Has your Weight Gain Affected your Relationship?

When you first met your boyfriend, you were counting calories and visiting the gym on a regular basis. But since then you've grown comfortable with each other and you've added a few extra pounds. You might now find yourself feeling less attractive and struggling to lose some weight.

But what happens if your weight gain starts affecting your relationship? What if your boyfriend starts criticizing, making comments, or asking you to lose weight? Or what if he just pulls away?

If your boyfriend seems less interested in being affectionate, having sex, or is physically distancing himself from you, it's hard to ignore. You may feel self-conscious, but the best thing to do is to communicate and talk openly about your feelings. Following are some questions you can ask him:

Is he really distancing himself from you because of your weight gain, or is something else going on?

What factors led to his current feelings?

Is he willing to support you emotionally, no matter your weight?

And you can ask yourself:

Has he treated you with respect and consideration in the relationship, or does he only focus on your faults? Does he admit when he's at fault?

Have you been putting time and effort into your relationship?

Are you taking steps to feel better about yourself?

If he is making you feel guilty about your extra pounds, this is not helping the relationship. There's no excuse for his behavior, and perhaps he's hiding his own insecurities by trying to focus on you. Even if there's been a noticeable difference in your appearance, your significant other is there to support you, as long as you are supporting yourself. If your health is at risk, or if you spend your days feeling insecure and it's affected your relationships with friends and family, then something needs to change.

Again, the key is to communicate and let your feelings be clear. If you're not honest with one another, you could be spending too much time and energy on needless worrying. If he's worth keeping, he will support you, and you'll take action if it's needed to become a healthier you.