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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

DH goes silent and moody if I eat bad food

371 replies

PinkBauble · 28/12/2021 21:13

NC for this. There is a bit of a backstory to this- I have been with DH for 16 years. When we met I was a slim size 12 (I'm 5'7). Just after we got married (together 4 years at that point), I qualified into a stressful profession and my eating habits spiralled. I began bingeing and my weight increased. Within a year I had put on 5 stone. It caused a lot of problems, and my self confidence became non-existent. DH confessed he did not find me as attractive or fancy me as much. I did ask him and put him on the spot but that was hard to hear.
For the last 11 years I have battled with my weight. I had DD1 8 years ago and when I was on maternity leave I signed up to weight watchers, joined a gym, and lost 4.5 stone. However, when I went back to work (full time) my stress levels increased, I wasn't able to go to the gym as much as I had been, and I began bingeing again. I then had a miscarriage and this really made me turn to food even more. I fell pregnant with DD2 fairly quickly after the mc, and managed to remain a fairly healthy weight. When she was born, I couldn't do what I had done on my previous maternity leave as I had DD1 too, and I really struggled with bingeing. A few times I managed to lose a few stone but I always put it back on again.
I have cried on DH's shoulder about my weight lots of times, and refused to go to parties or events as I was so self conscious, and initially he was supportive.
I have been diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder, and my GP is trying to get me help, but there isn't anything in my area other than a talking telephone therapy service, which I've done several times for general anxiety and found useless. I'm on quite a high level of medication for anxiety.
I'm currently about 7 stone over my ideal weight (according to BMI guidelines), and still struggling to control bingeing.

Over the last few years, I've noticed DH getting grumpy, snappy and moody if I eat "bad" food in front of him. He will say he doesn't understand why I'm doing it if I want to lose weight, and gets very irritable and impatient if I ever try to explain my anxiety or bingeing to him. He thinks it is as simple as just "not doing it" ie bingeing. If I stick to a diet and go to the gym, whether it's slimming world, weight watchers, calorie counting or whatever else I've tried, he is totally different. Smiley, fun, and pleasant to be around.
Over Christmas there has been "bad" food in the house, and I've eaten it. Every time my DH has become noticeably huffy and snappy, and rather than saying anything to me, he has taken it out on the kids or the dog, snapping at them or being too hard on them, and giving me the silent treatment.

I am sick of his behaviour. I get that my weight is not ideal, I know my health is at risk, and I am trying so hard to change, but I cannot cope with this and if anything, it pushes me towards bingeing as a "release". I've even threatened to leave him, but he just doesn't say anything.
Is there anyone else in a marriage like this? I desperately want to lose weight and get fit so I can start feeling healthy, but working full time, and often at night as well, as well as doing all the life admin, finances, and looking after the kids and dog etc is so hard. DH is just making me feel worse. I dread spending time with him.
Thank you if you have read this far.

OP posts:
RosiePosieDozy · 28/12/2021 21:19

You should not be scared to eat something in case your husband responds in an emotionally abusive way. That's what he's doing and it's not right.

If he truly loves you, whatever size you are should not be an issue for him. People's weight changes, that's life. I could maybe emphasise if he was worried about your health. Do you think he will ever change this behaviour? Stop judging your food choices? If you don't see him changing, you need to seriously consider your future.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 28/12/2021 21:22

I have cried on DH's shoulder about my weight lots of times, and refused to go to parties or events as I was so self conscious, and initially he was supportive

Can you see how frustrating it is to constantly bear the brunt of emotional support for someone who continues to self destruct?

Why is there "bad" food in the house? Why buy it?

Alternatively, live the life you want and eat what you want but find another outlet for your support as he cant do both.

mvmvmvmv · 28/12/2021 21:24

Do you expect him to enable your binge eating? Do you want him to encourage it? Hmm

cheeseisthebest · 28/12/2021 21:26

Binge eating disorder is so hard.I'm finally getting help with it but I have struggled this week.
Feel free to PM me as I can recommend some help for you.

R0tational · 28/12/2021 21:27

Tricky. He needs to detach. You need to not rely on him to help you (aside from normal "lets plan healthy meals together" type stuff).
BED is stressful and so I wish you the best.
You can work through this I am sure x

Bagelsandbrie · 28/12/2021 21:28

Do you think your eating disorder would improve without your dh being there? That’s what you need to ask yourself.

WoodenReindeer · 28/12/2021 21:28

It really is hard. Dividing dood into good and bad doesn't help. Being able to eat all foods is good. It's so hard.

Iamclearlyamug · 28/12/2021 21:29

I don’t think OP wants him to enable or encourage her binge eating - just to understand the fact that getting arsey about it isn’t helping.

Really, if it was that simple to tell fat people to “just stop eating” everyone in the world would be slim 🙄

I understand OP, I’m kind of in a similar position, my OH tells me to “learn to just be hungry” and it really isn’t that simple 🤦‍♂️

TheDuchessOfMN · 28/12/2021 21:29

You’ll get helpful support on the weight loss forum.

Not to excuse your DH, I know it’s hurtful - but it must be incredibly frustrating and upsetting for him to see you do this to yourself.

