Obese spouse...I'm tired of this.

[Anonymous]

What about Weight Watchers and medication? It seems to be a good combo.

[Anonymous]

OP, I could have written your post. Married 30+ years and DH, a former athlete, is now 50 lbs. overweight with a Santa belly, prediabetic with high cholesterol. He exercises and eats sensibly at mealtimes but then binge eats by himself between meals or at night. It makes me mad and sad, but I can only say "please take better care of your body" so many times. I've reached the point where I feel like I just have to accept that his health could completely fall at apart at any time. (My biggest fear is that he'll have a heart attack during sex.) My philosophy now that we're empty nesters and almost retired is that were going to do the travel and other things we've dreamed of doing now and not wait for some "better time" when there aren't elderly parents to care for. Carpe diem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ozempic is causing lots of mid life crises in males suddenly a dateable size and shape again.

Fascinating the divorce lawyers here in our town. Not DC so no worries!

Tell us more. Are you saying there are more ozempically-fit men leaving their wives or is it going both ways? Anecdotally, I’ve noticed more newly slim women than guys.

[Anonymous]

Wow, this thread is pure joy for the almond moms. They've gotten to pontificate for 8 pages in one day.

[Anonymous]

I could never stay married to an obese partner who did not want to look after themselves. My libido would plummet quickly. Sure, taking drugs or getting lipo are options, but does that really change someone’s lifestyle to stay active and in shape? I want to be with someone who is motivated by life, and being active is part of it. Don’t you want me to be able to move at 60 plus if we actually make it to that age?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I could never stay married to an obese partner who did not want to look after themselves. My libido would plummet quickly. Sure, taking drugs or getting lipo are options, but does that really change someone’s lifestyle to stay active and in shape? I want to be with someone who is motivated by life, and being active is part of it. Don’t you want me to be able to move at 60 plus if we actually make it to that age?

The ableism is so strong...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look let’s not beat around the bush with all the “bmi can be wrong” and “obesity can be attractive” stuff and see it for what it is.
The husband is an adult and the wife can’t tell him what to do.
Her responsibility is to shield herself and the kids from the fallout.
She needs to make sure they are financially protected in case of his demise.

As someone married to an obese spouse, I'll tell you on top of all the worry it's also very hard to get life insurance for someone at that weight/with these health issues.

I don't know any easy solution. My spouse certainly would prefer not to be obese - but also makes choices I find confounding and (frankly) sometimes infuriating. Is on weight loss drugs (for diabetes) - they have yet to lead to any weight loss - and all kinds of other meds, which, thankfully, do seem to be working.

I try to look at this as a medical issue - I would not divorce my spouse over cancer, I'm not going to divorce my spouse over obesity. But I really also do get frustrated when they are ordering the largest and most sugary drinks at Starbucks, and sneaking a trip through the drive-thru, and eating cookies all the time, and sitting on the couch for hours and hours.

I also recognize that while I can encourage good eating, and encourage some movement, none of this is in my control.

The obesity is a medical issue, yes, but it is caused by lifestyle choices. As you describe here.

I'm the PP - and it's not just one or the other. They come from a family of seriously overweight people - there is a genetic factor. Plus a metabolic disorder. The last time my spouse was a normal weight - and even then they were overweight - they were virtually anorexic.

There are, of course, so many things they could do to mitigate. But only very thin people - and I count myself among them - can possibly think that a little less eating, a little more exercise, would make the whole difference.

The only way to know if a family tree of obese people is genetic or not is to strip away the factors like lack of exercise, poor nutrition, and over-eating.

If you’re eating right and being active and still obese that is different. Different from a couch potato eating three dominos pizzas a day plus twinkies and McDonald’s, claiming their obesity is genetic because Ma and Pa did the same and were obese.

The fact you'd talk about three Dominos per day and all this other crap just shows how little you know about what this is actually like.

Eating or ordering out multiple times a week is a surefire way for kids or undisciplined people to eat unhealthily and get overweight or obese.

Do you see he difference between eating out a couple of times a week, and eating three pizzas at once?

You're just engaging in stupid stereotypes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look let’s not beat around the bush with all the “bmi can be wrong” and “obesity can be attractive” stuff and see it for what it is.
The husband is an adult and the wife can’t tell him what to do.
Her responsibility is to shield herself and the kids from the fallout.
She needs to make sure they are financially protected in case of his demise.

As someone married to an obese spouse, I'll tell you on top of all the worry it's also very hard to get life insurance for someone at that weight/with these health issues.

I don't know any easy solution. My spouse certainly would prefer not to be obese - but also makes choices I find confounding and (frankly) sometimes infuriating. Is on weight loss drugs (for diabetes) - they have yet to lead to any weight loss - and all kinds of other meds, which, thankfully, do seem to be working.

I try to look at this as a medical issue - I would not divorce my spouse over cancer, I'm not going to divorce my spouse over obesity. But I really also do get frustrated when they are ordering the largest and most sugary drinks at Starbucks, and sneaking a trip through the drive-thru, and eating cookies all the time, and sitting on the couch for hours and hours.

