My SO has a rough time with the *talking* about it, which is particularly noticeable because he's a writer, and normally very articulate; but the thing is, he's always been ridiculously fit, as is his entire family, so he's never really seen anyone struggle, up close. And he's afraid of saying the wrong thing, obviously, because he knows there's a lot of stuff he might not understand. For example, I had to explain to him (some time ago) that his leaving giant plates full of brownies sitting around was torture for me because--and this is what he had a hard time understanding--unlike him, I can eat (and eat and eat) when I'm already full. It doesn't make sense to him as a concept.
But he tries really hard--makes me his home-made hummus, gives me weight-lifting tips but only when I ask for them, and just yesterday, managed to get out this awkward, adorable sentence, after I said something about how happy I was to finally fit into the size 10 jeans I was wearing: "You look good, hon. I mean, you looked hot when we first started dating... but you're... you're happier now--AND slimmer--and that's hot."
The other issue we have is that I'm a vegetarian and he's a, well, a Texan. Even there, though, he's been really good; he'll eat vegetarian with me one or two dinners a week, and the rest of the time we're flexible. He can add chicken to his curry and I'll add tofu to mine, that kind of thing.
On the whole, I think the fact that he never once, in any way, suggested that he was dissatisfied with my body or thought I would look better if I were thinner, is worth his weight in gold. Since he's my first serious relationship, I was pretty fragile and cautious going in, and his acceptance has meant a huge amount to me--has been one of the pieces of me coming to love my body, too. No big complaints about my guy, even if he can't talk about it and doesn't totally get it.
What I'm learning about this thread is that a LOT of men are apparently a fair amount better with this stuff than their reputation suggests. If only, for my mom's sake, my dad were one of them...


That's how my hubby started getting on board. lol.