I can only speak only of my own personal experience. I think I was in your girlfriend situation before.
I found my weight crept up slowly on me over the last few years, just 5-10 pounds like you said, not enough to be called overweight just on the plump side. Since I was never overweight before so I never had any body image issue, I brushed off any well meaning hints from family and friends about my gradual weight gain with "I am happy with who I am" etc. Slowly I got a bit too fat for my clothes and feel physically uncomfortable. Still with no issue with my body image, I decided to start working out just to reduce some weight just for my own comfort. However i found I could not have enough commitment to keep up the workout schedule with any consistency. As the result I did not achieve any weight loss and eventually gave up my gym membership.
The penny dropped one day when we had a family reunion and a close family friend whom I have not seen for a while announced in front of every one that "Geez you put on some weight, why don't you do this and that blah blah blah" with her well meaning but unasked for advice. Needless to say I was furious at her for saying what she said. Although I did not realize this at the time, something clicked in my head and I know that I need to lose the extra weight. I started my workout routine again with renewed commitment and determination. After a few months, the weight slowly came off and I received much compliments from family and friends. This helped me to to fan up my enthusiasm to keep up with my workout routine.
Things were going well for a while then we had some disruption to my workout schedule with an extended holiday and busy work schedule. I found myself slipped back to the old lazy way, de-stress and eating in front of the TV at the end of the day instead of working out. It took me a long time to find my way back to start working out again and find a routine that suit me. Although I have not lost all of the 10 pounds that I put on, I am feeling very happy where I am at currently with my weight, and I hope that I can keep up with my healthy life style for my health first and foremost and then if I can look good and receive nice compliments that bright up my days then it is a bonus.
I am not sure if I answer your question, but I think I was in the same situation as your girlfriend is now.
1. I wish somebody told me to start working out before I put on 10 pounds, it is a lot easier to lose 5 than 10 pounds.
2. Well meaning advice and hint somehow does not work if you are strong minded and think you have no body image issues. Sometimes advice has to be strong to have an actual impact on you. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.
3. Note that suggesting about workout schedule and healthy eating should not in anyway impact how you feel or love your girlfriend. My partner loves me regardless of what size I am and he always let me know this.
4. Suggest of leasure things to do together that does not involve food.
5. Plan menus together that does not include any junk food.
6. Use short term goal to encourage her to workout eg. what are you going to wear to the family wedding and may be we should slim down so we can fit in the nice sexy dress that you bought last year etc. Once she get started and look good, she will no long need your help to spur her on.
7. most important for me is to find my own routine that suit me and not us. As we have different work schedule, it did not work for us to try to workout together. As the result I sometime don't go to the gym because my partner could not make it for some reason and vice versa. This is very disruptive and definitely did not help when you first start out a new routine.
I hope this help you in some way for your gf weight control. I am sure she needs your help.
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