Hi guys. So I love my boyfriend. We mesh very well and the opposites attract phrase applies very well with us. Now, I get a little self conscious sometimes because my boyfriend was athletic in high school, is currently a lifeguard at a gym, and he works out pretty much every day. To be honest, I enjoy running sometimes, but I don’t really like working out. It sounds terrible, but in middle school I tried really hard to enjoy athletics and sports and always hated it- I never fit in. Instead, I decided that I loved theatre and art and chose those things over sports. All throughout high school and after I graduated, I did theatre, art, and found my calling in getting a degree in biology.

So, my boyfriend and I attend the same college in the same dorm hall. Keep in mind, I am not fat, or obese, or thick, but I’m not skinny either. I’m more slender and normal. I weigh about 135 pounds and that’s where my weight has been since after middle school. I haven’t really changed in weight. I have more boobs than butt and I have fat on my belly, enough that wearing bikinis is a no for me. It’s taken me a long time to get to this point though, because I’ve never loved my body more than I do now. I grew into my body and became less awkward and more womanly. That being said, my boyfriend has made multiple comments about me working out.

“If you just did more squats, your butt could be better and more defined.”

“You should work out. It’s good for you. You need to be working out.”

Now, he has never been mean about any of this. He’s pretty gentle about it and lets me know that he isn’t in any way saying I’m not beautiful and I have gotten on to him for telling me my butt isn’t good enough, but he still makes me feel like I need to work out and I HATE working out. It’s not my thing and I never enjoy it. I live my life STRONGLY believing that I shouldn’t have to do something that doesn’t make me happy if I have the choice not to. His family also all work out and once, I actually heard his mom make a comment about how he needed to be going to the gym more because it’s good for his mental health and he needed to keep going. I was not raised in a household where my parents basically told me that I “needed” to work out. I’m just tired of always thinking “I should work out so *my boyfriend* will be proud/happy with me today.” But then I stop myself and I’m like “why the fuck would I do this if I’m not doing it for myself? That’s the whole point of working out!”

What are your thoughts and opinions? I want to be able to explain myself better when he asks me why I don’t just do it and try to enjoy it more. I’ve told him I simply just don’t like working out, but it’s like he just can’t fathom the concept that someone just doesn’t enjoy it? There are things I like that he doesn’t? Why is this such a difficult concept for him to grasp?

Please comment and give me advice! Thanks ladies! 💕

UPDATE:

So, I discussed this with my boyfriend and it resulted in a lot of crying on my part, but he was really sweet to me and told me he just wanted us to work out together and he wanted me to give it a try. He said he wasn’t trying to be hurtful and he knows I’m beautiful, he just thinks it will be good for me. So I have told him I will try to work out with him and see how that goes!

Thank you guys for all your advice! 😁