Support From a Spouse Does Make a Difference

When you set out on a journey to lose weight, whether it is through weight loss surgery or any other weight loss method, you can’t go it alone. Unless you live on your own and eat by yourself on a regular basis, there are others that can either support or hinder your efforts along the way. Having a supportive spouse can greatly increase your chances of success, and can also make your weight loss journey an easier and more satisfying one.

The best way to garner support for your efforts is to simply ask. Sit down with your spouse or significant other during the planning stages of your weight loss surgery. Ask their thoughts and opinions, and find out how they feel about your decisions. If you find that you are not receiving the support you are hoping for, now is the time to ask why. Are they nervous about the procedure? Do they not want you to change? Are they struggling with their own health or weight issues that they may not be ready or able to address? Finding out ahead of time how your spouse feels about your decisions and asking for their input and support will be helpful as the process moves forward.

Even once you have committed to weight loss surgery and have received a nod of approval and backing from your spouse, you may begin to find that over the longer term you are not receiving the support you had hoped for. If this is the case, it is best to reaffirm to your spouse how important this is to you and your health, and how much you need their support. It is sometimes difficult for a person to watch someone change before their eyes, and they may be secretly longing for the old times you spent together. Keep in mind that deep down you know they want what is best for you, but it may be hard for them to be losing their old “eating buddy”, or they may just be wistfully thinking of how things used to be. They may not like the newfound attention you are receiving or your intent focus on something other than them.

If your spouse has their own weight issues, it is understandable that it may be difficult for them to see you being pro-active about changing your habits and lifestyle during a time that they may not yet be ready to do so. This can cause some friction between partners and is understandable, but you should not allow it to hinder your weight loss efforts. Explain to them how important this is to you and how much you need their support. Don’t harp on any issues you may have with their weight or try to force them to join in with you if they’re not ready, but remind them that you need them to stand behind your choices and be supportive.

Receiving support from a spouse or significant other does make a difference in your weight loss journey. Support can come in many ways, whether it’s someone listening to your challenges and fears along the way, a partner to exercise with, a commitment to keeping high calorie and tempting foods out of the house, or simply a person to cheer you on and tell you what a great job you are doing. Every ounce of support gives you the strength to keep moving forward with your efforts and makes the challenge a little bit easier along the way. When you are not receiving the support you need, the best thing to do is simply to ask for it.