How can I "help" my husband eat healthy?

[Snafu1988]

A thing he wants too. I need some hands on advice. My hubby is really unhappy with his weight. He is working out a lot, but constantly snacking. He is not really fat, put a bit pudgy and intensely unhappy with it.

He eats a lot of junk food, like candy bars and crisps and actually wants to stop but "cannot". I found smoothies to be a great idea but I cannot make smoothies every day it starts to bore him.

I do not want to patronize him just help. Any ideas?

[Kr1stina]

He needs to do this for himself I'm afraid, you can't make anyone else eat healthily or lose weight.

Otherwise he will just go on snacking and eating rubbish.

I know it's very frustrating and you want to help him because you are concerned about him.

Why doesn't he make up meals plans and do the food shopping and you can take turns cooking each night ? But he needs to be the one driving it , not you.

[RedStripeIassie]

You can't police an adults eating habits. It hard enough to do with kids! I've been at the other end with dh when he just didn't eat. I'd try to tempt him to have something but it would make him more stubborn.

Like op said, you have to let them work it out.

[sparechange]

Don't buy have shit food and snacks in the house

People will poor impulse control will generally eat whatever is there but aren't hungry enough to go out and buy it.
So if it isn't there, they won't eat it
(I'm one of these people...)

[Snafu1988]

Thanks a lot for your advice. We eat healthy at meal times. It is really the snacking :(
My husband has mental health problems (long story and yes, he is seeing a therapist) and when there is something that stresses him, he eats and being pudgy adds more stress on him. Most unfortunately. It is really not that bad, he is not fat, just pudgy but I think it makes him feel out of control.
So I decided to help if possible. Also so he can see he is not alone.

[Snafu1988]

Thanks for the advice. I never buy it. He does.

[OctaveDad]

I'm the same, it's a reason we can't keep snacks in the house for the kids, when I'm down I comfort eat.

I did Slimming World for a while back at the start of the year, it did really work, pounds started coming off, but work and other commitments meant I couldn't keep going to group, sure enough the pounds started going back on.

Want to go again as soon as hectic life lets up a bit more. Also plenty of blokes there (was a bit anxious about that before going), really welcoming and encouraging.

[Snafu1988]

Great advice. I just discovered it is here in mumsnet. Thanks a lot!

[Newmanwannabe]

Have healthy snacks on hand so he doesn't reach for the sweets. Like nuts, protein balls etc

[MunchyMunchkin]

Only way my DH stays motivated is if he is in direct competition with me. I don't need to lose much but it works.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

If he works out a lot, is he eating enough protein? Because I could chew my arm off when I'm running but a couple of eggs solves it.

[Aquamarine1029]

This is all him. Either he wants to quit eating garbage or he doesn't. It's not a matter of "can't", it's a matter of "won't."

[TheNaze73]

My thoughts echo most of the above. This is his fight.

Self discovery, is the best way to learn

[Snafu1988]

I tend to agree with you... but... there is a few things that make me disagree.
He has to much on his plate right now, like a said he has mental health problem + a highly demanding job. He is short of hearing + now is is also getting pudgy but somehow seeme to believe he is morbidly obese and than he keeps telling me "I am fat and mad and deaf = a cripple, "I am so fat and unfit" at least twice a day.
So he is really, really unhappy about it and he does work out, we have a gym room and he goes jogging but he is snacking that much... and I am not sure if he understands that makes him fat because sometimes he seems to be in denial about how much he snacks.
So I decided to help and to find some recipes that could help a man like him. Maybe some of you know something that tastes a bit like a snack or sweets but is actually healthy. Some hands on tipps would be great.

[Snafu1988]

I forgot to mention: He does eat a normal amount of meat, drink milk and so on. Does that mean he has enough protein?

I am not sure if I understand what slimming world is? Is it a club here on mumsnet or something like weight watchers?

[Cricrichan]

The best way to cut down on snacking is making sure that he eats big healthy meals that satisfy him. If he's full, he won't reach for the snacks.

Also, get him a fitbit and download my fitness Pal. Get him to log what he's eating and he'll see how many calories he's burned on his Fitbit. He needs a 500 calorie deficit to lose weight whilst still maintaining his metabolism. Have a look at team rh on Facebook.

[Snafu1988]

That's a great idea. Thanks a lot.

[JaneEyre70]

The trouble is with eating crap is that it makes you feel crap, and that isn't helping if he's got low mood anyway. I've got the Tom Kerridge low carb dopamine diet, is it worth getting something like that and saying how you want to change both of your eating habits so you have more energy and feel better? ........ having said that, you can lead a horse to water and all that. He has to want to change, and until that moment happens, there isn't a lot you can do in honesty.

[Rumtopf]

Slimming World is a diet group you go to meetings, just like Weight Watchers but a slightly different approach. Probably not all that great if he's already under time pressure with work etc.

I'd recommend a Fitbit and downloading MyFitnessPal to his phone to log his food intake. It really does highlight just how much work you have to do to lose even a kg a week.

BUT, he has to be the one to do this. Regardless of how healthy the food you cook is, or the fact that you don't buy unhealthy snacks or junk food, he's an adult and must take charge of this himself.

If he's exercising a lot then he may well need more protein.

[RidingWindhorses]

I don't eat much junk but I probably would eat it if it was in the house.

When I want something sweet, instead of biscuits I eat fruit, dried fruit and nuts, and healthy snack bars - nakd etc.

I've never liked crisps much, but I do like healthy tortillas (whole grain), lentil chips, humous chips etc, wasabi peas etc.

You can't help him, he has to make the decision to shift eating patterns and stick to it himself.

[carrotcakecupcake]

I agree with trying My Fitness Pal - it might give him a greater sense of control over what he is eating if he can see it listed? Seeing the calories of his snacks might help open his eyes too?

[Snafu1988]

Thanks a lot for your advice. Does any of you have a cool and manly recipe for my guy? He does not really like that girly foods or old people foods.

I am really hands-on and that would be very helpful.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Does any of you have a cool and manly recipe for my guy?

Vietnamese and Thai hot curries. Not the creamy ones. They are high protein, low fat, chillis help your metabolism and rice is 'cheaper' in calories than other carbs.

Lemongrass chicken and beef with holy basil are favorites here.

[Snafu1988]

Cool, never cooked Vietnamese but that sounds exiting. Gonna look it up.

[HarmlessChap]

I'm a snacker too and can easily eat 4 Mars bars in a day.

I try to substitute snacks, with fruit, cooked chicken, celery and humus, popcorn, nuts, flapjack etc. Not everything is exactly healthy but it's not as bad a chocolate, biscuits and crisps which would be the norm otherwise.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

www.sbs.com.au/food/recipes/stir-fried-minced-beef-and-holy-basil-neua-pat-bai-grapao Cut down the oil. It's yummy.

tianguyen.blogspot.ca/2008/05/chicken-with-lemongrass-chili-ga-xao-xa.html