Lean and in Love

Love makes you fat. Don’t believe me? According to research, people who are married, or are in serious relationships, tend to pack on the pounds over time. I’m not talking morbid obesity, but a few pounds here or there. This means a couple pounds for men, and unfortunately a few more for women. The reason is a switch to similar lifestyles as one another. You spend a lot of time together and this means a lot of opportunity to do things together. Unfortunately a lot of these things involve food. Not only that, they involve laying around together, whether it’s to watch movies or do homework You may not go out on the town as much. Also, maybe you aren’t as concerned anymore about what your physical appearance looks like. Who are you trying to impress? Your “baby” tells you everyday how sexy you look, so who needs the gym, right? I have someone who loves me for me right here and right now.

Feeding each other can be cute, but doing this five times a day is not.

photo cred: TeamSugar.com

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with gaining a few pounds, especially if you are love struck. I merely thought couples would like some suggestions for being in love but staying lean. Not to impress anybody else, but to make you feel good about yourself and maybe even to give you and your spouse something new and fun to do together. Here are just a few suggestions of activities the two of you can do together while staying fit.

• Bikram Yoga. Sound too girly for you, men? Well it’s not! Bikram Yoga is one of the most difficult forms of yoga out there and is practiced in rooms usually set to a temperature of 105 degrees or even outside in the sun. It is becoming more and more popularized, especially in Austin, and would definitely be a challenge for both of you. Make a competition out of it, whoever gives up first has to give the other person a back massage or do the dishes for a week. If you go and find out it is something you both enjoy, you can sign up for classes or just browse around to find free trial classes until you’re ready for a different challenge.
• Run Town Lake. Austin has beautiful trails and paths all around Town Lake. Running is an excellent way to get exercise, even if you are a beginner. You can alternate walking and running if you want. Bring your dog, bring your iPod and bring a picnic if you want. If you make it around the trails once or twice, then treat yourself to a lake-side meal, you deserve it! With spring approaching, a long run could even end in a dip in the lake if it gets too hot. There are many sites to visit about popular trails around the lake and other various places to take a jog in Austin. Check them out.
• Go dancing. Most guys don’t like to dance. What this really means is they can’t dance. Instead of blaming them, why don’t you help them learn. Dancing lessons of all kinds are offered all around Austin. Flamenco, Country or Salsa. You choose. Or better yet, let him choose. Not only will you be learning to trust one another more and get in sync with each other’s bodies, you are burning calories and ultimately having fun. Even if it turns out to be a disaster, it is something you can look back and laugh at. Once you know how, you can go out to the clubs again and show off your skills!