Halt The Gain

Back in June of this year I moved in with my boyfriend. There are some challenges that come from meshing two lifestyles into one but I can’t say it has been too difficult. Sure we both have random quirks that take some getting used to:

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And after just 6 months I can say the photo below is 100% TRUE.

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But I really can’t complain one bit. I truly believe our relationship has gotten stronger. Along with “what habits have been discovered”, the most common comment/concern I hear from my female counterparts is “when I moved in with my bf/husband I gained 10lbs”. I’ve seen numerous women blame the men in their lives for the weight gain they’ve experienced. Well ladies, I’m hear to tell you it doesn’t have to happen. Here’s some tips I have for preventing that “I feel so comfortable now you aren’t leaving me lets be lazy together” weight gain. Remember everyone is different, these are just a few things that I suggest.

Cook the meals YOU enjoy

Of course E would be happy with pizza and steaks every night what man wouldn’t? But since I’m doing the cooking most nights (something I happily take control of) it’s not happening. Guys will pretty much eat anything so why not put something in front of them that you know YOU will enjoy. It’s nice to cook their favorite man meal every once in awhile though not something I would make a habit of. Plus, they might even discover they actually like some “good for you” foods (quinoa, vegetables) and lose 12lbs in the process (yep, this happened).

Don’t split 50/50

This will get you into trouble. Whenever I cook a meal I make sure to put less on my plate than E has placed on his. I weigh 60lbs less than he does. There is no need to consume the same number of calories as him. This rule applies when dining out as well

Take control of the grocery cart

I do most of the food shopping in our house simply because food is more of a priority for me than him. Since I often stop at the store on my way home from work, E isn’t floating around and picking up every impulse snack item available. If he really wanted to have certain snacks in the house we would have them but junk food isn’t something he often requests. Since I strongly believe in the 80/20 (80%-good for you, 20%-leave me alone I’m having it) rule when it comes to food we always have some snacks around but our house isn’t laden with Doritos and Gushers.

Nightly walks

When we first moved in we used to take walks just about every night. Not only did it give us a chance to explore our new neighborhood but we were also able to catch up on each other’s days. Discussing one’s day is something most couples do anyways. It is an easy way to stay a little more active!

Limit Take Out

E and I save our restaurant splurging for the weekend. Take out just isn’t something we have during the week. We all know that restaurant portion sizes tend to be much larger than the ones you would cook at home. By limiting these larger than life portions to just the weekends, I am able to keep my calorie intake in check.

Stick to your guns

I’d like to say that since moving in with E I have completely stuck to the workout schedule I had before but that just isn’t true. It gets complicated when you are trying to balance more than one schedule (I can only imagine what my mom had to deal with balancing 3 kids as well!). Plus it can be uber tempting to just relax and hang out with your man! But, as often as possible I stick to my guns about my workouts. I do so even if it means we eat an hour later than normal. Guess what ladies? Your bf/husbands will still be there when you return (probably sitting on the couch) and they probably haven’t gotten hungry enough to start cooking (will they ever get hungry enough for this to happen?).

The above are just a few things that I have done to prevent the extra lbs. At the end of the day, it’s up to you to make nutrition and fitness a priority! Now don’t ask me how the above suggestions change when you throw kids into the mix. I am completely clueless and assume any and all plans are out the door! See Lisa for suggestions since she seems to have it figured out!

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! I’m off to Miami and then Orlando (Disney wine and food fest). If anyone will be in the area let me know!

What are you up to this weekend?

Tagged as: moving in doesn't have to mean gaining weight