Moving in with your partner can often mean piling on the kilos. It may be a sign that you’re a contented couple, but more often than not it’s due to a change in your diet and cuddling up on the couch instead of working out.
Research by Dr Amelia Lake from the UK’s Newcastle University Human Nutrition Research Centre, published in the journal Complete Nutrition, shows that women are more likely to put on weight and eat more high-fat, high-sugar foods when they move in with their partner. Conversely, men tend to cut their fat and sugar intake and eat more vegetables, however it’s not uncommon for them to gain weight as well.
Partners have a strong influence on each other’s behaviour, but it’s too easy to blame them for your bulging waistline. Dr Lake says that whatever stage your relationship is in, getting a healthier attitude to food and exercise will do you both good. She adds, “Couples who have been in their relationships for a long time should remember that it is never too late to make changes and this needs team work."
Too much of the good life?
A common couple’s ritual is to wind down after work with a glass or two of wine/beer and snacks, usually the high-calorie variety. The calories in alcohol can stack up without you even feeling full and boozy beverages also weaken your willpower. You don’t have to give alcohol up completely, but give it a miss on weeknights and go for a sparkling mineral water with fresh lime or a diet drink instead. Then, raise a glass or two with your partner at the weekend, being careful to avoid bingeing.
Are your portions ‘man-sized’?
If you live with a man, especially one with a healthy appetite, it is easy to lose touch with the right portion size for your particular needs. Make a point of not serving equal-sized portions for both of you. Generally speaking, a woman’s serving size should be around 20 percent smaller than a man’s. Don’t take your eating cues from your partner, either; listen to your body, especially when it is telling you it’s had enough.
Too much snuggling in front of the telly?
Tuning into the TV while you eat and drink is a common couple’s trap, which can result in losing track of how much you’re eating. A study at Johns Hopkins University in the US found that the more focused people were on their TV screen, the less aware they were of how much they ate. When you consider that snuggling on the couch for a night of TV burns about as many calories as sleep, you can see why couples gain weight together!
A good solution is to trade up to an hour of your daily TV time with some exercise – a long brisk walk or a game of tennis. Also try to avoid eating in front of the telly, or stick to low-calorie snacks if you do.
Do you exercise enough?
If you’re both working or raising kids, it can be difficult to find time to exercise. One way to get around this is to encourage your partner or the whole family to get moving together; enjoy a game of cricket, Frisbee or basketball, or just take a walk. You might also ask your partner to babysit so you can get to an exercise class and vice versa.
Does your partner prefer you heavier?
Some partners might resist your plans to lose weight and get healthy because of their own personal issues, including unexpressed and undealt-with fears. When one partner begins to lose weight and look better, it can feel threatening for the other. It’s possible your partner is afraid that he/she will lose you if you get slim and gain more confidence. Or, your partner might fear that you’re going to try to change him/her too. Weight loss in one partner definitely changes the dynamics of a relationship and should be a really positive step – but this isn’t always the case.
Do try to lovingly reassure your partner that you want to get healthy for yourself, your body and your mind, for the present and for a better future for you both. The Biggest Loser Club helps you develop healthy eating and exercise habits for the long term that will benefit both you and your partner.
So, you have to ask yourself, is your relationship keeping you heavy? And if it is, are you happy that way?
Benefits of doing it together
If you choose to get fit with The Biggest Loser Club, chances are that your healthy habits will rub off on your partner. Damien Oprel overcame some serious health problems when he lost 16kg on his Biggest Loser Club plan, and his partner, Paul, also shed about 5kg. Teresa Strom was determined to be healthy for her family; she lost 24.9kg and her enthusiastic paramedic husband shed weight too. Geraldine Ellis-Maguire lost weight because she wanted to be a good role model for her newly-adopted baby Jacklyn. Along the way, her husband became so enthused with the menu plans , it inspired him to train for a new profession – as a chef!