As an fitness professional, how do you handle it when your spouse is very unfit?
I think Daniel said it best here. In a good relationship, people care deeply about each other and it can be hard to watch the other person make his/her own decisions when those decisions aren’t ones that you agree with. People make their own decisions. Even though the two people, in my opinion, should treat the relationship itself like a single person, each person still very much needs to have his/her own individual identity. It’s important to allow each other to be your own person.
It can be difficult when I go out to eat with my girlfriend and I watch her order the most unhealthy item on the menu, without fail. She constantly eats fast food. I hate it. She is in great shape on the outside, which is probably why she doesn’t feel the need to eat healthier, but I keep telling her that it’s going to catch up with her one day =). I respect her decisions regardless of my opinions because she is her own person, and I love that person inside and out, imperfections and all. She returns that respect, and we have a solid relationship because of this mutual respect. Try not to read too much into it. It’s definitely ironic, but the fact remains that you have to look at it as a personal choice, and you have to respect that choice. You wouldn’t go force a complete stranger to follow your ways just because you feel like it’s the best thing for that person… It’s difficult territory with someone you love, but it’s probably for the best that every now and then we simply show our loved ones that we care, and respect their decisions regardless.