Healthy Living

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Dating and Your Diet

An exciting romance can be good for your happiness level, but bad for your waistline. According to an Obesity Society study, women who were dating put on an average of 15 pounds over five years, those who were living with a romantic partner gained 18 pounds and the newly married packed on 24 pounds. You spend the most time with your loved one, so you're bound to be influenced by his eating habits, says Lauren Antonucci, M.S., R.D., director of New York City-based Nutrition Energy. This can lead to weight gain since women generally don't need as many calories as men. Here are simple solutions for solving these dating dilemmas.

Dine out without derailing your diet
Dating often goes along with eating out and drinking more. But just because he can polish off an entire pizza doesn't mean you should. To keep from matching your date bite for bite, begin eating after he does, suggests Antonucci. When the food arrives, tell a story to give him lead-time. That way he'll finish first and you'll be less likely clean your plate.

Another trick is starting with a filling, low-calorie appetizer, like gazpacho or tuna tartare. This satisfies you on fewer calories, so you won't be famished and overdo it when your entrée arrives.

Once you realize where you splurge when sharing a meal together, set rules for yourself. Suggest ordering wines by the glass instead of a bottle. If he enjoys dessert after every meal, split one with him or have a cappuccino instead.

You can also bank some calories by carving out time for exercise before meeting up. Sneak in a sweat session while he's watching the game or during your lunch break. "Most people will eat better after they exercise because they're already feeling good about themselves and when you feel good you'll make better choices," says Antonucci.

Want to read more about how to stay on track while dating? Head over to Shape.com!

—Alla Byrne


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