Man Shocks His Family With Post-Divorce Glow Up, His Ex Is Fuming And Calls It His “Mid-Life Crisis”
Divorce is hard, and it can happen due to many factors. Couples who come to the decision to separate don’t take it lightly. It’s interesting to note that nearly 52% of divorced people feel their self-esteem improved after breaking it off with their partner. That’s because many individuals feel motivated to work on themselves after such a big life change.
One man on Reddit also underwent a dramatic transformation post-divorce. But he was in for a shock when he realized that his ex-wife wasn’t happy for him at all.
More info: Reddit
Man went through the best post-divorce glow-up, but his salty ex-wife could not stand seeing him happy and began saying nasty things about him to his friends and their kids
Image credits: AllGo – An App For Plus Size People (not the actual photo)
49 Y.O. balding and overweight man decided to change his life after divorce, and in the past 2 years has become lean, got tattoos, shaved his head, started using a hair system, and found a 33 Y.O. GF
Image credits: Andrea Piacquadio (not the actual photo)
The man felt more confident in his body and decided to post a shirtless picture online, which led to a barrage of texts from his kids and friends who did not know about all his lifestyle changes
Image credits: LinkedIn Sales Solutions (not the actual photo)
But his ex-wife was the only unsupportive one; she sent him nasty messages telling him to act his age, calling him “immature,” and saying he was having a “mid-life crisis”
Image credits: u/indigocottonfarmer
He even found out from his kids and friends that there were group chats about him where people were gossiping about his life and his young girlfriend
The Original Poster (OP) is a 49-year-old man. He got divorced from his 48-year-old partner. The man explained that he had been quite overweight and balding, which made him look like an average middle-aged dad. He had sacrificed a lot for his family and did not take care of himself. That was only something he realized in retrospect.
After the divorce, the poster moved to another state. He began going to the gym and became lean after 2 years of hard work. He also got tattoos, shaved his head bald, and began dating a 33-year-old woman. His girlfriend even convinced him to get a hair piece, which made him look much younger than his age.
One day when he came out of the shower, he felt confident in his body and decided to post a shirtless picture online. His hairpiece, fit body, and clean-shaved face made him look quite different. He received a lot of messages from his friends and kids, who were shocked to see his transformation.
The only person who was not happy for him was his ex-wife, who began sending him rude messages. She accused him of not acting his age and said that he was having a mid-life crisis. According to Forbes, “criteria for midlife crises are not well-defined and may differ from person to person, but they’re often marked by strong feelings, unhealthy coping skills, and behavior changes, according to experts.” In this case, the OP was not engaging in unhealthy behavior; he was working hard to improve his life.
His ex-partner even took issue with the fact that he was dating a younger woman. She kept bombarding him with hateful messages and created group chats to gossip about his life. The man could not understand why his ex-wife was so enraged by his healthy lifestyle.
It might be surprising to learn that the man’s ex kept tabs on him and took issue with his new way of living. Studies have shown that nearly 9 out of 10 people stalk their exes on social media, and they keep tabs on their ex’s new partners. This could explain why the poster’s ex-wife was so obsessed with him and his new girlfriend.
Image credits: Alex Green (not the actual photo)
Although the man’s ex accused him of going through a mid-life change, it’s been observed that only 10–20% of people have actually experienced a mid-life crisis. Usually, the behaviors observed in people might be more negative, such as rumination over missed life opportunities, restlessness, irritability, idealizing the past, impulsivity, and many other sudden changes.
The unfortunate part of the whole situation is how the ex-wife involved the children in the drama. When a couple goes through divorce, it’s important that they try and resolve their problems on their own without bringing the kids in between. Here are a few things divorcing couples should avoid:
- Criticizing the other parent in front of the children
- Using the kids as messengers to the other parent
- Asking the children for information about the other parent
- Making the kid a confidante
Research shows that divorce can be beneficial for both partners, but in some cases, jealousy and insecurity can get the best of people. The author’s ex-wife was clearly dealing with some unresolved feelings, which is why she was trying to force her opinions on her ex-husband.
