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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:
SylviaPlath1984 · 13/03/2021 21:37

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Swingoutsistersledge2 · 13/03/2021 21:41

Oh my goodness I think you really need to leave this awful man . Total manipulating control freak who is making you so unhappy and question yourself constantly !!

TheJerkStore · 13/03/2021 21:41

This reply has been deleted

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imalmostthere · 13/03/2021 21:46

@SylviaPlath1984

If I knew someone was secretly eating such HUGE amounts (I'm sorry but 4 eclairs, haribo, bar of chocolate etc in one sitting is ridiculous) I'd probably be fed up and pass remarks too!

He didn't make you eat frozen bread, you did that yourself because you can't control your eating habits. Sounds like you need therapy for disordered eating.

She's eating that way because he controls what she eats! If she was "allowed" to eat what she wanted, she wouldn't need to binge in secret. Your comment is absolutely unnecessary and you clearly lack compassion.
Zoinksalot · 13/03/2021 21:48

He's raised the issue that he no longer finds you attractive, the way in which you choose to deal with that is 100% down to you.

He shouldn't be making comments about your eating in a rude way (as you obviously perceive it to be rude)

So you need to communicate about it but you're secret binge eating is your own.

apwilso · 13/03/2021 21:52

The guy is absolutely disgusting. No one deserves to be treated or have comments said about them like that. This is just mentally damaging. Fuck him right off.

He wants to assert authority by putting you down and passing comments on food and you. Clearly insecure and not something you want to keep
Yourself in.

Please consider moving on from him x

MotherofPoodles · 13/03/2021 21:52

You need to leave him as soon as possible. His behaviour is totally unacceptable and will only worsen with time. Can you think of a legitimate and healthy reason for someone in your position to stay?

MazekeenSmith · 13/03/2021 21:56

@Grenlei

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.

She feels she can't eat what she wants because she's being coerced and emotionally abused.
MazekeenSmith · 13/03/2021 21:56

@Grenlei

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.

She feels she can't eat what she wants because she's being coerced and emotionally abused.
Borris · 13/03/2021 21:56

My ex-DH was also like this. I get it. It's him not you. You ate the 4 eclairs as you couldn't have left overs. I've done the same with a bag of doughnuts.

Leave. It's 100 million times better. Daffodil

MazekeenSmith · 13/03/2021 21:56

@SylviaPlath1984

If I knew someone was secretly eating such HUGE amounts (I'm sorry but 4 eclairs, haribo, bar of chocolate etc in one sitting is ridiculous) I'd probably be fed up and pass remarks too!

He didn't make you eat frozen bread, you did that yourself because you can't control your eating habits. Sounds like you need therapy for disordered eating.

Missing the point much?
JackieWeaverFever · 13/03/2021 21:57

This is so sad. Sad
You are so unhappy he is abusing you and you are abusing yourself with food.

They are a lot of bad unprocessed feelings here.

MintyCedric · 13/03/2021 21:57

God this is horrendous. Sweetheart I just want to give you a massive hug. You sound like an amazing woman with the misfortune of being with a very insecure man who is behaving like a total c*nt to make himself feel superior.

I was in an abusive marriage for 13 years, the relationship for nearly 20. I put on 8st during that time and for all his other faults my XH never treated me the way yours is treating you with regard to food or my size.

Please please seek some help, emotionally, practically and break free of this man. You deserve so much better than this.

Iwonder08 · 13/03/2021 22:00

Ditch the husband and get help with your food issues from a psychologist

Phineyj · 13/03/2021 22:00

I think unfortunately that he has issues around food and his body and it has affected you too. If you actually want to eat more healthily, could you try something like Noom? I liked that as they don't tell you what to eat and there's lots of exploration of the psychological side. My DH has issues with his body but doing Noom (he did MyFitnessPal) has led to some progress for both of us and we feel we are now modelling better eating habits for our DD.

Your DH's issues are just that though - his issues. Do you think he would admit to them in e.g. couples' counselling?

MotherofPoodles · 13/03/2021 22:00

@SylviaPlath1984

If I knew someone was secretly eating such HUGE amounts (I'm sorry but 4 eclairs, haribo, bar of chocolate etc in one sitting is ridiculous) I'd probably be fed up and pass remarks too!

