I have been very luck that by 30 years I have gotten to travel and move around the world, meet the love of my life and settle down with him. However close we are together and things we share (like our strong affinity for all things dinosaur or TexMex related) there are many ways that we differ. Sadly many of these things are those that affect health.
Fights about exercise and food are daily things.. I wouldn’t even call them a fight as its usually an exchange of words and I give up knowing that I cant change him. Since getting married I have lost a stone and a half where my other half has seemed to have found that and added it on to his already soft frame.
I wake up in the mornings to go to CrossFit or run- I will admit I am much more of a running person. He complains its my fault that he doesn’t run because I don’t get him up. Every time we have this discussion in bite my tongue and don’t mention those few times I did he bitched and moaned for the entire time- and running is my time to clear my mind and listen to some podcasts. I set it up for him to take the CrossFit intro class- he has never attended since citing the people there are all douches and he isn’t flexible enough to do any of the things. He started playing rugby then dropped it because the weather got too cold and even as a prop he wasn’t fit enough.
I know when it comes to exercise we come from different worlds. I grew up in America- played competitive sports all year long and was good at it continuing through university. Sports was and continues to be huge part of my identity and is what makes me feel good when I am stressed or down. He once did Karate for a year and some football on the school playground. He sometimes calls me a bloke with tits… probably jealous that I can lift more than him and am a better prop.
The issues continue far deeper into food. There was a time in our relationship where we both would indulge and I only got sicker and sicker. The difference is I decided to do something about and he has decided to pick apart my reasoning (without research) and mock me anytime that I give into an indulgence saying the whole thing was futile. He snickers when I explain that I was diagnosed with IBS 10 years ago and although I have not been very good with it in the past I am working to change that now. He picks apart any reasoning for eating gluten free but including fatty meats and the god forbidden saturated fat bomb that is butter. He points out my failure every time I decide to treat myself and asks why I bother. When it comes to shopping I just do it myself so I can pick the best produce, grass-fed meats and free range eggs… which is only made a simple affordable task because we live in the UK.
I know however under all the comments is someone who is not confident in themselves at the moment. Someone who struggles to get up each morning and often doesn’t feel well- but doesn’t know what to do and is scared to try something that may be uncomfortable for a while. I love him dearly and as frustrating as it is to see him in this state I can’t be the one who pushes the change. I will continue to be an example and as I become that sexy wife he always has loved and perhaps a light will turn on in his eyes. Or one day he will come home after a night out with the boys proclaiming this new clean eating diet that seemed to work so well for a mate. Until then I will do the shopping, cooking and keep telling white lies about what is in the food. And maybe I will see if he is a bit less moody for a run in the evening 🙂