It’ll come as no surprise to many wives despairing over their beloveds’ expanding waistline, but today’s middle-aged British man is more likely to be overweight than his wife. A recent study found that 68 per cent of men aged 45-74 were obese, compared with 60 per cent of women.
Despite this, men tend to be much more reluctant than women to follow diet regimes or join slimming groups.
So, what’s a wife to do if her husband is getting a little thick around the middle but is unwilling to tackle it?
Here, nutritionist and weight loss expert Niki Woods suggests six sneaky tips for getting your husband to shed a few pounds – without him even realising he’s on a diet...
Spice up your sandwiches
If your partner is working and usually nips to or Pret at lunchtime, suggest that you switch to making packed lunches together as a way to save money.
Niki says: ‘When it comes to sandwiches, you want to be leaving out fatty condiments like butter and mayo without him noticing.
A good way to do that is to really go to town on the flavours. A favourite for me is tinned tuna, with chopped peppers, chilli flakes and a drizzle of hot sauce.
Choose healthier breads like granary or wholemeal and swap crisps for popcorn. It has fewer calories than crisps and more fibre too, meaning it will keep him fuller for longer.’
Be clever around booze
If you’re a couple who typically crack open a bottle of red every evening then you’re each consuming around 310 calories. Over the course of a week that adds up to a large pepperoni pizza each!
‘Many of the women who follow my programme tell me that when they stop drinking their husbands do too because they’ve lost their drinking buddy,’ says Niki.
‘Scheduling an early morning activity on Saturdays and Sundays will also mean he’s more likely to drink in moderation the night before.
‘Another good idea is to propose a weekend pub lunch – but not your local. Instead suggest a new pub that just so happens to be two or three miles away. I have clients who now make this their regular activity, a different pub combined with a long walk that can easily burn 600 calories.’
Buoy up his barbecue skills
With summer here, it’s the perfect time to encourage him to don an apron and fire up the coals.
‘Grilling is one of the healthiest ways to cook food, so if he’s a barbecue beast then encourage that,’ says Niki.
‘Steer away from fatty meats like burgers and sausages and focus on chicken, lean steaks, fish and prawns. Vegetable kebabs are also delicious on the barbecue.
‘If you’re entertainers then go for a barbecue over a traditional dinner party. Don’t bother putting out extra nibbles – if you have plenty of grilled food and salads then nobody will miss them.’
Ease in exercise
Helping him to be more active, especially if he has a sedentary desk job, is going to help burn fat.
‘The summer is the perfect time to encourage your husband to get active,’ Niki says. ‘Give him a list of jobs to do in the garden!
‘Try to make a long walk part of your weekend routine. If you’re heading into town point out that it’s a nightmare to park and suggest you walk instead. In the summer months, a long evening walk is a great way to unwind and burn calories.’
Protein-packed breakfasts
Does your husband skip breakfast at home then grab a cappuccino and muffin on the go? Presenting him with a home-cooked breakfast could be the answer.
‘Avoid anything sugary that’s going to lead to a big blood sugar spike,’ says Niki. ‘As soon as that spike drops, hunger will kick in and mid-morning snacking will start.’
So, out goes toast, jam, cereal and fruit juice. In its place Niki recommends ‘a quick breakfast of proper, substantial food – eggs on sourdough for example. In my experience men are more likely to eat well if their partners are.
‘If you’re pressed for time then a high protein shake is a good compromise. You can buy the powder from companies such as Raw Sport (rawsport.com) and drink on the go. Alternatively, Lidl do fantastic protein drinks that are 250 calories and 99p.’
Sneaky snack habits
Not having a treat cupboard is an easy remedy for secret snacking. Chances are he’ll fancy a bar of chocolate, but not enough to go and buy one if there are none in the house.
‘He can’t eat what’s not there but if you can’t go entirely without salty and sugary treats then put them out of sight,’ advises Niki. ‘Keep sliced loaves in the freezer rather than fresh in a bread bin – making a quick sandwich impossible. The only thing you want out on display is a fruit bowl.
‘Put sweets, cakes and crisps in the highest cupboard you have, preferably one that requires a chair or stepladder to reach it. You want to make it really hard for him to eat the things you don’t want him to eat and easy to eat the ones you do.’
Another good tip is to buy the smaller snack bags of crisps, not the giant ones.
‘If he has to have something to nibble in front of the TV, place a small amount of crisps in a bowl. Never hand over a whole bag or tube.’
*nikiwoods.com
