The husband is way out of shape. His main form of exercise is working hard to avoid any physical labor. When we were practicing for my dressage test he was complaining because he was going to have to stand to read the whole thing. “The whole thing” is about 5 minutes. He says his back hurts if he stands that long. We went to Washington D.C. once and I about killed him by making him walk all over the city.
But last night we were laying in bed and I had my head on his chest. I noticed that his heart rate seemed fast for a human. So I timed it. His resting heart rate was 90.
I by no means can claim to be fit. But I’m able to walk around and have a job where I stand most of the day. So I timed myself. Mine was 75.
So now what do I do? He knows that he needs to lose weight. I can’t make him exercise. We do have bikes so I can invite him to go riding with me. But his schedule doesn’t lend itself to that very often. How do I convince him that he needs to exercise because he’s killing himself?
I wish I had an easy answer for you…but my husband has had a quadruple heart bypass and continues to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, so I definitely feel your pain!
I have been on b/p meds for years, and exercise regularly, if you count a 2+ mile walk about three times a week, and a mile walk another two times. I am, like most men, overweight. My b/p yesterday was 122/77 with a pulse rate of 76, controlled by meds. Is your hubby on b/p meds? His resting pulse is way too high, unless of course, he was having REM sleep and a dream about being in a trotting race without a horse.
I’m not sure what you can do besides sit him down and have a heart-to-heart with him. Tell him about the heartbeats and of your concerns, that you love him and want him to be with you for many years to come. Maybe offer to diet with him???
…. getting cut off…
I’m not sure what you can do besides sit him down and have a heart-to-heart with him. Tell him about the heartbeats and of your concerns, that you love him and want him to be with you for many years to come. Maybe offer to diet with him???
My husband is also very overweight. He didn’t lift a finger about it until his gall bladder gave out 1.5 years ago. Had to have surgery and all. That really scared him. He took advantage of a weight loss program offered by his school and dropped 30 pounds in just a few months. He counted his calories and walked on the treadmill 4 mi/day! But, he wasn’t working at the time. He has since found employment and put all that weight back on. And possibly with interest!
We talked the other day about it because now I am working to lose weight. The only reason he won’t do it again is because he says he just doesn’t have the time. But it sounded more like an excuse; like the world is restricting his free time so he can’t possibly lose weight. I used to think like that, too. Does your husband?
Try the heart to heart. Maybe offer to do it with him. Suggest just 30 mins/day, three days a week (that includes weekends). Maybe that’ll work.
Good luck to you and to him! 🙂