PinkBauble · 28/12/2021 21:29

@mvmvmvmv

Do you expect him to enable your binge eating? Do you want him to encourage it? Hmm
No of course not. I want to sop bingeing, not continue it. But being ignored and having an atmosphere if I eat a bit of Christmas cake or have a handful of quality street, and then listening to him be hard on our children or dog is not supportive or helpful at all. It makes me feel even more anxious, which makes me look for a fix, and I reach for more bad food. It's a vicious circle and I don't know how to break it.
OP posts:
MrOctopus · 28/12/2021 21:30

What exactly do you expect him to do?

user1481840227 · 28/12/2021 21:30

He will see it as addictive behaviour like any other addiction, and generally people don't have much sympathy for addicts beyond a certain point because the addicts behaviour is negatively affecting everyones life, not just the addicts.
Generally people will be supportive for some time but if the addict keeps relapsing then that turns to anger and frustration.

I don't think he's in the wrong here at all!

PinkBauble · 28/12/2021 21:31

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

I have cried on DH's shoulder about my weight lots of times, and refused to go to parties or events as I was so self conscious, and initially he was supportive

Can you see how frustrating it is to constantly bear the brunt of emotional support for someone who continues to self destruct?

Why is there "bad" food in the house? Why buy it?

Alternatively, live the life you want and eat what you want but find another outlet for your support as he cant do both.

Yes I genuinely can. And I get that. But going the other way and making me feel worse is just causing things to escalate, it's affecting our marriage and our children.
OP posts:
RoseRedRoseBlue · 28/12/2021 21:32

To be fair, I can see both sides of the story here, but whatever happens, you need to intervene if he starts taking it out on the kids or the dog. That’s not OK.

PinkBauble · 28/12/2021 21:32

@Bagelsandbrie

Do you think your eating disorder would improve without your dh being there? That’s what you need to ask yourself.
Do you know I have never actually thought of this. And I need to.
OP posts:
Paq · 28/12/2021 21:34

It sounds like he's at the end of his tether. It's hard living with someone who has an addiction/mental illness. It affects the whole family. Of course it will affect your marriage and his moods.

I'm sorry that more treatment isn't available and hope you get the help you need.

cansu · 28/12/2021 21:34

He needs to shut up. I am sure he has some annoying and unhealthy habits. I would stop talking to him about your weight and that includes when you are trying to lose weight. You should also tell him that you will no longer be discussing it with him and that you don't need or want him to make any comments about your choices healthy or otherwise.

Santahatesbraisedcabbage · 28/12/2021 21:34

As much as you can't help your eating disorder he can't help his reactions. Seek professional help ASAP.

user1481840227 · 28/12/2021 21:35

No of course not. I want to sop bingeing, not continue it. But being ignored and having an atmosphere if I eat a bit of Christmas cake or have a handful of quality street, and then listening to him be hard on our children or dog is not supportive or helpful at all. It makes me feel even more anxious, which makes me look for a fix, and I reach for more bad food. It's a vicious circle

He obviously shouldn't be taking it out on the kids or dog but can you not see that seeing you doing something that he feels is destructive will also be triggering anxiety etc. in him which is why he is then acting that way?

You can't use his action as an explanation for why your anxiety kicks in making you look for a fix/release.....while not also applying the same logic to your husbands behaviour!

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 28/12/2021 21:35

It seems like he has tried the gentle supportive method. It hasnt worked. Maybe he is just trying a different tact?

kokokokokokokokoko · 28/12/2021 21:35

sounds like your binging is a reaction to your DH! If he were more supportive in general would you be so stressed out and wanting to eat crap food? His reaction will be making you even more stressed out and eat more!

SpanielsAreMyLife · 28/12/2021 21:36

He sounds like an arsehole.

Sulking and huffing isn't going to help anyone, least of all you.

It sounds quite cruel, if I'm being honest.

sjxoxo · 28/12/2021 21:36

Firstly he absolutely shouldn’t be critical in any way about what you eat.
Secondly do you think your job is to blame for your high stress? I got the impression from your first post that stress & subsequent binge eating is a result of your job.. do you think that’s the case? If you really do, abd you think without this job your stress levels would be non-existent, I’d seriously think about a career change. This part is for yourself rather than anything to do with anyone else. If you are suffering from extreme chronic stress you need to try and find a solution to that for the sake of your long term health. i know you mention weight specifically in your post but there are lots of health risks associated with chronic stress, many of which are worse long term than being over weight or eating unhealthy food occasionally xox

PinkBauble · 28/12/2021 21:38

@MrOctopus

What exactly do you expect him to do?
Not give me the silent treatment. Not create an atmosphere by sighing and huffing if I am eating something like Christmas cake or crisps. Or a sandwich made with white bread. Just a few examples. Not take his anger and frustration out on our children or dog. Not tell me to "just stop bingeing". If I could I WOULD. He has no idea. If you used never experienced it it is very difficult to describe. It truly is a type of addiction. But (IMHO), worse than smoking or drugs. You can go cold turkey or get help and eventually never have them again. I have to eat to survive. I cannot escape from the torment.
OP posts:
Linguini · 28/12/2021 21:38

Have you thought of couples counseling? It could provide a safe space for you to both explore your feelings about this.