I celebrated my two-year wedding anniversary last weekend. Now that we’re no longer newlyweds, it’s been easy to get a little bit too comfortable in our relationship. Too often we chose a bottle of wine and a movie over an evening workout, or we ordered greasy takeout instead of preparing a healthy meal in our kitchen. Of course, this is fine every once in a while—we think it’s part of a good marriage—but choosing the “comfy” option frequently wasn’t great for our waistlines. And as it turns out, we’re not alone. Research shows that married people are twice as likely to get obese than single folks.
Since I found my Feel Great Weight, I don’t obsess about every calorie I eat. It was hard, though, to feel good about myself when I could barely button last year’s shorts! My husband experienced a similar summer woe when his favorite golf shorts were snug in the waist. We realized that our comfy habits had caused us to pack on some extra pounds. So a few weeks ago we decided to tackle our unhealthy ways together, and the weight came off pretty easily. If you think your husband is making you fat, here’s how you can shape up together.
Watch portions. Both my husband and I needed to reevaluate our food portion sizes. As a result of our takeout habit, we both had a tough time recognizing how a normal portion looked like. It was even harder for me because I was eating as much as my husband did. My body simply does not need all those calories!
First, we had to get a perspective of recommended portion sizes. Here’s a great guide to print out and stick on your fridge. And I’ve learned to automatically serve myself less than my husband—typically about one-half to three-fourths less than what’s on his plate. Using a smaller plate also helps me eat less because the smaller portions fill it up and make it look more plentiful. Rarely do I ever feel like I am eating less, and my clothes fit better as well.
