[Disclosure: I received a complimentary sample of this product. I only post giveaways about products I honestly like, or those I think FatFighterTV members would enjoy.]
Does this sound familiar?
My mind flashes to nights of us sitting side by side on the couch as I happily neglect my chicken and string beans and share his sesame chicken straight from the box; forgoing my light beer for a full-bodied brew he wants me to try; sharing not just popcorn, but popcorn, candy and soda at the movies; matching him bite for bite on the calamari or baskets of nacho chips he talked me into ordering; allowing him to pull me back under the covers instead of making it to my yoga class.
That’s an excerpt from Jenna Bergen’s new book, Your Big Fat Boyfriend – How to Stay Thin When Dating a Diet Disaster. When I read those words, I had flashbacks – I’ve totally been there! Before you know it, his terrible eating habits are making you gain weight. Not fair. But after reading Bergen’s book, no worries. You’ll be ready to “avoid the downward spiral into fat pants” and hang out with your BF.
Your Big Fat Boyfriend is funny, honest, and filled with tips and tricks Bergen herself has used as she has dated “her very own big fat boyfriend” for nearly four years.
The book will show you things like:
- How to make healthy choices when dining out, in, or on-the-run (Includes quick picks by restaurant type)
- The differences in male and female metabolisms – and why you can’t eat like he does
- Creative ideas for active dates to keep you both moving
- Easy-to-make healthy recipes you’ll both love – like this one for Forget Fried Chicken Fingers
So how’s Bergen doing now after dating her BFBF for four years? She tells FatFighterTV, “I am at a healthy weight and don’t yo-yo back and forth. But of course there are times when I’m tempted—it doesn’t go away entirely! But being aware is the most important thing, and following some of the tips/tricks I outline in the book, like remembering swaps, so if you have a cookie you can forgo the bread on your sandwich, etc., is so important.”
BTW, her boyfriend thought it was funny she was writing this book – good sport, huh?
For all you gals who somehow eat way more ‘za and down a few more brews when you’re with your BF, Your Big Fat Boyfriend will be your new best friend. And the publisher is giving away two copies of it this week!
Just tell me in the comments below what bad eating habits you’ve ever picked up from your boyfriend or husband (and to be fair – guys, if you’ve picked up any from your girlfriend/wife).
Me – I’ve definitely eaten more wings since I met my husband. And now he eats more chocolate. 
A few contest details: It ends at midnight EST this Friday, January 23… you have to have a U.S. mailing address to enter… and a random number generator will pick the winner.
Ok seriously this title is so true- the fact the hubs or bf does make you fat- but you know what so do the kids…
so what do you do…well I notice I eat the leftovers from the kids- hate to waste food- give them less..
for hubs since he is home 24/7 when I cook meals I make extra trays for him to heat up for snacking becuase if he is hungry and I cook for him..I eat too and at least nibble-
I so weant to read this book- I have told a bunch that watch what they eat and how they do it because I am pretty good when alone but that extra cooking and extra food not to waste is my downfall–
My hubs eats and eats and eats and eats and I told him I do not want to be pulled down anymore by eating- and yes I think I can stop it sometimes but not all the time- I also am making him healthier food choices and feeding him smaller portions to get him used to eating smaller amounts of food…
You know I just said yesterday- would he be a thin man if I were not around since he cannot cook for himself? Hmm..then again he would be living off of cereal, soda and poptarts thats why he is not allowed to shop
Very interesting. Probably more challenging to eat healthy when our close ones don’t?
Yeah, I know the feeling! There’s a half pizza in the fridge calling my name, but I know when to say no
Sandy – your comment totally cracked me up! And you make a good point about eating your kids’ leftovers. Maybe you should write a book about how your kids are making you fat.
Ice Cream! My husband is an ice cream person and it is hard to say no when he wants to eat a bowl right next to me. At least I have gotten smart and am trying to eat the “healthy” ones! Is there such a thing?!
I pretty much never ever ate red meat, the occasional steak when I would go out to eat maybe but the mister cooks hamburgers like 3 times a week during the summer. Mixed with my awesome garden goodies how can I pass up? augh. I did get him to switch to ground sirloin at least.
he also does the icecream at 8pm every night. I NEVER did this. if I wanted a snack, popcorn, cereal veggies etc.
