Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

The main reason for his unhappiness is how I look

228 replies

BettyBT · 18/12/2019 12:24

I’m a bit numb about what he’s said really, as it’s like a stab in my heart. But am I right to think that it’s really very nasty to base your happiness on how another person looks?

This is something my husband said to me whilst I was making coffee this morning. He’s unhappy and grumpy and it’s because I’m overweight.

I’m really quite horrified that I’ve been married to this person for 8 years (together 12 years). We’ve got 3 beautiful children. He’s an arsehole. I am flabbergasted that he’s so fickle.

Our baby is 16 months old and I haven’t lost the last 12kg yet. I went back to normal after the first two pregnancies, but this time I’m so tired and busy and only recently stopped breastfeeding. We both work full time, but he’s not home till gone 8/9pm every night, so for 2-3 hours every evening I’m doing everything with our DC and keeping the house running and making dinner and tidying the kitchen and making sure everyone has clean clothes. He’s out the house before anyone is awake in the morning, so I’m trying to get everyone ready whilst getting myself ready and then rushing to work. I don’t have time to go to a gym. I don’t really have time to eat lunch, as I need to leave my desk at a certain time to get home before childcare closes. I eat too much Lindt chocolate.

I feel sad now, too. But that’s because of what’s he’s said. I don’t think of him as just what he looks like. It’s everything, it’s us, it’s our home, it’s our memories, it’s our children. But that’s obviously not enough for him. He wants to see someone at Relate.

OP posts:
rhubarbcrumbles · 18/12/2019 13:49

@fedup21 it sounds from what you have said that your concerns are not solely because he's not attractive to look at, your are concerned about his health and so on and have tried to address that with him?

The OPs DH, OTOH, is not doing that, he's just using it to be horrible to her.

Lilymossflower · 18/12/2019 13:49
  1. He is an asshole
  1. Don't dare go to relate. Utterly pointless
  1. Your body held his 3 childeren. He should be worshipping it and absolutely nothing less
FruitcakeOfHate · 18/12/2019 13:51

fedup, a) this isn't about you b) the OP is not 'obese' c) her H is not participating in the family he created, that's completely unacceptable.

The OP works FT, does everything in the home, because her arsehole excuse for a husband isn't around. How 'respectful' of her is he? Not at all.

fedup21 · 18/12/2019 13:53

I do understand there is a bit of a difference.

The OP hasn’t said why he’s out from very early until very late though. Is he working, OP? Or clocking off at 5 and going to the pub-there a difference. Why is he doing nothing to help you?

MrHodgeymaheg · 18/12/2019 13:53

He's right. You do need to lose some excess weight - your husband!

Really unkind thing to say. To be honest, I think my other half is the same although even if he feels it he wouldn't say it. He would always say I look fine regardless. Luckily I'm not too bothered what he thinks. Unfortunately some people are just really superficial, but that makes their life more difficult and unhappy as they have constant expectations that will never be met. I think that's your husbands problem, not yours.

SinisterBumFacedCat · 18/12/2019 13:54

Trust me, staying with this a abusive arsehole is damaging your kids much more than a messy divorce ever could. Don’t kid yourself the kids haven’t overheard some nasty things he has said to you. Children aren’t stupid, they absorb it like a sponge and grow up thinking this is how men treat women in a normal relationship. Don’t let that happen. Leave the bastard and eat all the lindtt chocolates you want Flowers

ThePlantsitter · 18/12/2019 13:56

fedup21 the OP is size 14-16.

If you are telling yourself the main reason for your unhappiness is your DH's weight your marriage is probably over. The health issue I understand, given his brother died last year; the feeling too embarrassed to introduce him to your colleagues not so much. But the fact is that weight gain like that is emotionally driven and the problems in your marriage are probably about more than just his weight.

Inthebleakmidwinterz · 18/12/2019 13:56

I’m sorry your husband upset you like that, men can be so clueless, especially ones that have never struggled with weight in their life, my husband can be like that too and has said similar in the past, I started telling him he can watch the baby whilst I go to slimming world by myself once a week, it’s a nice break away and I’m losing weight, and get to meet nice people going through the same problem. My husband was shocked to discover the average U.K. weight for a woman wasn’t a size 8, but actually a 16. His whole family are very skinny, and I think the issue probably started in childhood. It’s his problem, you do you, lose weight if you want to.

Fluffycloudland77 · 18/12/2019 13:57

Ouch. So if you were a size 8 he’d be happy?.

IM0GEN · 18/12/2019 13:59

@romany4

Thank you for your beautiful post. What you describe is true love.

QueenofPain · 18/12/2019 13:59

Second everyone else, he’s a complete dick.

MinTheMinx · 18/12/2019 14:01

No, he's just aware he's an arsehole.

How's he looking OP?

