Are husbands to blame for their wives becoming fat?

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Thursday, December 4, 2003 | Shmuley Boteach

[Publius6961]

First, there is something just a little hypocritical in the contemporary contention of husbands that only their wives need appear sexy while they can have endless folds of whale blubber hanging down their stomachs.

This is the only touche in the article.
Of course it works both ways, or all bets are off.

[Maria S]

Probably some good points in the article!

A psychologist once told me something interesting about couples: A couple that 'looks' similar in appearance (both good-looking, both fat, both homely, etc.) will probably stay together a lot longer than a couple that is very different in appearance (one great-looking and in good shape, the other somewhat homely and fat).

Exceptions are if the 'lesser' one in the couple has an outstanding personality (you know the kind; everybody enjoys being around him/her!). The other exception: a homely, fat, bald guy can pretty much attract whatever type he chooses...if he's rich!

[madison10]

...yea. Also a woman may get fat if her husband does not seem to want "any." Ever. Makes her feel worthless & ugly. Add that to the never telling her she's attractive & there will be a whale showing up in the living room

[SamAdams76]

This article focuses on the women but there are a lot of men who "let themselves go" as well. I think the reasons given in the article (for why wives get fat) is a lot of bunk. There are three primary factors for the obesity problem we are facing:

• In our modern society, the caloric expenditure for daily life has been greatly reduced. For instance, we drive to the store instead of walking there. We use elevators and escalators instead of climbing stairs (I see healthy young people riding escalators at the mall while the stairways are completely empty). We have washing machines clean our laundry and dishes instead of hand-washing them ourselves. We now have machines perform most of the manual labor in the workplace (for most jobs). Most of the "work" has even been taken out of yard work. Neighbors of mine use riding lawn mowers and snowblowers and they even vaccum up the leaves instead of raking them, for example.

• Food is cheap and very plentiful. For most of human existence, food was relatively scarce and most worried daily about where there next meal would come from. Today, that worry has been removed for even the very poor in the United States.

• Most foods sold in the United States are heavily processed "convenience" foods that can be eaten right out of the package or microwaved for a few minutes. The drawback to this convenience is the fact that these foods are loaded with artificial sweeteners (such as high fructose corn syrup) and preservatives, hydrogenated vegetable oils (trans-fats), and other man-made substances that the human body is not used to consuming. Additionally, salt (sodium) is a major ingredient in many processed foods which carries health risks of its own.

By re-introducing regular daily exercise and switching back to a diet of whole, natural foods, while avoiding the heavily processed junk foods, one can address the obesity problem. One does not have to be a "gym rat," just one or two brisk walks a day of three miles or more combined with a natural food diet that consists of meat, vegetables, berries, eggs, fish, cheese, yogurt, nuts and pure olive oil, lots of clean water (and yes, beer and wine too) will take the weight off and make you much, much healthier.

I have done this and lost over 100 pounds over the past eight months. I am now in my normal weight range for the first time in my adult life. There's no secret to my success. I basically went back to the lifestyle of my ancestors - lots of brisk walking and the consumption of whole, fresh foods only. Some will call it a "low-carb" diet but I never really counted carbs. By eliminating all the processed foods and the junk foods and the sugary drinks, I have eliminated perhaps 75% of the carbs that were in my diet before without even thinking about it.

Now my wife is following the same plan and she has lost 30 pounds since September.

So Happy Losing and have a Merry Christmas!

[Mamzelle]

Maybe a man's flagging libido seeks any excuse for its diminishment...? Blaming someone else serves the trick--I mean, if a guy's impotent, it must be because his wife is insufficiently attractive. Couldn't be that there's anything wrong with *him*!

[ItsOurTimeNow]

I (jokingly) tell my wife, "If you want me to start acting like a Soap Opera Guy, then you need to start dressing like a Victoria's Secret Gal."

Seriously though...we both put on weight when she was pregnant w/ our daughter 3 years ago. We'd always say that we were going to start eating better and exercising more, but we'd always lose the motivation after a few weeks.

I ended up taking the initiative and going on the Atkins plan back in August. She wasn't very much into it, but once she saw that it was working for me, she took to it as well.

I guess "leading by example" works pretty well.

[Maigrey]

Let me ask a blunt question:

When was the last time you seduced him?

This might do wonders for his self-esteem. (works for my husband!)

[Kenton]

Gosh, after reading this I feel as if I should apologize on behalf of all males for all the fat wives out there... but I'm hoping that you'll let me blame this all on George Bush. ;)

[dawn53]

I actually bought it to take to a company Christmas party for a gift exchange. One of those exchanges where you can steal a present from anybody that's opened one before you. It was a HOT item, LOL, but only the women wanted to keep it.

I will say this, my husband laughed hysterically everytime he'd listen to it!

My favorite lines: "Let's just cuddle tonight" and "Can't your mother stay another week."

[Pedantic_Lady]

When was the last time you seduced him?

None of your business, and my husband does not have self-esteem problems.

[Phaedrus]

Well, of course we are AND everything else! ... ;-}

[Cagey]

None of your business, and my husband does not have self-esteem problems.

Good answer. For a minute or so I thought I had switched on the Springer show with the question that was asked of you.

[Pedantic_Lady]

Good answer. For a minute or so I thought I had switched on the Springer show with the question that was asked of you.

Thanks!

[GrandMoM]

BUMP

[SW6906]

"One does not have to be a "gym rat," just one or two brisk walks a day of three miles or more...."

Sam, I walk for 15-20 minutes or more every morning (I just got off the treadmill minutes ago, and yes, I know I should do even more!). This amounts to just over a mile at a brisk pace (I am constantly told I walk very fast). With stretching exercises before, it takes nearly 30 minutes for this "workout". Walking three miles or more a couple times a day is a couple hours of exercise each day - not easy for many people to dedicate that much time.

I've been told by my doctor that if I can do 30 minutes of walking a day, it will do me wonders (and it has).

[ohioWfan]

My husband IS 'Mr Wonderful.' ...... Seriously.

Our daughter got that doll as a gag gift for her birthday, and both daughters and I agree, that it sounds just like him.......well, all but the asking directions part!

We've been 'exercising' together for 27 years, and couldn't be happier....... ;o)

And about the gaining weight part.....the discipline has to come from inside YOU. NO one else is responsible for your own weight gain. This article sounds a lot like a 'victim' thing, and I don't buy it.

[ValerieUSA]

He lets his kids stay at Michael's ranch and tells people how nice and safe he is. Boteach is a Quack Rabbi. He will make judgements against fat wives, but not against mutilated grown men sleeping with young boys.

[mewzilla]

Forget the gym :) I walk or work out at home. I also have very few labor saving devices. I'm healthy and fit, and I burn a lot of calories raking my leaves with a rake, mowing my lawn with a reel mower. Heck, even washing your dishes by hand burns some calories. Just move :)

[Diddle E. Squat]

Its all the gun's fault. The gun made me shoot it.

[SW6906]

"Its all the gun's fault. The gun made me shoot it."

???