Losing your spouse to exercise

It may feel as though your spouse is having an affair, and he or she is. Kind of.
But it is an affair with the gym not Jim. This is the kind of affair that, in our health conscious world, is hard to criticize.

According to the Washington Post, fanatical obsessions with fitness nonetheless usually leave one spouse complaining about eating alone, cold sheets and no fun.

What to do? The obvious answer would seem to be in the old adage ‘if you can’t beat them, join them.’

Exercising with your spouse can give you a common interest as a couple and give you time to and topics to talk about. It could be a win win.

Not everyone thinks so.

According to Jenna Bergen Southerland, writing in Prevention magazine, exercising is a lovely personal space that often isn’t fun to share with your spouse. Then there is the competition angle, when he tries to run faster than her or the opposite.

But one of the most important points is that couples might like to exercise differently. Men might prefer weightlifting to aerobic dance. Women might prefer yoga to pushups.

If you are competing with your spouse’s Gym, try using the time to make your own space in the exercise world. You will still share an interest and you will get to do something you like.