Marriage is supposed to be good for you. According to research, married men and women are, respectively, 6.1% and 2.9% less likely to die prematurely compared to their single friends. However, marriage is also supposed to be terrible for your waistline, as Express reports. In the first 5 years of marriage, women gain around 24 pounds while their husbands gain around 30 pounds. And the happier the couple, the more weight they gain.
The weight gain is probably due to couples feeling that, since they no longer have to impress anyone, they no longer have to pay as much attention to the way that they look. That’s why married couples should focus less on their looks and more on their health if they want to get back in shape.
Here are some tips on losing weight as a couple, from WebMD and NetDoctor.
1. Make sure you’re on the same page
You and your spouse should be on the same page regarding your goals, your diets, and your exercise routines. Support and inspire each other to make healthy decisions by talking things through first.
2. Don’t use your partner’s lapses as an excuse to slack off
If you and your partner agreed on exercising together, but one of you decides to bail out, don’t give up. Don’t blame your partner either. Exercising together is a great way to bond as a couple, but remember that you alone are responsible for your health.
3. Don’t turn into the “food police”
It’s not your job to monitor every little piece of food that your partner eats. Your partner is perfectly capable of making the right decisions, and guilt-tripping him may only drive a wedge between you. Instead, encourage him by offering him healthy and delicious snacks.
4. If you’re exercising together, take into account your differences
Your partner may be more physically fit compared to you, which could make exercising together a bit difficult. You may end up pushing yourself too hard, or your partner might feel like he’s not being challenged. Fitness instructor Jacqui Jackson suggested doing as many repetitions as you can of an exercise for a certain period of time. For example, when you’re doing squats or press-ups, give yourself 3 minutes for each exercise and just do as many as you can.
5. Be open to new activities
When you’re working out with someone, you’re more likely to work harder and enjoy yourself. Try different activities and see what you most enjoy. From yoga classes to boxing lessons to rock climbing sessions, doing different things keeps things interesting and lets you discover things together.
READ: 10 Funny and relatable tweets about trying to lose weight