Commenters were quick to side with the man and told him to keep working on himself and not to pay attention to what anyone else had to say. Some people were also confused as to why his kids were unaware of his lifestyle changes. They encouraged him to spend more time with his kids and to keep them in the loop.
What do you think about OP’s glow-up, and do you feel his wife was justified in saying he was going through a mid-life crisis? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Netizens told the poster that he was doing a good job and shouldn’t listen to other people’s opinions
Poll Question
Thanks! Check out the results:
You May Also Like
Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk
Do you think childless individuals should be expected to chip in for group babysitting costs during friend gatherings?
17 Y.O. Is Done Sharing Her Birthday With Her Late Twin, Parents Are Not Having It
Do you think the girl should be allowed to celebrate her birthday without the remembrance of her deceased twin?
Sounds like the ex is just jealous. He might want to chat to his kids more to keep up to date with them but, apart from that, he can do what he wants to do with his life! It's easy to get stuck in a rut and his divorce was probably a wake up call to get himself into shape.
He said they never saw, doesnt mean he isnt talking, it just means no webcam or in person (and he said he moved to a different state). In fact he implies he is in regular contact with them, just not visual.
Load More Replies...Why can 50 year old people not ride bicycles anymore in her opinion? The ex is abstruse
I assumed it was a motorbike. ie: He'd done the stereotypical middle age crisis thing and bought a Harley. But even that is fine. His money, if he wants to do it why not? It might be something he put on hold because he had a wife and kids to support before so he never had the money of the time.
Load More Replies...The ex-wife is upset because she had the bad version of him not the good version. But guess what, it was the new GF that created the new version, the ex never put in the effort to help him out, when he obviously was struggling. Now she is upset because she wishes she had had this version of him.
Ex-wife just found out, lol. She's so miserable she can't contain it!!!
The OP should just ignore his ex & her clique. Who cares what they think? The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
I had this happen - the thing of improving appearance, etc, when I met my current SO who is in her 30s. And I got a sports car, which I had to sell anyway because life is like that and money comes and goes. But at the time I also got the stupid "midlife crisis" remarks. I said "yes so what? I am going to get a custom plate for the sports car and it will be just MLC". I am 100% ok with that.
So most late 40s people have spent the last 20 years sacrificing ourselves on the altar of Parenting. Our marriages are struggling because of it, women are dealing with the total crapfest of menopause, men have hairloss and inability to lose weight and whatever else. Then any time someone middle aged tries to reclaim some joy or enthusiasm for living they're belittled with "midlife crisis". I'm with you dude. Stuff the critics, I'll do things that aren't boring, thanks.
Load More Replies...I was 6 years older than my now ex-husband. I was 40 when we split up. He quickly got into a relationship with a 24yo. If I ever for a moment thought maybe we should reconcile, I would immediately think about him comparing me to her, and I shut that down in a split second. (The other thought in the split second was that I did NOT make him happy. I was not the right wife for him, and he was miserable. I really did love him, and didn't want him to be unhappy.) But here's the weird thing. Prior to us splitting up, my husband introduced my son to this woman (who he worked with) and tried to set my son up with her. My son was 18 or 19 at the time. THAT's what made it all creepy. The good thing is that my son said she seemed like a really nice person, and I hoped that she was better for him than I was. My ex told me a year or so after the divorce that she was "just a rebound" and seemed to be feeling me out to see if I wanted to get back together. No, thank you. I felt really bad for her.
Dude, you dropped a couple hundred pounds of unnecessary baggage *and* you lost weight. Tell old news you don't care and stop checking in.
I'm generally not a huge fan of a 15 year age gap but she's 33, not 18, so I see nothing wrong with that. Sounds like he had a glow up, not a midlife crisis. Good for him!
Nearly fifty with a much younger girlfriend? Yep, sounds like a midlife crisis. But if I were the ex l'd just take several steps back and enjoy the show.
Ex wife and so called friends are the very definition of toxic. He should take pride that he's happy and the fact he is and made ao much personal growth is infuriating his ex says all he needs to hear.
there is nothing wrong here but, to this society, if you are a man and improve yourself later in life, you are just desperate, if you are a woman and you improve yourself later in life, you are brave. the good old double standard.
oh how can be the ex so jealous. i wish him the best of luck. maybe he should explain the way of life to his kids and was a divorce/seperation can to to yourself. And even if a new SO has some positive impact on your live, let your children know. so they can counter some bs pictures and stuff that your ex has told everybody to make you feel bad.
