Wife upset after going to gym.

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justanotherguy

Guest
#1
We recently joined a new gym in our new town. As part of the new membership, they gave us a free "body analysis" to go along with some free couples training sessions etc. I enjoy going to workout etc (haven't gone much recently due to kids, work etc), but she may go very infrequently or not at all. I though it may be a nice way to do something active together instead of the usual dinner, movie. It gave a body fat analysis and needless to say she became very upset, started crying, and and left the office we were in to go to the bathroom and was crying in there. She has avoided me all day now. This was never my intention. Maybe I should have seen this coming.

At the same time, I am in the healthcare field, and I see first hand the results when people eat poorly, never exercise, and don't take care of themselves.

Any advice on how to handle this delicate topic? I just want us to live long, active, and healthy lives together.
 

notmyown

Senior Member
May 26, 2016
4,683
1,122
113
#2
does it have to be the gym? i think women who don't have gym bodies tend to dislike the place. i know i always have, and that was when i had a gym body. (you know, perfectly worked out calves and such. lol)

it's intimidating, and unless you told her just what you said at the end of your post, she may be feeling any manner of negative things from the experience. AND, if you knew her BMI would be distressing to her, why put her through it? maybe you should have seen that coming. :)

what about going old school? biking, swimming, hiking, sports for fun, that kind of thing you can do together?

forgive me, i'm old and can't for the life of me understand my kids' generation's obsession with the gym.
perhaps you might ask her if she prefers to workout at home. you can get weights and some good, low impact DVDs that show proper form. that way, she needn't feel embarrassed.
it might even be cheaper than the gym. ;)
 

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
Feb 21, 2014
70,869
9,601
113
#3
If she goes that infrequently, why even have bothered to join to begin with? :confused:

Maybe find different ways to exercise? Hike, walk, home treadmill, etc..
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#4
We recently joined a new gym in our new town. As part of the new membership, they gave us a free "body analysis" to go along with some free couples training sessions etc. I enjoy going to workout etc (haven't gone much recently due to kids, work etc), but she may go very infrequently or not at all. I though it may be a nice way to do something active together instead of the usual dinner, movie. It gave a body fat analysis and needless to say she became very upset, started crying, and and left the office we were in to go to the bathroom and was crying in there. She has avoided me all day now. This was never my intention. Maybe I should have seen this coming.

At the same time, I am in the healthcare field, and I see first hand the results when people eat poorly, never exercise, and don't take care of themselves.

Any advice on how to handle this delicate topic? I just want us to live long, active, and healthy lives together.
Unless you are married to the poster-child for physically-fit or ideal-body, never ever have your wife get "analysis" for her body. It's never going to have a positive outcome. That's up there with taking her to the teen girl's section of a clothing store to try on whatever she'd like.

And have you asked her what she wants? Because all the people I know who have/did live a long, active, healthy lifestyle didn't do that by going to the gym. (And, if they did make it into long, rarely did it produce "healthy" by the end of it.)
 
Aug 15, 2017
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#5
Well actually it is normal for women to have higher bodyfat percentages than men. Not that they are fatter or whatever, it's just how it is, they store more fat, which doesn't mean they look worse.
And there are bodyfat charts and tables out there in the internet. If a man looks healthy with 10% body fat, a healthy looking woman should have like 18-20. Of course I'm no coach, but I'm interested in fitness, used to work out and read a lot.
Plus, if you want something, you work hard for it. I'm naturally an ugly-skinny guy, so it requires a lot of dedication to build muscle. Some people store more fat than others, so they too have to work hard for a body that they like. But don't get obsessed, cause you won't enjoy nothing in the process and will never be content with what you have. You'll always think you're not fit enough, even if people around you admire your aesthetics.
Just my 0.02$

P.S. And through the centuries, the ideal of the perfect female body has changed so much, that basically any physical form was considered perfect at a time. So, it's a perception. Unless you're at some risk, there's nothing wrong with being skinny or fat. Actually, it's kinda healthy to have a bit of a fat.
 
