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Being overweight can lead to type 2 diabetes, elevated blood pressure, susceptibility to arthritis and heart disease, sleep apnea, and even stroke. [1] X Trustworthy Source National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Health information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Unhealthy weight can also negatively impact the intimacy you share with you wife, leading to marital strain and frustration. If your wife's weight concerns you, whatever the reason for your concern, you can take positive steps through proper communication, dieting, and exercise.
Steps
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Express your concerns about her health, if appropriate. As her husband, you will likely have some idea of what way will be best to convey this information to your wife. You may be able to simply sit down and talk, you might have to find a way to express this more gently. In any case, you may have better results if you:
- Share how you feel. Women use conversation to discover their feelings and tell these feelings to others. [2] X Research source By doing the same, she might be more receptive to what you are saying.
- You might say to your wife, "I love you so much, seeing you struggle with your weight has me worried. Is it OK if we talk about it?"
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Use passive measures, if appropriate. Some wives don't need, or want, to be hit over the head with a message about their weight. If this is your wife, you might want to try indicating your concerns passively. You might do this by:Advertisement
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Avoid judgmental language. Even if you have your wife's best interests in mind, using judgmental language could potentially lead your wife to internalize those comments, feeling like she's not good enough on the inside. Some phrases you should avoid include:
- "You've put on weight."
- "Did you stick to your diet today?"
- "You shouldn't eat that."
- "Aren't you full?" [5] X Research source
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Notice emotional problems that might be affecting her weight. It might not be diet or exercise that is causing your wife to be overweight, she could be suffering from depression or stress. [6] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source Depression is a common problem women cope with, and many don't receive the help they need. This can result in negative patterns, like overeating and oversleeping/lethargy. Consider the following symptoms when evaluating your wife:
- Depression
is often indicated by:
- Regular feelings of sadness, anxiety, emptiness
- Lack of interest and participation in pleasure activities, including sex
- Excess sleeping or disturbed, unrestful sleep
- Lower than normal energy levels [7] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
- Stress
, while usually more obvious, can also be marked by:
- Headaches
- Back pain
- Poor sleep
- Stomach issues
- Excess tension [8] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- Depression
is often indicated by:
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Address emotional issues, if applicable. The sources of depression or stress are sometimes obvious, like the loss of a loved one, a new job, or the arrival of a newborn into your life. Some causes, however, can be subtle, so you should talk with your wife about how she feels and whether or not she might be feeling the effects of either of these. If she is, you might:
- Recommend exercise, as the release of endorphins experienced during and after working out can boost her mood and fight symptoms of depression and stress. [9] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public Go to source
- Suggest that you both try meditating , as studies have shown that this can alleviate both stress and depression. [10] X Research source
- Discuss the possibility of going together, or if comfortable, of her going alone to see a therapist.
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Talk about goals that will be easier to attain if fit. You may have dreamed of walking the Great Wall of China when you were a younger couple, or perhaps you've always wanted to go on safari, or hike the Appalachian trail! Remind your wife of these goals and dreams, and use that conversation to gently bring up your concerns about her weight.
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Diet together. This is especially important if you have a more active metabolism or professional life than your wife. Seeing you chow down on your favorite foods while she has to adhere to a more rigid diet can lead to resentment or poor self-image.
- If she has bought or prepares special diet food, try to encourage her healthy behaviors by participating in her dietary plans. [11] X Research source Have a bite to show your support!
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Balance your diets. It's only natural that people tend to load their plates with the food they like, but in many cases, this creates a nutritional imbalance that is unhealthy. Variety is important; different foods contain different vitamins and other nutrients. Try to:
- Include all food groups: protein, grains, vegetables, fruits, and dairy. [12] X Research source
- Eat some healthy fats, like omega 3 fatty acids. [13] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source
- Avoid too much salt, fat, or sugar.
- Skip empty calories, or calories with little nutritional content, like:
Sweets
Sweetened beverages (like energy and sports drinks)
Pizza
Ice cream
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Eat a rainbow of color, especially for vegetables and fruits. The colors in your food are generally an indication of phytochemicals and other nutrients important for your health. [14] X Research source An easy way to improve you and your wife's diet is by eating food from a wide range of colors.
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Track your consumption to master eating habits. You and/or your wife may feel like you are being oppressed as you tally up the number of calories you consume throughout the day, but calorie and portion control are vital to losing weight. In the words of Peter Drucker, consultant and author, "What gets measured, gets managed." [15] X Trustworthy Source FamilyDoctor.org Family-focused medical advice site run by the American Academy of Family Doctors Go to source
- Though fad diets focus on certain kinds of food and/or sources of nutrition, many researchers today stress how overconsumption of calories is the true culprit of weight gain. [16] X Research source
- Keep an eating log on your phone or in a memo pad you can carry throughout the day. List everything you eat, look up the caloric cost of those items, and identify which foods are your caloric trouble spots.
