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The original was posted on /r/bestofredditorupdates by /u/Choice_Evidence1983 on 2026-08-11 04:02:07+00:00.

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I am NOT OOP, OOP is u/JM1905

Originally posted to r/AskMenAdvice

Fiancée (23F) left me (25M) for someone she met at the gym, what now?

Thanks to u/soayherder for suggesting this BoRU

Trigger Warnings: mental health struggles

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Original Post: April 4, 2026

Hi everyone,

I (25M) was in a relationship with my fiancée (23F) for 3 years. I proposed in October 2025, and up until recently I genuinely thought we were happy.

Last week, she told me she’d met a guy at the gym. Over a few weeks, they got to know each other and she developed feelings for him. When he asked her out, it made her question our relationship, and she decided to end things.

I’m still trying to process it. The shock has worn off and now it’s just… heavy. I’m dealing with anxiety, poor sleep, no appetite, and I can’t focus properly. I wear a smart watch and even my resting heart rate has been noticeably higher.

I’ve got a high-pressure job and I’m worried this is going to start affecting my performance. I’m already going to the gym daily and taking magnesium and melatonin, but I still feel constantly on edge and nauseous (seriously I feel like I could vomit throughout the day).

If anyone has been through something similar, how did you cope in those first few weeks? How do you calm your body down, sleep better, and start to feel even a little bit normal again? Is there any medication I can take to help with the anxiety and nausea?

I’d really appreciate the advice because it could help me greatly through a challenging time. Thank you.

EDIT: I woke up this morning to over 300 comments on my post and honestly, I wasn’t ready for it. I sobbed reading through all the advice and people sharing their own stories.

It’s so easy to forget there are real people behind the screen, but I’m one of them. And the few minutes you took to write a comment genuinely meant something to me.

I’m going through what feels like the lowest point in my life, and somehow a bunch of strangers on the internet made it feel a little less lonely.

So yeah… thank you, I will continue reading all your comments. Seriously.

Editor's note: OOP did not leave any comments in this original post

Top Comments

Commenter 1: Sorry to hear this.

First: this relationship is over. The sooner you move on the better off you will be. Note: if she comes back it will be a mistake to get back together with her. She has already left you once, when your relationship was good and “easy”. Ive been with my wife for over 30 years. Trust me: there will be trying times. If she won’t stick with you now she sure as hell won’t stick with you when the going gets rough. I know it’s hard to think about moving on - but trust me: do it.

You deserve better. This didn’t happen because of you. It happened because of her.

Be grateful it happened now rather than later.

You will find someone else.

I had a serious girlfriend I was planning to ask to marry me. We broke up. I was busted for a long time. My wife is wayyyyyy better.

My motto: keep moving forward. Workout. Set goals. Have fun. One inch. One step. Keep moving. Life is a marathon not a sprint. You will survive this and be better for it.

Commenter 2: Be glad you’re young and you didn’t get married. She did you a huge favor, hard to see right now though.

Commenter 3: Gym relationships are based on pure physical attraction. He's a pretty boy with muscles and she's obviously that shallow that it worked. If it makes you feel better he'll dump her ass as soon as he's banged her a few times. She'll be devastated and will contact you again saying she's "had time to think" lol. Then you get to tell her hoe ass to get lost

Commenter 4: She’ll be back. And when she does, slam the door in her face.

Update: August 4, 2026 (four months later)

UPDATE: Fiancée (23F) left me (25M) for someone she met at the gym, what now?

Hello everyone,

Around four months ago (in April), I made a post here at what was probably the lowest point of my life.

I wanted to come back with an update, partly to thank everyone who took the time to reply, but also in the hope that someone currently in the position I was in might read this and realise that things really can get better.

First of all, thank you to everyone who told me she would be back. I remember thinking it was strange that so many people said the exact same thing. At the time, I didn’t really understand why (lol I still don’t know what the psychology is behind it). Well… you were all right.

2 months ago (in June), I got the call. She told me she’d been dating the guy from the gym and, unsurprisingly to everyone here, she’d slept with him several times. She said she’d woken up one day and realised she’d made a “mistake” and was willing to do “anything” to make the relationship work again. I declined and politely asked her not to contact me again. (I also blocked her, her friends and her family).

Had it not been for the advice from so many people on my original post, I genuinely think I might have given in. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Today, I’m in a much better place and genuinely happy with my own company. I wanted to share a few things that really helped me.

I stopped isolating myself. Instead of lifting weights alone, I started trying different classes at my gym. I ended up really enjoying them and met some great people that way.

I went on a two week solo trip. I took myself out for meals, explored new places, and just enjoyed my own company.

I read a lot of the books people recommended in the comments. No More Mr. Nice Guy was the one that resonated with me the most.

I leaned on my family and existing friends. I made a point of arranging lunches and coffee catch ups instead of sitting at home.

I started counselling. Being able to say everything out loud to someone with no personal bias helped far more than I expected.

Most importantly, I embraced the time alone and journaled a lot. I learned a lot about who I am outside of that relationship and wrote down the things I wanted from my life.

I’ve only recently started dating again, and it’s actually been enjoyable. I’m not rushing into anything, it’s simply been nice meeting new people and learning about different personalities.

Healing isn’t quick, and the damage from the breakup definitely affected me. I still have some reservations about dating, but I’ve also learned about the boundaries I will never compromise on again.

If you’re reading this because you’re going through something similar, please believe me when I say this. It doesn’t feel like it now, but it really does get better. The person who walked away wasn’t the right person for you.

And to everyone who took the time to comment on my original post, thank you. Your advice genuinely changed the direction of my life.

Relevant / Top Comments

Commenter 1: I read your last post man, wouldn't it be crazy having a conversation with yourself now and yourself 4 months ago? Happy for you brother, and be happy in the knowledge you're that much stronger now that you know when things get bad, you can pull yourself out. Also, piece of advice, this time date around a bit more, be picky, and find your perfect person. ++man

OOP's only comment in this update: Thank you my man. I vividly remember writing that post, I felt embarrassed that I was going to Reddit for advice at the time, but I’m so glad I did. It would be so crazy to have a conversation with that version of myself, I felt like my entire life was over. ++man

Commenter 2: Knew she would be back. I am glad you handled it the way you did and keep enjoying your life

Commenter 3: I guarantee you she didn't just "wake up one morning and realized it was a mistake" that gym bro got what he wanted and moved on to the next one

Commenter 4: I love these delusional people who think they can have a backup in case new exciting doesn’t work out.

DO NOT COMMENT IN LINKED POSTS OR MESSAGE OOPs – BoRU Rule #7

THIS IS A REPOST SUB - I AM NOT OOP

Sadly predictable. Id think ill be an ass an say " anything? Then Let me sleep with all your friends and watch it. " see how serious she is. But we all know cheater gonna cheat and this is just dumb bitch energy.