So you want your boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, or husband to shed some weight and live a healthier lifestyle. It’s a difficult thing to bring up, to be sure. You don’t want them to get offended or depressed, but you also love them enough to be concerned. Sometimes the truth hurts, but in the end it can help them. If you’re trying to get your loved one to work out and live a healthier lifestyle, consider the following tips.
1) Are you doing it?
Whether or not you are unhealthy is irrelevant. If you want your loved one to live healthier, it’s a great encouragement to do it alongside them. If you’re expecting them to eat healthier and go on a diet, it would be much easier if they knew you were doing it, too. In contrast, eating whatever you want while they nibble on carrots probably won’t help them–at all. Likewise, the same applies to working out; if you want them to do it, make sure you are doing it as well. Your loved one will have accountability, while at the same time feel like he has a partner who is with him in the thick of the battle.
2) Lovingly speak to them
You never want to use a demeaning tone or phrase to hint that you are unhappy with your loved ones body or fitness level. Yes, you do deserve a healthy mate, but you don’t want to get it for the wrong reasons. Saying things like “do you really need to eat that?” or “you’re going to have to buy bigger clothes if you keep this up,” are never appropriate responses to a loved one who is overweight or struggling with their health/body image. Instead, always assure them as to how much you love them and want them to be healthy. That, along with living a healthier lifestyle yourself, will most likely prompt a positive response from your loved one.
3) Find food
Dieting is the key to a healthy lifestyle and to shedding pounds. Although working out is difficult, it doesn’t consume too much of your time. However, dieting is a 24/7 job–you’ll always be around food and wanting food. Thus, it’s the real battleground. A great way to help your loved one is to find recipe’s, healthy snacks, and different treats that are okay for both of you to eat and still reach your fitness goals. If you enjoy cooking, then use your skills to make healthy meals!
4) Compliments
Be observant of your loved one–they are trying extremely hard, and living a healthy lifestyle does not happen overnight. They can often feel discouraged at their lack of progress, so make sure you tell them all the hard work you have seen them do. Also, it’s likely you’ll notice changes in them before they do–tell them when you notice! People love to get compliments, and it really can motivate your loved one to continue working hard. If they feel as if no one is noticing the work they put in, it’s more likely they will lose motivation to continue.