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Write up a meal plan. Meal plans will do more than help your wife lose weight. A meal plan can also save you time, money, and stress, all while preventing you from indulging in more convenient, less healthy options. [17] X Expert Source Pouya Shafipour, MD, MS
Board Certified Family Medicine Specialist Expert Interview. 8 May 2020.- If you notice, through your eating log, that you are not getting enough of a certain food group, tailor your meal plan to improve this.
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Consult a trained dietitian with your wife. A dietitian has the knowledge and skills to help you come up with a balanced, healthy plan for your wife's weight loss diet. You may want to bring your eating log and any meal plans you've devised on your own. [18] X Expert Source Pouya Shafipour, MD, MS
Board Certified Family Medicine Specialist Expert Interview. 8 May 2020. This way your dietitian can:- Offer guidance and advice about what you've already done, what can be done better, and how you might improve down the road.
- Have a full idea of your lifestyle and preferences. On the spot, you might not know what to say if he were to ask you about your diet. Having your eating log on hand can help him advise you more efficiently.
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Exercise together. The time you spend exercising with you wife is not only good for your health, it can also promote bonding and happiness in your relationship. [19] X Research source Show solidarity and support for your wife by encouraging her throughout the exercise, and by taking part in her healthy choices.
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Start with small, enjoyable activities. Depending on the weight of your wife, it may not be feasible to hit the gym right away. She might even hate going to the gym. Instead, start with small, routine activities, like:
- Going for a walk in the morning
- A leisure sport, like tennis
- Bird watching
- Shell or sea glass collecting
- Dancing
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Spend weekends doing physical activities. Even something as simple as going to the park can help relax and restore her mind and body. [20] X Research source You might want to take a Frisbee along, or your dog. You should also consider:
- A visit to a scenic lighthouse.
- A trip to a museum or exhibit.
- Visiting local historic sites.
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Plan regular activities. Routine can give a sense of safety and pleasure to your weekly activities. [21] X Research source Generally, it takes an average of 66 days to establish a new habit, and by planning on regular activities can help establish that habit. [22] X Research source
- You and your wife might agree on doing three exercise oriented activities every weekend.
- Encourage her to increase intensity and frequency as her fitness improves.
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Get a gym membership and consider a trainer, if applicable. Although not necessary to improve her fitness, a gym membership would provide many resources to her. Besides exercise equipment, many gyms also have trainers on staff. These individuals can help you develop a personalized exercise plan for her weight loss. A personal trainer can also:
- Help her develop accountability
- Motivate her
- Realize new perspectives
- Achieve proper technique and form
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Eat out less frequently. [23] X Research source A special night out every once and a while isn't so terrible, but the rich and delicious food prepared in most restaurants has been linked to higher calorie consumption and poor nutrition. [24] X Research source Save yourself some money and:
- Go on a picnic with healthier, homemade food.
- Make healthy alternatives of your favorite restaurant recipes at home.
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Set realistic goals together. It will be easy for her to fall into the trap of fixating on a magic number that, when achieved, will mean she is healthy. But poundage doesn't necessarily translate to healthiness.
- If your wife is exercising and dieting, she may shed inches and tone up but stay the same weight.
- Muscle is denser than fat, so it's possible to get significantly healthier while maintaining roughly the same weight. [25] X Research source
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3Use healthy incentives to encourage her. Instead of a decadent night out full of food and drink, the use of healthy motivators can be a game changer. [26] X Research source Plan to celebrate certain milestones and accomplishments, like her first month of exercise, with things like:
- A couples painting class
- Tickets to her favorite music
- A manicure
- A massage
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Praise her for her effort and successes. Even if you do not see immediate results, tell her how proud you are of her hard work as encouragement. [27] X Research source Ask her if there are any additional ways that you can show her your support, and try to implement her suggestions. [28] X Research source
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Cheer her on consistently. Even if she falls short of the goal, be sure you are regularly reminding her that you're proud of her effort. [29] X Research source In some cases, you might offer too much praise, making her feel like you're talking down to her. Don't take offense. Express that you only want to applaud her efforts and ask her how you can do that better. Try to understand that:
- She's working hard to lose weight at your initiation.
- Losing weight can be physically and emotionally exhausting.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionIs it wrong for your partner to lose weight?Dr. Pouya Shafipour is a Family Medicine Specialist, Primary Care Physician, and a Weight Loss Specialist based in Santa Monica, California. Dr. Shafipour specializes in dietary, nutritional, behavioral, and exercise counseling to manage obesity and medical conditions related to excessive weight gain or loss. Dr. Shafipour received a BS in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, an MS in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University, and an MD from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He completed his internship in general surgery at UC Irvine and a residency in family medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, and became board certified in family medicine in 2008.If they're overweight, absolutely not! Maintaining a healthy weight is a good thing, and it's a great way to lower risk factors for a variety of dangerous conditions.
