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I am so upset by my husbands reaction

284 replies

IamAWallFlower · 28/06/2019 13:35

Recently I booked and went for a boudoir photo shoot. I am not a confident person, hardly ever have photos taken in general and it took me so much courage to actually ring up book and go to the shoot.

It’s taken a good few years but I’ve dropped almost half of my body weight and worked my ass off to get where I am now. I needed to do something for me to celebrate my achievement and this was it. Something to look back at and be proud of as I am as I’m sure most of us are, too hard on ourselves. I’m aware this photo shoot is probably not to everyone’s taste.

He knew I was booked in for the shoot last month. The day came and I went and it was totally amazing. My hair and makeup was done and I honestly felt wonderful, the best I have ever felt about myself. My hair is straight and they curled it beautifully, I’ve never had curls before but I loved it. I felt like me but better, they did the makeup similar to how I would but it just looked better like HD almost.

I came home beaming and asked my husband what he thought of my new look. He barley looked at me, just raised one eye from over his phone and just said “I think you should go and wash that crap off your face” I was honestly gutted, I walked away and held back the tears. My husband never pays me compliments, ever. Not once since our wedding day 15 years ago has he said I looked nice.

This photo shoot was never done for him, it was for me. I actually had no intention of showing him the pictures as I didn’t see any point as he clearly doesn’t find me attractive anymore.

When I went back to view the pictures I was amazed how lovely they were so I bought some images and a canvas.

Two days ago I picked up my canvas, he saw me with the box when I came in and asked what it was. I didn’t show him as it’s for me. I was planning on putting on putting it up in my walk in wardrobe, no one goes in there and it’s behind a door anyway.

I haven’t got round to hanging it yet. But he’s opened up the box and had a look and confronted me when I got back from work yesterday. He’s really angry I’ve degraded myself in this way. He was shouting at me that I must be so vain to have that done and I must absolutely love myself. He’s unhappy I bought the canvas and he doesn’t want it put up in the house. Apparently he hates now I’ve lost weight I “ponce about in the mirror now” ( I really don’t, we’ve only recently had a full length mirror put in but I do take more pride in my appearance now)

I am so upset by his outburst yesterday. I just can’t understand it. He doesn’t watch porn because he prefers pictures. I’ve seen them in a folder on our shared pc. I actually bought a few digital images and had considered perhaps in the future sending them to him once I plucked up the courage as I know that’s what he “likes” I won’t be now that’s for sure.

I feel so sad about this all I’m even contemplating leaving my marriage over this.

Sorry for the long post I just needed to vent.

OP posts:
Whosorrynow · 28/06/2019 16:53

he has been suggesting I loose weight for years
he doesnt say that because he wants to help you, he says it to put you down

as it’s just double standards isn’t it his overarching aim is to keep you beneath him, to belittle you, everything he does is in line with that one aim

amusedbush · 28/06/2019 16:58

Oh OP, surely you can see that he's trying to grind you down? He wants you miserable and with no confidence in yourself so he can control you.

Honestly, I would leave. I don't say that lightly, either.

TonTonMacoute · 28/06/2019 16:59

There are nice, kind, appreciative men out there.

Leave this unkind, unpleasant controlling creep and go and find someone better.

Even if you don't, being on your own would be better than wasting your best years with someone so horrible.

IhaveALooBrush · 28/06/2019 17:00

He's a twat.
And he knows you are too good for him so he's trying to keep you miserable.

Fuck that.

SlowLiving · 28/06/2019 17:00

Why why why why do men/women let their partner treat them like this?????Confused
I'd rather be on my own than be with someone who has no respect (let alone love) for me.

justasking111 · 28/06/2019 17:04

He knows you deserve better, if he no longer loves you then sadly you should both call it a day. If he isn`t jumping for joy and buying you nice things because of your weight loss what is the point of you looking good for him.

Whoops75 · 28/06/2019 17:04

You deserve better regardless of your size.

