Husbands / partners

[ViciousChicken]

I have just started and my husband is interested in how it works and says he would consider using it if it works well for me. That has prompted a few questions from me. So out of interest…

Has anyone else’s partner seen their success and decided to go for the jabs themselves?
Have any partners lost weight as a side effect of you preparing healthier food / smaller portions for yourself and it’s rubbed off on them/ been forced on them?!
Has anyone stopped / reduced cooking for their other half due to not feeling hungry themselves, and how has this gone down with said partner?!

I do most of the cooking and my husband eats more healthily than he would otherwise (he is begrudgingly grateful for this!). I’m thinking that I might do some batch cooking for him if we are going to be eating differently.

My husband is now on it as are 4 of my friends, my husband didn’t start till I was close to goal, one of our friends on it, another male was very enthusiastic about it and said he should try it, he did have a big tummy on him and he agreed, I’d suggested it but he was reticent, but our male friend seemed to be the thing that tipped him;

he said he was only doing it for 3 months, but it’s been about 5, and he’s now talking about staying on long term like me, he looks and feels so much better, how tummy is now flat and his bmi is 26. He’s nearly at goal. We went clothes shopping for him yesterday and I could see he felt great trying on clothes.

he is less disciplined than me, he still has his treats, like crisps or nuts, a few beers, and loses about a pound a week.

it was his tummy fat thay was the worry, but the fact that’s gone, has to be a huge benefit. We are also on holiday shortly so I can see he feels way better in his new swimwear.

we have had normal dinners throughout, our food wasn’t unhealthy, it was portion size, so nothing changed, I do most of the cooking, simply as I’m better at it and happy to and I was never so suppressed I didn’t want to eat, if you are, then likely you’re on too high a dose, I still got hungry for meals and cooked the same as before. Now we both just eat a lot less.

That’s good that he’s had success too. My husband is a similar BMI to me (around 27) but holds round his middle as well. He has had high cholesterol in the past so that would probably qualify him if he decided to go for it.
I’m hoping that I will still be able to eat our normal evening meals, if only a smaller portion. Same with the being better at cooking and mostly don’t mind doing it!

My husband is basically a bean pole, and has been his entire life.

Like pp my issue wasn't really portion sizes, it was snacking and sweet treats and cheese. So meals haven't changed fundamentally, although due to reduced appetite I'll sometimes give him bigger portions, and if he wants carbs when I'm not feeling it he has small baked spud (or some oven chips and then I steal one or two. 😁) .

DH was so impressed with the changes in me, inflammation, weight and mood, within the first week that he ordered too and started a couple of weeks after me. His bmi wasn’t as high as mine but he did have a condition that meant could get it. He’s lost steadily, alongside eating healthy meals and going to gym, but still having beer and takeaways in smaller amounts - the middle age man gut is no more. He’s also seen big improvements in other conditions. I’m really happy he’s on it too as family history of cardiac issues that it seems likely all GLP1s can reduce risk of. He won’t tell anyone other than me he’s using it though, I think he still feels it’s less acceptable for a man. We both plan to continue taking a low dose longer term - not to keep losing weight but to enjoy the other health benefits, it’s been life changing for us both this year.

My DH has lost weight alongside my using them because the cooking and eating habits in our house changed, and he's pretty pleased about it 😊

I think that’s how my husband felt. Like it was a bit embarrassing and less acceptable for a man, But as said, our male friend taking it, is what tipped him over, as the friend was telling everyone, as I did, so when he walked in, he looked way better and shouted I’m on mounjaro too! It’s fantastic! Then was saying to my husband seriously dude, it’s great try it. So he did. Ordered the next day.

he still doesn’t talk about it like I do, so only those in this small social circle know he’s on it, where as I tell everyone. So I think he’s still got that residual feeling a bit embarassed and concerned for peoples reactions. I never ever say in real life he’s on it too, it’s his story to tell, not mine.

My DH has put ON weight as he’s been eating my leftovers 🤣 He has been very supportive of me using MJ over the last year. He’s not overweight but has been accompanying me to the gym and cooking healthier meals, he’s seen how well it’s worked for me and would never say never

@Frenchfrychicsame - I’ve become progressively open about sharing it if it comes up and also actively decided to tell some friends as wanted to share how much better I feel and also I think the more we speak about it people who are on the fence but scared will find reassurance. Learning a friend was on it was what tipped the balance for me after months of uncertainty. DH doesn’t want to do that and it’s his choice so I don’t share that he’s on it with anyone in real life. I initially hardly told anyone too but as it worked so well and became more widely known about I became happy to.

I’ve been on it nearly a year and I’ve been trying to persuade DH to do it too. I feel so much healthier on it, it feels selfish that only one of us is benefitting with this improved quality of life. I plan to stay on a low dose indefinitely. But I see this as no different to paying out monthly for the gym and life insurance.

He’s very needle-phobic so that has been one of the main blockers, was worried about cost, and then he injured his leg and has been waiting for surgery. So there’s been a long list of excuses. But post surgery, the plan is for him to start.

We’ve definitely been eating healthier since I started so he’s benefitted from more home cooked, nutritious meals - definitely less takeaways. We stopped drinking 18months ago. He doesn’t have a much bigger appetite than I do. But he hasn’t lost any weight at all during the year. He’s prone to high cholesterol, inflammation (eczema, ulcers, asthma) and there’s a history of diabetes in his family, so I think MJ will help with insulin resistance and reduce inflammation.

