Why does my boyfriend make me so mad?

jnthwaite
jnthwaite Posts: 111
edited October 7 in Chit-Chat
I had been talking with my boyfriend about how pissed off I am with being so overweight. I have had to go shopping last year because my shirt size went from a 12 to a 14 to a 16. Also generally grumbling about the fact that my pants no longer fit, and I have to buy fat people clothes.

He is also overweight, and is about the same weight as me, but he's a bit shorter. I had previously joked with him about the fact that he'll run off with a skinny chick if I don't lose some weight. I was looking for support, or suggestions about how we could lose weight together. This is what I got.

:huh: He told me "well I have no place to talk" while he patted his belly. :mad:

That just wasn't good enough. I was looking for him to offer to workout together or something. He goes to the gym and delivers junk mail, and I'm still on holidays, but I'm a teacher when I go back to work.

I don't know why his response has completely upset me, but I just wanted to share / rant a bit. This has spurred me on to start doing the exercises and calorie counting on here without his support. He supports me. Hell, he even did a horrible aerobics workout with me at the park the other week. I guess I wanted to do this together. I wanted my feeling to be validated. Ugh!

Jackie
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Replies

  • adlwilmot
    adlwilmot Posts: 117
    He's a man. Enough said. :laugh:
  • Nikki582
    Nikki582 Posts: 561 Member
    Sometimes the Other Half just doesn't get it and you actually have to SAY that to them.. not hint but outright say. :/
  • schmorla
    schmorla Posts: 77 Member
    Why does he have to suggest it? Why can't you suggest it?
  • jnthwaite
    jnthwaite Posts: 111
    Sometimes the Other Half just doesn't get it and you actually have to SAY that to them.. not hint but outright say. :/

    It was just so damned frustrating. I've started doing stuff for myself. Maybe I just didn't feel I could do it myself? IDK.
  • Smuterella
    Smuterella Posts: 1,623 Member
    Did you actually ask him to do this with you? He isn't psychic. Nothing like plain, honest communication.
  • Chairless
    Chairless Posts: 583 Member
    Maybe that wasnt the answer you were looking for but unless you actually tell him what you want and expect from him what else can he do than reassure you he isnt put off by the weight gain in a jovial manner.

    We are men, most of us wont get the sublte hints or slight suggestions. If you drew it out for us in orange crayon it would still be a struggle for some. Ask him directly for support and what you mean by support, if he refuses or shows no interest, then get mad.

    my 2p.
  • jnthwaite
    jnthwaite Posts: 111
    Why does he have to suggest it? Why can't you suggest it?

    Good point. I think I have a major confidence / self esteem problem. :grumble: Working on it though. :wink:
  • Scott_P
    Scott_P Posts: 95 Member
    ANYTHING we say usually lands us in hot water. "your not sensitive enough", or "You didnt have to be so rude". There is no common ground. : )
  • jnthwaite
    jnthwaite Posts: 111
    Maybe that wasnt the answer you were looking for but unless you actually tell him what you want and expect from him what else can he do than reassure you he isnt put off by the weight gain in a jovial manner.

    We are men, most of us wont get the sublte hints or slight suggestions. If you drew it out for us in orange crayon it would still be a struggle for some. Ask him directly for support and what you mean by support, if he refuses or shows no interest, then get mad.

    my 2p.

    Thanks. I appreciate your input. :)
  • krissa3670
    krissa3670 Posts: 76 Member
    The only thing i would say is you ask him to do a joint workout. He is not psycic and will not know that was what you wanted from him. Most men need to be told direct what you want or you will spend forever in a frustrated mood and life is too short. Tell him what you want from him and then see what his response is. Ask if you can go to the gym with him maybe.
  • jnthwaite
    jnthwaite Posts: 111
    Did you actually ask him to do this with you? He isn't psychic. Nothing like plain, honest communication.

    Yeah. I'm starting to come out my shell a bit. I'm the person who usually won't say boo to someone. :)
  • jnthwaite
    jnthwaite Posts: 111
    Thanks for all your input guys. I know it sounds a bit silly, but you don't know what you don't know, so now I know! :drinker:
  • Carl01
    Carl01 Posts: 9,307 Member
    This is why we all eventually end up bald,sitting in a chair,staring at a TV with a beer in our hand. :ohwell:

    Honestly,people aren`t mind readers and he probably thought he was being supportive to make you feel less self concious.
    Just say,you want to lose weight and get in better shape and would like to do it as a team with him. :smile:
  • Bahet
    Bahet Posts: 1,254 Member
    Men don't read minds. They also don't pick up on dropped hints. You may think you're being very clear but he won't see it.

