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by Sharon Liao
They don’t call them love handles for nothing. Avoid piling on weight — and regain control of your healthy eating plan — with these simple strategies.
3 Relationship fat traps - fixed
As your love grows, so may your waistline. In fact, during the early years of marriage, women add nearly 1 point to their BMI (or about 3kg), while men put on 0.7 (or roughly 2kg), according to a University of Minnesota, US, study. But blaming your man won’t get you any closer to your goal weight — or to him. Here are some common couple diet pitfalls, and what you can do to avoid them:
> You’ve fallen for him — and his junk-food stash A Cornell University study found that newly weds tend to adopt each other’s eating habits. So store his snacks out of your line of vision (like on the top shelf of the pantry). Then stock the fridge with good-for-you favourites, such as fruit, veggies, low-fat yoghurt, nuts and seeds.
> You’re both busy, and dinner is the only time to catch up “Many couples eat out often, or make big meals together, because it’s a convenient way to spend quality time with each other,” says Karen Miller-Kovach, dietician and author of She Loses, He Loses (Wiley). Bond instead over fun activities like a hike or a game.
> You just started dating and don't want to seem weight-obsessed Candlelit dinners. cocktails, movie popcorn...A new relationship can put your healthy habits on hold. But it is possible to live in the mom moment without overindulging: opt for lower-kJ broiled or grilled starters at restaurants, nurse your mojito, and bring your own movie snacks.
BEATING THE BULGE TOGETHER
So your partnership has resulted in a few extra kilos. The good news is that it can also help you take them off, research suggests. Use these smart strategies to scale down and maintain harmony.
1 Get him on board
Men tend to be pragmitists and problem solvers, so they will look for the end result, says Miller-Kovach. “Talk to your partner. He may be more interested in losing weight if he thinks it’ll help his back pain or improve his touch rugby performance.”
2 Don't go kJ for kJ
It may be tempting to have what he's having on his slim-down plan. But keep in mind that men have more muscle mass, which means their metabolism is 5 to 10 percent faster, so they can eat more than you and still drop kilos.
3 > Give each other the right support
In general, women prefer to hear weight-loss advice frequently, while men only ask for it when they want it. Fight the impulse to tell him what and when to eat, but discuss how he can encourage you.
WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM MEN’S EATING HABITS
True, guys have been known to call a bucket of chicken and a six-pack of beer “dinner”. Surprisingly, though, they do have a few habits and practises that can help you lose weight… and keep it off.
NOT SUCH SWEETIES
A recent study found that women crave sugary snacks as comfort food, while men generally opt for meat. The protein in lean meat will fill you up, while sweet treats cause energy levels to spike and fall, leaving you hungry (and irritable).
THEY DON’T HAVE FOOD AMNESIA
Men tend to eat less at lunch if they’ve had a snack, while women don’t compensate as much for their nibbles, reports a study published in the journal Appetite. Next time you sit down to a meal, do a quick mental check of what you’ve eaten that day.
THEY KEEP THEIR EMOTIONS OUT OF IT
Do you automatically hit the fridge after a bad day at the office? A British study found that women are more likely than their male co-workers to seek out foods high in sugar and fat during stressful times. Next time the pantry beckons, head outside for a brisk walk instead.
THEY DON’T BEAT THEMSELVES UP FOR BLOWING
IT After a slip, women are likely to soothe their guilt with more over-indulgence, whereas men resume their healthy habits. So close the gender gap and step away from the biscuit drawer!
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