I'm friends with this great guy. He's smart, funny, kind, and we have a lot of the same interests. And on top of all his great personality traits, he's one of the cutest men I've ever had the pleasure of getting to know. I was extremely interested in him from the moment we first introduced ourselves to each other.
What I need help with is boosting his self-image. He's gained a bit of weight in the time I've known him, and he's really been beating himself up about it. He even told me that he wanted to lose some weight for me, despite my telling him how much I liked the way he looks, and all of the rest of him as well.
I do think he's caught on to my preferences since then, but--and I know this from my own struggle with self image--hearing that someone else finds you attractive doesn't always help you find peace with your own body.
Does anyone have experience with this? Should I just keep gently reminding him that I think he's great, inside and out, or is this something he needs to work out for himself?
EDIT: I should mention that I am not against him dieting, if that is what would truly make him happy. It's just that his claiming that he wanted to do it for me really got under my skin.
What I need help with is boosting his self-image. He's gained a bit of weight in the time I've known him, and he's really been beating himself up about it. He even told me that he wanted to lose some weight for me, despite my telling him how much I liked the way he looks, and all of the rest of him as well.
I do think he's caught on to my preferences since then, but--and I know this from my own struggle with self image--hearing that someone else finds you attractive doesn't always help you find peace with your own body.
Does anyone have experience with this? Should I just keep gently reminding him that I think he's great, inside and out, or is this something he needs to work out for himself?
EDIT: I should mention that I am not against him dieting, if that is what would truly make him happy. It's just that his claiming that he wanted to do it for me really got under my skin.