    Years ago when DH and I were first married we worked opposite shifts. I dropped a few hints that I thought were perfectly clear that I wanted to get a cat. He wasn't an animal person growing up so I went the "dropping hints" route. Finally after a few weeks of dropping what I thought were perfectly clear hints I came out and asked "Can I get a kitty?" He said "OK, sure." I was floored that he agreed so easily. I told him I'd been dropping hints for weeks because I didn't think he'd go for it. 17 years later and we still joke about it.
  • pixieofdoom
    pixieofdoom Posts: 356 Member
    I think that especially when it comes to weight, a lot of men are just terrified of saying the wrong thing. He probably thought that if he said 'let's workout together' you might have then said 'oh, so you agree that I'm really fat and need to lose a ton of weight then' - I'm sure you wouldn't have said anything of the kind but he was probably just trying to play it safe.

    Definitely agree with the others, just ask him for support. Let him know this is really important to you and that you would love it if he could be part of it. If he doesn't feel he can or doesn't want to, then there are lots of other ways to meet exercise buddies too so don't let it damamge your relationship - but do give him the chance, it sounds like he might be a great help if he's already done one class with you!

    Good luck with it!
  • Tell him exactly what you want (words of two syllables or less may help), also, when he says something to you that can be interpreted as good or bad ALWAYS take it the good way because men don't do subtle or hints.
  • poedunk65
    poedunk65 Posts: 1,336 Member
    because your problems aren;t his. They are your to own. I have the same issue with my wife, she is 4'10" and weighs over 200lbs. Now I am no small guy but i work out 3 days a week and swim. She complains about her knees aching all the time and I have no sympathy for her because she will not workout or try to lose weight. Do it regardless of how the other person feels. ONLY you can control how you feel. GEZZZZZ!
  • Vjb2525
    Vjb2525 Posts: 67
    He is male!!! lol But you do need support while you are battling the cravings of fast food and soda pop so I guess it is a great thing you joined here! I am single for over a year now and with work and school my schedules I cant find a workout partner so this website is the closest thing I have. Good luck:happy:
  • He's a man. Enough said. :laugh:

    I....but...

    ...what?

    Are you saying that as men we are predisposed to pissing off females? Because if so...awesome. Fellas! Looks like we have an excuse now!


    But anyway, OP....you should tell him exactly what you want. Why beat around the bush and then get pissed off when you don't get the reaction you want? That's very silly. I don't get why people do this.
  • My boyfriend has always said he will support me through my weight loss efforts. However he can be so matter of fact with it all which just upsets me.

    He just goes 'well just eat less and exercise more' which I know is obv how it works but its the way he says it as if I am stupid. For someone like myself who has had a bad relationship with food all my life to the point of binge eating, it isnt that easy

    So I made a pact with him that I will do it on my own and not mention my weight loss efforts to him unless he asks and in return he will stop with the sarky comments which dont help.

    My boyfriend is a lovely guy. But he is a guy and things dont always come out the way he means them lol!
  • My boyfriend is a lovely guy. But he is a guy and things dont always come out the way he means them lol!

    I....I just don't understand this. It's like it's this unwritten rule that all men are these babbling and socially awkward creatures that don't know how to words things correctly.

    Is this a prominent attribute that most men have or have I completely missed something? o_O
  • I....I just don't understand this. It's like it's this unwritten rule that all men are these babbling and socially awkward creatures that don't know how to words things correctly.

    Is this a prominent attribute that most men have or have I completely missed something? o_O

    Ok I apologise for including all men in this. In my experience the men I know say things and they never mean it the way it sounds. I just meant it that men are more matter of fact than women so it can come across the wrong way sometimes.
  • I....I just don't understand this. It's like it's this unwritten rule that all men are these babbling and socially awkward creatures that don't know how to words things correctly.

    Is this a prominent attribute that most men have or have I completely missed something? o_O

    Ok I apologise for including all men in this. In my experience the men I know say things and they never mean it the way it sounds. I just meant it that men are more matter of fact than women so it can come across the wrong way sometimes.

    Ah, okay. No need to apologize! :) I was just rather confused because you were about the fifth woman or so to bring this up! haha I was just thinking to myself, "...wait. What if I DON'T know how to say things correctly!?"
  • TimWilkinson101
    TimWilkinson101 Posts: 163 Member
    I'm not overweight (trying to gain weight) but I am a bloke and I am engaged to someone who is trying to lose weight. I was told in no uncertain terms that I'm not as supportive as I could be this morning as it happens. That hurt a lot to be honest as although I dont show it in the ways my fiancee wants me to, I show it in lots of other ways (DIY, housework, flowers, gifts, giogn to bed at the same time, laying a fire).

