Getting gifts is great… most of the time. Sometimes, though, a gift can be so bad that it throws the recipient for a loop and has the potential to create relationship stress.
For men who are still struggling to find holiday gifts to give their female partners, new survey results from DatingAdvice.com revealed some of the most dreaded gifts across the U.S. At the top of the “don’t get this” list nationwide are diet books and weight loss program memberships.
“We surveyed 3,000 respondents across the country to find out which gifts from their partner they hated the most, and the results were fascinating,” said the dating advice site. “Men, read this (ideally well before you start your Christmas shopping) and weep.”
Diet books were not only the most hated gift at a national level, but it was at the top of the bad gift list in 20 individual states. During the holidays, its hard to avoid indulging more than normal due to holiday parties, special events, seasonal treat cravings and stress eating, as explored in a Friday article from Psychology Today.
“A 2000 study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that participants gained about one pound between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, and kept that pound on for the rest of the year. Over a lifetime, that could add up to 40 or 50 pounds,” said the article. It also noted that a systematic review “found that overeating between Christmas and New Year’s Day is a widespread practice.”
Recently, a survey of 1,000 people in the U.S. and U.K. conducted by Levity found that 44% of weight-loss medication users (48% in the U.K. and 42% of Americans) skip their weight-loss medication during social events. During the holidays, Christmas cookies and sweets lead 54% of weight loss medication users to skip their medication
Other unwelcome presents identified by DatingAdvice.com included cleaning supplies, vacuum cleaners, personal hygiene products, self-help books, and last minute “panic gifts” from drugstores. Here’s a list of the most-hated gifts women could receive from their partner:
Alabama – Cleaning supplies or a vacuum cleaner
Alaska – Cleaning supplies or a vacuum cleaner
Arizona – A diet book or weight loss program membership
Arkansas – A diet book or weight loss program membership
California – Self-help books that I didn’t ask for
Colorado – Personal hygiene products
Connecticut – Self-help books that I didn’t ask for
Delaware – Personal hygiene products
Florida – Cleaning supplies or a vacuum cleaner
Georgia – Personal hygiene products
Hawaii – Last-minute ‘panic gifts’ from a drugstore (e.g. perfume set)
Idaho – A cookbook for beginners
Illinois – Personal hygiene products
Indiana – A diet book or weight loss program membership
Iowa – A diet book or weight loss program membership
Kansas – Personal hygiene products
Kentucky – A diet book or weight loss program membership
Louisiana – A diet book or weight loss program membership
Maine – Personal hygiene products
Maryland – A diet book or weight loss program membership
Massachusetts – Personal hygiene products
Michigan – A diet book or weight loss program membership
Minnesota – A diet book or weight loss program membership
Mississippi – Cleaning supplies or a vacuum cleaner
Missouri – A diet book or weight loss program membership
Montana – A diet book or weight loss program membership
Nebraska – A diet book or weight loss program membership
Nevada – Personal hygiene products
New Hampshire – Fitness equipment or gym membership
New Jersey – Last-minute ‘panic gifts’ from a drugstore (e.g. perfume set)
New Mexico – Cleaning supplies or a vacuum cleaner
New York – A diet book or weight loss program membership
North Carolina – A diet book or weight loss program membership
North Dakota – A diet book or weight loss program membership
Ohio – Last-minute ‘panic gifts’ from a drugstore (e.g. perfume set)
Oklahoma – Personal hygiene products
Oregon – Self-help books that I didn’t ask for
Pennsylvania – A diet book or weight loss program membership
Rhode Island – A diet book or weight loss program membership
South Carolina – Personal hygiene products
South Dakota – A diet book or weight loss program membership
Tennessee – A book on improving social skills or manners
Texas – A diet book or weight loss program membership
Utah – Self-help books that I didn’t ask for
Vermont – Fitness equipment or gym membership
Virginia – A diet book or weight loss program membership
Washington – Self-help books that I didn’t ask for
West Virginia – Personal hygiene products
Wisconsin – Personal hygiene products
Wyoming – A diet book or weight loss program membership
“Unfortunately, not everyone’s love language is gift-giving, and that can mean some well-intentioned partners give some pretty terrible gifts,” said Amber Brooks, director of content for DatingAdvice.com. Still, guys shouldn’t despair, even if they don’t get things right at first. According to the survey results, “38% of women said they would overlook a terrible gift if they got an amazing surprise follow-up present,” and 31% said they would even be happy with just a heartfelt apology, romantic dinner or sweet gesture.
As for what gifts women would like to get from their partners, 28% said they would like something homemade and thoughtful and 25% said they “would melt just from receiving a love letter or handwritten note, particularly in this age of impersonal electronic mail.” At the store, picking up a cozy blanket or candle would make around 20% of women happy and 13% said they would like a meaningful piece of jewelry, while 15% said they would love a subscription for small indulgences such as coffee or chocolates.