Your husband may be great at taking care
of the family car, but he probably isn't so attentive to
his own well-being. As for his annual checkup, he'll
go... next year. Instead of nagging, try these
strategies:
Make back-to-back doctor appointments for yourself and
your husband. That way, you know you'll get him there;
and when it's your turn, you can alert the physician to
any problems your husband may be too embarrassed to
bring up, says Harvey B. Simon, M.D., of the Harvard
Medical School. Also, you can keep track of any new
information, says Mark Moyad, M.D., of the University of
Michigan Medical Center. Most men are terrible listeners
when it comes to specifics about cholesterol counts or
treatment plans, says Dr.Moyad.
If you put your husband on the defensive, he may eat
even more nonnutritious stuff. Instead, help him figure
out how to change, says Robert Scales, Ph.D., of the
University of New Mexico. And remember that fish,
chicken and turkey aren't the only healthy dinner
choices:
If you're married to a meat-and-potatoes guy, keep him
happy with lean beef and pork. Work out together. Your
support can be a powerful motivator. Plus, you'll become
slimmer and fitter too. The best way to get started is
to find something you both will enjoy. You don't have to
go to the gym. You could try swing dancing, suggests
Molly Kimball of the Ochsner Clinic's Elmwood Fitness
Center in New Orleans. Exercise together while watching
a favorite TV show --- that will give you a regular
schedule. Or get a large dog: For some reason, men are
happy to take long walks for the sake of Fido.
My husband never wanted to see the doctor. It used to
make me mad, until I realized he was afraid that
something would be wrong. So now I make the appointment
for him. Fannie Clay-Flowers, Euclid, OH , I'm the
primary cook, and I simply decided I'd no longer indulge
my husband's desire for junk food. At first, it was a
real struggle, but a year later, he's forgotten how to
eat poorly. Tina Adams, Hummelstown, I inspired my
husband to quit smoking by doing it myself first. I
explained that I'd quit because I loved him and the
family, and I just didn't want to be a smoker anymore.
He said, 'Me too,' and we haven't had a cigarette since