    Thing is, as has been said, we're not mind readers. We can also become comfortable with the status quo and imagine that you're content too. Things like your other half wanting to change how they are can upset your view of how the world is. One minute you think your partner is happy with themself and you, the next you discover they think they are overweight and (in this case) they probably think you are too.

    Doesnt take a genius to realise that if you keep to your diet and gym routine then your boyfriend will realise that he is now potentially a bit of a fat slob in yours or other peoples eyes and that he will need to do something about it. If he doesnt then you will quite possibly get sick of him or you will think less of him for not wanting to change. So, from his perspective, the woman he was happy being with is on her way to changing herself... and who knows what it will mean for his future.

    I know men tend to be much more matter of fact and less sensitive and we also tend to "problem solve" rather than empathising. I've got to work on that... but then contrairywise, my fiancee also needs to work on seeing thigns from a male perspective and understand that because I dont say gushing stuff it isnt because I dotn care, its because I'm a man and we dont "tend" to work like that.

    Anyway, rambling now. Best shut up and eat something. :)
  • Iamkim73
    Iamkim73 Posts: 924 Member
    I can't believe I'm going to say this but...... MEN GET A BAD RAP! Wow my fingers tingle a little after typing that.

    We women expect them to know how we want them to respond and then get upset when we don't get the response we were looking for. I have done it myself. The sad part is, most of the time they they are being sincere and have no clue they have upset us. I realize there are exceptions to this, and some men are perfect and some are idiots.... But on average this is the case.

    A couple things I have learned as I have aged...... First, I don't look for others to fix my insecurities. At the end of the day it's how I feel that's important. And second, If I do need something, I try not to drop hints, I try to be more direct so I get the result I'm looking for. It's all about good communication.... On both parts.
  • christine24t
    christine24t Posts: 6,063 Member
    People have to lose weight for their own reason - you have to hit your own rock bottom for something to change. You've hit yours, and he hasn't yet. When he does, he will be there right with you!!
  • the_journeyman
    the_journeyman Posts: 1,877 Member
    I can't believe I'm going to say this but...... MEN GET A BAD RAP! Wow my fingers tingle a little after typing that.

    We women expect them to know how we want them to respond and then get upset when we don't get the response we were looking for. I have done it myself. The sad part is, most of the time they they are being sincere and have no clue they have upset us. I realize there are exceptions to this, and some men are perfect and some are idiots.... But on average this is the case.

    Where's the like button!

    If you need/want whatever just tell me. Do you want to vent? Let me know you're venting and I'll respond different that if you let me know you're looking for a solution to something. Overall by nature us guys tend to be fixers rather than empathizers/sympathizers. Sometimes our attempt at offering a fix does more harm than good when someone just wants to vent about something. Every man has a little dumb in them too, so sometimes things just slip past that women pick up on. We tend to pick up details in other things that are of little or no concern to women.

    JM
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    I can't believe I'm going to say this but...... MEN GET A BAD RAP! Wow my fingers tingle a little after typing that.

    We women expect them to know how we want them to respond and then get upset when we don't get the response we were looking for. I have done it myself. The sad part is, most of the time they they are being sincere and have no clue they have upset us. I realize there are exceptions to this, and some men are perfect and some are idiots.... But on average this is the case.

    A couple things I have learned as I have aged...... First, I don't look for others to fix my insecurities. At the end of the day it's how I feel that's important. And second, If I do need something, I try not to drop hints, I try to be more direct so I get the result I'm looking for. It's all about good communication.... On both parts.

    I agree completely. There are some jerks in the world, but I find that men in general are incredibly easy to get along with. All you have to do is be honest about what you need, want, and expect from them. If you give a man an objective, he will try like hell to achieve it. It's what they do.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    :huh: He told me "well I have no place to talk" while he patted his belly. :mad:

    That just wasn't good enough. I was looking for him to offer to workout together or something.

    In other words, you wanted him to read your mind and tell you what you wanted to hear.

    Skip being vague and dropping hints. If you want him to support you more, tell him, and tell him in what ways he can do it. If you want to go to the gym with him, tell him. If you want him to push you to lose weight, tell him.
  • jnthwaite
    jnthwaite Posts: 111
    He's my first boyfriend after my divorce, so I have my baggage, and he understands that. He's a great guy and is great with my little girl also.

    I love the comment about not having to fix insecurities and also hitting your own rock bottom. I'll be working on those along with my other to-do list of stuff to work on. :)

    Thanks everyone for your input. I'm usually a pretty calm person, but for one reason or another this comment / attitude just upset me, and I couldn't figure out why.
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