Bride’s Refusal To Strip For Weigh-In Ends Engagement, Sparks Debate
Interview With ExpertBeing engaged should feel like a magical time of excitement. For most, the anticipation of married life and the wedding is a wonderful feeling. But sometimes this is also the time when one’s spouse-to-be ends up showing their true colors.
A woman wondered if she was wrong to dump her fiancé after he demanded that she lose 4kg and wanted her to weigh herself in front of him. We got in touch with Dr. Lauren Fogel Mersy, a licensed psychologist and couples therapist to learn more about red flags in relationships.
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It’s best to learn your spouse-to-be is a terrible person before the wedding
Image credits: nanihta/Envato elements (not the actual photo)
One woman discovered that her fiancé would refuse to marry her if she didn’t lose weight
Image credits: Prostock-studio/Envato elements (not the actual photo)
Image credits: qwerterifique
It can be hard to quickly determine if someone is compatible in the long run
Image credits: Toa Heftiba/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Bored Panda got in touch with with Dr. Lauren Fogel Mersy, a licensed psychologist and Certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist, to discuss the things that people need to look out for before committing to a truly long-term relationship. So we asked her to share some examples of “red flags” that we should pay attention to early in a relationship.
“Before committing to a long-term relationship, it’s important to know how your history impacts you and how your partner’s history impacts them,” she shared. “Childhood experiences, past relationships, and other important relationships can all play a significant role in how we show up in our partnerships.”
Unfortunately, there is no way to “test” for this compatibility very quickly unless the “red flags” are massive and clearly visible. The result is that in many relationships, the incident that ends it is either large and glaring, or just the accumulation of minor issues that all add up and kill whatever connection was there.
So we also wanted to hear Dr. Fogel Mersy’s opinion on why partners need to discuss their experiences and expectations as early as possible. “It’s very important for partners to share about their past, including previous relationship experiences and stories. This helps us to better know each other, to better support each other, and to cultivate a safe and secure bond,” she shared with Bored Panda. If you would like to see more of her work on her website. She also has a book, Desire: An Inclusive Guide to Navigating Libido Difference in Relationships.
Controlling your partner’s body is a major red flag
Image credits: evu/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
In this particular case, however, the answer is pretty simple, this man is a horrible moron and does not deserve to be in this relationship. In general, ultimatums are not something that make a good relationship. It just means that from now on, every major disagreement will become a “do-or-die” situation for the couple.
Boundaries are important, but they can’t exactly expand to your partner’s body. It’s possible to lose your attraction to someone, but demanding that they weigh themselves, naked, in front of you is delusional. The woman had the right idea to leave him in the dust. How can one trust a man who will throw such a fit over a few kilograms? A mature adult understands that people will physically change over time, a consideration that is vital for a long-term relationship.
Fortunately, the vast majority of the internet sided with the woman, and rightfully so. Given that this man was willing to call off a wedding over a little bit of weight, he is likely to make similar excessive demands in the future. Getting out now is definitely the best case scenario. When a person believes they are entitled to this sort of control, it will only get worse and worse. A pre-wedding break-up is a lot “cleaner” and easier than a divorce.
Most thought she was completely correct to dump him
Poll Question
Thanks! Check out the results:
If he’s that controlling over her weight, just imagine what else he’ll be controlling over. Girl didn’t dodge a bullet, she dodged a nuclear warhead.
And from what she says, he's gotten just as chunky. Why is her weight such an issue, but he gets a free ride? She did the right thing by sending him away
Load More Replies...That boy is delusional. It was bad enough that he did this, but then in one of the replies above OP said he isn't in good shape either, and had gained weight during covid right along with her. To be clear, if he was in good shape it still wouldn't excuse his behavior. Her reply only illustrated that not only is he an a*****e, he's a hypocrite to go along with it.
Jeez, she's gona end up locked in the basement and chained to the radiator if she goes back to him
In the words of the late Bray Wyatt (Happy Belated Heavenly Birthday as well, you are missed): RUN...!!!
