10 ways why your marriage can make you fat

September 14, 2012 6:13 PM by Getwed.com

Edible gifts, sharing desserts and more; Getwed.com shares 10 of the post-wedding "fat traps" to avoid

In pursuit of looking your best for that big day, you’ve dieted and upped the exercise. But once the honeymoon is over and you’re back to real life, many newlyweds "let go" and end up gaining weight.

To help stay in shape and maintain that honeymoon body, here's 10 of the most common marriage "fat traps" to avoid.

You’ve dieted and upped the exercise before your wedding day in pursuit of looking your best. But once the honeymoon is over and you’re back to real life, many newlyweds ‘let go’ and end up gaining weight. To help stay in shape post-wedding and to try and maintain that honeymoon body, check out the most common marriage fat traps to avoid.

Marriage fat trap 1: Eating ‘man-sized’ portions

Not only do men generally weigh more than women but they also tend to burn calories faster, meaning that your hubby will probably require significantly more calories a day than you. However, whether you are sharing a pizza, Chinese or candlelit meal, many women find themselves matching their man for portion size. While it may be tempting to join your partner for second helpings, look after your waistline by cutting back on portions and stopping eating at the first signs of fullness.

Marriage fat trap 2: High-calorie date nights

When you come back from your honeymoon, it’s common to want to carry on the romance and continue to go out for meals and drinks. However, while this can be fun, it can also sabotage your diet. Whether you’re dining out, going for drinks or munching popcorn at the cinema, it is surprising how many date nights revolve around consuming calories. To keep up the romance without piling on the pounds, try alternating drinks and meals out with dates that don’t revolve around food, such as visiting a theme park or attending a live show or gig – or what about a simple walk on the beach?

Marriage fat trap 3: Post-wedding blues

If you’re newlyweds the excitement of wedding planning and the whirlwind of your wedding day and honeymoon have now passed, which can leave some couples feeling deflated and down. Just like post-Christmas blues, post-wedding blues can lead to comfort eating and weight gain. Those edible wedding gifts or leftover wedding cake can be tempting when you’re wistfully flicking through your wedding photos, but instead, take your mind off your passed wedding day and look to the future – perhaps plan to redecorate or even plan a future holiday.

Marriage fat trap 4: Lack of exercise time

It can be hard to find motivation to exercise at times, especially if you have just returned from a relaxing honeymoon. But if it comes to a toss-up between spending time cuddling on the couch with your partner or heading out for a run it can be even more difficult to choose the latter. If you find you have less time for working out, try intensifying your workouts to get the most out of shorter exercise sessions. Alternatively, try squeezing some exercise into your time together by heading out for a jog or going dancing together.

Marriage fat trap 5: Sharing dessert

You may think that sharing a dessert at the end of the meal is a great way to halve the calories, but remember that half of something you wouldn’t have normally ordered is still extra calories on to your daily intake. While it is good to occasionally treat yourself, if having someone to share with makes you more tempted to order dessert it can easily become a regular habit. Rather than splitting a calorific dessert, fill up on salad or veg during your meal or order a fruit-based dessert or sorbet.

Marriage fat trap 6: ‘Catching’ bad habits

For most of us, it is hard enough having our own unhealthy habits to struggle with. However, being married to someone who regularly fills the cupboards with junk food, orders fast food and snacks on sugary treats, it can be extra hard not to give in to temptation. Rather than giving in to your partner’s vices and picking up their bad habits, try to get them to pick up some of yours by introducing healthier snacks and treats into their diet and exerting a positive influence.

Marriage fat trap 7: Increased alcohol consumption

Being married can not only mean consuming more food, it can also lead to an increased intake of alcohol. While romantic dates and comfy nights in on the sofa mean that there are more opportunities to get the wine flowing, there is also the added temptation to match your husband drink for drink. As alcohol is high in calories, increases appetite and weakens resolve to resist those junk food cravings, drinking excessively will not only damage your health; it can also pile on the pounds.

Marriage fat trap 8: Entering the comfort zone

Many of us make an effort to stay in shape when we’re single; however after a certain amount of time in a relationship it is easy to fall in to the trap of feeling you no longer need to impress. Although it is hopefully true that your partner will love you whatever your size, it is still important to make the effort. While it is nice to look good for your partner, staying in shape will also help boost your own confidence and happiness as well as improving your health.

Marriage fat trap 9: Edible gifts and romantic gestures

Food has traditionally been used as a way of expressing love and affection, whether through cooking romantic dinners or purchasing edible gifts such as chocolates for your partner. However, while it is nice to treat each other to gifts and romantic gestures, saying ‘I love you’ with food can also be the easiest way for you both to pile on the pounds. Instead, try to come up with other creative ways to show your feelings, such as writing a romantic note or email for your partner or buying them something that reminds you of a special time together.

