40 Ways to Help Your Partner Through Weight Loss

My husband is very supportive in that he wants to support me. The problem is that he doesn’t know how, and usually the way he does try and help me is really annoying. This time around we made a list. Some of these are Weight Watchers specific. Some only work because I have a husband who can’t gain weight. Please eat all the bad food skinny husband! 

I use the term “trigger foods” throughout this post. It refers to poor food choices and your biggest cravings. Mmmmm salt and vinegar chips…

1. Identify triggers with your partner.

2. Don’t bring trigger foods into the house.

3. Don’t eat trigger foods in front of spouse.

4. Bring trigger foods to work.

5. Say no to others when offered trigger foods. 

6. Don’t leave food out or on the counter.

7. Sneak unhealthy food to the back of the pantry.

8. Put leftovers away immediately after dinner.

9. Help weigh food and measure servings.

10. Serve small portions when plating food.

11. Enjoy healthier options with partner.

12. Don’t complain about cost of healthier options.

13. Offer to split a food item with dining out.

14. Consider healthy menu options when picking where to dine out. 

15. Don’t order a trigger when out with partner.

16. Abstain from ordering food or drink that your partner has completely ruled out of their diet. 

17. Plan ahead and help find healthy options when at a fair or large venue. 

18. Leave places with only unhealthy options, if able to. 

19. Pack snacks for your partner.

20. Exercise together.

21. Offer water, or bring them a glass of water. 

22. Engage in activities together during difficult snacking times.

23. Keep healthy foods easily accessible in the home.

24. If possible, partner should eat extra leftovers. 

25. Support partners created award system.

26. Help partner find tools to aide weight loss.

27. Don’t complain about extra costs associated with weight loss.

28. Find healthy recipes.

29. Try new foods together.

30. Find healthy alternatives to favorite foods.

31. Acknowledge successes and give praise.

32. Ask how your partner is doing mentally and with cravings.

33. Surprise them with a gift when a milestone is achieved.

34. Plan activities that are not food centered. 

35. Go through life style changes with partner.

36. Help with scheduling home life in order to make time for the gym or meetings. 

37. Understand that this is a permanent lifestyle change.

38. Ask what topic was after WW meetings, discuss it, and how you can apply it to home life. 

39. Research WW and understand how it works. 

40. Help partner through celebrations that tend to be food centered. 

I hope some of these are useful. Do you have any other ways you get support?