And after she gets pregnant and has his baby, he would dump her for a hard body. Maybe sooner. Like when she starts showing.
Good riddance. I hope she explains it people ask what happened that he demanded she weigh herself in front of him. Only other AHs would keep speaking to him.
The pot calling the kettle black. Same song, different lyrics. Glad she dumped that decrepit human (?!) being; now she's free to find someone who sees her worth and rejoices in it, and her.
Load More Replies...He's a fabric store specializing in nothing but red material.
Load More Replies...Mother Theresa as a piece of garbage who let people suffer while she lived a life of luxury. The truth came out after her death by people who no longer had to keep quiet.
Don't downvote her - she's correct! And she said it because people always bring MT up as being a saint, which is far from the truth.
Load More Replies...There are so many messed up things here, that I can't even start counting. The only thing that is good was that it caused her to end the relationship before they started a long term abusive relationship. It would have gotten worse, and it would only have gotten more difficult for her to leave, as he would have slowly destroyed her self confidence and sense of self worth.
To be honest, YTA. For not breaking up with him back when he first brought the weight thing up initially, let alone pressured you for a weight. No idea how old you are, but you're going to have weight fluxations all your life. Any expectation over the years that some magic number gets maintained is just ridiculous. Good riddance to him.
Ever heard of the "frog in boiling water" experiment? If you place a frog in boiling water, it will jump out. However, if you place the frog in a pot with room temperature water and slowly increase the heat, the frog will acclimate itself and literally boil to death. Some relationships are just like that; you can be so involved, you don't notice the gradual changes until they become obvious. At least OP found out about the àsshole in ample time and ended the relationship before vows were exchanged. Some others aren't as fortunate.
Load More Replies...Glad she dumped him. He’s a superficial , abusive control freak and I hope no self respecting woman ever gives him any attention.
Is he a kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs football team? Sounds like something he would do.
"Im worried about the changes in your health. Let's adress a way for us to face this together." *changes own lifestyle routine to help.*
He's projecting like crazy. She needs to project herself a new boyfriend/husband.
I'm betting his next move would have been to put her on a concentration-camp-level diet if he didn't think she was losing weight fast enough, and God help her if she got pregnant and had the nerve to so much as retain water, let alone gain weight/waistline while making a person! Don't WALK away from this one, RUN!!!!!
Fuuuuuck that guy... it's one think to have a respectful conversation about weight and health, it's entirely another to threaten and shame someone. The fact she accepted it to begin with was a first step to a long period of abuse. Glad she ditched him, concerned that she could even think it might be an acceptable way to be treated.
Had a roommate tell a woman she'd be wife material if she lost ten lbs. She disappeared. I assumed she was as disgusted as I was. Nope. Came back six months later having lost twenty, and he proposed. Happily married for six years, but I still find it sickening. OP did the right thing.
That's so creepy and abusive. Sounds like he wants a trophy wife/doll.
UGH! Just reading this I am angry for OP! Sure, he makes her feel good when things are good between them and "you can't help who you love" sounds a lot like she may not love herself. However, the whole "you have to lose weight by XX date or I'm not marrying you..." IS emotional abuse! And if he's not in the best shape (she did say he had a fluffy middle), talk about stones and glass house!
I am wondering lately, how gaslighted are the people writing those stories. How can someone insulting your weight, be normal? I bet if she got pregnant He would leave her
She should feel comfortable being naked in front of her husband. The fact that she doesn't should tell her all she needs to know about how badly their relationship would have gone.
If he’s that controlling over her weight, just imagine what else he’ll be controlling over. Girl didn’t dodge a bullet, she dodged a nuclear warhead.
And from what she says, he's gotten just as chunky. Why is her weight such an issue, but he gets a free ride? She did the right thing by sending him away
Load More Replies...That boy is delusional. It was bad enough that he did this, but then in one of the replies above OP said he isn't in good shape either, and had gained weight during covid right along with her. To be clear, if he was in good shape it still wouldn't excuse his behavior. Her reply only illustrated that not only is he an a*****e, he's a hypocrite to go along with it.