PLUS he hates veggies! augh. I can’t even make my fave dishes cause he doesnt like corn. WHO DOESN’T LIKE CORN? he was born and raised in Indiana for crying out loud. so stir fry’s are pretty much out, healthy whole wheat pizza with veggies on top, OUT.
I actually love healthy food. but it is pricey and more goes to waste when i have to cook one and he cooks another meal. so annoying.
venting feels good.
this is the story of my life! My husband is always making brownies, buying chips, and ordering pizza.
No matter how many veggies I eat, I cannot resist the pizza and brownies!
That’s the hard part. I won’t eat it if it’s not around, but have a difficult time saying ‘no’ if it’s under my nose. I work on having sensible choices that I can pick instead. And keeping the indulgence to a minimum. On thing is sure, for most of us it’s women that lead the charge. Not too many guys are going to say, “I want to have a leafy green salad for dinner tonight.”
OMG, this is funny! Girls start eating like guys because we’re around them more. When I met my fiance, he was used to eating fast food at least 5 times a week. Me, maybe once. So, I had to really crack down on him – or at least keep the discipline on my end!
karissa – Wow, you did need to vent! Glad you did. And who eats ice cream EVERY night at a certain time? That’s nuts!
The only fights that my boyfriend and I have stem from our grocery store trips- most notably the very first trip when I broke down into over tired- tears while arguing about whole wheat pasta! Before we moved in together whole milk, butter and heavy cream were totally non-existent from my life. It wouldn’t have even occurred to me to cook with them. However, when I made alfredo sauce from scratch and tasted it- in all of it’s creamy, buttery glory- I realized I might have been missing out. He won’t let me forget it. So, the worst habit I have picked up from him has been the use of extraneous, fatty cooking aids like butter and heavy cream. It’s time to hit the gym now.
Ack! For me, it’s my portion size that has gone to heck since being married. Our plates look the same! I cook reasonable meals, but I eat too much. Every so often, we both go on a diet. Over a month, he loses 25 pounds and I lose 3. I need to just admit that I must eat less.
Yes Mark – definitely!
Dr. J – I didn’t know you ate pizza. Ever.
workout mommy – that’s a dangerous combination!
cathys997 – I’m the same way – If it’s not around, I’m perfectly fine. I won’t even crave it. (except for chocolate)
ocampo – I eat the “healthy” ones too. But what do you do about his M&Ms addiction?!
Jenny – 5 times a week, seriously??? Ewwww! Good thing you cracked down on him.
AmyKate – Whole milk, butter, and heavy cream are like a different language, huh?
Reeg – It so stinks that guys can eat more than girls! Not fair.
I have the skinniest fat boyfriend of anyone I know. It’s really not fair, I swear he has a hollow leg, and he is absolutely the worst influence on me.
I think this book is about my life!
My BF’s diet could consist of pork chops, buttered noodles, popcorn and nachos (and of course beer) the rest of his life and he would be content. It is SO hard to watch him eat that stuff and not join in! Our refrigerator has two kinds of cheese (regular and low-fat), two kinds of butter, two kinds of milk…you get the idea. And he’s VERY picky, so healthy meals together are often out of the question. I would love to learn how to make things that might fool him into thinking he’s not eating healthy! 
OMG swissmiss – I am so excited you stopped by and left a comment!!! And about your BFs eating habits – holy cow! Make him stop NOW.
It’s not just the snacking habits, it’s the meals… a lot more of them with a lot more food for each course. He feels taken care of with a “meat and potatoes” meal. It’s hard not to cook so much (and eat) when he’s so appreciative.
My problem is my BFRH: (Big Fat (tho not really fat) Retired Husband! Before he retired I was alone here all day, busy working and lunch was not really a planned event, maybe I’d grab a lowfat yogurt if hunger pangs overtook me. Then he retired a few years back and all of a sudden we’re dining all day. It’s like we’re on a cruise! He needs a coffee break (usually about 5 minutes after I get started full speed at my work), and there has to be a goodie to go with it. Next thing I know it’s lunch time and that always ends with cookies or something sweet. Sometimes there’s even an afternoon snack because he gets hungry again before dinner. We really do eat healthy food for the most part but it’s the frequency and quantity that have added some extra poundage. He’s also a late-night snacker and prefers ice cream while I try to concentrate on fruit or popcorn. It’s like food is always staring me in the face! How can I win?
