Irreconcilable Differences?

You’re one-upping your partner on the health front, and now your relationship has more tension than your new resistance bands. Time to navigate the hurdle of mismatched goals

- Kristin Canning

You order a salad at the pub; they ask for a cheeseburger. You’ve recently sworn off fried foods, but they get a side of onion rings anyway. “Just have one,” they tell you. Thirteen rings later, you’re stuffed with grease and guilt. And your partner? They’re as happy as can be.

It’s not uncommon to feel that your significant other is ignoring your health goals or giving you grief about them. “I’ve seen plenty of couples go through this,” says psychologist Chloe Carmichael. “When you’re in a relationship, you start to function as a unit, and if you suddenly change the dynamic, your partner can feel a little abandoned.” This is especially true if you both used to be “meh” about working out and eating well – and that’s what you bonded over.

The reason that matters? This mismatch can prompt a ripple effect of discontent. A survey by ellipticalreviews.com found that people who tried to clean up their eating independent of their mate were less satisfied in their relationship than those who teamed up on the diet front. But hold off on signing up to Bumble just yet. These strategies can make your positive changes work for the two of you.

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