Jeez, she's gona end up locked in the basement and chained to the radiator if she goes back to him
In the words of the late Bray Wyatt (Happy Belated Heavenly Birthday as well, you are missed): RUN...!!!
And after she gets pregnant and has his baby, he would dump her for a hard body. Maybe sooner. Like when she starts showing.
Good riddance. I hope she explains it people ask what happened that he demanded she weigh herself in front of him. Only other AHs would keep speaking to him.
The pot calling the kettle black. Same song, different lyrics. Glad she dumped that decrepit human (?!) being; now she's free to find someone who sees her worth and rejoices in it, and her.
Load More Replies...He's a fabric store specializing in nothing but red material.
Load More Replies...Mother Theresa as a piece of garbage who let people suffer while she lived a life of luxury. The truth came out after her death by people who no longer had to keep quiet.
Don't downvote her - she's correct! And she said it because people always bring MT up as being a saint, which is far from the truth.
Load More Replies...There are so many messed up things here, that I can't even start counting. The only thing that is good was that it caused her to end the relationship before they started a long term abusive relationship. It would have gotten worse, and it would only have gotten more difficult for her to leave, as he would have slowly destroyed her self confidence and sense of self worth.
To be honest, YTA. For not breaking up with him back when he first brought the weight thing up initially, let alone pressured you for a weight. No idea how old you are, but you're going to have weight fluxations all your life. Any expectation over the years that some magic number gets maintained is just ridiculous. Good riddance to him.
Ever heard of the "frog in boiling water" experiment? If you place a frog in boiling water, it will jump out. However, if you place the frog in a pot with room temperature water and slowly increase the heat, the frog will acclimate itself and literally boil to death. Some relationships are just like that; you can be so involved, you don't notice the gradual changes until they become obvious. At least OP found out about the àsshole in ample time and ended the relationship before vows were exchanged. Some others aren't as fortunate.
Load More Replies...Glad she dumped him. He’s a superficial , abusive control freak and I hope no self respecting woman ever gives him any attention.
Is he a kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs football team? Sounds like something he would do.
"Im worried about the changes in your health. Let's adress a way for us to face this together." *changes own lifestyle routine to help.*
He's projecting like crazy. She needs to project herself a new boyfriend/husband.
I'm betting his next move would have been to put her on a concentration-camp-level diet if he didn't think she was losing weight fast enough, and God help her if she got pregnant and had the nerve to so much as retain water, let alone gain weight/waistline while making a person! Don't WALK away from this one, RUN!!!!!
Fuuuuuck that guy... it's one think to have a respectful conversation about weight and health, it's entirely another to threaten and shame someone. The fact she accepted it to begin with was a first step to a long period of abuse. Glad she ditched him, concerned that she could even think it might be an acceptable way to be treated.
Had a roommate tell a woman she'd be wife material if she lost ten lbs. She disappeared. I assumed she was as disgusted as I was. Nope. Came back six months later having lost twenty, and he proposed. Happily married for six years, but I still find it sickening. OP did the right thing.
That's so creepy and abusive. Sounds like he wants a trophy wife/doll.
UGH! Just reading this I am angry for OP! Sure, he makes her feel good when things are good between them and "you can't help who you love" sounds a lot like she may not love herself. However, the whole "you have to lose weight by XX date or I'm not marrying you..." IS emotional abuse! And if he's not in the best shape (she did say he had a fluffy middle), talk about stones and glass house!
I am wondering lately, how gaslighted are the people writing those stories. How can someone insulting your weight, be normal? I bet if she got pregnant He would leave her
She should feel comfortable being naked in front of her husband. The fact that she doesn't should tell her all she needs to know about how badly their relationship would have gone.
























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