Your fat phobia is really gross and this isn't the only place it's showing. Please get some help.
Load More Replies...Sounds like the ex is just jealous. He might want to chat to his kids more to keep up to date with them but, apart from that, he can do what he wants to do with his life! It's easy to get stuck in a rut and his divorce was probably a wake up call to get himself into shape.
He said they never saw, doesnt mean he isnt talking, it just means no webcam or in person (and he said he moved to a different state). In fact he implies he is in regular contact with them, just not visual.
Load More Replies...Why can 50 year old people not ride bicycles anymore in her opinion? The ex is abstruse
I assumed it was a motorbike. ie: He'd done the stereotypical middle age crisis thing and bought a Harley. But even that is fine. His money, if he wants to do it why not? It might be something he put on hold because he had a wife and kids to support before so he never had the money of the time.
Load More Replies...The ex-wife is upset because she had the bad version of him not the good version. But guess what, it was the new GF that created the new version, the ex never put in the effort to help him out, when he obviously was struggling. Now she is upset because she wishes she had had this version of him.
Ex-wife just found out, lol. She's so miserable she can't contain it!!!
The OP should just ignore his ex & her clique. Who cares what they think? The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
I had this happen - the thing of improving appearance, etc, when I met my current SO who is in her 30s. And I got a sports car, which I had to sell anyway because life is like that and money comes and goes. But at the time I also got the stupid "midlife crisis" remarks. I said "yes so what? I am going to get a custom plate for the sports car and it will be just MLC". I am 100% ok with that.
So most late 40s people have spent the last 20 years sacrificing ourselves on the altar of Parenting. Our marriages are struggling because of it, women are dealing with the total crapfest of menopause, men have hairloss and inability to lose weight and whatever else. Then any time someone middle aged tries to reclaim some joy or enthusiasm for living they're belittled with "midlife crisis". I'm with you dude. Stuff the critics, I'll do things that aren't boring, thanks.
Load More Replies...I was 6 years older than my now ex-husband. I was 40 when we split up. He quickly got into a relationship with a 24yo. If I ever for a moment thought maybe we should reconcile, I would immediately think about him comparing me to her, and I shut that down in a split second. (The other thought in the split second was that I did NOT make him happy. I was not the right wife for him, and he was miserable. I really did love him, and didn't want him to be unhappy.) But here's the weird thing. Prior to us splitting up, my husband introduced my son to this woman (who he worked with) and tried to set my son up with her. My son was 18 or 19 at the time. THAT's what made it all creepy. The good thing is that my son said she seemed like a really nice person, and I hoped that she was better for him than I was. My ex told me a year or so after the divorce that she was "just a rebound" and seemed to be feeling me out to see if I wanted to get back together. No, thank you. I felt really bad for her.
Dude, you dropped a couple hundred pounds of unnecessary baggage *and* you lost weight. Tell old news you don't care and stop checking in.
I'm generally not a huge fan of a 15 year age gap but she's 33, not 18, so I see nothing wrong with that. Sounds like he had a glow up, not a midlife crisis. Good for him!
Nearly fifty with a much younger girlfriend? Yep, sounds like a midlife crisis. But if I were the ex l'd just take several steps back and enjoy the show.
Ex wife and so called friends are the very definition of toxic. He should take pride that he's happy and the fact he is and made ao much personal growth is infuriating his ex says all he needs to hear.
there is nothing wrong here but, to this society, if you are a man and improve yourself later in life, you are just desperate, if you are a woman and you improve yourself later in life, you are brave. the good old double standard.
oh how can be the ex so jealous. i wish him the best of luck. maybe he should explain the way of life to his kids and was a divorce/seperation can to to yourself. And even if a new SO has some positive impact on your live, let your children know. so they can counter some bs pictures and stuff that your ex has told everybody to make you feel bad.
Your fat phobia is really gross and this isn't the only place it's showing. Please get some help.
Load More Replies...
47
34