Londonmummy66 · 18/12/2019 14:02

I don't think YABU and I really sympathise but there is a different way of looking at this. When I was in a similar position, although DH didn't comment on my weight, I chose to lose it for my sake. I therefore booked myself on a bootcamp to kick start things- if you ever want to do the same PM me as it was one of the best experiences of my life - and left him to deal with the DC for the week (including a weekend). Just having a bit of headspace to myself and a week to sleep properly made such a difference. Whilst there I googled local gyms and signed myself up for a load of classes at the weekend. It meant that I was doing something for myself all weekend (DH was never in in the week) and DH had to pick up my slack for a change. I also got into running and would take myself off on a long run one afternoon at the weekend (without my phone) - pure peace and quiet - bliss.....

If you want to change things (for you not for him) then I would take what he has said as carte blanche to book a load of things for you at the weekend and leave him to pick up the pieces at home - after all you do it all week.

Jellybeansincognito · 18/12/2019 14:07

So if you lost a few stone he would be happy?

Op why don’t you do it? Lose a few stone and get with someone who will appreciate you no matter the number on the inside of your clothes.

If he said- please try and lay off the chocolate, it’s not good for you and cause the world of issues. Fair enough.

But hes unhappy over something that doesn’t effect you? No. Not a normal reaction.

I mean, you still sound like you’re at a healthy size. It’s not like you need a crane to get out of the door.

He is awful op.

Theredjellybean · 18/12/2019 14:08

I would usually have some sympathy for people who are honest enough to say they are no longer physically attracted to their partner if the partner had become very overweight or developed some off putting things like bad BO or halitosis and was not prepared to do anything about it.

BUT to say because after three babies your body is causing HIM to be unhappy is just unbelievable.
What a horrible man...
There are ways to kindly suggest and support someone to make changes ( with the idea that they are more attractive to you if they do but you keep that idea/thought to yourself)
His happiness or lack of it is his responsibility and not yours, the way it seems to have been phrased this nasty manchild is making your body the only reason he has to be happy and you have let him down and made him unhappy on purpose by 'allowing' yourself to get to a size 14-16.

Horrid horrid horrid....i would so turn this on him and sweetly say that you cannot possibly have him being unhappy and so you have signed up to ww/sw or whatever and the gym and you will now need him to be home on xyz days to do bath/bed time while you are out at class/gym etc doing everything in your power to make him happy again ...

Go to these things if you want to lose the weight for yourself and if you dont well go and sit in a cafe, or read a book in your car, or go see a friend...

Piglet89 · 18/12/2019 14:09

Hi OP

I have one baby - 4 months. Still on mat leave. My husband works full time but helps as much as he can, Gets up with him first thing in the morning, does bath time when he can. Still I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck every evening!

I cannot imagine doing all you’re doing although I know many women do. You’re a complete hero in my eyes!

Regardless of what your husband thinks - If you would like to lose the weight, then he should be supporting you and facilitating that by taking the kids off your hands so you have time to do exercise/go to gym etc. Not just making hurtful comments when you’re working single-handed to keep the family going. You’ve far too much on at the moment to do it alone.

mogtheexcellent · 18/12/2019 14:09

if he thinks relate is going to back up his argument he is in for a shock...

what a twat. has he always been a festering cockwomble?

(btw I went from a size 14 to a 20 since having DD, mostly through illness but also exhaustion and bad diet, husband hasnt said anything. he just wants me healthy and happy)

EKGEMS · 18/12/2019 14:12

Inthebleak Reread this woman's post and ask yourself if the bastard she's married to is clueless? He ain't clueless he's cruel and nasty. Does he sound like he's willing to make any concession to help his wife? This isn't about your experience of "clueless" men which is an outdated sexist generalization.

CosmoK · 18/12/2019 14:14

Men are super visual and most men do prefer slim/slender women, that’s just how they’re programmed

Bullshit
Stereotypical bullshit

Clangus00 · 18/12/2019 14:15

Absolutely agree with @Serenity45.
He's not a nice man at all. Especially doing this so sneakily.

messolini9 · 18/12/2019 14:22

I'm sorry you're feeling so bad OP. What your DH said wasn't very nice but at least he was being honest.

That was not honesty.
Even if it were - DH would be deluding himself if he actually believes his unhappiness can be solved by the number that appears on his wife's scales.

He doesn't believe it, or he would be tactfully & effectively helping OP to get fit, by ensuring she has time to do a sport she enjoys, or go to WW or whatever.
Instead, he informs her that 12kg is the price of his happiness, & that she is responsible for his moodiness & grumpy manner.
A grown man, who cannot take responsibility for his own ill temper - because he has deliberately positioned his wife to believe that he is not responsible for his abusive, controlling arseholery - but that he is going to lay that responsibility at her door, by pretending it is about her weight. You call that honest? I don't.

