I’ve had the line for this piece in my head for months, years probably, if I’m being honest, as my husband has been grappling over whether to go back to fitness camp, what I have lovingly dubbed fat camp.
My husband and our best friend couple are all on GLP-1s right now - I'm the only holdout. And I do have questions like, oh shit, if everyone is doing it, should I???? Comparison is not just too easy; it's hard-wired into the human experience for survival! So of course it's hard not to do, and it's hard to shake fears about it. I am probably most successful in my own head about this kind of thing when I decide to just be celebratory of everyone. You did the thing? Good job you!! I ate a vegetable? Good job me!!! Sounds like you're doing a good job too! <3
A few thoughts: 1) Wow, how amazing that your youngest child's first response to this news was to ask how YOU are feeling about it (That's some stellar parenting right there!). 2) The fact that, despite substantive disagreements, you and your husband have been able to cultivate an open, ongoing line of communication about such a fraught, emotional, complex topic is really impressive and a testament to the strength of your relationship. 3) This post is NOT too heavy. It's vulnerable and enlightening and appropriately inconclusive. 4) I can't help but think about a close friend of mine who has dealt with a similar challenge (regarding alcohol, not food) in her marriage. She and her husband have very different histories with, approaches to, and personal needs with regard to alcohol, and they have had to work their way toward a healthy mutual respect of those differences. It's been hard, but they're doing it. And it sounds like, as you say, you and your husband don't have all the answers yet, but you do have the one crucial thing: enough love and respect for each other to get through this. Big hugs.
This sounds incredibly difficult. I’m single, so I don’t have experience with it, but I’m not sure how I would stay with someone who was engaging in intentional weight loss because I have a long history of an eating disorder.
Thank you for sharing. I totally respect you on this and think it's a totally valid concern. Despite some of my levity in the piece, this is not a decision we've taken lightly.
Honest and real, and brave. Thank you for sharing this.
My husband and our best friend couple are all on GLP-1s right now - I'm the only holdout. And I do have questions like, oh shit, if everyone is doing it, should I???? Comparison is not just too easy; it's hard-wired into the human experience for survival! So of course it's hard not to do, and it's hard to shake fears about it. I am probably most successful in my own head about this kind of thing when I decide to just be celebratory of everyone. You did the thing? Good job you!! I ate a vegetable? Good job me!!! Sounds like you're doing a good job too! <3
You are the best at cheering the world on! And you always seem to know what to say in every situation. These are your super powers.
I'm so grateful to have you in my life! 💙
A few thoughts: 1) Wow, how amazing that your youngest child's first response to this news was to ask how YOU are feeling about it (That's some stellar parenting right there!). 2) The fact that, despite substantive disagreements, you and your husband have been able to cultivate an open, ongoing line of communication about such a fraught, emotional, complex topic is really impressive and a testament to the strength of your relationship. 3) This post is NOT too heavy. It's vulnerable and enlightening and appropriately inconclusive. 4) I can't help but think about a close friend of mine who has dealt with a similar challenge (regarding alcohol, not food) in her marriage. She and her husband have very different histories with, approaches to, and personal needs with regard to alcohol, and they have had to work their way toward a healthy mutual respect of those differences. It's been hard, but they're doing it. And it sounds like, as you say, you and your husband don't have all the answers yet, but you do have the one crucial thing: enough love and respect for each other to get through this. Big hugs.
This sounds incredibly difficult. I’m single, so I don’t have experience with it, but I’m not sure how I would stay with someone who was engaging in intentional weight loss because I have a long history of an eating disorder.
Thank you for sharing. I totally respect you on this and think it's a totally valid concern. Despite some of my levity in the piece, this is not a decision we've taken lightly.