So…this can be a tough one! It is no surprise to anyone that knows me that I have been trying to get my husband to pay a little more attention to his activity level and health. I imagine there might be some others of you out there who may be looking for some ideas on how to encourage your valentine to be more active and healthy. I am offering up a few tips that I hope will help us both.
How to encourage your Valentine to be more active & healthy
Sign up for a race together
This worked really well for me! You may remember my series on the husband project (here, here and here) where I tricked convinced my husband to train for and run a 5k with me. While this strategy has not had the long term effects I was hoping for, my husband did train for and complete the race. I still believe this is a great strategy and fun activity to do as a couple. Trying to figure out how to trick him into another one.
Give the gift of time
Many people do not exercise because they don’t feel as though they don’t have time. Offer to watch the kids or take on another responsibility off of their to do list & free up your spouse’s schedule.
Surprise your sweetheart with new tech gear
A gift of new headphones, a fitness tracker or some new sports gear can spark the excitement of being active.
Remind your honey it’s time for a checkup
Let their Dr. ask them about their health and exercise habits and (hopefully) suggest they make some changes. Takes the pressure off of you!
Cook it up
Plan a creative healthy themed dinner and cook together. Hopefully that will lead to more healthy meal ideas.
Plan a Romantic active vacation
Planning a fun active vacation can gently remind your sweetie it’s time to kick it into high gear. Ski trip anyone?
I fully realize these are no easy tasks but it’s worth a try!
What ideas do you have for me? How do you encourage your Valentine to be more active & healthy?
linking up with AnneMarie, Nicole, AngelinaMarie & Michelle
I am still trying to figure this one out. He likes long walks and hiking. That’s it. I have tried everything. We have started walking on Sundays when the weather is good and the park walking paths are not flooded or some covered. It’s a start. What frustrates me is HE was the one that got me into these activities years ago by dragging me with him. Now the tables have turned and he has his parking brake on. I did get him to try yoga once when he hurt his back. Hr wasn’t a fan. Haha
It is a tough one indeed for us too! I tried to get mine to go to yoga and that didn’t work either. We just have to keep trying! Let me know if you find the trick 🙂
This is a tough one for sure. Many times people are who they are and we have to be really careful. My husband is active in his own way (not running) and I totally respect that. I had a (way) in the past relationship where that was so not the case. You have lots of excellent ideas. Just keep being a great role model and source of support.
It is a tough one for lots of people. I will just keep trying!
These are great ideas. Luckily my other half is very active.I love planning trips that involve a race or a fitness related activity.
Active vacations are the best aren’t they?!
While my husband is a triathlete and is very active with swimming, biking, and running, getting to the gym is difficult for him. The only way I can get him to lift weights is to go with him and work out with him. It’s actually a lot of fun, and we get to spend quality time together while we’re exercising.
That sounds like fun and it also sounds like he is quite motivated to be active on his own which is great!
The last thing I need to do is encourage my husband to be more active. I’m very active and can hardly keep up with him!
Well that’s a good problem to have!
Not sure I could get my hubby to run a 5k but he has been working out again in the morning and I’ve been whipping up healthy smoothies to encourage him to keep on doing so! 🙂
Well that’s progress! Mine was doing well for a while but has kind of slacked off lately
I love the idea of an active yet romantic getaway!! I always try to encourage my hubby and gently remind him how much better he feels when he gets a workout in.
I know they forget how much better they will feel and what a great stress reliever it can be. Romantic active vacations are fun!
Such great ideas! I struggle with getting my hubby on board the fitness train too. He sits SO much at work and I worry.
I know mine too! It’s hard because you want to help but not drive them crazy at the same time
These are all really great tips! My boyfriend runs but the winter weather really causes him to lose motivation. I really like the idea of giving the gift of time.
Thanks part of why I think my husband doesn’t do it is time. It can be really hard to stay motivated in the winter
Love this! So it’s not weird that I have bought my husband shoes in the past or this year I got him a Polar M400 since I love mine and he has been eyeing it up after my runs and realizing there is so much more to it than they have on their website. I’m hoping he loves it and I’m charging it now so it is ready when I give it to him Sunday and we can go for a quick run to “test it out”!
