There are a million fad diets on the market today. Although it does not seem to have ever been coined as a real diet, the Divorce Diet is one that nearly every divorcee is familiar with. It usually entails extreme stress, nausea, sleeplessness, and lots of crying. It can result in significant weight loss, smaller pant sizes, and an increase in cat calls and turned heads. It is not endorsed by any health organization, but the Divorce Diet, and others like it, is a favorite of newly single individuals. As time goes on, long after they have strayed from the basic guidelines of the Divorce Diet, many single people continue to work hard to stay in shape and look their best. The rest of them fall in love. And fall off the diet wagon.
Why does this happen? According to a recent article about love and relationships, the feel good hormones that everyone experiences when they are head over heels in love actually do more than provide energy and euphoria. They also suppress appetite. So when the hormones eventually wear off, and yes, they do eventually wear off, appetite can increase. Also, research shows that people who are married are more than twice as likely to become obese than their single peers. Perhaps the motivation to attract a partner is part of the reason. Once you have found the mate, your focus shifts from attracting others towards you, to meeting the needs of the one you found. Gone are the early morning jogs, crunches, and calisthenics. Instead, you may find yourself spending more time working out between the sheets and less time at the gym.
The type of food you eat has a lot to do with post-marital weight gain as well. “Food is a way to display skills to a potential mate,” said as Maryanne Fisher, a psychology professor at St. Mary’s University in Canada. “You might buy nicer food, prepare better meals. It’s fascinating how it can be used as part of the relationship.” But once people settle into coupledom, the romantic and sparse dinners that were first shared over candlelight are replaced by comfort food enjoyed over a nice quiet evening of relaxing, recliners, and Redbox. The recipe for love and food is a complicated one, but it does not have to be a disaster. Yes, it contains a long list of ingredients. Yes, you have to follow through. But as with any delicious recipe, this one can be modified to fit your love life, your taste buds, and your waist line!
Reference:
Food and love: How they are linked in the brain. (n.d.): n. pag. Huffington Post. 6 Jan. 2013. Web. 7 Jan. 2013. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/06/food-and-love_n_2410936.html
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