A beautiful young weight loss patient who is about to get married to her love 2 months from now, joined us and came for her 1st session last weekend. She had gained 10 kilos in last 1 year since she started dating him and obviously this was her first question for us. “Has Dating made me Fat?”
I explained to her how she gained so much of weight during this period. We explained “In the beginning stages of dating 1 year back, deciding what to wear, where to go, and even things like whether you should or shouldn’t kiss can be stressful. And once you start to get more serious, you have big decisions to make, such as whether to be exclusive, to live together, or to get married. With so much to think about, and as you get serious about it, your healthy lifestyle is probably the last thing on your mind”.
I know that you know that it shouldn’t be that way, but it happens just like love happens…LOL
According to research from the journal of Obesity, dating and live-in relationship can lead to weight gain. The 2009 study looked at 1,293 dating, live-in relations and married romantic couples, and found that over 5 years, women who were dating put on an average of 7 kilos, and those living with a romantic partner gained 9 kilos. Men also have an increased risk of becoming obese as they stay in a relationship, but not nearly as much as women.
Researchers say that when you find someone who you really like, you start spending more time with them and therefore adopt some of their less-than-healthy behaviors. Or you cut back on your usual workout time to spend time with your lover.
Another study showed that Not only are married people more likely to become obese than those who are just dating, but young people who move in with a boyfriend or girlfriend tend to pack on kilos.
The study also notes that unmarried women who have been living with their love for 5 years or less run a 63% increased risk of obesity. And men on average have no increased risk during cohabitation. So Men are the lucky one in this relationship. Interestingly, studies found that longer the women lived with a romantic partner; the more likely they were to keep putting on weight. The risk of obesity among guys — married and unmarried — spikes only between the 1st and 2nd years of living together.
Take Home message for love birds:
We definitely want you to fall in love and we want you to remain healthy as well, so you can follow some tips to remain fit and be all out lover at the same time:
- Drinking in Limits
dating seems to revolve around food and drink. You are often tempted to meet for a cocktail or night out BUT the problem with this type of date is that you can easily consume hundreds of calories (especially if you’re nervous and think that glass of wine will calm you down) without even feeling full or being out for very long. Be just as careful about what you sip as what you eat. My suggestion is to go for low-calorie non-alcoholic options such as fresh lime soda, black coffee, or unsweetened ice tea etc. - Eat Smart
When you’re going on a lot of dates, it’s easy to get wrapped up in conversation and not notice how much you’re eating. You might even order foods you normally wouldn’t choose off a menu, such as heavy appetizers or desserts to impress your partner. When your date of your dreams asks you out for ice cream, it’s hard to say no, right? So instead of saying no to certain foods, think small and have little tiny bits of deserts. - How about Romantic dinner at Home
dining out frequently will certainly bulge your waistline. Save some calories by eating at home.Find a healthy recipetogether, go to the grocery store to pick up the ingredients because grocery shopping together is a fun way to strengthen the bond of love.
Eat Good and Have a Great Love Life… Loads of Love from Team NidSun 🙂