Last edited:

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
41,312
16,300
113
69
Tennessee
#6
We recently joined a new gym in our new town. As part of the new membership, they gave us a free "body analysis" to go along with some free couples training sessions etc. I enjoy going to workout etc (haven't gone much recently due to kids, work etc), but she may go very infrequently or not at all. I though it may be a nice way to do something active together instead of the usual dinner, movie. It gave a body fat analysis and needless to say she became very upset, started crying, and and left the office we were in to go to the bathroom and was crying in there. She has avoided me all day now. This was never my intention. Maybe I should have seen this coming.

At the same time, I am in the healthcare field, and I see first hand the results when people eat poorly, never exercise, and don't take care of themselves.

Any advice on how to handle this delicate topic? I just want us to live long, active, and healthy lives together.
If you want to live long, active, and healthy lives together I suggest that you cancel the gym membership.
 
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,972
113
#7
personally, I'm a bit of a 'germaholic' and wouldn't even consider mingling with all of the germs
that are in those gyms...I, the mrs., because of my disabilities, work-out on my bed and I do get
really good results...I will 'walk with poles when I am able,,,on the other hand, hub, even with his
physical problems, he works out, out-side doing chores and takes appropriate 'rests' 'lots of them',
and hydrates big time, PLUS, our cat is always near his side/lap to supervise & jump-up and rest with him,
plus he likes to lick the salt off of his arms and clean him up...

think children, don't just jump-in and go for broke for whatever your reasons...weigh, do your
homework, consider your options for your own self and know your 'limits', for as you age,
they will become fewer and fewer, especially if you have over 'taxed' yourself for the ego/world...
Jesus wants you well and happy and for your focus to be on Him and what He knows is best for you
and for you alone,..ask Him and Trust Him, and He will respond if your heart is pure and sincere...
 
U

Ugly

Guest
#8
You mean germaphobic? Your wording suggests an addiction to germs.
 

Lighthearted

Senior Member
Oct 17, 2016
1,779
818
113
53
#9
We recently joined a new gym in our new town. As part of the new membership, they gave us a free "body analysis" to go along with some free couples training sessions etc. I enjoy going to workout etc (haven't gone much recently due to kids, work etc), but she may go very infrequently or not at all. I though it may be a nice way to do something active together instead of the usual dinner, movie. It gave a body fat analysis and needless to say she became very upset, started crying, and and left the office we were in to go to the bathroom and was crying in there. She has avoided me all day now. This was never my intention. Maybe I should have seen this coming.

At the same time, I am in the healthcare field, and I see first hand the results when people eat poorly, never exercise, and don't take care of themselves.

Any advice on how to handle this delicate topic? I just want us to live long, active, and healthy lives together.

Well...tell her youre sorry...you didnt mean for her to feel upset...that you need to get in shape and its something you would like her to help you with...but if she doesnt want to proceed...then its ok...but express how important you think it is to be healthy and be there for your kids and one day grandkids...pray about it...God bless...hope it works out!
 
U

Ugly

Guest
#11
======================================

ug,
are you being 'ug'?
Don't know what that means.
You said germaholic. Think of alcoholic. A person addicted to alcohol. Replace alco with germ.
Phobias are fears. Therefore a germaphobe is one with a fear of germs.
 

Angela53510

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
11,780
2,943
113
#12
How about gardening! Nothing harder than pulling weeds! Hour after hour, where I live.

Twelve years ago, I was finally on good meds for RA. Started doing a few stretches, got on a junky exercise bike in the basement for one minute. I considered a gym, I'd been a member in one close to my home before RA, and had good results. But I was living in the country, lots of deformities, decided to make my own gym, rather than traveling an hour round trip, in the -40 in winter.

I got a small universal, started buying free weights. I got my bike riding past an hour outside, eventually 35 km every other day, not bad for deformed feet and messed up knees. I got a trainer for my bike in winter. And a better outdoor bike. Lost 80 lbs!

When RA meds failed 2 1/2 years ago, and I couldn't get out of bed, no gym membership to cancel, but a work out room to do as I was able. Climbing back out of that hole.

My husband loved that I was healthy and in shape. We have always eaten healthy, I grow a large garden, no junk or processed foods! But he has never said a word to me when the pounds poured back on, due to prednisone use and lack of exercise. He supports me working out in a way that works for me. I hope you can do that for your wife, too!
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#13
How about gardening! Nothing harder than pulling weeds! Hour after hour, where I live.

