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Wife's Weight Crushes Husband's Sex Drive

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Dear John: My wife's weight has gone way up. Not to my surprise, I no longer feel aroused by her. This is a rather recent problem. After 10 years of marriage, it has left me wondering how I can explain this to her.

Our diminished sex life is a disappointment to us both. I'd like to be able to tell her why I feel this way, but she doesn't take criticism very well. I want to make things better. How can I do this without hurting her feelings? —Doubting My Desire, in Newport Beach, Calif.

Dear Doubting: As you can imagine, in an age of overweight and obesity, this is an issue that gets raised quite often.

The best approach is to lead by example. Did you know that about 70 percent of the calories people consume come out of their own kitchen pantry and refrigerator? Tell her that you want to make a new start in 2012 and clear your home of all the products with added sugars. From cookies to cokes to candy, if you can beat the sugar devil, you're more than half way to winning your war against being overweight.

In fact, you don't have to mention weight at all. Start your own exercise program and become your own model of healthy living.

Lead the way, and don't lecture. My guess is that she'll want to follow your lead.

Dear John: In a previous column you suggested that, by enlarging your dating pool, you are more likely to find a suitable partner. I live in a place where, if a man dates around, he is described as a "womanizer." Any suggestions? —Not a Player, in Ashland, Ore.

Dear Not a Player: There is a difference between dating around and sleeping around.

Despite public opinion, in your neck of the woods, the best way to find a soul mate is through trial-and-error. Should you limit your dating opportunities, you will place an unfair burden on both yourself and your date to live up to unreasonable expectations. No one can speak ill of you if, through this process, you are consistently a gentleman.

John Gray is the author of "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus." Visit his website, http://www.marsvenus.com, for advice on dating, marriage, parenting, romance and workplace issues. Or e-mail him at comments@marsvenus.com. To find out more about John Gray and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2011 JOHN GRAY'S MARS VENUS ADVICE


Comments

2 Comments | Post Comment
Hey John -

I can't believe you were so way off in your answer. Your first suggestions needed to be to take the wife to the doctor to see if the weight gain is a sign of something more serious. THEN the doctor could recommend a proper exercise and weight loss program, which the husband could then offer to join.

Your suggestion of "leading by example" isn't going to work, and might even make things worse. The wife is not going to be so naive as to understand the husband's REAL motive behind suddenly starting an exercise/nutrition program. Plus, a gym membership is not necessarily the best thing for the wife. FIrst, she might be very embarrassed by the place, and also, the types of exercises she needs to do to lose weight might not be the same...or she might not be capable.

And the wife is going to eat and exercise as she wants, no matter what the husband says.

I tried this with my wife, and the only thing that ended up happening was that she felt self-conscious
Comment: #1
Posted by: Paul W
Mon Jan 2, 2012 5:53 PM
I have to agree with Paul - the leading by example ruse is stupid. The only thing that's going to happen is that the wife is going to believe her husband is now having an affair. I think its ridiculous that people marry, mate, breed and still can't have an open discussion. Just be honest with your wife.
Comment: #2
Posted by: Diana
Mon Jan 9, 2012 9:13 PM
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