It might be challenging, but remember that you can always meet halfway with constant communication
Healthy living positively affects your mental and emotional well-being and is important when dealing with life’s challenges. Sharing this strength with someone can work wonders in ways you can only imagine.
I always do my best to have a healthy lifestyle with my husband and fellow fitness and wellness coach Armand. We’ve supported each other in our health and fitness journey for the 24 years (15 years as a married couple) we’ve been together.
Just like most couples, we also experienced day-to-day lifestyle challenges like stress eating, after-dinner cravings, exercise burnouts, sleep deprivation, and misunderstandings. But, we’ve resolved these issues through team effort.
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Our differences balance each other out. Through time and with his support and understanding, I overcame my extreme personality and learned to approach things in moderation. Conversely, I believe that through my passionate personality, I was able to bring more energy into Armand’s life.
Apart from wellness gifts and healthy date nights this Valentine’s, you can connect deeper with your loved one by discussing realistic ways to incorporate good nutrition, quality sleep, and constant movement in your daily lives. Starting on your fitness journey can help manage unnecessary stressors so you can move forward in your goals as a couple.
It might be initially challenging, but remember that you can always meet halfway with constant communication.
Here, I’m sharing what I’ve learned about influencing and supporting your partner to get fit while embracing a sustainable, healthy lifestyle.
1. Effectively influence your partner to embrace healthy living by knowing yourself better and becoming a role model first
- Be consistent with the desired healthy habits you want to share with your partner. You must walk the talk before telling your partner to exercise regularly and eat healthily. How can you ask someone to control eating desserts and junk foods if you’re the one who always buys and craves these?
- Self-awareness is key to a stronger bond. Being truly aware of your needs and wants right now can help you achieve a deeper connection with someone. What are the issues you need to bring up with your partner? You might have problems with discipline and staying consistent with your efforts. You may need the other person for constant support and vice versa.
- Be mindful of your approach by initially expressing your good intentions and current feelings.
2. Discuss goals and expectations by communicating about each other’s growth
- Set visions together as a couple. What do you both value most in life? What do you look forward to as you get older together?
- Share each other’s fitness and health goals, such as weight management, muscle building, faster run performance, improved moods (plus sex drive), and/or better overall health.
- Identify the things you need to pursue to get a good start, such as going to health checkups, enrolling in a gym, signing up for fitness classes, and/or hiring a health coach.
- Discuss your different roles in this fitness journey. Who will plan and manage meals at home? Who can do weekly grocery shopping? Who will schedule medical appointments?
- Put everything into action by discussing each other’s schedules, regular tasks, and calendar of activities and then deciding on the best strategies that can work initially and realistically for both of you.
- Talk about the rewards (massage, travel, date night) you can enjoy together for the anticipated wellness achievements (fat loss, better blood work results, improved fitness level/performance).
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3. Implement practical and doable steps to ensure healthy lifestyle compliance as a team
- For better sleep, prepare dinner earlier (at least three hours before sleep time), set a schedule when you can go to bed together, avoid bringing food into the bedroom, and refrain from doing night rituals (social media, late-night television watching) that can keep your partner awake.
- Commit to the exercise schedule you discussed with your partner; either you do it individually or together. Start at-home workouts with simple bodyweight routines. Integrate cardio by doing early weekend outdoor walks and/or runs with the whole family and/or your pet.
- As much as possible, prioritize home-cooked meals. You can save so much money, time, energy, and calories by limiting your eatouts. Always make home food healthy and satisfying so your partner doesn’t feel deprived. Consider getting an air fryer to save calories from oil, especially if your partner loves crunchy foods like fried chicken, camote chips, and spring rolls.
- To get rid of extra stress, ensure a healthy home environment by scheduling time for decluttering, organizing, and cleaning each area of your house.
4. Create ways to sustain your fitness journey as a couple
- Regularly appreciating each other’s efforts through simple acts of love can increase motivation to achieve more. Know your partner’s love language and give it with all your heart.
- Openly discuss all your learnings, modified goals, progress, and new healthy game plan. This act can strengthen your bond and accountability with each other.
- Keep interested and knowledgeable about fitness and nutrition by staying updated with health and wellness trends.
- Always think of more effective, healthy ways to influence and inspire the people around you. Share what you know, have experienced, and would like to achieve further as a couple.
Email the author at mitchfelipe@gmail.com or follow/message her on Instagram @mitchfelipemendoza