Twelve years ago, I was finally on good meds for RA. Started doing a few stretches, got on a junky exercise bike in the basement for one minute. I considered a gym, I'd been a member in one close to my home before RA, and had good results. But I was living in the country, lots of deformities, decided to make my own gym, rather than traveling an hour round trip, in the -40 in winter.

I got a small universal, started buying free weights. I got my bike riding past an hour outside, eventually 35 km every other day, not bad for deformed feet and messed up knees. I got a trainer for my bike in winter. And a better outdoor bike. Lost 80 lbs!

When RA meds failed 2 1/2 years ago, and I couldn't get out of bed, no gym membership to cancel, but a work out room to do as I was able. Climbing back out of that hole.

My husband loved that I was healthy and in shape. We have always eaten healthy, I grow a large garden, no junk or processed foods! But he has never said a word to me when the pounds poured back on, due to prednisone use and lack of exercise. He supports me working out in a way that works for me. I hope you can do that for your wife, too!
LOL I take about 1 minute a day to work on weeds. I simply weed 1-2 containers every time I'm watering. I only have about 50 containers, so I start over again every 3-4 weeks.

But, yay! I didn't know I could count that as exercising! This exercising stuff is easier than I thought. LOL
 

Angela53510

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
11,780
2,943
113
#14
LOL I take about 1 minute a day to work on weeds. I simply weed 1-2 containers every time I'm watering. I only have about 50 containers, so I start over again every 3-4 weeks.

But, yay! I didn't know I could count that as exercising! This exercising stuff is easier than I thought. LOL

Maybe I was thinking more of hours of weeding? Every day? But if a minute or two works, consider yourself lucky!
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,426
3,477
113
#15
We recently joined a new gym in our new town. As part of the new membership, they gave us a free "body analysis" to go along with some free couples training sessions etc. I enjoy going to workout etc (haven't gone much recently due to kids, work etc), but she may go very infrequently or not at all. I though it may be a nice way to do something active together instead of the usual dinner, movie. It gave a body fat analysis and needless to say she became very upset, started crying, and and left the office we were in to go to the bathroom and was crying in there. She has avoided me all day now. This was never my intention. Maybe I should have seen this coming.

At the same time, I am in the healthcare field, and I see first hand the results when people eat poorly, never exercise, and don't take care of themselves.

Any advice on how to handle this delicate topic? I just want us to live long, active, and healthy lives together.
It's too late to close the gate when the hourse has already bolted.....

Why even subject her to the test in the first place? will a test transform you into a healthy fit person? Nope..

If you where going to the gym then why not get right in and use the equiptment and start exercising?

Whats the point of getting a test?

Anyway good luck with trying to get her back to the gym... Maybe suggest going for long walks might be a good step.. At lest there will not be BMI testers waiting around every corner ready to tell her how fat she is..
 
Feb 5, 2017
1,118
36
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#16
You shouldn't feel bad about having tried. The thing about women with higher BMA and insecurities is that they are 'so concerned about what others think of their body'. If they want to change it, they need to focus on it, focus on their self, and loving their self more. They shouldn't focus on being shamed, or feeling bad about it, or other people judging them.

I mean going home after being shamed (in their perspective only) at the gym, and probably eating to feel better, this is a very negative and unhealthy habit which has no positive outcome.

At least one thing was revealed by this, the level of her insecurity. And insecurity is erroneous.

From my experience, women who have a problem with their body or who are a higher BMA tend to play victim a lot.

I never understand why some women do not treasure their temple. I feel like maybe it has something to do with their childhood. Maybe try and find out when she started not liking her body so much, it might be an opportunity to feel more connected and uplifted together, rather than a brick wall. Isn't it the 'source' or 'origin' of our problems, which we do not speak about, that weigh us down?

Some women are actually happy being overweight, although very rarely. Of course if someone is happy being that way then it is your job to appreciate them being that way. But 9 times out of 10, these women hate the body they are in. And unless they can 'face the fear' of making an effort to change it, then it will never change. And then insecurity wins. And insecurity is such an ungodly thing really.

