gets wayyyy off track. His friends don’t really watch what they eat (read: tons of chinese food, wings, pizza etc.) It’s times like that when I feel like I can only do so much…which is true I suppose.
Post # 12
Member
194 posts
Blushing bee
@czukor: Isn’t that the truth! Without too much effort (compared to the effort I have to put in) it seems much easier for him to lose. That’s a good point though…making healthy meals TOGETHER as opposed to me making them. We don’t drink any soda…I used to be a HUGE diet coke lover. HUGE. But I stopped drinking ALL soda about 8 months ago.
Great idea though…making sure that we are making equal effort in preparing healthy meals. Thanks!
Post # 13
Member
194 posts
Blushing bee
@Galang_Gyal: Good point! Fiance did that a lot with me, especially when I was hitting rough patches where I wasn’t losing. He knows I like walking so we would walk quite a bit together. He used to do track and field and was quite a good runner in high school. I am so NOT a runner haha, so I guess I’ll have to find another activity to keep him motivated that we can both participate in.
Post # 14
Member
1190 posts
Bumble bee
@tropicalfish914: You do Weight Watchers, why not teach him the basics and see if he’s into that? WW simplifies losing weight.
But this can be a couples’ thing. Take walks together after dinner. Take a class at the gym. Go for hikes on the weekends. Start helping him pack healthy lunches for work and cook dinners together. If you’re strapped for time, cook up some things on the weekends for the week: roast a chicken, cook veggies, preportion items for snacks, etc.
Don’t approach it as a “you need to lose weight for your health”, approach it as “we’re going to get healthy together so we can enjoy life more”. I’ve struggled with weight due to thyroid issues for a few years and it makes losing weight very *very* difficult. For me, it’s easier to focus on making healthy choices rather than the scale because sometimes the scale doesn’t move. I kept motivated seeing changes in my energy level and ability to focus, as well as getting more strength and endurance doing weights and workouts.
If you’re looking for fun exercise, I completely recommend kickboxing. I lost quite a bit of weight at the end of last year prior to getting pregnant from kickboxing and it’s really alot of fun, even for someone like me who isn’t really athletic.
Post # 15
Member
930 posts
Busy bee
Get healthy together! Really, I’ve tried to lose weight by myself so many times, but when Fiance does it with me, I’ve been much more successful.
Post # 16
Member
2564 posts
Sugar bee
I will actually add some stuff I’ve tried myself –
I tell him I want him to be around for me and our future babies (he’s older than me)
I encourage him to walk in the evenings and offer to go with as well
We always buy healthy stuff and almost never have unhealthy stuff in the house