Gaining Weight After Marriage
Some people refer to weight gain after marriage as "happy weight." Putting on extra pounds after you say "I do" is more common than unheard of. Couples gain weight for numerous reasons, which includes sharing unhealthy habits. It is important to develop plans to influence each other so that you can become healthy together and avoid the usual marriage weight gain.
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Causes
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Weight gain after marriage can be contributed to a decrease in exercise or in healthy eating habits. Couples also have a tendency to become comfortable with one another after a while; hence, weight gain being viewed as an issue for appearance may be downplayed and less important.
According to a study conducted by Natalie The and Penny Gordon-Larsen, "sharing a household environment with a romantic partner may predispose individuals to become at risk for obesity and obesity-promoting behaviors." The researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill presented their findings at the Obesity Society's 2007 annual scientific meeting.
Effects
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The purpose of marriage is not to focus on physical attraction; however, there is a possibility that gaining weight after marriage, especially if the person was in shape before, may decrease the physical or sexual attraction. More importantly, gaining weight rapidly or drastically may become a health issue in the long run.
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Prevention/Solution
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Because you and your spouse's eating habits and physical activities affect each other, you can work as a team to avoid gaining weight. Homefamily.net lists several ways couples can create healthy habits in their marriage, such as eating slowly and enjoying meals together (without the TV on), eating breakfast together, exercising together, trading food duties, building a support system for each other and planning treats into your meals.
Keeping each other accountable is key in fighting obesity.
Considerations
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Creating healthy routines together can be beneficial because of the motivation and support you have as a team. You can make it creative so that it seems more like fun than work. Sign up for a fun dance class together, such as learning salsa or the foxtrot. Make it a routine to take a morning or evening jog or bike ride together three days a week. Have a cheat day where you and your spouse go out to a favorite restaurant. Create a rewards system and keep track of your goals together. The reward can be a treat to a meal of choice when your or your spouse reach a targeted weight goal.
Significance
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Gaining weight after marriage is important because it not only involves you, it involves your spouse as well. Even if only one of you has gained weight, it is important for the other person to contribute to prevent weight loss. Marriage involves teamwork, which includes building each other up in all areas. If you want to become or remain healthy and in shape, it is important for your spouse to be healthy and physically fit as well.
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