Love can make you fat

There is not much thought given to the effect that love can have on our bodies. Unfortunately loving can have some negative consequences, such as gaining weight after marriage.

Scientists at the University of California, San Diego have found that married women put on weight after they get married. Women tend to take less interest in their appearance once married - or even when involved in a long-term relationship.

Women tend to indulge in fatty foods and sweets a bit more than usual, thus bringing on the weight gain. Reduced stress levels also contribute to weight gain.

Food becomes a core focus. As a couple, staying in and cozying up (with food) on the couch happens more often than it did when you were single. Furthermore, your partner's bad habits become yours.

Here are some ideas on how to take on those love handles and win:

• Surround yourself with positive thoughts and energy
• Choose carrot sticks or apple slices instead of the chips, chocolates and heavily-laden kilojoule food
• Make the TV room a no-eating zone: snuggling up next to each other on the sofa to watch your favorite shows ... which goes hand-in-hand with nibbling on high-kilojoule snacks can be a dangerous habit. The kilojoules really start to rack up as a result. Instead, relax and enjoy each other's company, without involving food. Massages will burn a few extra kilojoules (about 290 kilojoules for every 15 minutes) by working those muscles in your upper body and hands.
• Nurture your relationship, not your appetite: spend some quality time together playing a board game or doing a jigsaw puzzle. Keeping your brains and bodies active, replace the chips with air-popped popcorn or fruit slices!
• Spice things up in the kitchen: cooking dinner together can create memories to last a lifetime. Healthy, low-fat recipes to prepare at home will save you cash and kilojoules. Add some music and light a few candles and it's a night to remember.
• Get fit together: decide to read a book between you and discuss over a summer evening's stroll. Play volleyball in the pool or just a game of cricket will do wonders in your exercise regime! Simple lunges, stretches, and spinning will go a long way in establishing that exercise routine.  

Healthy Eating plans for two:  

Bacon and Olive Pizza
5 min to put together, 15 min to cook
Ingredients:
100g Eskort Weigh-Less Smoked Bacon
90g olives
120g reduced fat hard cheese
100g Weigh-Less Pasta Topping

Instructions: spread the pasta topping evenly over the four bases and top with the crumbled bacon and sliced olives. Cover with the grated cheese and bake in a 200°C oven for 15 minutes, or until crisp and golden.

Simple chilli beef
5 min to put together, 40 min to cook
Ingredients:
200g canned kidney beans
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp cumin
240g lean beef mince
1 tsp minced garlic
200g onion
½ tsp oregano
1 tsp paprika
salt and pepper
250ml water
10ml Weigh-Less Extra Virgin Olive Oil
400g Weigh-Less Pasta Topping

Instructions: heat the oil in a large pot and cook the mince and garlic until brown. Add the onion and cook for a further 5 minutes. Add the water, pasta sauce and beans. Add the herbs and spices and mix well. Bring to a gentle simmer and leave for half an hour. Serve with a dollop of plain yoghurt, grated cheddar cheese and bread from your daily serves.

Apricot and custard bread pudding
10 min to put together, 25min to cook
Ingredients:
8 slices day-old white bread, crusts removed
40g diced dried apricots
2 eggs
1 cup skim milk
20g vanilla essence
¼ cup Weigh-Less Apricot Jam
1 tsp Weigh-Less Spoon For Spoon Sugar Replacement

Instructions: Spread each slice of bread with the jam and cut into quarters. Press half of the bread, jam side up, into four ovenproof dishes or ramekins. Sprinkle with the apricots. Whisk together the milk, eggs, sugar replacement and vanilla together in a jug. Pour half the mixture over the bread. Top with remaining bread, and pour over remaining egg mixture. Sprinkle with almonds. Bake in a 180°C oven for 25 minutes or until golden.

Health24