Find out how to maintain your healthy habits, adopt new ones and (sneakily) encourage your significant other to do the same.
There are certain side effects to being in a relationship. Falling in love can give you chills. The birds may sing a little louder. And you could also see your health habits soar and therefore, gain weight.
Surveys show that people in relationships no longer feel pressured to show off. They may eat out more often or order more takeout, and adopt more sedentary habits. An Australian study published in February 2018 in PLOS One found that while couples were more likely to have healthy habits (such as not smoking and limiting fast food consumption), they were still less likely to have a normal weight compared to single people.
5 scenarios where being in a relationship can lead to weight gain
If this sounds like you, you can get back to your diet and exercise habits. Even if they don’t lead to weight loss, you’ll feel great.
1. You’ve given up on your personal wellness routine.
You used to eat at home or bring your own lunch to work. Now your lunch routine may be disrupted, and you go out for dinner. You’d be surprised at how calorie-dense restaurants can be in even simple dishes. Meaning: Eating out will cause you to consume more sugar, fat, and sodium.
2. You unwittingly adopt your partner’s unhealthy habits.
You knew how to eat and prepare your meals, then you met your partner, and what you ate and when you ate changed. Feeding behavior can sometimes be influenced by the new partner. You can try new foods or eat more frequently or later in the day, like him.
3. You drink more alcohol on your dates.
If, for you, dating means having a drink, that’s okay. As long as you stick to one or two drinks (for women and men, respectively). According to a study published in June 2015 in the journal Appetite, drinking alcohol before a meal, even in moderation, increased the number of calories ingested by 11% and respondents said they were more likely to crave alcohol. foods high in fat.
4. You go out more often and your fitness routine now takes a back seat.
Finding a show you both love to watch on repeat brings you closer, according to a September 2017 study in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, so it’s no wonder you’re both settling in on the couch now. Likewise, you may skip your yoga class after work to spend more time with your partner, which makes you less active.
5. You share a bed, and your sleep suffers
As a couple, you probably won’t sleep as well as when you fall asleep alone. Sleeping in the same bed as your partner can increase nighttime disturbances by 50%. And according to the foundation, sleep problems related to bedsharing are more common among women, in part because of men’s snoring. Unfortunately, lack of sleep is linked to a higher risk of weight gain because it can affect the hormones that regulate hunger and appetite.
How to find healthy habits as a couple?
1. Get back into the swing of things and go back to old ways
If you strayed from the path of healthy living because you were engrossed in a new relationship, that’s completely understandable. But you can get back in the saddle, even if your partner has an unhealthy diet. Do what you’ve always done and recognize that healthy eating makes you feel better.
2. Prepare a healthy, homemade meal together for an evening with friends.
Going out to dinner and trying new restaurants can be very exciting, but if it gets out of hand, it’s time to reconnect with your own cooking. Organize evenings where you cook healthy meals together. This way you can still enjoy a meal together, but you know what you’re eating. A study published in June 2015 in the journal Public Health Nutrition found that people who cooked dinner most days of the week ate fewer calories and less fat and sugar compared to people who ate at home once or twice a day. zero times a week.
3. Start sweating again at the gym
Your partner may be reluctant to go to the gym, and honestly, it’s not up to you to train them, that’s a lot to ask. Instead, focus on your own behavior. A March 2015 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that when one partner changes their health for the better (for example, starts exercising), the other is more likely to follow their lead. Another tactic is to schedule more active dates, such as going for a hike or bike ride.
4. If you plan to eat out, go to a restaurant with healthy options.
Eating indoors can be a pleasant, rewarding and healthy experience, but it’s obvious that you’re going to go outside sometimes. Try to have a few restaurants in your rotation that you know offer healthy choices. Look at the menu before the scheduled date so you can plan ahead. It’s easier to make healthier choices with a plan in place.
5. Encourage your partner to adopt healthy eating habits (gently)
If you’re a veggie lover but your partner isn’t, you can let your preferences rub off on them. Maybe forget vegetables that put him off (like kale) in favor of those that suit him better. Be creative. The more they are exposed to healthy food, the more it will rub off on them.
