20 Ways to Avoid Relationship Weight Gain
At first, your sweetie's knack for whipping up a dynamite batch of chocolate chip cookies was cute and fun; but over time, those small indulgences may start causing the scale to tip in the wrong direction.
When you're in a committed relationship, it's important to remember that it's not the only relationship that needs attention. You were #1 before anyone else came into the picture—remember? While we're not saying you should refuse to make compromises with your significant other, it is crucial to your health and your waistline that you make a point of committing to your goals, too.
"The national average is about one pound of weight gain per year that people are gaining and not losing. That may not seem like a lot, but over time, that adds up. The extra weight can increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and added inflammation in the body," heeds Jessica Crandall, Denver-based RD, Certified Diabetes Educator, and National Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
If you want to keep your relationship alive and keep your skinny jeans in the regular rotation, then start by taking these small steps to avoid that dreaded relationship weight gain. And hey, you might also want to avoid these 23 Foods That Ruin Date Night, too!
Dine In
Sure, when you first start courting someone or are being courted, the drinks, dinners, and desserts abound. However, date night doesn't necessarily have to mean wallet-draining dinners and calorie-ridden dishes. Switch things up and cook at home together. When you cook for yourself you're better able to control portions and you know exactly what you're eating. (Psst! If you are going out to eat and you just met someone, do you know the The #1 Restaurant for a First Date?)
Recognize and Reconcile Bad Habits
If you didn't order pizza every Friday night when you were single, there's no reason you should be doing it now. While your S.O. may have a tradition of calling up Dominos when the weekend hits, it doesn't mean you need to take part. "When they're bringing their bad habits to you, I think the best thing you can do is to recognize it for yourself that you don't necessarily want that or need that," says Crandall. Chances are if you express your wish to grub on something a bit healthier, they'll compromise. If not, let them order a small pizza and you can opt for a lighter dish like a soup or salad.
Split Your Courses
If going out to eat is what you look forward to every weekend, you don't have to give it up completely—just modify your orders. Agree to share each course so that you can still order what you want without worrying about it showing up on your waist next month. Even better, this way you and your partner can have some fun together testing out new dishes and critiquing them. If ordering dessert, always split it; but avoid these 20 Restaurant Desserts With More Salt Than A Bag of Pretzels!
Order a Glass, Not the Bottle
Common sense comes into play with this one; if you order a bottle of wine, chances are you will finish the entire thing. If you order one glass of vino, you're more likely to stick to and savor that one glass. Alcohol can be a major setback when it comes to weight loss, so keeping portions under control is key.
Break Out the Mugs
Who says going out for drinks has to mean a night at the bar? "Monitoring alcohol is especially challenging because it's something you do socially, but you could just as easily be sitting down having a cup of tea or just having a conversation," says Crandall. Hit up your local coffee shop, brew your favorite tea at home or simply cuddle up on the couch for some good old fashioned one-on-one time. Having a coffee shop date? Check out these 20 Ways to Lose Weight at Any Coffee Shop.
Don't Try to Keep Up
Just because your man can polish off that entire bowl of pasta and then rally for seconds, doesn't mean you should or should even attempt to do the same. When it comes to health and weight, each person is different and responds differently to certain types and amounts of food. Stay in tune with your body and put the fork down right before you start feeling full, even if your partner is still plowing through his own plate.
Work Out Together
Check out the new CrossFit spot in town, join a local running club or just hit the weights together at the gym. When you team up, you're more likely to reach your own goals thanks to the added encouragement and accountability that come into play. Celeb trainer Mark Langowski, author of Eat This, Not That! For Abs, reveals his 7 Secrets to Instant Abs here; share it with your S.O. and schedule in some flat ab workouts!
Rebrand Date Night
Date night doesn't always have to mean making reservations, getting dolled up, and downing calorie-rich foods only to leave you feeling overly full and bloated later. "Suggest non-food date nights. It's so easy to go out for dinner, suggest something like laser tag, bowling or something along those lines where the food is not necessarily the focus. Even take some cooking classes together, which can be really fun," says Crandall.
Organize Couples' Tennis
Here's a fun idea: Team up with like-minded couples and schedule a doubles match every Sunday! Not only will you have something fun to look forward to, but getting others involved can help keep you even more accountable for your efforts. Furthermore, you and your S.O. will have fun going head to head with another duo and, as a result, you may also strengthen your relationship. If tennis isn't your thing, meet up with your favorite couple for some mini golf or a pickup game of basketball; it doesn't matter what you do, as long as you get moving. For more ideas, check out these 35 Fun Ways to Lose Weight!
