Pushing your partner to a diet!!!Is that wrong?

@chej18 (915)
United States
June 16, 2008 3:10am CST
Hi, I am not sure if i am right but i do it anyway i want my bf to be healthy so i am pushing him to diet.I am prepering his food and salads for his work.As you know my partner got a little bit problem w/ his heart and his condition is very bad.If he walked 30 mins then he is tired already.Thats why i decided i will help him to do a diet and pushing him everyday to jog and go to gym.In the beginning he does'nt like it and sometimes until now he cant get used to it.I watched out everytime in what he is dringking and what he is eating.I feel guilty sometimes of stopping him to eat specially in the party.We fight sometimes about it i said he should have his dicispline so he doesnt need to asked me everytime what he needs to eat.Its bothering me that mybe after a while our relationship will be broken becouse of it.But i just want him to be in goodshape and healthy.
7 people like this
20 responses
• Mozambique
16 Jun 08
It is not wrong because you are not in a 1-person relationship were only one person decides what to do.You have needs to be provided for and the weight is just blocking them.Therefore to fulfill them there is no other choice.Talk to him point blank and put him in your position about how you cannot cope with the side effects he has of a great weight.
3 people like this
@chej18 (915)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Yes i understand, but why it feel so wrong?Its too difficult to read him sometimes.
2 people like this
@keasling (723)
• United States
16 Jun 08
you don't want to be his dicipline too muchbecuase then he will think you just arent attracted to him. my husband does the smae thing and eventhough he wants me to be healthy part of me thinks he thinks i am fat and ugly and he is trying to change me. Help him eat healthy but don't completely take control. Let him indulge every once in awhile.
3 people like this
@chej18 (915)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Mybe he is thingking that way.But then his thingking wrong.Mybe we dont understand each other.Mybe he got point that missed it sometimes.Keasling i am trying my best to serve him healthy food, instead of chips i am making popcorn,instead of bread w/ cheese i prepared salad for him for lunch.I even give more effort now in making foods.But i feel bad sometimes that he saw it the wrong way.I need help from him so we can work this out. But if i stop telling him what to eat, he keep asking me what he needs to eat.
2 people like this
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
16 Jun 08
Well the intent is good but the manner you want it maybe wrong. A gentle persuasion would perhaps work for your partner. Find something that he will value more in wanting it and not force him to do what he thinks is not benefiting him. Show to him the value of having a healthy body. Show him that you love healthy lifestyle that is why you are encouraging him because you love him. Sometimes pushing someone from just the sake of doing it is not a good start for him to realized what the purpose is.
1 person likes this
@chej18 (915)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Yes you are right.Before he was smoker and then i keep saying that is not healthy even asked him to stopped but he did'nt until i gave up and told him oneday that he really cant stop smoking so just continue w/ it.I said he is not able to do it.I tried to reverse psycology on him and it worked. So these time i should find a way too.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
16 Jun 08
I am glad to be of help
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jun 08
If he is asking you what he should eat, then putting him od a diet is okay. But if you are trying to force him to do something he doesn't want to do, then you are setting up either a huge fight or a breakup. I know you want to help and you want him to eat5 better but if he doesn't want to do it himself, then it won't really happen.I know if my boyfriend was trying to get me to eat salads and other foods that I didn't want, I would not eat when I am around him. So he would miss out at seeing me during mealtime.Or I would play like I am eating the salad when I really am sneaking out and eating what I like. Ans pretty soon, I would tire of all the lies and the sneaking around so I would break up with him.It is up to the person to want to change or it won't happen.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jun 08
That is different.If he is asking for your help but not taking it or trying to change and then turns around and wants pity, that is wrong.If I were you, I would tell him if he changes his diet he may Feel better but if he doesn't want to change so be it.Tell him the diet he has now may be the reason he is feeling bad. I would say that once and wait and see what he wants to do next.I know you want to help and it is sad to see but he has to make the first step. Then you can really help by making the salads and jogging together.Good Luck.