Marriage fat trap 10: Emotional eating

While many of us eat more when we are content and in love, if things take a turn for the worst you could also find yourself reaching for food to deal with more negative emotions. If you are going through a bad phase in your marriage, you may be tempted to comfort eat to deal with your feelings; however, in the long run this will only make you feel worse. Rather than bingeing on unhealthy foods to feel better, try to find healthier ways to alleviate stress such as talking things through with a friend, heading out for a run or walk, or attending a yoga or meditation classIn pursuit of looking your best, you’ve dieted and upped the exercise before your wedding day. But once the honeymoon is over and you’re back to real life, many newlyweds "let go" and end up gaining weightTo help stay in shape post-wedding and to try and maintain that honeymoon body, here's the most common marriage "fat traps" to avoid.

Top 10 post wedding fat traps
How your marriage can make you fat— here's 10 of the most common marriage "fat traps"

1. EATING "MAN-SIZED" PORTIONS
Not only do men generally weigh more than women but they also tend to burn calories faster, meaning that your hubby will probably require significantly more calories a day than you. However, whether you are sharing a pizza, Chinese or candlelit meal, many women find themselves matching their man for portion size. While it may be tempting to join your partner for second helpings, look after your waistline by cutting back on portions and stopping eating at the first signs of fullness.

2. HIGH-CALORIE DATE NIGHTS
When you come back from your honeymoon, it’s common to want to carry on the romance and continue to go out for meals and drinks. However, while this can be fun, it can also sabotage your diet. Whether you’re dining out, going for drinks or munching popcorn at the cinema, it is surprising how many date nights revolve around consuming calories. To keep up the romance without piling on the pounds, try alternating drinks and meals out with dates that don’t revolve around food, such as visiting a theme park or attending a live show or gig – or what about a simple walk on the beach?

3. POST-WEDDING BLUES
If you’re newlyweds the excitement of wedding planning and the whirlwind of your wedding day and honeymoon have now passed, which can leave some couples feeling deflated and down. Just like post-Christmas blues, post-wedding blues can lead to comfort eating and weight gain. Those edible wedding gifts or leftover wedding cake can be tempting when you’re wistfully flicking through your wedding photos, but instead, take your mind off your passed wedding day and look to the future – perhaps plan to redecorate or even plan a future holiday.

4. LACK OF EXERCISE
It can be hard to find motivation to exercise at times, especially if you have just returned from a relaxing honeymoon. But if it comes to a toss-up between spending time cuddling on the couch with your partner or heading out for a run it can be even more difficult to choose the latter. If you find you have less time for working out, try intensifying your workouts to get the most out of shorter exercise sessions. Alternatively, try squeezing some exercise into your time together by heading out for a jog or going dancing together.

5. SHARING DESSERT
You may think that sharing a dessert at the end of the meal is a great way to halve the calories, but remember that half of something you wouldn’t have normally ordered is still extra calories on to your daily intake. While it is good to occasionally treat yourself, if having someone to share with makes you more tempted to order dessert it can easily become a regular habit. Rather than splitting a calorific dessert, fill up on salad or veg during your meal or order a fruit-based dessert or sorbet.

6. CATCHING BAD HABITS
For most of us, it is hard enough having our own unhealthy habits to struggle with. However, being married to someone who regularly fills the cupboards with junk food, orders fast food and snacks on sugary treats, it can be extra hard not to give in to temptation. Rather than giving in to your partner’s vices and picking up their bad habits, try to get them to pick up some of yours by introducing healthier snacks and treats into their diet and exerting a positive influence.

7. INCREASED ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
Being married can not only mean consuming more food, it can also lead to an increased intake of alcohol. While romantic dates and comfy nights in on the sofa mean that there are more opportunities to get the wine flowing, there is also the added temptation to match your husband drink for drink. As alcohol is high in calories, increases appetite and weakens resolve to resist those junk food cravings, drinking excessively will not only damage your health; it can also pile on the pounds.

8. ENTERING THE COMFORT ZONE
Many of us make an effort to stay in shape when we’re single; however after a certain amount of time in a relationship it is easy to fall in to the trap of feeling you no longer need to impress. Although it is hopefully true that your partner will love you whatever your size, it is still important to make the effort. While it is nice to look good for your partner, staying in shape will also help boost your own confidence and happiness as well as improving your health.

9. EDIBLE GIFTS AND ROMANTIC GESTURES
Food has traditionally been used as a way of expressing love and affection, whether through cooking romantic dinners or purchasing edible gifts such as chocolates for your partner. However, while it is nice to treat each other to gifts and romantic gestures, saying ‘I love you’ with food can also be the easiest way for you both to pile on the pounds. Instead, try to come up with other creative ways to show your feelings, such as writing a romantic note or email for your partner or buying them something that reminds you of a special time together.

10. EMOTIONAL EATING
While many of us eat more when we are content and in love, if things take a turn for the worst you could also find yourself reaching for food to deal with more negative emotions. If you are going through a bad phase in your marriage, you may be tempted to comfort eat to deal with your feelings; however, in the long run this will only make you feel worse. Rather than bingeing on unhealthy foods to feel better, try to find healthier ways to alleviate stress such as talking things through with a friend, heading out for a run or walk, or attending a yoga or meditation class.