The Hubs

I’ve had people before and even earlier today ask about my hubs’ role in my weight loss. He’s a complete rock and is so steady for me, which I guess is why I never really talk about him much in terms of my weight loss here!

me and hubs on our cruise last year

Hubs and I have been together for 10 years now, married for 3.5. He’s a murse (male nurse) and is the most patient and kind person ever. Since we’ve been together, the lowest weight I think I’ve been is 275, and the highest was my tipping point at 455. He has loved me unconditionally and at any weight. He’s 6’5 and I’ve seen him from 330 to his current 275 (I believe).

We’ve been together so long that we have a routine down. We both work a lot and he works every other weekend, so we don’t have too many meals together. He usually eats at the hospital (he works double shifts a lot- 7am-10pm) and when he is home, eats really easy things like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or spaghetti. We don’t meal plan together since we’re not usually eating the same things. We each buy our own food at the grocery and prepare it ourselves. Of course if we’re home at the same time we’ll dine together, but 99% of the time we’re eating different food. I love that he is self-sufficient and that I don’t need to plan for preparing his meals, or worry about him preparing mine in a way that I can healthily eat.

As far as his weight loss, he has always been active. He works on his feet all day and usually takes pup for a 2 mile walk or cycles at least 10 miles on his recumbent bike every day. He’s not actively watching the scale to lose weight, although he does weigh every day (he has mild OCD), and does want to lose some more weight. He lost weight by just cutting back on sodas and snack foods, and eliminating any fast food runs during or after work.

Because of our often-opposite work schedules, it’s hard to get hubs to make it to any races or something I’m doing. He was working during my first 5K and also during the half marathon. I don’t mind it though – if it were a big enough deal and I gave him enough notice, he would take off. He hears about my training all the time, so when it comes down to a race, he’s already done enough cheering for me. He was off work during the Southern Lights Stroll 5K last Thanksgiving and he and pup completed it also, despite it being freezing and raining! He always calls to see how I did, and is never shy about saying how proud he is of me.

There was a time when we were together for about 2 years that I really started packing on the weight. This was a time of getting carry-out from restaurants, eating 5000 calories in 1 sitting, eating fast food in my car, etc. In hindsight, he may have contributed because no matter what I ask of him, he does selflessly. I would have him bring a pizza on the way to my apartment, or to pick up my favorite cheese fries with extra ranch and a fried chicken salad with hot bacon dressing. He knew my favorite meals without me telling him. He knew to check the carry-out bag for extra spicy ranch dressing and to ask for utensils so I didn’t even have to get up to grab a fork. Does that mean he was an enabler? Perhaps, but he was just obeying my demands, LOL. On the other hand, he also let me drag him to a weight loss surgery session because I didn’t want to go by myself. He’s a people pleaser (happy wife, happy life, right?!). Thankfully, I’ve stopped asking him to help me destroy myself.

All in all, I couldn’t ask for a better partner. He lets me be my feisty, independent self, and go about my crazy antics without a word. He’s very shy, I’m not (usually). I’m on the computer all.the.time, and he can barely type on a keyboard. If I ask him to do something off the wall (like jet skiing on our cruise), he asks “are you going to blog about that?” and we both laugh, because the answer is always YES. When I tell him I’m doing a half-marathon, he doesn’t even question it.

I know I’m extremely fortunate to have a partner that supports me how I need to be supported and who accepts me at any size. Not all partners are as accommodating with you making changes in your lifestyle. Have you encountered resistance from a partner? How have you overcome it? Hit us up in the comments!