It should come as no surprise to you that I am going to be a proponent of your husband’s health. After all, I write about women’s health all the time on my blog, Peak313 Fitness. Valentine's Day is in a couple of days so what better way to share love with him, than to encourage him in his pursuit of health! I don’t think I need to build a case as to why you need your husband to be in good health. I know that I want mine around for a LONG time! I want him to experience an excellent quality of life and I want him to set an example for our children. We also can’t forget that God does place an importance on our bodies as temples of His Spirit. We do have a responsibility to steward them well.
Here are 3 ways that you can help your husband enhance the quality of his health:
1.) Help him create time in his busy schedule for fitness.
My husband is a very thin guy by nature, but doesn’t really enjoy exercising to the extent that I do. We look at his schedule each week and I encourage him to fit it in where there are open spots. And when he is not really wanting to exercise, I kind of push him out of the door, realizing that he’s always happier that he went when he comes back in. He is in a weekly basketball league and while I don’t exactly love that he’s gone for a few hours that night, I try and look at the bigger picture that being part of that league will do for him.
2.) Keep his favorite healthy snacks around.
This begs the question “What are his fav healthy snacks?” Well…ask him! My husband loves having nuts, Greek yogurt and protein bars around the house. I do my best to keep that stocked so that when he is hungry, he has them there to grab. I am also introducing new things to his diet that he may not otherwise like.
3.) Exercise with him.
This doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym together, or play 1 on 1 basketball. Maybe you go down in the basement and are beside him while he lifts weights. Maybe the two of you do an ab routine together. We have 2 small children and the reality is, it’s HARD to get 2 adult workouts in in a day! So there are times when this is the only time we can complete it, not to mention we get to be together. (The picture of us, 3 years ago, was the first time we ran a race together. Might be the last time, too! LOL!)
I know that many of you have husbands who are super-resistant to this life change. I've had many women email me with this challenge asking how they can best influence their husband towards a healthier life.
1.) Pray
Just like any other life change we may want in our husbands, our first thing we should do is go to our knees in prayer. Ask God to open his heart in this area and to bring people or situations into his life where it may highlight this need in his life. Also pray for your patience and steadfastness. It will be easy to get discouraged if you are the only one heading up health in your home. Remember, our struggles are not against those in this world but this outside of it. Yes, your husband's health may be a spiritual battle you are fighting.
2.) Live by example.
If you are stressing out about your health whether it's fitting in your workout, flipping out because you ate dessert, or making everyone else around you unhappy, then why on earth would he want that? This is a good check and balance for me personally. Living a healthy life should enhance not just your life, but everyone else's around you. Keep the attitude light, fresh, and full of energy. That will go much further than forcing it down anyone's throat.
3.) Take it slow.
No need to change every single dinner up and make it something he isn't familiar with. You also don't need to get him on an intense exercise plan that has him going from 0 to 60 in a matter of one week. Pick one small thing and focus on that for a while. It may take 6 months, a year, or yes, even longer for him to adjust. That's ok!
Sit down with your hubby…and calendar this week. Ask him how you can help him in his pursuit of health? Can you create room for him in the calendar to exercise? Can you help him find a league that he could be involved in? What kind of healthy snacks can you have around for him? If you sense resistance, step back and pray. Allow God to work on his heart!
Press on!
Clare
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