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QuestionMy wife is on a diet, but she's getting indigestion. How can she fix this?Dr. Pouya Shafipour is a Family Medicine Specialist, Primary Care Physician, and a Weight Loss Specialist based in Santa Monica, California. Dr. Shafipour specializes in dietary, nutritional, behavioral, and exercise counseling to manage obesity and medical conditions related to excessive weight gain or loss. Dr. Shafipour received a BS in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, an MS in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University, and an MD from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He completed his internship in general surgery at UC Irvine and a residency in family medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, and became board certified in family medicine in 2008.Well, first you have to find the cause of indigestion. Quitting smoking can help, as can eliminating citrus fruits, caffeine, alcohol, fried food, tomatoes, garlic and onions. Often, weight loss causes some indigestion, so it may go away on its own she's done dieting. Natural solutions for digestion issues include aloe vera juice, digestive enzymes, chamomile tea, and calcium carbonate. However, you should always talk to your primary care doctor before you take any supplements.
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QuestionHow can I help my wife avoid weight gain?Dr. Pouya Shafipour is a Family Medicine Specialist, Primary Care Physician, and a Weight Loss Specialist based in Santa Monica, California. Dr. Shafipour specializes in dietary, nutritional, behavioral, and exercise counseling to manage obesity and medical conditions related to excessive weight gain or loss. Dr. Shafipour received a BS in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, an MS in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University, and an MD from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He completed his internship in general surgery at UC Irvine and a residency in family medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, and became board certified in family medicine in 2008.If the two of you commit to daily exercise, mindful eating, and you cut back on snacking, you'll prevent weight gain. Also, try to finish your meals early in the day so you aren't going to sleep with a full stomach.
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Tips
- Removing the temptation of sweets from the home can help cut down on high-calorie snacks throughout the day.Thanks
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Warnings
- Don't forget to tell her you love her. She needs all the support she can get.Thanks
- Avoid hiding sweets or trouble foods, even if she asks you. This can lead to misdirected frustration on her part, or an angry game of "hide and seek" with the hidden food.Thanks
- Don't make it about the pounds. Although people tend to fixate on pounds or inches, these aren't necessarily the best indicators of health and fitness.Thanks
- Be sensitive to her feelings when communicating your concerns to her.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/adult-overweight-obesity/health-risks
- ↑ https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=http://cse.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1521&context=cmc_theses
- ↑ http://www.hitchedmag.com/article.php?id=439
- ↑ http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2012/10/15/unhealthy-spouse/
- ↑ https://www.upmcmyhealthmatters.com/dos-and-donts-when-helping-someone-lose-weight/
- ↑ https://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/04/emotions
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5154680/
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11874-stress
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/exercise-is-an-all-natural-treatment-to-fight-depression
- ↑ https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/how-to-use-being-a-couple-to-your-weight-loss-advantage/
- ↑ https://www.upmcmyhealthmatters.com/dos-and-donts-when-helping-someone-lose-weight/
- ↑ https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/five-food-groups
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/
- ↑ http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/110308p34.shtml
- ↑ https://familydoctor.org/nutrition-keeping-a-food-diary/
- ↑ http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-12-1042
- ↑ Pouya Shafipour, MD, MS. Board Certified Family Medicine Specialist. Expert Interview. 8 May 2020.
- ↑ Pouya Shafipour, MD, MS. Board Certified Family Medicine Specialist. Expert Interview. 8 May 2020.
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/meet-catch-and-keep/201401/5-reasons-why-couples-who-sweat-together-stay-together
- ↑ https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/03/how-nature-resets-our-minds-and-bodies/274455/
- ↑ https://www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/the-benefits-of-routine/
- ↑ http://greatist.com/fitness/how-make-workout-plan-and-stick-it
- ↑ http://www.hitchedmag.com/article.php?id=439
- ↑ https://cspinet.org/new/pdf/lit_rev-eating_out_and_obesity.pdf
- ↑ http://www.prevention.com/fitness/strength-training/does-muscle-weigh-more-fat
- ↑ https://www.upmcmyhealthmatters.com/dos-and-donts-when-helping-someone-lose-weight/
- ↑ http://www.hitchedmag.com/article.php?id=439
- ↑ https://www.upmcmyhealthmatters.com/dos-and-donts-when-helping-someone-lose-weight/
- ↑ https://www.upmcmyhealthmatters.com/dos-and-donts-when-helping-someone-lose-weight/
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