The weight - which incidentally OP gained by pushing his children out of her body for him, & has no time to lose because she works full time, but unlike DH, also bears all of the domestic load - is immaterial.

Honesty? About 12kg? It's not a health concern. It hasn't changed OP's personality or attractiveness, of contribution to the marriage & family.
The weight is a red herring. OP can lose it or not as she decides. When & if she does - he will find another red herring.
The entire weight discussion was a convoluted, manipulative piece of theatre, delivered in order to belittle, control & shame his wife into accepting that she's lucky he still stays around ... must endure the constant stream of cutting remarks he reserves for her but knows well enough not to inflict on anyone else ... should accept that his love is 100% conditional ... needs to obey his directives about her own body or suffer unpleasant sharp-tongued sulking & grumpiness as the consequence ...
Jeez, he is a creep.

@BettyBT - don't go to Relate with him.
Please take PPs who have explained why not, upthread, very seriously. Instead, find time, at the very least, to do the Freedom Programme - & consider carving out time & budget for INDIVIDUAL therapy for you. (If it would work, & you can feel comfortable with the duplicity, tell him you are visiting a weight loss expert, not a therapist!)

& if you cannot do that, actually even if you can, please also have a look at this - www.docdroid.net/py03/why-does-he-do-that.pdf

olivertwistwantsmore · 18/12/2019 14:24

My husband has a sharp tongue that is reserved for me. Everyone else thinks he’s funny, intelligent and charming. He can be quite horrible sometimes, but never to others and never whilst DC are around. I thought I’d be ok because I can protect my heart and stay happy for our children until they are grown.

Oh, OP. He sounds horrible - and sneaky and manipulative with it. So you do all the childcare during the week - does he step up at weekends? What's good about your relationship?

He's meant to love you above all others. Doesn't sound like he does. Putting on a bit of extra weight should NOT change that. You deserve better.

Flowers
OoohTheStatsDontLie · 18/12/2019 14:25

What a nob.

I'm so sorry OP.

It doesnt really sound like it would make that much difference to your life if you split up, you do everything anyway. When are you supposed to find the time to shop and cook and eat healthily, and get enough sleep, and relax (being well rested and not stressed is essential for losing weight).

He is being horrible, for these reasons -
Your baby is young and giving him children is the reason for your weight gain

You are so busy looking after the children, which is facilitating his job.

Being grumpy with someone is a horrible and manipulative way to get what you want. He could have sat you down and voiced his concerns and said it in a much gentler way eg said he was concerned about your health and asked what he can do to support your weight loss if you want to do it, rather than being nasty. Instead he sulked like a toddler til you brought it up. Since when was this an effective way of encouraging someone else?

It's all about him. He wants you to lose weight not for your physical or mental health, not for the kids, but so he can have something nice to look at.

You are not responsible for someone elses unhappiness (that doesnt mean that peoples behaviour doesnt affect others, so when you are deliberately nasty to someone else, like your husband was to you, obviously you have to accept you are making them feel like shit), don't you think it's a bit odd that his whole mood is based on someone else in his life's appearance?

Lastly....being overweight is a tiny part of someones life. He is placing disproportionate importance on this. Literally the only thing it could affect for him is how much he fancies you and therefore your sex life which let's face it with three young kids, is a small part of the relationship (compared to the time you're not having sex). It doesnt affect how you communicate, how compatible you are, your shared goals, your parenting etc etc - all the million other things that come together to make a relationship.

My husband is overweight (much more than you are, which is an average size in the UK). Do I sometimes hope he will lose weight? Yes. Do I ever say anything about it? Not at all, as firstly he is aware of it himself and doing so would only make him feel bad. And my body has changed after children as well so it would be hypocritical. And lastly, how he looks is just a small part of our overall relationship - how he treats me and our children is much much more important to me than how he looks.

You can lose the weight if you want to, but do you think your husband will lose his ability to act like a cruel selfish toddler? How can he be horrible to you over this? Literally anyone you speak to will say it would devastate them if their partner said the same.

If you do go to Relate, make sure you bring up how he did this - how he sulked and how he said it in a cruel way.

I would also be very wary of the future with him. What if you had an accident and were disfigured in some way? What if you have cancer and have to have chemo with the associated side effects on your appearance? Would he act like a dick again? Or leave? What happens when you get older and your body changes shape?

charm8ed · 18/12/2019 14:27

Men are super visual and most men do prefer slim/slender women, that’s just how they’re programmed
If it’s bullshit why are so many wanking off to porn involving very slim ladies? Why do rich/successful men around the world marry women who almost clones of each other?

Supersimkin2 · 18/12/2019 14:27

The weight's a red herring. It always is. What are the main issues you're not facing?

Swipe left for the next trending thread