In this situation, if she is trying to make you feel bad about it, and yet the truth is she hates the way her body is, then don't fall for her being a victim and having the grovel for her forgiveness. It is this which is ungodly, it is feeding a fear that is in her. You had 'good intention' and she turned it into 'bad intention' yet the intention is what it truthfully is, 'good intention' and that never changes.

Gym is a positive thing, for anyone. I've known obese people who decided to get over their fears and do it. Everyone feels bad when they first join a gym it's natural. But after you go a few times and make a habit of it, you enjoy it, you enjoy the buzz, feeling better, the confidence boost.

Gym is not just about losing weight or getting a better body, it is about boosting your hormones, and feeling better about yourself.

The perfect relationship to me is that you BOTH take time, to love what the other person loves. I really don't understand why people so different will be together, and yes maybe accept differences, but will never take time to understand (by experience) and love each others differences. In marriage you are supposed to be in union with each other spiritually, yet many hold physical aspects as so important that they 'brick wall' many parts of them. That's not spiritual, and it affects your relationship. This is why people split up, divorce, etc. And usually, they continue to say they are the victim. Every person who ever hurt me taught me something. They taught me to love myself more, trust others more, and have more faith. Thank you hurtful people in my life! :)

Most people settle for 2nd best in each other and never try to make that 2nd best 1st best, which is what you are trying. Insecurity doesn't disappear if you ignore it. It is better that it is out in the open now, and it is 'not your fault'.
 

J7

Banned
Apr 2, 2017
1,915
13
0
#17
We recently joined a new gym in our new town. As part of the new membership, they gave us a free "body analysis" to go along with some free couples training sessions etc. I enjoy going to workout etc (haven't gone much recently due to kids, work etc), but she may go very infrequently or not at all. I though it may be a nice way to do something active together instead of the usual dinner, movie. It gave a body fat analysis and needless to say she became very upset, started crying, and and left the office we were in to go to the bathroom and was crying in there. She has avoided me all day now. This was never my intention. Maybe I should have seen this coming.

At the same time, I am in the healthcare field, and I see first hand the results when people eat poorly, never exercise, and don't take care of themselves.

Any advice on how to handle this delicate topic? I just want us to live long, active, and healthy lives together.
I have spent many years caring for my mother, with the result that I have become very fat as a result of being sedentary.

Fat is a nightmare, and leads to very serious conditions, like diabetes.

When you are 35 all you think about is how to look good for your partner, but let me tell you, when you get to 53 all you will think about is how to get out of bed without tearing a muscle, and your life will revolve around what you are physically capable of doing.

Good diet, active lifestyle. Basic.

How you break it to your wife is your issue, but carry on with a bad lifestyle and sooner rather than later one of you will become a burden on the other.
 

Crimson_Lark

Senior Member
Apr 17, 2012
207
15
18
#18
Losing weight and staying in shape needs to be something she wants for herself and makes a goal. If you are the only one pushing it it's going to cause division and resentment.

Think of why it's so hard for her. Imagine if the roles were switched, how would you feel?

Tell her and show her that you love her no matter what. Give her time to process through her feelings, if I had to guess it's not just you she's upset with, there are usually underlying issues with weight.

After much time, consider a different approach. Think of active things that you both would enjoy and then take her on fun dates.
For instance you want to show her an amazing waterfall- take her hiking. etc Make the exercise secondary to you two spending time together and enjoying something.
 

88

Senior Member
Nov 14, 2016
3,517
77
48
#20
We recently joined a new gym in our new town. As part of the new membership, they gave us a free "body analysis" to go along with some free couples training sessions etc. I enjoy going to workout etc (haven't gone much recently due to kids, work etc), but she may go very infrequently or not at all. I though it may be a nice way to do something active together instead of the usual dinner, movie. It gave a body fat analysis and needless to say she became very upset, started crying, and and left the office we were in to go to the bathroom and was crying in there. She has avoided me all day now. This was never my intention. Maybe I should have seen this coming.

At the same time, I am in the healthcare field, and I see first hand the results when people eat poorly, never exercise, and don't take care of themselves.

Any advice on how to handle this delicate topic? I just want us to live long, active, and healthy lives together.
***sometimes people are not ready to face certain changes in their lives which seem to threaten them***pray and find God's Peace and Direction...