1 person likes this
@chej18 (915)
• United States
18 Jun 08
I find myself getting tire of the situation sometimes.I remembered i told him that i will stop doing it ,i'll stop cooking for him that he can eat what ever he wants.But he dont agree w/ it.Dieting is not against his will but his eating habit is the problem.He cant resist sometimes to eat the food that his used to eat.
1 person likes this
@chej18 (915)
• United States
18 Jun 08
You got point w/ that.It will lead us w/ fighting everyday.And you are also right that he is sneaking eating something.Ate 1st he asked me what does he needs to eat but then mybe he got tire of eating food that he is not used to eat.But then if i am looking at him, his health is too bad, and he always doing self pity about it that, he is this and that.the i decided to try to remind him everytime.Its hurting me seing him like that.
1 person likes this
@youless (112591)
• Guangzhou, China
17 Jun 08
I don't think it's wrong. However, a good way is necessary. Not everybody likes to be changed. I know you are doing the right thing for him, but pushing may not a very workable method. Perhaps it's better for you to do the sports with him. Then he won't feel so bored to it. People like to do sports together. It is the same for the diet. Try to imagine if you eat a lot of sweet food in front of him, it's very hard for him to resist it. I love China
1 person likes this
@chej18 (915)
• United States
17 Jun 08
I feel so awful asking him to eat healthy.But if i didnt do that he is just going to eat chips,marsmallow,macdo,burget fries.I dont know why but this thing happened.I even dont buy any chocolate anymore or stocks some chips at home.But after a while i still can find a bag of chips. Sometimes i went to the gym w/ him but sometimes too busy at work or cooking.
@chrislotz (8137)
• Canada
17 Jun 08
Well, I think your loving him and wanting him to be healthy and all, I think it has to be something he wants to do also. It is nice to encourage him but to force him is another story. I know you are doing this because you love him, but be careful you don't push him too hard and push him right out of your life. I know I wouldn't want my partner to force something on me, I would fight him on it and that would just make things worse. Good luck to you and to him.
1 person likes this
@chej18 (915)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Hi Christolz, Thats what i am afraid for.Lossing him in sickness or lossing him becouse were fightting a lot becouse of it.What am i going to choose.
@gtdonna (1738)
17 Jun 08
Honestly, I do not think it is wrong, it shows that you care about him and his well being and the fact that he is going along with it, shows that he recognizes that he has a problem and is willing to give it a try. Maybe the fights start because sometimes he wants to let go and just enjoy himself for once...at those times, like when you guys are at a party, I think you should let him have that one minute of fun. What you need to observe is his behaviour towards you during those times you fight. Does he say hurtful things like "You want to control me or anything liek such". Did you had a sit down chat and discuss this issue or did you just jump right into taking over this aspect of his life? Maybe he feels you took control of his life and he has little or no say...sit him down and ask him how he feels about what you are doing and if you are being too pushy. Good luck!
1 person likes this
@chej18 (915)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Hi Gtdonna, At 1st he always said i am so fat.I am always tired.He lost his self eestem just like he dont trust his own self w/ everything.He feel ashame to go w/ me in the party w/ my friends.He is always concious w/ a lot of things.So i suggested to help him lossing weight.But after a while he got so difficult w/ it.And i always reminds him what to eat and what he cannot.He got so difficult of eating some vegetable and less meat.Becouse he is used to eat some other things. And then fight begins i kinda feel like i am now his enemy i feel so jealous if he is talking to his friends.He talked so quiet and peacefull,and w/ me always shouting, or talking w/ a higher tone.I am afraid also sometimes that my relationship will be over becouse of this.We got a lot of issue to talk. You are right in the party he forget everything he eated a lot, and drinked to much.And if i asked him if he wants me to stop doing things like helping him w/ his diet.He said no,that i am doing it good.I dont get it!Thanks for Good advice my friend.