Put the photos up for yourself and ignore every word he says.
I hope you’ll find the courage to leave but I know it’s not always possible.

picklemepopcorn · 28/06/2019 17:05

I'm so impressed at your bravery, having the shoot done!

Now impress me a bit more and ditch him.

fantasmasgoria1 · 28/06/2019 17:14

Thats how my first husband was. It was the beginning of coercive control and from the every type of abuse you can imagine. You really need to get away while you can. No matter what he will never change ever. Please look after yourself.

Allhailthesun · 28/06/2019 17:17

I think he hates you but likes being in a relationship.

If you love him do him a favour and let him have his freedom. However much he tries to persuade you you’ll never find anyone as “good” as him.

HardLuckWater · 28/06/2019 17:18

What an arsehole. Is he a feeder? Might explain why he's not happy with your weight loss.

Either way, might be time to lose an extra 15 stone of useless husband.

Loveatthefiveanddime · 28/06/2019 17:20

As many people have already said, well done you for learning to like yourself - huge respect for that from me. And I am so sorry he was so mean to you, the comment about the crap on your face was so brutal and so hurtful.

The more you notice his patterns of putting you down, the more predictable they will become, so try to keep observing.
I suspect that there is an awful lot more going on that you haven't even registered as being wrong as for you it has become the norm. The fog is starting to clear a bit now though and you are seeing him a bit more for what he is.

A diary may help you see things.
Do you have a confidante in real life?

NoFucks · 28/06/2019 17:21

Please everyone let's stop with the standard Mumsnet tropes that he's a bastard, abusive, controlling etc....

To me he sounds like he is feeling very insecure. It's really not nice what he has said but before you throw away your marriage, let's consider him. I think he is insecure due to your fantastic weight loss (very well done btw). Does he feel that this threatens your relationship, that it wasn't done for his benefit (it was done for your own benefit but men can be so simplistic and can't comprehend that a woman would lose with for herself) or that he wasn't included in this.

I don't know what the answer is here, how to play this but I do think it's lazy of other Mumsnetters to just say "what a bastard, leave him".

Tooner · 28/06/2019 17:23

Have you read and took in all the exact same replies OP?
We all can see what he is playing at and you need to recognise that. He wants you to looks as unattractive as you can possibly look so he can keep you down.
You have done fantastically well in losing the weight, don't let him that away from you.
You really need to take a serious look at your marriage and decide if this is how you want to continue to live your life.
Your pictures sound amazing by the way. Well done you.

Tooner · 28/06/2019 17:24

possibly can look

Coyoacan · 28/06/2019 17:27

*I'm so impressed at your bravery, having the shoot done!

Now impress me a bit more and ditch him.

This!

I'm so impressed at your bravery in being able to diet with that man undermining you all the way.

sevenoftwelve · 28/06/2019 17:28

You're describing someone who's been abusing you - it's about power and control. Keeping you feeling crap about yourself is a very effective way to control you. It meant you felt you didn't deserve better and couldn't hope to be in a relationship with someone who would treat you better.

I suspect there will be lots more of this you will find familiar: www.freedomprogramme.co.uk

It's classic abuse. You deserve so much better.

Graphista · 28/06/2019 17:29

I used to attend weight watchers a few years ago and sadly, shockingly and appallingly this is very common!

Sabotaging of a partners/spouses efforts to lose weight while also criticising them for being overweight, reacting critically and jealously when they start to succeed and this often escalates to really nasty behaviour.

It is usually men that do this but it's not solely men I've seen male weight losers have the same treatment.

It's a cruel, nasty and hideous way to treat anyone!

If it was particularly nasty the leader or indeed friends they made within the group would signpost people to support to leave their partner/spouse.

I certainly suggested to a few who confided in me that they speak to dr, women's aid etc.

Op you do NOT deserve this and quite honestly it sounds like the marriage has been dead for years anyway, if it was ever really alive.

