How to Help a Spouse Lose Weight

Motivating your spouse to lose weight can be a challenge. To be supportive, buy only healthy foods and stay away from those foods your spouse likes that aren't good for him or her. Your whole family can even get involved and you'll all be healthier in the long run. Here are some other suggestions for helping a spouse lose weight.

Instructions

1

Enlist your family doctor's help in talking to your spouse and making suggestions about how to lose weight. Make sure your spouse understands that his health may be at risk. Your spouse may be more likely to follow professional advice and less likely to get defensive.

2

Talk to your spouse about being healthier and losing weight. Instead of targeting him specifically, tell him that you would like to make changes for yourself and the whole family.

3

Get everyone in the house involved in a healthier lifestyle. Walk, hike, ride bikes, or take fitness classes together. Socialize with friends who are into a healthy lifestyle. If you already exercise and are fit, ask your partner to join you for the fun of it.

4

Be supportive. Compliment your spouse when you see that she is trying to make a change. Express your faith in her ability to lose weight. Ask about ways that you can help. Try not to nag or criticize.

5

Make changes to your family's eating habits. Prepare healthier meals by avoiding saturated fat. salt, cholesterol, sugar, processed and fried food. Get rid of unhealthy snack foods. Stock up on vegetables, low fat popcorn, and other healthy snacks. Learn new recipes. Take the time to prepare healthy food.

6

Observe your spouse's eating habits. If his overeating seems to come from overwork, frustration or disappointment, see if there is a way you can help to solve these problems and make things easier.