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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

My husband’s moods control what I eat

96 replies

AlisonTempest · 13/03/2021 20:16

I can’t believe I’ve just written that, but it’s been true for the longest time. He’s just gone to the supermarket and I found myself eating 2 slices of frozen bread from the freezer as I’m hungry after dinner. I paused and thought that’s awful and that’s why I’m now writing on here. I didn’t want to use the toaster, as he’d know. He thinks I’m on a diet, but I eat a lot of bad food secretly. Today I ate 4 cream eclairs, a bag of haribo, a can of Coke and a large bar of chocolate. All secretly and in the space of 20 minutes whilst out on a walk with my baby. I’m never sick though, so it isn’t bulimia. I have a senior role and we’re well off. No one would think this was happening. He just doesn’t like carbs or sugar. He makes comments like “oh really” or gives me a look of disapproval if I decide to eat off my diet plan. No one would ever notice that though, as it’s very subtle. We’ve got 3 DC and I put on quite a lot of weight with most recent pregnancy. He told me last year that he didn’t find me attractive and I lost most of the excess weight by being really committed to a particular diet. Even when I was slim though, he always had something to say about what I ate. I just had a flashback to sitting in a restaurant with him
and his parents about 15 years ago. I ordered duck fat cooked chips and he kicked my foot under the table. I didn’t remember that till just now. He’s never had much interest in sex and would frequently turn me down if I made clear I’d be interested etc. About 6 years ago, I stopped bothering making any efforts on that front, but the topic came up in conversation last year and he put it down to my weight and me not being attractive. I don’t think that can be true though, as we didn’t have sex after our wedding night or honeymoon and I looked very slim and lovely then. Actually we’ve had sex probably 20 times in a decade and our DC were conceived immediately in 1st month of ttc (actually our little one was a one-off, first time in 18 months surprise). I feel ugly and worthless. Physically I’m better looking than him (despite still being 1.5 stone overweight) and career-wise, I’ve always matched him in terms of seniority and earning power. I think maybe he wants to put me in my place. I feel a bit sick that I’ve let myself become someone who eats frozen bread. No one who knows us would ever think that would happen. We live a lovely life and have all of the lovely things one could wish for. Our DC are wonderful. I’m wishing that I’d never met my H, even if that means my babies would never have existed and that’s how I know I’m in a very low place mentally.

OP posts:
AlisonTempest · 13/03/2021 20:19

I’ve just read that back and maybe it isn’t as bad as I think. I might be misinterpreting his looks. It’s probably ok, but the lump in my throat says it probably now

OP posts:
Blueuggboots · 13/03/2021 20:23

Gosh, that's a form of abuse you know?
How dare he do that to you!!! I'm cross on your behalf.

KimsPonytail · 13/03/2021 20:23

This sounds horrendous. I'm sure someone with more experience will be along to give better advice but nothing in what you have described seems normal to me. Please, don't continue to live like this.

EKGEMS · 13/03/2021 20:25

He's a horrible,controlling,abusive mother fucker and you need to divorce the bastard

PrintempsAhoy · 13/03/2021 20:25

That’s not great, obviously. But he isn’t making you eat frozen bread Confused that was your decision, not his.

You don’t have to pretend to be on a diet.

You don’t even have to be on a diet at all, it’s your choice.

You don’t have to be married to him either.

It seems that you are not feeling very good about things, and it is making you see yourself as a victim, as someone who passively undergoes life.

But ultimately it is you yourself who makes choices, the choice what to eat, who to be married to, how to live.

Not having a go at you, just feel you need a little poke by someone saying: it does not have to be this way. You can change things.

LeviOsaNotLeviosAR · 13/03/2021 20:28

OP that sounds awful.
That is absolutely no way to live. You have full autonomy over your body, what you do with it and what you put in it. There is a huge difference between him offering motivational support to help you keep on track with a diet plan and the controlling behaviour he is displaying.
He is exerting power and control over you by manipulating you into only eating what he deems appropriate. That is absolutely not OK.
I would be concerned about how this will extend to your DC and the potential for his behaviour to cause them to have unhealthy relationships with food and their body image and self esteem.
I would be having serious ultimatum conversations with him or I would have to walk away. So sorry you're going through this Flowers

pog100 · 13/03/2021 20:30

that is very abnormal and you clearly know it. !.5 stone is hardly obese and even if it were it's fuck all to do with him. It's also plain as day that the lack of desire for sex is nothing to do with your physical attractiveness. It never is. He is a deeply fucked up individual using you as some sort of release. You urgently need to change things, preferably by splitting from him. This is no way to live

AttilaTheMeerkat · 13/03/2021 20:37

This is indeed no way for you to live and no relationship model for your children to potentially emulate.

How can you be helped into leaving your abuser?.

MazekeenSmith · 13/03/2021 20:42

@PrintempsAhoy

That’s not great, obviously. But he isn’t making you eat frozen bread Confused that was your decision, not his.