@mjsintos (17)
• Philippines
17 Jun 08
just be subtle like most of the others said. there were times before when me and my bf were out in a date doing a lot of walking he easilly get tired ,cannot keep up with the walking right now he's playing table tennis and a lot including me notices he's tummys getting smaller and can move a lot. give him a lot of hug and kiss talked to him about places you wanted to visit with him otherwise you would be asking some other guys to join you. :-D goodluck just be subtle and you'll do fine
1 person likes this
@chej18 (915)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Hi Mjsintos, I am trying now to calm my self.I am trying to relax.This situation is getting me inside even getting jealous to his friends.If he is talking his friend he is so sweet and different.No higher tone, he is not mad and he smile everytime.I opened that to him.Why is it like that?If he is talking to me just like i am his worst enemy and them are the good one.I went to the gym w/ him sometimes.I tried to worked things out about our realtionship.But i dont understand mybe becouse we are just new to these live-in things together.
@patzel88 (3310)
• Philippines
16 Jun 08
we have the same problem, my partner has a health problem and i always pushing him to take proper diet and every morning getting an hour of hiking.
1 person likes this
@chej18 (915)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Its too difficult sometime to think that your partner got bad condition its eating me inside that oneday he and me need to go to the hospital.And thats i want to avoid if i can do it now to help him i will be here everytime for him.I am glad patzel that your doing the same.keep up the good work.But i just hope that your relationship cant be broken by these situation coz w/ mine we having fight sometimes becouse of it.Its not that he doesnt like to do it but its to difficult for him to eat the food that he is used to eat.
@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
16 Jun 08
It's good that you care enough about him to want to help him improve his health. (Make sure he knows that you are doing it only for that reason). But you can't control what he does, and he has to want to do it for himself as well. If it is at the point where you are fighting about it, maybe you need to back off just a little. I know that personally, if I feel someone is trying to tell me what to do all the time, I will want to do just the opposite! It is not necessarily motivation. Just be as helpful as possible, in other words, steer him towards healthier choices whenever possible, but don't necessarily police everything he puts into his mouth. (Remember how when you were a kid, you hated someone telling you what you could do, what you could eat, who you could see, etc.? Adults don't like it either!) Also, maybe you could (if you aren't already) do some of these things with him. Anyone can benefit from exercise and a heart-healthy diet. Go walking/jogging with him, cook healthy meals together, etc. Even if you don't need to have the same restrictions he does, it might help if he sees you doing the things you are telling him to do. I hope you are successful in getting him to change his habits. Good luck!
1 person likes this
@chej18 (915)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Yes i do really care but i tried not to watch out everytime on what he is eating while were fighting a lot, At 1st he is doing good but after a while that you dont remind him anymore he is back in his eating habit,just like he forget everything.I got tired also sometimes and i said if he is not really listening i dont know what to do more. I know that if somebody telling you what to do everytime you will be pissed off and feel bad about it.But i am out of way how to do it..But you are right thats very helpful what you said.Thanks for that i will try some other way to say it.
• Canada
17 Jun 08
If my man had gained an unhealthy amount of weight or something I might bring up my concern... I'd probably offer to go jogging or exercise with him... that way he might be more willing to do it.
1 person likes this
@chej18 (915)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Hayyyy...Pixel that would be good if he is listening to you very good and thingking that your intention is good.i remembered when he jogged.He really did it! for 3 daysssssss..After 5 days i asked him why his not doing it anymore.His answer is this "I got pain in my muscles."hahaha...I said thats the reason why you have to do it more often." i said" I cant do nothing but laugh.I went to the gym w/ him to but guess what he is doing?Power lifting...I said you have to do cardio also. He said : He will got paid in his belly and his muscle again.I surrender!
@thaMARKER (2503)
• Philippines
16 Jun 08
of course you want your partner to have a healthy body. my parents are very conscious with their health because they have lots of illness like diabetes, athrithis (sp?), high blood pressure, and some more. they watch their food intake, their exercise, and the way they treat their body when it comes to working. I also would want to have a partner who has a healthy way of living especially his nutrition and all that stuff. it's not wrong to tell your partner that he/she should eat something like this or that. it's for their own good. in my parent's fridge, there's vegetables and fishes (mostly) because it's better for my parent's diet.
