A novel way to lose weight

I'm always delighted when patients lose weight, and I always ask them how they did it. Here's a new one:

Phil lost weight because his wife had a hysterectomy. Well, you might say, she obviously ceased cooking during her post-op recuperation, and he then lost weight. Not that simple.

Phil's wife is a lousy cook. Despite her deficiencies in meal prep, and his lack of time, interest, or skill in doing it better himself, he ballooned up to nearly 300 pounds. You see, even though he did not enjoy the meals, he felt bad that his wife was near housebound with heavy periods and pain, so he always took seconds to make her feel better.

After many years of sympathy seconds, he actually became diabetic within the last year. As his weight topped out in spring, I pleaded with him to lose weight. This summer, he carried 10# less into his follow-up appointment. She felt better, and he passed on the extra helpings.

And I always thought it took exercise and self-discipline...