Wife spent 1800 on a weight loss course
A Reddit user shared his concerns after his wife committed to a $1,800 weight loss coaching program. While he wants to support her health goals, he’s worried about the cost, its effectiveness, and the impact on their finances. Is there a better way to approach the situation? Read his story below.
‘ Wife spent 1800 on a weight loss course’
My wife (39F) came to tell me (38M) today that she is spending 300 per month for the next 6 months on some weight loss coaching.
I was initially stunned at the amount, but went along with it. We have also spoken once since, but I still don’t feel reassured.
She has done similar courses in the past, but never followed then for more than a few months. Later we spoke in more detail, and she thinks that by spending so much, she’ll follow through this time as it will hold her accountable. The course consists of catch up via WhatsApp 3 times per week and daily meal check-in.
While we can technically afford it, it’s not a small amount of money for us and we have a number of savings goals that we committed to together. I’m just so concerned about a number of things:. 1. It feels like a con. 2. It seems to provide very little, compared to the cost.
3. That she won’t follow through and it will be a total waste. 4. That I’ll end up resenting her spending so much without feeling like it was a team decision (we’d never usually spend so much without discussing it).
Looking for advice in how I can raise it again without sounding controlling, as my instinct is a straight up ‘Hell No’ due to my concerns above.Or preferably help to convince her that she’s perfect just as she is. Would mainstream counselling be better, instead of some weight loss rip-off
TLDR. Wife spent 1800 on a course, and I’m worried she’s being conned and frankly it’s not needed. ETA – there is a 14 day cooling off period, so am hoping to make use of this so we can properly talk and make a decision as a team.
Here’s what the community had to contribute:
mmmkarmabacon − That is a classic line in the coaching world. “The more you spend, the more motivated you will be to follow through and make the changes.” Has she ever had counselling before?
quidyn − Approach her with an alternative. 1. Visit a doctor who specializes in nutrition and weight loss. 2. Join a gym, preferably one connected to Health Care/preventative medicine, and request a personal trainer who specializes in nutrition support
3. Find a therapist who specializes in body image. At the core of most weight related issues is poor body image/self esteem/shame, poor nutritional education, and poor personal accountability skills. A single online course (I suspect is created by an influencer) is not *necessarily* going to help with those things.
lysanderastra − Any possibility of a refund? That’s a crazy amount of money for very little in return
esoteric_enigma − My ex was a therapist who specialized in the psychology around eating and weight loss. She worked with people who needed to lose weight before bariatric surgery. Her services weren’t $300 a month. This sounds like a s**m, which doesn’t surprise me because most coaching is a s**m.
PhilConnersWPBH-TV − S**t, for $1,800 she could’ve gotten semaglutide for 10 months.
pinkelephants777 − You can get 2 months of ozempic for the same price, and it’s much more effective.
lnh92 − I can give the perspective of a woman who has lost weight in the past and wants to lose more weight now. I’d recommend talking to her about it again and recommending a different way to spend that money.
I’d tell her you love her as she is. But if she wants to lose weight, you’ll support her. Maybe recommend a personal trainer once a week or so and a gym membership. Or seeing a doctor to see if ozempic or something like that.
GaimanitePkat − This is *absolutely* a course s**m. Course scams are a rampant problem right now because there is not as much awareness about them, and since they’re still moderately successful in scamming victims, more and more grifters are making them.
Is the course run by a social media influencer? Did she find out about it through Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok? If so, it’s certainly just a course s**m.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the “check-ins” are being run by AI and not a real person responding. I also guarantee that “by spending so much she will feel more accountable” was a talking point in the sales pitch for the s**m.
OkSecretary1231 − MLM alert! Is she going to be expected to also buy a stock of products and recruit others?
justbrowzingthru − Well now that the money is spent, your job is to support her efforts with this in her health journey. Unless she can get a refund, which is unlikely. If she loses the weight, it’s great. Of she doesn’t, it’s not. Regardless of whether it’s a s**m or not.
If you tell her it’s a s**m and she wasted her money or dont support her, it won’t work no matter how good the program and you will think it’s a s**m. In the future, you need to make sure you are on the same page for money.
The big concern is you two have savings goals that you are committed to together and she made a significant in your words decision without you. I don’t know of she used her money, your money or joint money.
And whether you have a threshold for spending. If she used her money instead of joint or yours, and it doesn’t affect your savings goals, that’s one thing. If it affects savings goals or she used your/joint money, you do get a say.
Do you think he’s justified in questioning the program, or should he trust her decision? How can they navigate this conversation without it becoming a source of conflict? Share your advice on how couples can balance financial decisions with personal goals!