how (nicely) can i encourage busy dh to exercise & lose weight??

[ZolaPola]

dh loves chocolate & all things pudding and also never actually does any exercise. Im worried as he is putting on weight around his middle (though not actually fat at all) and has v high blood pressure, also family history of mild heart problems. Eery time i try to suggest going to gym/him playing squash etc he says he's too busy or i don't find him attractive etc etc.
anyone found a way to help? BTW, he does say he wants to get fitter and does occasionally have fits of doing lots of press-ups but finds it hard to build it into a routine.

[Gobbledigook]

Would it be possible to do anything together (other than the obvious and of course that's calorie burning too ) - that might be easier.

I know exactly where you are coming from though - dh wants to get fit but he honestly has v. little opportunity because I work from home so evenings and weekends he's often dealing with the kids or by the time the kids are in bed he's too knackered.

I work round it by going for a swim each morning - get up at 6.30 get to gym for 7am, do half an hour and get back for dh going to work at 8am. Could he do a morning session like that? A bit of a killer but I feel great by 8am!

What about getting fitness equipment at home? My Mum and Dad have a really good rowing machine and they use it all the time.

Or cycling? Mum and Dad do that too and I guess if your kids are old enough it could be a family weekend activity?

[ZolaPola]

hi - glad it's not just me! i'll try to suggest him going for a swim or something (can guess the "no time" response though, but as you say cd get up early to make time).

[collision]

Could you change the diet in the family and not buy choc and puddings or switch to low fat? It is often mind over matter and if they dont know it is LF then they will eat it?

Could you say you want to keep fit or do a healthy eating plan for all the family?

After I had ds I went to WW and lost 2.5 stone and Dh changed his eating habits too and lost 1.5 stone too. We are planning to do the same after the next baby as well.

It is difficult though to deal with something so personal.

[Gobbledigook]

Getting up early is the ONLY way I can fit it in (plus it makes gym membership cheaper cos it's off-peak!). It's a struggle to get out of bed, especially on dark mornings, but it really wakes you up and you feel great afterwards and ready for the day ahead.

My dh would never do it, he's crap at getting out of bed (although he does do the kids brekky while I'm out!). He goes the odd evening but not enough really. He also takes the kids swimming on a Sunday so that's a 'bit' of exercise. He too is 'spreading' a bit round the middle but not fat - he's 6'3" so can get away with a bit of weight but I don't want him to be one of those blokes with thin legs and a big round tum - yeuk!

Why is it that women generally make a lot of effort to look good while the men just slob out?!

[ZolaPola]

we do generally eat really healthily as a family but dh has choc & biccies at work and just has tendency to put on weight easily i think. it's the personal bit i'm finding tricky, he is v sensitive about this.

[ZolaPola]

good question - TBH must admit would fancy dh more if he looked after himself, firmed up etc (embarrassed to admit it, but true!)

[Gobbledigook]

ZP - ditto!!! DH eats the crap at work - he goes out and buys dognuts for the office and has nice big lunches out with clients!! We don't eat much in the way of puddings at all!

In fact, it was dh's work colleagues that started to call him 'porky' !! He isn't at all but they must have noticed he had a bit of tum growing! But they are all young, childless and have tons of time on their hands!!

[Gobbledigook]

ZP- me too!! I tell him if he had a 6-pack (well, just a bit more toned would do!) I'd be all over him! It spurs him on for a bit then it slides again!

[ZolaPola]

dh swears only male models have 6-packs, yet thinks women should all have a bum like kylie!
blinkered & hypocritical or what!

[Gobbledigook]

PMSL!! EXACTLY!

My friends dh, while she was 8 months pregnant, showed her a pic of Carmen Electra saying 'now that's how a woman should look'! Nice eh?!

[ZolaPola]

what a sensitive soul..

[suzywong]

This seems to be a common theme

I mentioned 'Cholestoral levels' and 'blood pressure' to DH, and he knew damn well it was code for " you're nearly 40 , start looking after yourself and shift those man boobs'

But he is a very busy man and just has no time.

We live with (lovley) MIL and she has stopped cooking (yes I know how lucky I am) every night so he doesn't get too fat

[ZolaPola]

IKWYM, and man-boobs, rather repulsive IMO!