Where do you stand with your home/finances/any children? Are you working? do you have savings, a support network in real life?

Because you know already in sure you need to leave this pathetic, insecure excuse of a man.

He's verbally/emotionally abusive and quite honestly I think he's terrified you'll get attention from someone else and realise you can do a damn sight better than him!

I've witnessed this being done to my mum for almost 50 years, it's heartbreaking to see.

She was absolutely stunning when my dad and her got together he was punching way above his class! She did gain some weight through having DC and I believe some genetic factors but has never been larger than a size 14, yet he's called her an elephant, woolly mammoth etc if she does dress up - like your husband - there's a little subtle put down made right before they leave the door (she's never been allowed to go out without him) designed I'm certain to ensure she's not feeling at all confident and therefore "doesn't get ideas" even so because she is an attractive woman there have been incidents where due to another man noticing and taking an interest my dad has ended up being violent (he's never needed much excuse for this) mainly to mum but on occasion towards the man too.

You deserve SO much better than this arse wipe!

Get yourself organised financially/legally and then unceremoniously dump his arse!

Borderterrierpuppy · 28/06/2019 17:33

Omg your post shocked me to the core.

Please please please dump this man.
Do not let him into your head ever again.
Xx

carla1983 · 28/06/2019 17:46

@NoFucks have you ever been in a relationship with someone who has said this sort of thing to you? (i.e. putting you down, undermining you in a cruel and mocking way) I'm wondering because you talk like someone who has no experience or knowledge of this sort of dynamic, where it comes from and where it leads. It's so boringly predictable actually.

HappyLoneParentDay · 28/06/2019 17:47

Your husband is a coward and an arsehole. You deserve better than him

However I do find it strange that you want to hang a picture of yourself - for you??

Icepinkeskimo · 28/06/2019 17:49

OP this has broke my heart, you've worked so hard and it's fantastic that you feel great it's all positive.

I had something similar happen to me, when my ex told me he didn't want to take me to his company Christmas party as in his words " I'm ashamed to be seen with a fat cow like you" He destroyed me, chipping away for 14 years, in the end I didn't recognise myself I was a doormat inside the house, but really successful in my career the high earner, with a vindictive bastard of a husband.

I left him, he hooked up with someone within 3 weeks, and apparently she was everything I never was.

I dropped all the weight and some more, was kind to myself and started to enjoy life. Don't let your husband destroy you, couples should want the best for each other not belittle them and strip them of any shred of self esteem they cling to.

Karma is a bitch, I won't go into detail, but he did turn up the front door one night demanding that we get back together. I politely declined and shut the door.

Don't be brainwashed, you deserve to be happy, we all do. Life is too short for feeling shit about ourselves 24/7.

Fly free and one day someone will truly love you for the fabulous woman you are.

NoFucks · 28/06/2019 17:59

@carla1983 I have been in an abusive relationship actually and I also used to work as an IDVA, I don't think there is anywhere near enough evidence in this post to suggest that it is an abusive relationship. I don't think what the OP's husband has done is nice, I think it's pretty shoddy but I also think it is very irresponsible to just trot out the Mumsnet trope of LTB. Relationships are much more complex and nuanced than that.

AllOverIt · 28/06/2019 18:02

I have also recently lost a lot of weight OP. C
Well done. I love that you are feeling more positive anout your body. My DH could not have been more supportive and encouraging, cooking up healthy meals and being so positive. He loved me before so it's not that he prefers this slightly more svelte version! He loves me either way.

This is how partners support each other. Your DH is not a partner. He's awful. I'm sos sorry that you haven't had the love and support you deserve. You deserve better.

Oswin · 28/06/2019 18:03

How is it irresponsible to say ltb.
He has been putting the op down for years and now is being a horrible fucker because he has lost his power.
God some people will try an excuse shitty behaviour from men whatever they do.

Why should op stick it out? He has been consistently trying to wipe her self worth out.