I also recognize that while I can encourage good eating, and encourage some movement, none of this is in my control.

The obesity is a medical issue, yes, but it is caused by lifestyle choices. As you describe here.

I'm the PP - and it's not just one or the other. They come from a family of seriously overweight people - there is a genetic factor. Plus a metabolic disorder. The last time my spouse was a normal weight - and even then they were overweight - they were virtually anorexic.

There are, of course, so many things they could do to mitigate. But only very thin people - and I count myself among them - can possibly think that a little less eating, a little more exercise, would make the whole difference.

The only way to know if a family tree of obese people is genetic or not is to strip away the factors like lack of exercise, poor nutrition, and over-eating.

If you’re eating right and being active and still obese that is different. Different from a couch potato eating three dominos pizzas a day plus twinkies and McDonald’s, claiming their obesity is genetic because Ma and Pa did the same and were obese.

The fact you'd talk about three Dominos per day and all this other crap just shows how little you know about what this is actually like.

DP. I know.
I am overweight. I’m not trying to lose weight. I did post my actual diet once, and people were still like, “rice at dinner AND a muffin at book club on the same day?”
Like rice and my friend’s muffins are the equivalent of Dominos and twinkies.

Rice is all sugar carbs. Even Asian people only eat a little bit a day.

For gd's sake shut up

[Anonymous]

Has spouse consider one of the new drugs, Ozempic, etc...my sisters husband was obese had about 55 lbs to lose. he went on Ozempic and is down around 40 lbs. LITERALLY has given him a new least on life and really improved their relationship because he is feeling so much better about himself!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I could never stay married to an obese partner who did not want to look after themselves. My libido would plummet quickly. Sure, taking drugs or getting lipo are options, but does that really change someone’s lifestyle to stay active and in shape? I want to be with someone who is motivated by life, and being active is part of it. Don’t you want me to be able to move at 60 plus if we actually make it to that age?

OP said that her husband is active and works out at a gym regularly.
He’s gained 40lbs in 30 years. It’s not like he is living his 600lb life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the heat attack thing never works bc the person can easily observe reality - tons of people who are carrying an extra 50 pounds are just fine

If you find him unattractive bc you view home as lazy or weak for being overweight you need to accept that and deal with your feelings

OP here. He is on three medications for his heart and lipids. He is at very high risk for HA / MI. Per his cardiologist. He had a great deal of plaque and multivessel disease. He found out about this three years ago when he turned 50. I thought this would be a wake up call. It wasn't. He just gained weight and i forgot to mention, picked up an occasional nicotine habit. Its bad.. I'm upset and angry. He does exercise a lot though.

well Op I lost 80 lbs and am now a normal BMI

I still have high blood pressure and have to take meds to control it and I have the beginning of heart disease. Once I lost the weight doctors suddenly changed to these things are often genetic and won’t matter how much weight you lose ….

It’s not that your DH shouldn’t lose weight but you should understand more about heart diseases and realize that it’s not all about weight

o


No it’s not all about weight - but it is hugely influenced by diet. Lots of healthy weight people develop heart disease because of what they eat - and of course smoking is huge.

If you have heart disease and don’t smoke, you can begin reversing that heart disease within weeks by following something close to the Pritikin plan for diet - ditch the sugar and saturated fats and eat tons of plants. The research on this is incontrovertible, but the majority of people don’t want to make the commitment to substantial lifestyle changes and prefer to live with the anxiety about when and whether it will be a massive coronary or a massive stroke.

We are all waiting to see this incontrovertible research that following the Pritkin plan reduces the incidence of heart attacks and strokes in people with diabetes and heart disease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look let’s not beat around the bush with all the “bmi can be wrong” and “obesity can be attractive” stuff and see it for what it is.
The husband is an adult and the wife can’t tell him what to do.
Her responsibility is to shield herself and the kids from the fallout.
She needs to make sure they are financially protected in case of his demise.

As someone married to an obese spouse, I'll tell you on top of all the worry it's also very hard to get life insurance for someone at that weight/with these health issues.

I don't know any easy solution. My spouse certainly would prefer not to be obese - but also makes choices I find confounding and (frankly) sometimes infuriating. Is on weight loss drugs (for diabetes) - they have yet to lead to any weight loss - and all kinds of other meds, which, thankfully, do seem to be working.

I try to look at this as a medical issue - I would not divorce my spouse over cancer, I'm not going to divorce my spouse over obesity. But I really also do get frustrated when they are ordering the largest and most sugary drinks at Starbucks, and sneaking a trip through the drive-thru, and eating cookies all the time, and sitting on the couch for hours and hours.

I also recognize that while I can encourage good eating, and encourage some movement, none of this is in my control.

The obesity is a medical issue, yes, but it is caused by lifestyle choices. As you describe here.