That’s a great idea I hope it works! Not weird at all 🙂
Haha….seeing me be active all the time definitely is a reminder to my husband to try to do what he can when he can…. I think the problem with many men is that they do the same workout at the same gym every time, and then get bored….but it is like pulling teeth to get them to try something new.
That’s true as well! They can be creatures of habit. Watching me to active does not seem to be helping us! Ready for this weekend??
I would be if it wasn’t going to be 88 and sunny…. massive heatwave in LA… ugh!! My goal is now just to survive!!
So we are having an arctic blast and the wind chill for my run on Saturday is scheduled to be neg 5. Pick your poison!!
While I do fail in this most of the time, I have gotten the hubs to join me on bike rides even when I’ve done races. It is more enjoyable for him to ride than to stand around waiting on me to finish.
When we bought our RV it wasn’t too long before we had to have bikes, so that was the start of it.
Well that is a great idea! I might try it
Ha! Mike didn’t stick with the running after the 5k either. But he enjoyed some of it and was happy to know he could do it and is thinking about joining me for a future 5k so there’s still some hope 🙂 We both love the active vacations and trying out healthy recipes at home so that’s a plus.
Yes there is still hope for both of us!! I like cooking healthy foods together too-good luck!
These are all awesome tips! My boyfriend actually encourages me to get up and going because he gets up early for work. I feel guilty if I sleep in while he’s getting ready for the day.
Oh that would never happen around here!!
I’m going to keep trying too. My husband won’t even walk with me!
It can be very frustrating! Let’s both keep trying 🙂
Help him find his fitness love and do what you can to support it. I don’t cycle, but that’s what my husband enjoys, so sometimes I get on my bike and join him (not often) or meet him someplace that he’s biked to (more often). I also make sure his bike stays in good repair. I’m just glad our kids are old enough to stay alone – his biking and my running would surely conflict on the weekends otherwise LOL.
That’s great that you 2 have complimentary sports! Now you just need to start swimming lol. I am searching for his fitness love 🙂
This is a big problems for me. I really worry about my husband and his lack of activity. Unfortunately his “I don’t have time” excuse is his job, so I can’t really help with that.
His father suffered with dementia, and I can’t even begin to imagine having to go through that, and yes, I do worry about it because he doesn’t eat well and he doesn’t exercise. I can hear him breathing heavy just from walking.
I know he’s got to want to change, and I can’t do it for him. but it’s hard to watch.
It is really hard to address with a spouse for sure. We’ve had many a battle about it but unfortunately we can’t do it for them. We can just try to support and encourage in any way we can.
Such a sensitive subject, but you’re so right on all points! I ALMOST got hubby to run a turkey trot with me.
maybe next year?! Let’s both keep trying!
I love your tip about reminding them about check ups. My hubby is very fitness focused and eats well, and we enjoy being active together. But I know he slacks a bit on making regular check up visits.
It is really easy to overlook it and put it off isn’t it?
If you figure this one out, please tell me first! Im still struggling with mine trying to get him on board! Great tips, my fave is the book a trip!
Thanks! I have not figured it out by any means but it seems there are quite a few of us in the same boat!
We have the opposite problem. My hubby was my favorite running partner for years and since his knee surgery he can’t run (but at least he can bike). We both miss our runs together so much!
Ah that’s sweet at least you can bike together and that’s fun except when it is ridiculously cold
I love these ideas!! Fortunately my husband is super-active, so he loves anything and everything that I want to do to be healthy!
That’s great to hear! Enjoy 🙂
Training together is my favorite way 🙂
That’s nice that your valentine will work out with you! I am not giving up hope yet.
Really great tips!! My hubby works out, but I know he would do even more if he had more time. I like the gift of time idea a lot.
Thanks hope it works for you all too!
My husband works out even more than I do, so maybe he needs to read this for me haha
Lol perhaps! Wish I had that problem 🙂
All great ideas! We actually just got back from a ski trip. We decided to learn to snowboard. It’s fun! And painful… lol!
That sounds really fun! Have a great Valentine’s Day
These are great ideas. My husband is active, but his eating habits …. I try to keep healthy options around.
Well there’s that too!
Cooking healthier meals at home has REALLY helped us both stay on top of it. Now…if only I can get him to start jogging…hehe!
well it’s an ongoing battle for sure!