To Love, Honor and Get Fat

Keep Snacking Out of Your Social Life

When you're dating, you're often rushing off to activities or racing for the bedroom. Couples who settle into cohabitation either through marriage or living together often stay home and camp out on the couch. Date nights are watching TV and sharing a big bowl of chips or a bag of cookies. Stop the snacking!Remember that you're going to eat three meals a day with lean protein, non-starchy veggies, high-fiber carb, and a healthy fat. You're going to be full and you don't need to snack at all. Even if he is snacking, just say no and snuggle instead.

Don't Let Him KO Your Workout

Ladies, work out earlier in the day instead of saving it for night. There's something about the evening when you're tired or you want to spend quality time with your mate that makes it easy to skip your workout. The last thing you're going to do is pull out your running shoes and say, "See you, honey." If you get it out of the way early, it's done and you have free time. By the way ... it's fine to be workout buddies and meet at the gym. But vow that you will work out no matter what he does with his workout ... or lack of one. Make working out with him an additional time to move it, but not your primary time.

Eject His "Friend" from the House

I don't mean his annoying girl-chasing pal Chuck. These are his other "friends." Chances are you're doing the grocery shopping. Ooops, you forgot those Cheetos and didn't buy that box of Krispy Kremes. The bean dip jumped ship and didn't make it to the checkout line. Replace his unhealthy snacks with cut-up veggies and fruit. He won't even miss it and will grab whatever is in the fridge. And you won't have to deal with all those bags of temptation in the pantry.

Don't Let Your Techie Honey Ruin Your Sleep

Men like to believe they're running NASA when it comes to their electronics. Give him a corner of the living room or even a spare bedroom to be Mr. High Tech. Draw the line when it comes to your bedroom which is for sleeping and sex ... period! Don't let him turn the bedroom into a zone where you have a flat screen TV, computer and phones blinking. All of the above will disturb the seven to nine hours of unbroken sleep you need each night. There's nothing worse than watching exciting TV shows or surfing the 'Net before bedtime because it keeps your brain stimulated and makes sleep tough. Toss out the tech from your little sanctuary. The bedroom means hugs and not plugs.

Learn How to Cope with Stress

Just being together in one house brings on a little strife now and then which will make your cortisol levels soar and you might gain weight. Realize that you will need your own relaxation program to cope before it get to be too much. Learn how to meditate or just grab the dog and go for an evening walk about a little fight. Go directly to a hot bath. Practice saying "no" as in, "Honey, I wish I could baby-sit your sister's five screaming children, but I can't." And remember that a great de-stressor is kissing and making up!