Post-Marriage Weight Gain? Tips to Stay Fit and Healthy, and Love Yourself Again

So, your big day is over and everything went just as you planned. You looked great in your wedding dress and your pictures too came out just perfect. A couple of months into the wedding, do you look at yourself in the mirror and wonder “what just happened?” You probably look heavier, see an expanding waistline and the weighing scale has a different story to tell altogether. Well, the reason why couples gain weight after marriage still remains a mystery. However, health experts usually suggest that this happens when you’re happy and satisfied. And, it’s high-time we stop making post-marriage weight gain such a big deal. If you put on a few extra-kilos as a newlywed, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. At the same time, we don’t intend to glorify it.

For a woman particularly, the transition from being single to married calls for so many changes that a little weight gain is inevitable.

Why Women Gain Weight After Marriage?

Though the reasons for post-marriage weight gain are multifaceted, here are a few reasons why couples start gaining weight after their big day:

• Change in food habits – eating more takeout than cooking
• More stress at work to maintain financial stability
• Binge eating
• Lack of sleep
• Travelling often
• Bonding over trying new restaurants and cuisines
• Reduced physical activity
• Emotional eating

These are some of the most popular reasons women gain weight after marriage. If you were fit before marriage, watching yourself in this new avatar is definitely not going to make you feel good. It can even hit your confidence levels. Instead of losing your zeal, sense of motivation and letting yourself go, you can bounce back and get to a healthy weight again. No, we’re not kidding. A major reason people tend to put on weight after marriage is because they don’t work on themselves because they feel like they’ve achieved what they had to and have no goal to work towards.

Self-love After Weight Gain

Loving yourself after weight gain is tough. It requires a mindset shift. You don’t have to go by what people say or listen to society’s unbelievable and unattainable standards of beauty. You need to focus on self-love and appreciation. Don’t get too hard on yourself. If you do, it can take a hit on your mental health. If you punish yourself and restrict your food intake, you will find yourself bingeing the very next day. The mantra is to take it slow. Realising and accepting you have put on weight is a victory in itself. Next starts the process of changing your mindset. Instead of chasing the perfect diet, weight loss pill or supplement, strive towards making significant changes in your daily life. Once you do so, embrace your body and its changes.

Self-love begins when you prioritise your health not your weight. You probably know that putting on a few extra kilos can lead to several health complications. Thus, getting into shape is important. Don’t do it for your family or friends but instead for yourself.

Weight Watch: Tips to Reverse Post-Marriage Weight Gain

• Practice good sleep hygiene

Sleep and healthy weight are interrelated. Even before you embark on your weight loss journey, it’s important to start practicing good sleep hygiene. Newlyweds tend to be very happy about this new phase in their life owing to which they end up staying up late at night, watching their favourite shows and binge-eating. A lot of people forget that lack of sleep can lead to weight gain. Getting less sleep is associated with higher levels of the hormone ghrelin which increases appetite. Try to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night.

• Ditch binge-eating

May be your partner has a larger appetite than you owing to which you’ve also started having “man-sized” portions. Don’t mirror portions of your husband. Getting to a healthy weight starts with portion control. You can eat what you wish, however, watch your quantities. Eating smaller portions can help you shed those extra kilos.

• Change your idea of a date night

Date night always doesn’t have to be all about dining out. The number one reason the “love weight” phenomenon occurs is because couples are excited about trying new foods and restaurants together. Well, you can still dine out but do so sensibly. A good practice to strengthen your coupledom while embarking on a weight loss journey is changing your idea of a date night. Take the emphasis off food and focus more on different activities. Sign-up for a dance class, go bowling or learn a new hobby to strengthen your bond.

• Workout together

Working out with your partner is literally #couplegoals. It can be pretty fun and motivating too. As soon as your honeymoon is over, start a new fitness regime. Find at least 30 minutes a day to seriously sweat it out. Also, you don’t have to do the same workout as your partner. If aerobics or Zumba makes you happy, do that while your husband can engage in some strength training. The whole point over here is working out at the same time.

• Eat wholesome foods

It can be pretty tempting to have high-sugar, fatty foods post-marriage. This constitutes emotional eating. Rather than falling prey to highly-processed foods, switch to wholesome foods that nourish the body. Incorporate fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat and healthy fat sources in your daily diet. If you have a sugar addiction, try to let go of it completely. Once you start eating right, you will automatically feel lighter and the scale too will show results.

• Finish your dinner by 7pm

Amid the various lifestyle changes you’re making, consider getting done with dinner by 7pm at least. This is the time when your metabolism is still high and robust. Having dinner early will also keep those unhealthy cravings at bay. In case you do feel hungry by 9pm, keep a few nuts handy.

No matter what life throws at you, don’t stop loving yourself. Weight gain after marriage is normal and there’s nothing to be alarmed about. You can get back to your pre-marriage weight by following the above tips. It’s all about accepting yourself and embracing your body.