Yes, I know the feeling. My boyfriend eats whatever and whenever he wants. He still has this super HOT body! I do not however feel the same way. I try to eat what he eats and I’m watching it go straight from my lips to my hips! HELP!
shsmtihnp – It is tough, isn’t it? Why can’t they just love to eat carrots and celery?
Ha Ha herblady – love the “BFRH” – very nice. The dining all day, however – yikes!
dfarris – It’s so not fair that they get to keep those super HOT bodies while we suffer instead!
I eat more – more food, more often, more booze, more cheese, more chocolate, more, more, more. My husband has amazing metabolism. He started working out 3x per week lifting weights and swimming, cut back on the amount he eats a lunch, and went down a couple of pant sizes in about 3 months. He’s lucky he’s such a great husband/dad and makes me laugh, otherwise I’d hate him.
This Mama Cooks!
I am so jealous of your husband’s metabolism! Glad you don’t hate him.
My husband is the food devil. I remember the first time I looked in his freezer I practically salivated because of all the yummy foods in there.
When we first got married, when he was in the I’ll do anything for you phase, I tried packing his luch box with many healthy meals and snacks. And asked him to spread it out. Spreading it out doesn’t work for him, he likes two huge meals a day. And soon the box was coming back with the healthy stuff still in it because he reverted back to junk food and snack machines.
The first thing I started as I creeped over to the dark side was soda. I’ve hardly had any soda in my life but he has it in the house all the time. Then I got pregnant and found my husband comforts and shows affection with food. He was constantly bringing me yummy favourites like pad thai and fries (I’ve also gotten through life with not much fast food). We’d go to the store and he’d be like, “Icecream, you know you want some…”
So, that’s how I’ve lost my forty pounds of pregnancy weight and need to lose like 25 more (at least) and how I started out trying to encourage good eating habits from him and wound up stepping over to the dark side.
It’s easier to say “No” when he gets his own ice cream, chips & dip, pork rinds (?!) and leaves me alone, but when he makes me my own dish of whatever,pours a glass of wine and brings it in to sit near me, batts his own eyelashes, and sighs “Here, honey,this is for you” well…I just give in.
After every meal, my husband gets a sugary treat. He says that he has a sweet tooth and he is nver full until he has the sugary treat. Well, it is very hard not to follow in his footsteps. It is never fun going for baby carots with hummus while he is eating a strawberry shortcake
Amy L – I am laughing so hard at the “food devil” and “dark side” comments! He sounds like quite a challenge.
Please do not enter me in the giveaway. Right now, I know what do. What I want to know is where was this darn book 20 years ago, when I didn’t?
Yes, Indeed. I have the husband who can eat what he wants when he wants. And he loving orders girl scout cookies, world’s finest chocolates, donuts. He likes to eat the Meat Lover’s pizza and of course I have to eat a slice or two, or three, okay four. He can eat a full meal and at night you can hear his stomach growling for more. He has always been trim, does not want a pot belly. So he eats to live. Hey why can’t we be slim and live to eat.
I am a over weight diabetic my husband loves me healthy and gets mad if I start losing. But I got to lose for my health. Hey I don’t want to be a 130 being 150 – 160 would do me good and keep him happy. Musicmama58
Drinking soda all the time I have picked up!
Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com
LissaL – Sorry you had to figure it out on your own!
Remender – Not fair, is it?!
OMG! This post is so true! My husband has pretty bad eating habits and doesn’t think twice about ordering extra ranch, more cheese, or a side of mayo! Since we met, I now eat microwave popcorn, gummy bears, and overall just more unhealthy. I agree with Sahar’s post too-I definitely eat more wings and bar food!
This is SO true. Ever since my fiance and I have been together my eating habits are horrible!!! It is so hard for me to eat healthy around him. His fast food looks a lot better than my salad. Since we have been together I eat a lot more unhealthy food, drink a lot more beer, and go out to eat a lot more. I could use this book.
Tiff – Yep, I know the feeling – especially the eating out part. That’s the hardest for me.