How do you help your partner lose weight and get fit? We find out with the help of Big Dude Clothing.
When your partner first brings up the suggestion that they are looking to either lose a substantial amount of weight or vastly improve their fitness levels, it can be easy to take the idea with a pinch of salt. You might brush the idea off as a moment of madness that they’ll forget come Monday morning.
But if you’re with someone who is looking to make some drastic lifestyle changes in the near future, then the support you offer is crucial. It can make the difference between them reaching their target weight and fitness levels or giving up at the first sign of failure.
Here are just some of the ways that you can help them with their goals:
Don’t make jokes or scoff at the idea
Having a supportive network of people encouraging and motivating somebody’s goals are crucial if they are going to stick at it through the roughest of periods. Belittling or mocking of any kind should be a strict no-no. Yes, it might be slightly amusing to hear that someone who leads a sedentary lifestyle and lives on a diet of fast food is looking to completely transform themselves. But that doesn’t mean they can’t do it.
Support and join in if you can
One of the biggest challenges for someone looking to change their diet and lose weight is trying to adjust their eating patterns and habits. Particularly if the partner regularly prepares the meals. If this is the case in your relationship, be sure to encourage your partner to make meal suggestions. Have them join you on trips to the supermarket to stock up on healthy ingredients. And allow them to prepare meals for the whole family to include you all in their new lifestyle.
If they are embarking on an intense exercise regime, try to incorporate it into your family’s weekend routine. For example, swimming, tennis or jogging in the park together.
Motivate and encourage during any blips
Very rarely does a healthy eating and exercise plan come without its setbacks and hurdles. This is when you can help ensure that all the hard work and progress made so far isn’t wasted. Try to discourage the suggestions of takeaways or unhealthy food in favour of a more nutritious alternative.
If you notice its been a few days or even weeks since your partner’s last trip to the gym or home workout, gently remind them of this fact. Offer to join them or try out a new sport or activity with them. It may be boredom hindering their regime.
Work towards mini goals
If your partner is starting their lifestyle change with a substantial amount of mass to lose and attempting to reach a target weight, then chances are you are both looking at a long journey. It’s important, then, to hit small milestones every week.
These can be as simple as trying to incorporate a new fruit or vegetable into your weekly diet, losing 1-2lbs per week, or being able to run around the park 5 seconds faster than the week before. Being able to celebrate these small achievements together will motivate and encourage your partner.
Appreciate the benefits to you and your family
If you have children or are planning to start a family, the chances are your partner is wanting to improve their health. So that they can enjoy parenthood to the maximum and ensure they are around for as long as possible. As well as this, they are also no doubt looking to get in shape in order to more closely resemble the person you first fell in love with.
That has to be a cause for additional brownie points, right?
This piece was written by Darrell Freeman, Founder and MD of plus-size male clothing brand, Big Dude Clothing.