I didn’t till a couple of months in when I knew it was working. The way I look at it it is my friends and family, people I love, care about or like, so I’m not going to pretend to them and lie by omission that I was suddenly able to do it myself. I wasn’t going to make anyone feel bad as they couldn’t as some had weight issues themselves.

my husband takes a different approach, our close social circle as said know, and our families, but that’s where he doesn’t go further so all his other mates, like friends he does golf with etc, he doesn’t tell, but he simply doesn’t engage on it at all.

he said he has had some comments from friends and people af work on his weight loss, and he’s responded with yes I feel great for it and shut it down. So he doesn’t go on about diets or something, he just simply doesn’t engage at all. For him it’s not up for discussion.

i also don’t discuss it at work, and don’t engage, but all my friends know and as said, I’ve now four on them. When I first started it was more taboo than it is now though, and I do recall the rather gobsmacked look on folks faces when I said, but after a few months of me shrinking , everyone was wanting to go on them.

i see no shame in it though, in fact im proud of it, proud of researching it, proud of earning enough to pay for it, proud of the lifestyle and diet changes I’ve made on it, proud of taking control of my health. But I don’t think men really think about it as deeply, at least my husband doesn’t. Likely as they don’t feel the same societal pressures women feel over weight, so for them admitting their taking drugs to drop weight feels a little vain and embarrassing.

My parter was prescribed for his diabetes and a month in I decided to join him as he was doing so well. It’s really lovely to do it together as we eat so much better and celebrate each others achievements. He takes a lot less medication now and we are both a lot more active. Nine stone down between us.

@GiveMeWordGamesI’m a snacker too - chocolate and cheese and peanut butter! My meals are pretty healthy so imagine I’ll be similar to you depending on appetite.

@monjmaintainerThats great it’s helped him too, and that you’re both feeling healthier- I think that’s the key really, it’s not as much about looks, it’s what you can do.

@Frenchfrychic@monjmaintainer
I’m not planning on telling people for a while, just my best mate and husband for now. It will be hard at work as there’s often goodies going round and I do tend to be pretty open with them. Maybe in time. But there’s definitely no shame, have chatted to other colleagues who’ve used WLIs, and my sister has had it through an NHS dietician. I do like the way your husband responds @Frenchfrychic!

@DGonMJIt’s a shame he hasn’t lost despite the lifestyle changes, it sounds like he might benefit. My husband is quite needle-phobic as well. Hope yours manages to get past that that after his surgery.

@wendywoopywoo222Thats great for you both. 😊

My DH started 2 weeks after me - essentially when I told him I had done it and got the first pen delivered, he was interested and decided fairly quickly to get started.

it definitely makes meals etc easier as we both need the same small portions, less carbs and more protein.

its working well for both of us with good losses in week 1 then steady 1 -2 lbs each per week for me and similar for DH.

We haven’t discussed it with family or friends although I do talk to the work colleague who recommended the jabs to me.

A bit embarassed to admit this, but I Inject my husband, he also doesn’t really like needles, so I said I’d do it the first time as he looked away, and I seem to now just do it every week not sure he’d even know how. He literally lifts his T-shirt and looks away, 😂 the first time I used a syringe to do his bonus shot, he proclaimed you’re not going to stick all that in me!! I responded wirh don’t be such a baby and no not all the way.

so not sure if that’s an option for the needle phobic husband, I literally do me, then put mine back in the fridge then do him.

My DP started a week after me. He was a bit fussy at first with the needles/syringes but i gently encouraged him to do it himself and now he doesnt think twice before injecting himself. He’s lost a lot of weight but still eats and drink more than me. He is at maintenance now. He has stopped altogether, put on 2 kgs in one month and now will start again on 2.5mg after xmas

DD lost 4.5 stone when her DH was on WLI as they stopped takeaways, eating out and drinking!

DH is naturally slim and doesn't need to diet. If I'm not hungry some days, he will just cook for himself and DC, and it's of course not an issue if we all eat together and I simply have a smaller portion. For me, portion sizes were an issue - apparently one can't eat as much as a 6'4'' man with a metabolism of a seagull.
He stopped drinking though, as I simply don't fancy alcohol and finds this has benefitted his health a lot.

Thanks all for sharing your stories, really sounds like partners do benefit from the other being on the injections, one way or another!

@JaceLancslove this!

My DH and I joke that we are getting a Buy One, Get One Free because he is also losing weight but without being on the injections!
He has always been slender, but, over the past few years, has developed a typical male's 'beer belly' (although he doesn't drink very often). I have been on the jabs for 9 weeks now and his stomach is definitely disappearing.
Before the jabs, we were terrible snackers - crisps, jelly sweets etc all in the evenings after our dinner, but as I no longer feel like snacking then he has stopped too and, as a result can now get back in a suit that didn't fit him back in the summer!
He is very chuffed!

We have to be careful with this as my partner has an underweight BMI. We don't live together so he can eat full fat food at home. But the meals we have together have definitely changed. He has been incredibly supportive and when he cooks, he is cooking healthier meals and avoids UPFs. He is the sort of person who would use a packet/jar/sachet as a sauce mix when cooking instead of cooking from scratch. He is now cooking from scratch when I am there. When he does a roast he does boiled potatoes/veg instead, although he did ask if this winter he is allowed to do proper roasties again (I said yes! 🤣)

But it was a worry he would accidentally lose weight, when he really can't afford to lose a single pound, but he doesn't seem to have done. It's more of a problem when we are away together, as I am eating less, so he then does't eat as much.