(The following article is a contributed article obtained through an interview.)

I wasn’t overweight but had started to grow a “dad” gut. I worked a desk job so my physical regimen wasn’t what it was when I was younger and without children. That said, I was no longer in the best of shape but that changed when I found out my wife was sleeping with another man.

Following the news of my wife having an affair and sexual relationship with another married man, my mind and body seemed to go into shock. I wasn’t thinking clearly and my appetite was all but gone. Nothing seemed to make sense and my desire for sustenance was gone. I wasn’t hungry and even though I tried to force myself to eat nothing sounded or tasted good. My favorite dishes, meals, and snacks had lost their flavor.

Within a month, I had lost 20 or more pounds. I had started to exercise again to help my mind and body but I wasn’t eating enough to even maintain my weight. I feared stopping my exercise because I needed it to manage through an ugly divorce and an even uglier treatment from my vindictive wife.

I had started to live on nutritional shakes and smoothies but even that wasn’t enough. I was losing weight fast and was no closer to ending my weight loss. Then, one day, it hit me that even though I was divorcing my cheating wife, I hadn’t let go of the marriage. She had betrayed me and our children and I needed to recognize she was no longer the woman I had once loved and move on. I wasn’t going to be able to save her, our marriage, or our children from the hell she had brought to our family but I could at least take care of my mind, body, and children. My wife wasn’t worth the depression that had consumed me the last few weeks.

It was as if I had been liberated from hell. I was free. She was pursuing her affair and I was moving on to a new life unencumbered by a serially unfaithful wife. I found that my wife’s infidelity helped me lose some unwanted weight (and more). It wasn’t the weight loss program anyone would want but I was blessed to have lost some unhealthy weight and an unfaithful wife. (Unfortunately, my wife’s affair had the opposite effect on her, she gained weight during her affair. Somewhat ironic I guess.)

Recovering from Infidelity

If you have experienced infidelity-induced trauma caused by the emotional and sexual betrayal of your spouse, there is hope! If you are a child affected by parental infidelity, there is hope! If you are a spouse who has betrayed the trust, love, and fidelity of your marriage, there is hope! We recommend that you seek support through professional counseling and therapy as well as through groups dedicated to supporting you through this traumatic journey to recovery. You are not alone and recovery and healing are possible!

Share Your Story

The CHADIE Foundation shares personal stories of spouses and children impacted by infidelity and affairs. If you have a story you would like to share and have published, please use the contact information below to share your story with The CHADIE Foundation. Our mission is to help educate everyone about the damage infidelity, affairs, and adultery cause families and how to minimize the impact.

About the CHADIE Foundation

The CHADIE Foundation (Children are Harmed by Adultery, Divorce, Infidelity, and related Emotional trauma), helps spouses, partners, and children who adultery, affairs, and infidelity have negatively impacted. To learn more about CHADIE and how you can help, please email us at support@chadie.org or visit us at CHADIE.org.