1 person likes this
@chej18 (915)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Yes i incourage him to eat more vegetables and less meat and drink more water than soda. I been raised up in very healthy and watching out what i am eating most of the time more vegetables.My mother planting her own garden so we got plenty of vegetables.But my partner parents they eating too much meat and potato to much carbohydrate so since we move in together i tried all the best i can to prefer the food.But sometimes i am too busy then his eating habit came back or if he finish at work he go to the mcdo eating burger w/ friends.And he said his not doing it everyday and I will go to gym..hehehe .What does that makes different if you always changes your eating habit/patern.
17 Jun 08
If won't like to help himself it's up to your husband. You've done your best advice and if he won't take it let him suffer the conseqence.We have same problem, very hard to convince my husband to eat vegetables and fish. He like meats which cause him his gout, and rhumatism.He hates walking due to gout in the foot.
1 person likes this
@chej18 (915)
• United States
17 Jun 08
He is used to eat meat too.he got it from his mother.His mother likes to cooked pure meat and potato.And me i like to cooked atleast 100 grams of a meat and put lots of vegetables w/ it.I dont used meat everytime i cooked.Meat from chicken fillet is less fat and beef.And i learned alot of recipe making less fatty food and sandwich,salads and dressings.I been busy for few months of learning it. I give a lot of effort just to help him.I just hoping he do the same then there is no problem anymore, right?I hope that you will convince your husband to eat vegetables.Goodluck w/ that...
@deewill (26)
• United States
16 Jun 08
I don't know about you, but having someone telling me that I have a weight problem doesn't help at all. I have been heavy for years, and people telling me how to lose weight and what I should and shouldn't eat doesn't help me. I lose weight then gain it back. I no how much better I feel when I weigh less, but it is very hard and I don't have any health problems, just over weight. I have been married to my husband for 25 years when we got married I was thin now there is 2 of me. He has never said a thing negative to me, he knows I would feel better if I weighed less, but it is not easy to watch others eat what they enjoy, and you just have to eat celery. As long as your husband knows you care and not nagging him, this will help him more that anything.
1 person likes this
@chej18 (915)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Thank you deewill that would help me understand him.I feel guilty sometimes telling him what to eat.He doesnt like fish or some vegetables.But still i tried to cooked vegetable i want to try if he is going to eat it.But he does.He got the same he easily gain weight,Now he lost 14 kilos and i am glad and happy for that.i am tired also of asking him less on fatty foods.I want that he is going to do it becouse he like it not becouse i said it.Sometimes he still forget..
• Singapore
18 Jun 08
hi chej18, i'm sure ur bf knows what you're doing is for his own good. but being human we do have our weaknesses and we do *cave in to temptations* from time to time, heh. however, i do think it's really important, in his case, for him to maintain his diet. perhaps you can cut him some slack, but stop him (gently) if he's really having one drink too many or not eating his veg. make sure he keeps dieting, but let him indulge himself from time to time, perhaps ONLY on special occasions. i'm sure everyone (including himself) knows what you're doing is out of care and concern for him. if he really ends up breaking the relationship because of this, i think it'll have to be at his own loss. i'm sure u'll find a way out eventually. all the best! :)
• Singapore
19 Jun 08
Yup, be happy! :)
@chej18 (915)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Your right w/ that flip that everybody have weakness.Whoose people doesnt want to eat? hehe i like to eat also.But then i wacth out what i am eating.Right now i am taking it so slow and we talk about it becouse this cant be good that becouse of it that were fighting.I think this is too simple to argue.But i just hope that he will keep on what he said.As of this far he is still keeping up.He is going to the gym often and his not eating that much junk foods anymore.And when i look at him right now he seems to be happy on what his doing.But ofcourse these happened a lot of time but after a while it change and back into the old habit that he is doing. If he is going to keep like this i dont even need to remind him anything anymore.It just his job making him stress and eating a lot.But right now his looking also for other job.I give 100% suport w/ it.I said i dont care if the money will be less as long as he is happy in his job.Then everybody will be happy too. Greetings from Che!
@Daffodil20 (1754)
• India
16 Jun 08
when we love someone truly,then we want the best for that person.Your reasons are absolutely valid for urging your boyfriend to diet.It shows how concerned you are for him.
• India
16 Jun 08
I can understand that chej.Its a very delicate situation.Only if there was a way for making him understand it.