He didn't make you eat frozen bread, you did that yourself because you can't control your eating habits. Sounds like you need therapy for disordered eating.

My god it's depressing there's people like you happy to post this garbage. Where is your kindness? Without kindness and compassion what quality of life can you be living?
JackieWeaverFever · 13/03/2021 22:01

Fwiw when i met my now husband my bmi was high end of healthy. I am now 3.5 stone overweight (and thats after having lost a stone! And with no pregnancy involved!!!!) but my husband has never commented on it or made me feel bad or done any of the things you put here. It's not normal.

ohhmydododah · 13/03/2021 22:12

Bless you. My DH comments a lot on what I eat, and I just shrug as it's MY choice. Not allowing you carbs is pushing what he wants onto you and of course if you restrict you will crave it. Not being able to use the toaster as he will be able to tell means you are being abused, why can't you use it? What will he say about the toast?

Krazynights34 · 13/03/2021 22:12

OP ignore the crude, ignorant fuckers trying to blame you.

I know how this goes. I remember being so tired from lack of sleep (my disabled DD slept about 2 hours a night in broken bits and I had to get up every two hours to feed her naso-gastric tube).
My “D” H took up running. Got up at 6 am banging and singing and whatever m. Went for two hour runs every fucking day.
Cut down portions, refused to buy certain foods.
My DD was so unwell for months I couldn’t get to the shop myself- it was 3 minutes walk from our house.
Once I could, I bought ice cream and chocolate ad ate an ice cream and two chocolate bars most days during that first summer. I hid my receipts from the shop and ate them before I got to the house, putting the wrapping in the bin.
He persecuted me for a good year and six months.
I’ve no idea why, other than he could.
He also refused to have sex when I was (once) not exhausted, because I’d refused to have sex a few times when I couldn’t even cry because I was so tired.
I had, and have had, zero support from anyone with my DD.
I gave up chocolate (which I’d never eaten before pregnancy) and fizzy drinks after a couple of months of his abuse because I was getting fat and I just wanted him to leave.
He suddenly gave up the excessive running and started eating junk food himself about a year later, when we came under scrutiny because I had a breakdown (because my DD’s consultant sexually assaulted me) by SS and my HV.
It was obvious to everyone what he’d been doing to me but no-one stood up for me. Ever.

I hope I can leave, when my DD goes to school and I can get a job.

Please consider leaving. If I were you, I’d call women’s aid.

YouAreYourBestThing · 13/03/2021 22:14

Have you considered the possibility that your husband is using this coercive, manipulating behaviour to cover up the fact that he might be gay? His complete disinterest in any kind of sex, even in your wedding night/honeymoon is all kinds of wrong!

Time for a rethink of your marriage and what you want out of it!

ScottChegg · 13/03/2021 22:16

@Borris

My ex-DH was also like this. I get it. It's him not you. You ate the 4 eclairs as you couldn't have left overs. I've done the same with a bag of doughnuts.

Leave. It's 100 million times better. Daffodil

Also, you can't eat one eclair and put the rest in the fridge because then he'll know you had an eclair; if you eat one you have to literally eat the evidence.

I get it too.

I wonder if he's abusive and controlling in other ways too.

HollowTalk · 13/03/2021 22:17

It's terrible and yes of course it's abusive he's very controlling and gaslighting, too. He says if you looked different he'd fancy you but he didn't want sex on your honeymoon when you were at your best. He's giving you very mixed messages- look up cognitive dissonance.

Krazynights34 · 13/03/2021 22:18

He’s a straight up abusive cunt

ScottChegg · 13/03/2021 22:18

I've just realised that I said the exact same thing as @Borris. Bloody hell. I read it differently the first time! Confused

UnsolicitedDickPic · 13/03/2021 22:19

@SylviaPlath1984

If I knew someone was secretly eating such HUGE amounts (I'm sorry but 4 eclairs, haribo, bar of chocolate etc in one sitting is ridiculous) I'd probably be fed up and pass remarks too!

He didn't make you eat frozen bread, you did that yourself because you can't control your eating habits. Sounds like you need therapy for disordered eating.

You are genuinely awful. Have a word with yourself.