I'm the PP - and it's not just one or the other. They come from a family of seriously overweight people - there is a genetic factor. Plus a metabolic disorder. The last time my spouse was a normal weight - and even then they were overweight - they were virtually anorexic.

There are, of course, so many things they could do to mitigate. But only very thin people - and I count myself among them - can possibly think that a little less eating, a little more exercise, would make the whole difference.

The only way to know if a family tree of obese people is genetic or not is to strip away the factors like lack of exercise, poor nutrition, and over-eating.

If you’re eating right and being active and still obese that is different. Different from a couch potato eating three dominos pizzas a day plus twinkies and McDonald’s, claiming their obesity is genetic because Ma and Pa did the same and were obese.

The fact you'd talk about three Dominos per day and all this other crap just shows how little you know about what this is actually like.

DP. I know.
I am overweight. I’m not trying to lose weight. I did post my actual diet once, and people were still like, “rice at dinner AND a muffin at book club on the same day?”
Like rice and my friend’s muffins are the equivalent of Dominos and twinkies.

Rice is all sugar carbs. Even Asian people only eat a little bit a day.

For gd's sake shut up

Brown rice is one of the superfoods, worth every bite!

White rice is another thing entirely - although cooked then cooled then reheated it becomes a much more resistant starch and more healthful, okay in moderate amounts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the heat attack thing never works bc the person can easily observe reality - tons of people who are carrying an extra 50 pounds are just fine

If you find him unattractive bc you view home as lazy or weak for being overweight you need to accept that and deal with your feelings

OP here. He is on three medications for his heart and lipids. He is at very high risk for HA / MI. Per his cardiologist. He had a great deal of plaque and multivessel disease. He found out about this three years ago when he turned 50. I thought this would be a wake up call. It wasn't. He just gained weight and i forgot to mention, picked up an occasional nicotine habit. Its bad.. I'm upset and angry. He does exercise a lot though.

well Op I lost 80 lbs and am now a normal BMI

I still have high blood pressure and have to take meds to control it and I have the beginning of heart disease. Once I lost the weight doctors suddenly changed to these things are often genetic and won’t matter how much weight you lose ….

It’s not that your DH shouldn’t lose weight but you should understand more about heart diseases and realize that it’s not all about weight

o


No it’s not all about weight - but it is hugely influenced by diet. Lots of healthy weight people develop heart disease because of what they eat - and of course smoking is huge.

If you have heart disease and don’t smoke, you can begin reversing that heart disease within weeks by following something close to the Pritikin plan for diet - ditch the sugar and saturated fats and eat tons of plants. The research on this is incontrovertible, but the majority of people don’t want to make the commitment to substantial lifestyle changes and prefer to live with the anxiety about when and whether it will be a massive coronary or a massive stroke.

We are all waiting to see this incontrovertible research that following the Pritkin plan reduces the incidence of heart attacks and strokes in people with diabetes and heart disease.

Are you kidding? How old are you? It’s common knowledge that Pritikin works, in the people willing to make the commitment and stick to it.

The federal government recognizes the efficacy of Pritikin in reversing heart disease.

https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/ncacal-decision-memo.aspx?proposed=N&NCAId=239&bc=AiAAAAAAAgAAAA%3D%3D&.

Go pick another fight elsewhere, you’re not winning this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I could never stay married to an obese partner who did not want to look after themselves. My libido would plummet quickly. Sure, taking drugs or getting lipo are options, but does that really change someone’s lifestyle to stay active and in shape? I want to be with someone who is motivated by life, and being active is part of it. Don’t you want me to be able to move at 60 plus if we actually make it to that age?

OP said that her husband is active and works out at a gym regularly.
He’s gained 40lbs in 30 years. It’s not like he is living his 600lb life.

Sure, but what does that workout entail? Are they actually doing hard lifting and cardio? We are no spring chickens anymore but we can at least do our best to stay in shape.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I could have written your post. Married 30+ years and DH, a former athlete, is now 50 lbs. overweight with a Santa belly, prediabetic with high cholesterol. He exercises and eats sensibly at mealtimes but then binge eats by himself between meals or at night. It makes me mad and sad, but I can only say "please take better care of your body" so many times. I've reached the point where I feel like I just have to accept that his health could completely fall at apart at any time. (My biggest fear is that he'll have a heart attack during sex.) My philosophy now that we're empty nesters and almost retired is that were going to do the travel and other things we've dreamed of doing now and not wait for some "better time" when there aren't elderly parents to care for. Carpe diem.

OP here. Nice to read this. Interesting perspective. People have been asking about workouts. In my dh younger years as a young young man he was very very athletic, varsity sports etc. The workouts he does now are strength ad cardio classes. He does 3 classes a week and likes the structure of a guided workout. Spin, strength, core, heavy weight, room. He's one of the biggest guys in the classes. He also plays tennis 2-3 times a month. I don't think exercise helps with weight loss. Can't outrun a bad diet. He's been consistently working our for 10 plus years.