DIETING & DATING

Romantic relationships can be beautiful things, but they always seem to result in extra pounds (perhaps it’s all of those weekends spent dining in, dining out and skipping Spin classes in favor of snuggling in bed). Luckily, it is possible to hang on to your relationship, as well as your current dress size. Here’s how:

Appetizer Apocalypse

Ideally, you want to avoid appetizers altogether, lest you blow through an entire day’s worth of fat and calories on sweet potato fries, loaded potato skins or fried pickles. But if you must choose something, opt for healthier appetizers like chicken lettuce wraps or steamed vegetable pot stickers. “And if all else fails, nosh on the carrot and celery sticks that accompany the chicken wings,” says Christianne Phillips, master instructor at Revolve Fitness. “And avoid that blue cheese dressing at all costs!”

Eyes on Your Own Plate

You might be the healthiest of healthy eaters, but what if he isn’t? It’s kind of hard to feel completely satisfied with your grilled salmon and roasted veggies when your date has just been served a bubbly dish of lobster mac ’n’ cheese (which you’d swear was actually calling your name). The desire to snatch a few bites of cheesy deliciousness may be just too much to bear. “Avoiding the temptation to pick off his plate is never easy,” says Kristen James, founder of Kristen James Fitness. But in order to avoid plate picking, she suggests waiting until you’ve eaten at least half of your meal before you try to tap into his. This will significantly cut down on the amount of food you sneak off his plate, and it may also cut down on the time he has to spend safeguarding his dinner.

Actively Dating

Dates don’t always have to involve dinners out and buckets of buttery popcorn at the movies. In fact, combining your workout time with date night can be a lot of fun and much, much cheaper. Bryan Ortiz, owner of Brooklyn Bad Ass Fitness, specifically recommends exchanging those lazy Saturday afternoons in bed for obstacle course challenges and games of one-on-one tennis or basketball. But he also offers a few words of caution: “You don’t want to get too competitive,” says Ortiz. “These one-on-one games are meant for couples to have fun, spice things up, and most importantly, keep the weight off.” So, just remember that your opponent is also your partner – not the guy standing between you and a gold-medal victory.

Maintain Your Sanctuary

Just as your partner’s toothbrush, clothes and shoes may have staked an unofficial claim to your home, his snacks may be doing the same thing. Before you know it, you may be finding boxes of Cheez-Its and M&Ms mixed in with your high-fiber cereal and flax seed snacks.

“If your boyfriend [or girlfriend] tends to buy junk food and eat fast food, do not take up his [or her] bad habits,” says health and wellness expert Chris Freytag. “Let him [or her] know [that you have a] passion for eating healthy, but don’t force him [or her] to change.” Freytag suggests that when snack time rolls around, try popping a bowl of homemade popcorn using 2 tbsp. oil and 2/3 cup of popcorn kernels. This will yield three cups of popcorn for a total of only 100 calories! “When he smells the yummy popcorn, he may not be able to resist dropping his bag of Cheetos and digging in.”

But since we’re all susceptible to a junk food attack from time to time, Kurt Hester, a professional athletic performance coach, recommends segregating your snacks. “Store your food in a separate cabinet,” says Hester. “When you open the cabinet, you only see your healthy items and will not be tempted by [his or hers].” Out of sight, out of mind.

Blame it on the Alcohol

A good buzz notwithstanding, alcohol doesn’t generally do a body much good. During a dinner date, most of us consume at least two drinks, which can lead to hundreds of extra empty calories by the end of the evening. Personal trainer Janette Janero recommends steering clear of drinks that contain high amounts of sugar, such as frozen blender concoctions like margaritas that hover around the 500-plus calorie mark. “Sangria may sound healthy because of the fruit, but don’t let that fool you,” says Janero. “Most of the time, table sugar is packed into those pitchers.”

Instead, Janero recommends a simple glass of wine (about 125 calories) or vodka, one of the least caloric spirits, with a calorie-free mixer, such as Diet Coke or club soda.

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The Power of Two

Having a fitness partner can make staying in shape much more enjoyable than flying solo. And the best part is that there are many options for couples beyond simply meeting up at the gym and taking turns as the spotter. Athletic performance coach Kurt Hester tipped us off to some of the best get-healthy activities that couples can do together.

