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Before the wedding, a bride and groom struggle
mightily to get in shape - but as soon as the wedding bells
stop ringing, the eating begins. In fact, according to a study
by Cornell University professor Jeffery Sobal, newlyweds gain
more weight than singles or people who are widowed or divorced.
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April 13, 2004
Another study reported an average
post-wedding weight gain of 6 to 8 pounds over a two-year
period.
Why are husbands and
wives getting fat? One explanation is the "I've got him/her
now, so I don't have to work so hard" mentality, says Dr. David
L. Katz, professor of public health at Yale University School
of Medicine.
"Increased responsibilities, decreased leisure
time, increased stress/financial pressure, and reduced time
spent in athletic pursuits" are all factors, adds Katz.
Married
people also tend to prepare larger amounts of food, pay less
attention to what they're eating and take on the habits of
their spouse - including the bad ones. Eating with another
person can make it OK to consume "sin" foods like cookies,
cakes, ice cream and chips.
And then there's the kids. According
to a new study from Duke University, women face an average
7 percent increased risk of obesity per child, and men, an
average of 4 percent.
"On top of the sleepless nights and irregular
feeding schedules, couples spend more time at home and become
less active," explains Dr. Lori Bastian, associate professor
of medicine at Duker.
So what can you do to avoid the "Wedding Waistline"?
Beware of marital sabotage
"One of the most common challenges to weight control
in marriage is sabotage," says Katz, "when one of the pair is threatened by the
weight loss efforts of the other, and brings 'seductive' foods into the home."
Many
of our major activities involve food - romantic dinners, popcorn at the movies
- and "a partner can feel threatened that family fun will be thwarted," says
Cynthia Sass, author of "Your Diet Is Driving Me Crazy." "This builds a lot of
resentment, making it a very emotional issue."
Keep the peace
Sit down with your
partner and have a discussion about how important losing weight is to you. Explain
that he doesn't have to modify his way of life, but he should at least support
your objective.
"A partner should make it clear that not supporting his or her
weight loss efforts makes it much more difficult to lose," says Sass.
Just make
sure it's clear you don't want him watching all your food choices like a hawk.
Do it together
Have your partner eat healthier along with you. Studies have shown
that partners who diet together lose more weight than those who go it alone.
Don't be afraid to separate
That said, you don't always have to eat the same
foods as your partner, meal after meal. Try to cook separately if your partner
doesn't want to participate in healthier eating - you could both have chicken,
one grilled, the other fried.
When getting takeout, there is no rule that you
have to order from the same place; and when dining out, you take turns choosing
the restaurant.
Be prepared
If your spouse is a poor eater, think about your
meals in advance, and plan ahead for social occasions.
Come up with strategies
to help you both stay in control - like keeping low-calorie fudge pops in the
freezer for when your spouse is enjoying bowl after bowl of ice cream.
New
York Post
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