Lack of Weight Loss Support from a Spouse
Losing weight can come with unintended consequences.
While the pros of losing weight greatly outweigh the cons, there can definitely be some cons. Let me pitch a completely hypothetical, yet common scenario to you.
Holly marries David. When they marry, both are slightly overweight, enjoy the same gamut of sedentary of activities, and neither care about the amount or quality of the food they eat. Waistlines are of no concern to either of them.
Let’s fast forward a few years into the marriage.
Holly decides to lose weight. She starts counting calories in an effort to lose 40 pounds. She puts down the remote and starts walking around her neighborhood after work. She meets her girlfriends at the gym in the morning. She starts limiting portion sizes and gets rid of a bunch of junk food hanging around the house. Her whole life and a lot of the things that made up her life before suddenly change.
Fast forward six months later. Holly has lost 40 pounds, runs half-marathons, and has a completely new life. She’s found a whole new set of activities and has a new outlook on eating and staying active. However, David hasn’t changed at all.
Holly loves David, but grows resentful. She wishes he’d become “healthy,” too. She wishes he shared the love for the same activities she does. She wishes they’d spend time together again — being active, not sedentary. She wishes David would care about his body, health, and appearance.
On the other hand, David wishes Holly never changed. It’s her fault for rocking the boat. Everything was fine before she decided to change her life.
…
Personally, I’ve experienced the above scenario in a very limited fashion over the last few years. Overall, my wife was/is very supportive of my attempt to lose weight. Alternatively, I’ve heard from many spouses who have encountered, and are encountering, most of the scenario that I described above.
Don’t let it deter you from losing weight — just be prepared.