Add Each Other on Fitbit
If your boo doesn't have a Fitbit already, then you've got the perfect opportunity to treat them to something that's fun, tech-forward, and healthy-habit forming. Once you're up and running (literally), the competition will take on a life of its own. Next thing you know you'll be running in circles around the dining room table to keep your honey from outstepping you.
Leave the Bag Behind
Nothing can sabotage your diet quite like a family size bag of chips showing up to the couch and taking a seat within arm's reach. Whether you're the offender or the offended, make a point of pouring out a single portion size for just you. Mindless eating often occurs in front of the television and the last thing you want when Seinfeld ends is to realize you helped bottom out that bag of Tostitos when you weren't even hungry. Swap your chips for air-popped (not microwave!) popcorn; these 20 Delicious Ways to Dress Up Popcorn are extra fun!
Agree on Certain Healthy Foods
Make a point of buying healthier snacks and keeping processed snack foods to a minimum. Go to the store with a list and agree to stick to it. "Figure out what healthy foods you both like and stock up on them. Also, discuss your personal pitfalls and avoid buying those things all together. If you're with someone who wants to be with you long term, they're thinking about your health long term hopefully and will support your efforts," says Crandall.
Suggest Alternatives
If you have trouble resisting that bag of gummy bears your partner loves munching on, let them know and talk about potential alternatives. "If they're eating sweets in front of you, maybe the next time you go grocery shopping let them know you found a really great recipe that looks healthy and suggest making it as a better alternative to whatever sweets have you slipping up," says Crandall. Check out this video on The #1 Way to Stop Sugar Cravings for a genius trick to shut down that sweet tooth!
Indulge Your Other Senses
Rather than bringing home cookies or muffins for your love, try treating with non-food delights. "Give each other a back massage or draw a bath for them—something that isn't food focused. Get to know each other's favorite non-food based treats that you can give to one another," says Crandall. Though the intentions are good, sometimes it can be sabotaging to regularly buy food treats for your honey.
Go to the Ice Cream Place
"Sometimes, people will buy ice cream and say it's so hard to avoid when it's in the house. Don't have it in the house to begin with and instead go out for ice cream and practice portion control there, which is okay to do every once in awhile. Having dessert in the house almost becomes routine—for example, eating some every night after dinner—and that repetition has caloric and weight consequences," says Crandall. Keep the Ben & Jerry's off of your grocery list and enjoy a sweet trip to Dairy Queen every now and then. It's much easier to stop at one cone than it is to resist digging deeper into that pint at home.
Confine the Junk Foods
If you can't keep the junk out of the house, then at least try to keep its appearance to a minimum. If your S.O. just has to have their jolly ranchers, designate a "junk drawer" to keep them stashed away and out of your line of vision. "Maybe keep those less healthy foods out of the living room and in the kitchen in a special drawer," says Crandall. Out of sight, out of mind. (Fun fact: The Google office in NYC told the Eat This, Not That! creator that hiding candy helped their employees eat 3.1 million fewer calories in just weeks! Get the scoop here.)
Forget the Doggy Bag
If you spend every Sunday night at his grandma's for dinner filling up on pasta and her famous ricotta cookies, try to avoid bringing home leftovers. Though the take-home goodies might be convenient and lessen your food prep for the week ahead, they'll also take the place of healthier items you could and should be eating to stay on track with your weight goals. Enjoy the meal as it happens, but politely decline the take-home bag. And then employ this brilliant list of tips, instead: Meal Prep Sunday: 25 Tips to Cook Once, Eat for a Week
Get Busy in the Bedroom
Yes, we are actually telling you to have more sex! Getting physical with your partner is not only a fun, non-food based activity, but it can also get your heart rate elevated and enhance your overall health, happiness, and physical fitness to a degree. But let's be honest—do you even need any more reason to spend extra time between the sheets? Didn't think so.
Don't Socialize on an Empty Stomach
Just as some people say not to going to the grocery store hungry, it's also a good idea to avoid heading to events on an empty stomach. "Try not to go hungry to any pubs or social events, and prepare yourself for them by thinking ahead of time about what you should be eating and not necessarily what you want to eat. If you are picking what you want to eat definitely try to modify your portions," says Crandall. Oh and don't choose these 25 Foods That Make You Hungrier when you do finally eat!
Speak Up
Time and time again you'll hear that communication is key to a successful and healthy relationship, and that especially rings true when it comes to reaching personal goals such as losing weight. "I always tell my clients to focus on what they can do instead of what they can't do. If you are in a committed relationship that may mean talking to your partner about how they can support you in your activity—whether that means going with you on a hike, a bike ride, a jog, or whatever your preference," says Crandall. Follow these 25 Weight Loss Mantras Nutritionists Swear By to find a few rules that both you and your sweetie can get behind!