@chej18 (915)
• United States
17 Jun 08
I hope there is a potion for this kind of situation then i will just used it so the problem will be solve in no time.hehe..
@chej18 (915)
• United States
16 Jun 08
I feel really bad that were fighting about things like these.I just want the best for him.But sometimes he dont get me and thingking that i dont even think positive about him.I just want him to feel better also to himself coz everytime he said.I am too fat,i am like this,like that, then i suggested to help him doing diet and he agreed after a while were fighting about it.I dont get it sometimes.I dont have someother ways that he can understand that i do care. Who want to fight anyway for this kind of matter?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
16 Jun 08
I am sure you only want the best for your partner. Be alittle subtle in reminding him of his diet. He might be feeling embarassed because you constantly nag him about his diet even in parties. Personally, I would want my partner to diet becaue he wants to and because he realizes that he needs to. Right now, your bf might be thinking that he is on a diet because you want him to.
1 person likes this
@chej18 (915)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Sometimes he realize that he needs to if he is looking at his pictures and mirror but sometimes he lost it becouse he likes to eat and he likes cola too. And party is very bad idea to him , if i look at him he knows it already what i mean but never asked him infront of the other people coz i know how to feel embarrased infront to other people.And i dont want to do that too.But sometimes my patience come to an end and get mad.He likes to go in gym but doing gym is not enough to maintain a very good health.You have to watch out also what your eating.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
17 Jun 08
Your intentions are fine but you need toeducate your guy on what he can eat so he can pick and choose for himself and eat most of what he likes while still losing weight and getting healthier. he needs to be active for himself and can be with a bit of coaching from you. Nobody likes to be preached at over there food so if he has learned what is really good for him and that he has a lot of choices he will be much happier.
@chej18 (915)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Hatley i understand what you mean i hope that its easy to say like that.I always educate him what to eat what is healthy and not.Sometimes he islistening to me but after few days,he forget everything again,just like that and then if i am telling him,or reminds him about it, and the fighting is starting. Harley sometimes when i cooked i feel really bad,becouse his not eating he is just going to look not even try what i cook for him.he rather eat mcdo than what i cooked for him.
• Philippines
18 Jun 08
I am overweight and it's difficult to lose some pounds. My partner is a lot like you, pushing me to have a diet and go to the gym. I know that he's just concerned of my health because he loves me. Honestly, I don't like it. It makes me feel uncomfortable, insecure and depressed. And when I'm depressed, I eat a lot. Thus, it does not help at all. I know I have to lose weight and I want to be healty and look good. I need to have discipline on this. He gave up reminding me because we end up fighting. Instead, he acknowledges and appreciates me if he see's that I lost weight. Even if it's just a little pounds lost, he commends me. I feel better that way because I don't feel that he's discriminating me or something. In fact, I'm more inspired to do better and shed more pounds. Slowly but surely. ;)
@chej18 (915)
• United States
18 Jun 08
Hi clubzlife, Thanks for the post now i can understand my partner a litlle bit.I know that if the person is overweight the 1st weight it is easy to loose and fast but then the hardest one to loose is the fats that stuck on thier body.For that they really need to work hard on it.I agree that pushing is not very good way to do it.But sometimes people are so stubborn that even they know that the thing that thier are doing are to bad for them or for thier health they kind a doing it still. It just like this lots of people doesnt want to go to school but they are being pushed ,beacouse they want something to achieve. And i know that he know that he got problem in his weight and he know also that he can die of it if he is not doing anything about it.And sometimes people need someone to reminds them what they have to do.Becouse the people have problem w/ it loosing track on what they have to do or they know it but they cant do nothing about it anymore becouse they are used to it.Sometimes it is now become thier habit.But your right that if i am saying ohhh you loose weight your face went a bit smaller and your belly is also less and he is so happy about it already.He is so happy to achieve those things but its hard for him to stop his habit of eating becouse he is used to it.
• India
19 Jun 08
Yes it may result in bad if its not him/her will. Leave him/her to his decision to go on diet or not.
@chej18 (915)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I can understand that.No body wants in being push but sometimes can help a lot if somebody always reminds you to do somethings.