You don’t have to pretend to be on a diet.

You don’t even have to be on a diet at all, it’s your choice.

You don’t have to be married to him either.

It seems that you are not feeling very good about things, and it is making you see yourself as a victim, as someone who passively undergoes life.

But ultimately it is you yourself who makes choices, the choice what to eat, who to be married to, how to live.

Not having a go at you, just feel you need a little poke by someone saying: it does not have to be this way. You can change things.

Blaming her for her reaction to being emotionally abused isn't helpful or correct.

OP of course this is awful and you know it. You don't have to stay with him though.

willowmelangell · 13/03/2021 21:11

He is projecting his insecurities onto you.
Scrap the diet.
The unhealthiest thing here is him.
You are secretly eating because you know his trying to control you is very wrong. You are quietly fighting back the only way you know how.
Keep talking to us. Mn is here to support and encourage you, anytime, day or night. We are listening and not judging. How can we help @AlisonTempest ?

DowntonCrabby · 13/03/2021 21:16

Oh my fucking God!!! Leave him.

This is now how you want your DC growing up, seeing his way as normal.

You owe this to yourself and to them. Flowers

harknesswitch · 13/03/2021 21:18

Oh op that's awful Thanks he's treating you appallingly.

gamerchick · 13/03/2021 21:19

@AlisonTempest

I’ve just read that back and maybe it isn’t as bad as I think. I might be misinterpreting his looks. It’s probably ok, but the lump in my throat says it probably now
It is as bad as you think OP. You need to eject this specimen from your life asap.
Candyfloss99 · 13/03/2021 21:20

This is horrendous. You know you need to leave him. You don't have to live like this.

FedUpAtHomeTroels · 13/03/2021 21:22

@AlisonTempest

I’ve just read that back and maybe it isn’t as bad as I think. I might be misinterpreting his looks. It’s probably ok, but the lump in my throat says it probably now
No it's worse. This is no way to live. He sounds horrible. I think, yes, he is trying to just put you in your place. It's time to leave and live a happy life, and use the toaster whenever you want.
picklemewalnuts · 13/03/2021 21:23

At best, it's a bad relationship which makes you unhappy and leads you into destructive eating habits.

At worst, he's abusive.

Whichever it is, it's no way to live.

You need to leave.

Kittykat93 · 13/03/2021 21:25

Oh god op :( this isn't right and you know it. My heart hurt reading your post. Your children will be damaged if you dont get them away from.this abusive atmosphere

Eviethyme · 13/03/2021 21:27

He is abusive and you need to leave But.. Eating frozen bread is wierd.. Are you thta hungry that you would do that? Is he making you starve? If you can't unfreeze the bread then why not eat something else? If your thta hungry but can't eat bad things in front of him then surely carrots or celery or cucumber etc would be better than frozen bread and surely he wouldn't comment on those things...

Either way you need to leave because his reaction is wierd

sweetnessnfight · 13/03/2021 21:30

You'd be happier alone.

Outbutnotoutout · 13/03/2021 21:30

Please leave him, this is abuse.

He has made you feel so bad you are eating FROZEN bread.

Read that back

Apileofballyhoo · 13/03/2021 21:30

You know, OP, it's soul destroying to be in a relationship with somebody who isn't nice to you. The looks and comments and kicks under the table are controlling and horrible.

Arrivederla · 13/03/2021 21:33

@Eviethyme

He is abusive and you need to leave But.. Eating frozen bread is wierd.. Are you thta hungry that you would do that? Is he making you starve? If you can't unfreeze the bread then why not eat something else? If your thta hungry but can't eat bad things in front of him then surely carrots or celery or cucumber etc would be better than frozen bread and surely he wouldn't comment on those things...

Either way you need to leave because his reaction is wierd

You are totally missing the point here.
Grenlei · 13/03/2021 21:33

Why do you feel you can't eat what you want? I think there are some mixed emotions here...you don't sound as though you are scared of him reacting violently. He obviously has a certain approach to food and dieting and that's fine (for him). Obviously that isn't how you want to eat and again that's fine - but I wonder whether actually deep down you want to eat less/ more healthily but are struggling to do so, and blaming him for your food issues is easier than the alternative.

However leaving that aside, I think the food isnt the central issue here. He doesn't have much romantic or sexual interest in you. But you don't consider him as attractive as you either, and maybe you feel you settled for him. I'm not sure why you are still together, this relationship sounds as though it has run its course for both of you.

toocold54 · 13/03/2021 21:34

I wonder if he’s not attracted to women. If he’s trying to slim you down and you barely have sex because you’re ‘unattractive’ it sounds like the problem is him.

Why are you with someone who is acting like your parent?

No-one should ever control what you eat, wear, do, speak to etc.

The best advice I ever heard from someone who suffered horrific abuse - if you ever feel like you are walking on egg shells GET OUT

TheJerkStore · 13/03/2021 21:35

My ex used to do this. It's abuse.