Class Act: Taking classes together at the gym is always a great option. You can rotate between yoga, karate, spin or weight-training classes to keep the pounds off while avoiding boredom.

Take it Outside: As soon as that warm spring weather begins to peek through the clouds, try outdoor activities such as swimming, hiking, tennis or beach volleyball. You may wind up turning each other on to a new sport that will become a regular weekly activity.

An Intimate Affair: Studies show that couples who train together have sex more often than those who don’t. Sex burns roughly 125 calories per half hour!

Cook at Home: It’s fun, it’s fast and it’s a whole lot cheaper than going out to eat every Saturday night. When you take turns finding and creating new healthy recipes at home, you’re not only eating well, you’re also helping each other live longer, healthier lives.

Get Organized: Organization is actually key to living a healthy lifestyle. On Sunday nights you can help each other plan and prepare meals and supplements for the week. When lunches and snacks are all packed up and ready to go, you’ll both be less likely to give into temptation (e.g. the evil office vending machine!).

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Make it Together

Let the other couples brave the crowds at the romantic restaurant du jour on Valentine’s Day. You and your someone special won’t have to wait in line or tip the valet to indulge in this super-healthy, couples-friendly menu created by fitness and nutrition expert Trinity Perkins. So, put on your chef’s hat and prepare to be blown away by your own awesome kitchen skills!

Greek Yogurt Cheesecake Bites

8 oz plain fat-free cream cheese
7 oz plain Greek yogurt
2 whole eggs
2 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ cup organic pure cane sugar
1 cup finely sliced strawberries

Oftentimes couples gain weight together because of sharing unhealthy eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle. And many people find it challenging to lose weight when their other half continues to live the couch potato life. The good news? Couples who diet together, benefit together. Here are some ways couples can start out and support each other on their mutual weight loss journeys. Set Lifestyle Goals as a Couple Each of you should have your own weight loss goals as far as pounds, but setting goals for healthy habits as a couple is a great way to encourage each other and make lifestyle changes. Abra Pappa, a holistic nutritionist and healthy food educator with NutritiousAmerica.com recommends goals such as cooking meals together five times a week or going for a 20 minute walk together after dinner instead of watching TV. By focusing on healthy changes to your daily life, the pounds will come off and will be more likely to stay off because you have made permanent lifestyle changes as a family. Don’t Be the Food Police There is a fine line between being supportive and nagging. While encouragement is a good thing, nagging is definitely not. Pappa tells couples to avoid becoming the Food Police with each other. Offer praise when your partner meets their goals and encourage them when they make good choices, but pretend not to notice when they indulge. “Although your partner is losing weight alongside you, it is still their journey,” says Pappa. “Support and encouragement is very different than policing every bite your mate eats.” Exercise Together Since many people skip exercise to spend time with their partner, you can overcome this exercise obstacle by working out together whenever possible. Mary Perry, registered dietitian and Clinical Trials Director for Zone Labs Inc. recommends finding an activity that you both enjoy, such as running, kayaking, swimming, biking or just walking. “Instead of gravitating toward the couch every night after dinner, go out for a walk or go to bed early so you can get up in the morning and go for a run or get to the gym together,” says Perry. Plan Meals and Cook Together Decide on a time each week that you can plan your upcoming meals together. Look through cookbooks and websites together to find healthy meals that you will both enjoy. Perry says that eating out makes it easy to overeat and recommends that couples commit to eating together at home as much as possible. “Alternate nights that the two of you cook or devote one or two weekend nights to finding a recipe, grocery shopping and cooking together,” says Perry. Over the weekend, write down meals for each night of the week so that you are not tempted to grab fast food after your daughter’s soccer practice. Since men and women lose weight at different rates, be careful about comparing pounds lost. While dieting together is a great way to have support, each person should also focus on their own journey. If your partner loses focus and reverts to old behaviors, keep moving forward yourself and do not let your partner’s actions derail your hard work. On the flip side, if your partner loses weight more rapidly than yourself, stay focused on your own goals and progress. By supporting each other and creating a healthy household, you will both be healthier to share many more years together.
Read more at http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/08/dieting-together-a-roadmap-for-couples/#8JfOeCbHMYYTcjgl.99

Tips and Guide How to Lose Weight

DIETING & DATING By: Dana Robinson

DIETING & DATING

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