First comes love, then comes obesity?

bd593,

Your points are good ones. I would only add that the analysis gets a little more complicated in the years after marriage. Sure, you can continue to hit the gym an hour each day after you are married. But marriage is, of course, just the beginning. Next, add children. Now the hour at the gym is a compromise not just between spending time there or with your wife. Then -- what is the nature of your career? Is your job 8 to 5, and you are done for the day? That makes the gym easier. Mine has never been that way. More like 8 to 5, then 7 to 9 and maybe a couple more -- plus an all-nighter or two each month and many lost Sundays flying across the country for Monday morning meetings on a different coast.

Then you hit 40. Your metabolism slows down, so you need 90 minutes to get the results you used to get in 60. Now your kids are older, so it isn't just sitting with them for an hour and playing with legos on the floor -- it's 2-hour drives to 3-hour sporting events (and 2 hours back), the odd weekday night choir practice, acting gig at the local theater, competitive debate. If you have managed to keep your feet on the ground to this point, your neighbors have noticed. You have been asked to sit on the boards of a few community organizations...

Having said all of that it is STILL very important to get that exercise in and keep the pounds off and stay attractive for your soulmate. But you DO have to be more creative with your schedule and willing to be flexible. And the willpower is more of a challenge because you WILL miss workouts and have to get yourself fired back up when you are off your rhythm.

No wonder the girls who are hot, up dancing on the bar are rail thin.

It's called comfort. All my friends are getting married and they're all getting fat and none have children yet. When you are in a comfortable relationship the true motives for working out become apparent; If you gained weight you only exercised to get laid/ or find a significant other, if you stay committed to your exercise goals then your motivated by health reasons and/or continuing to to look good for your significant other. I've dated both ends of the spectrum and my routines have not changed. What it boils down to is what the person is willing to compromise in order to spend time withe the other person.

For whatever it is worth, while my wife and I never crossed the "obesity threshold," there was one problematic stretch of time in that regard. It began shortly after she became pregnant with our first child. As she began eating for two, I honestly didn't notice for some time that I was eating an extra slice or two of pizza right along with her for several months. She had only one craving with that child -- Yoo Hoo chocolate drink. Fortunately, I can't stand the stuff -- though I am sure the clerk at the local grocery store thought I did. I was there several times a week, sometimes at very odd hours.

So we had to battle back for about six months after delivery...and have managed well during the 15 years since. Frankly, we look back on it now with fond amusement. That poor scale...

Don't let yourself's go people Stay Gold.

Look at photos of normal people from 30, 40, 50, or 60 years ago. Being obese or too fat isn't "realistic". People really are fatter now. That doesn't mean they should be anorexic or muscle freaks instead, they just shouldn't be fat.

Just more excuses for people being unhealthy. First of all, weight gain as you get older is normal due to slowing metabolism...is this "study" taking that into consideration? Also what about women who have had kids and are losing the baby weight? Most people I know in their 40s dont weigh what they did in their 20s regardless of marital status.

Also AnnaleeNoir is right, couples dont have to put on weight after marriage! I have friends that have been married for years and many of them have maintained their weight and some have even gotten healthier! Its all about being aware of your body and taking care of it. My boyfriend and I both motivate each other to work out and eat healthy and as a result we've actually lost weight since we started dating! Personally when Im happy in a relationship I want to look extra sexy for my partner so I take time to take care of myself ;)

I'll always be hot! (and, well, probably single... *cries*)

I've maintained my weight and physique, and so has my husband. We're the same size after 2 years of marriage and 5 years of being together. It's called eating healthy and doing at least some form of exercise.

...maybe people should stop blaming other people/things for them being FAT.
It's no ones fault but the one who's gaining the weight.

..Must i say it?
Well, you see ....

Such slaves to the economy?
Having to eat fatty foods?
Not excersing?

blah blah blah....it comes from a shitty diet......hello?

Well women can't be anorexic and produce healthy babies. Maybe we should shake this unrealistic idea of what women should look like?

i like impressing my boyfriend, personally. and i love health food and we like sharing it too, so maybe we'll be OK.

Lol, well big surprise. I don't know any married people who are not obese or somewhat depressed. How much money did they spend on this research?

It all comes down to satisfaction. Who does the individual have to impress... No one really.. Thats why theyre married.

What about the physical side effects of love due to evolution and biology? When women are in committed long-term relationships their bodies naturally react and prepare for reproduction. I would imagine that, for many women, at least moderate weight gain would be a result that is unavoidable no matter the psychology behind it. I just think there is probably more biology behind this than the article makes you think.

Guilty!

But my husband loves my new curves and boobs much more than he loved my previously too skinny body. So it all works out.

Dammit. I knew I could blame James for this extra 10 pounds. Now I have science backing me up!

I dont want to be fat :O

duh.