Since I've gotten married I've gained about 20 pounds? Anyone know why that is? After the first 5 or 10 pounds, I thought it was just my hormones going crazy (I was a virgin before marriage), but I keep gaining weight! Also, most of it is concentrated in the stomach area, but not in the way it happens it most women. Most of the time when women gain weight in the stomach region (at least from what I'm observed), their midsection kind of expands in all directions. Mine is popping out straight forward (as if I was pregnant... but I'm not). It's also hard to find clothes because usually women with a big stomach are told to get high-waisted shirts because it accents the thinnest part of their body (right underneath the breast). But, the thinnest part of my body is still my natural waistline, it's just popping forward.

So, I'm asking (1) WHY am I gaining all this weight? (2) HOW can I get rid of it (is there a special way to target that area?) and (3) WHAT kind of clothing should I buy to accommodate my new body shape?

COMFORT! Did your lifestyle change? Stop working? Stop working out? Is he a good cook? :)

Simply take a jog with your hubby every day. A mile or two should be sufficient. I like flowy tops! And I got a front hump! Flowy shirts!!

My lifestyle hasn't changed at all. The only change I could suspect is that I might eat more because I feel like I have to catch up with him. But, we became very aware of that after the first five pounds or so, and I stopped doing it... I've kind of always been thin my whole life, a serious blessing, and now it just seems like that's gone (which sucks). I didn't exercise much before we were married (besides walking up the 100+ step staircase to campus for classes) and I haven't changed anything since we got married. My job changed a couple of times. About two weeks before we got married I stopped working at a fast food restaurant and started working at a preschool/day care. Then just about about three months ago a left the day care for an internship with a small non-profit organization. So the jab changes and the weight changes don't exactly coincide...

Stress? I gained fifty pounds in my current relationship.

Ah, everyone gains weight when they're in a relatively comfortable relationship. As a guy, I gained about 20.. . then we ended it and I lost 35. I guess I came out on top there. They either go out to eat more... or they just plain eat more... and it's really hard to accommodate the "healthy eating lifestyle" when you're cooking for someone else as well.

If your user ID says anything about your age... you're 21? So your metabolism should still be good to go.

Change a few eating habits... y'know... drop the sodas... chocolate... candy... chips. Try to eat small healthy meals... more veggies... drink plenty of water, and as chihuahua says, try to go for an evening jog (or a walk) for 30 - 45 min after dinner with your hubby.

It not only gives you exercise, but gives you two time to talk, catch up about what happened during the day, and will benefit the relationship, I'm sure.

Haha good metabolism at 21? That's when mine went away.

I guess there's a couple of things that you should understand about my health. (1) I was born with some birth defects and had a lot of surgeries as a baby. As a result of one of them, my stomach is tied in a knot around the bottom of my esophagus (only way to keep the two attached) and my stomach is only about the size of a medium/large potato. I eat small meals and lots of snacks (another reason I've stayed thin). I also have a deformed sternum that curves in toward my body. I suspect it gives me some respiratory problems because you guys say "a mile or two" and "talk to him while you run" like it's no big deal. No WAY could I do that! When I was 17 I used to jog about a mile three times a week, and that would be REALLY hard for me.

BUT, because of your suggestions I'm going to start to jog around my block (about a third of a mile) at least three times a week. Combine that with some crunches, and snack that are only fresh fruit and veggies I should drop a few in the belly, right?

Any tricks to increasing metabolism?

Whoops. I marked (1) and never marked the sternum thing as (2)... I'm awesome.

Hey I am big into the whole weight thing and I have discovered that when I am in a relationship I tend to gain weight as men generally eat more crap than women and we pick at their food however they get away with it as they are allowed to consume more calories than a woman, due to the water levels and metabolic rate in men and women's bodies. However your saying its almost like your pregnant there are a few possibilities either very large fibroids, possibly a tumor (sorry) so maybe consult your doctor if you haven't changed your eating habits. Also, you should be losing weight if your now having sex.

Yes. Just taking in 500 calories less a day (that's about... a small bag of chips, a can of soda, and maybe a small candy bar), you can lose about 1 - 2 pounds a week.

Due to your health history, I don't even suggest jogging much. Go for a walk with your hubby. A brisk walk (a little faster than walking... a bit slower than jogging.. you should be able to talk comfortably while doing this) for 30 - 45 minutes a day will do wonders.

Increasing metabolism... eat small, light, meals throughout the day, and exercise.

Oh, and don't forget to drink plenty of water.

You know, a 30-45 minute walk is a good idea. I also just realized something. Before we were married my husband and I lived a good eight blocks from one another (about 2/3 of a mile here) and we would have to walk it almost everyday going to and from apartments. Then we bought our car about a month and a half before we got married and stopped walking those eight blocks as much. That's probably the problem!

Thanks everyone!!

Stated it that way the solution is simple : DIVORCE!! :D

But as a more positive option : check what changed in your life :

- more or less exercise? (for newly weds? :confused: )
- more or less foot intake?
- more or less other foods?
- more or less alcoholic or sweet drinks?

Make up a list of all the changes in your life. And you will surely see the what causes the problem!

Good luck to you two !

:)

PS : here is a general list for dieting : see it as a guideline!

Losing weight should be a way of life. Here is my advice to others :

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Let's see what can be done :

The only proper and really effective way to lower your weight is through willpower.
SIMPLY DO NOT BUY THE STUFF THAT IS DIFFICULT TO RESIST ! What you do not have at home, you can not eat nor drink in the weak hours...

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Losing weight means a negative result of the subtraction of calory intake less calory use each day. A woman requires around 1500 calories (a male around 2000 calories) per day to stay on weight. That includes EVERYTHING that enters your mouth!!

Even a cup of tea without sugar without milk contains calories!!

Your daily intake should include things like vitamins and other "musts" : you do NEED veggies, you do NEED proteins, and - yes - you do NEED some fat daily.

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What you should do : make a list of EVERYTHING you eat and drink on a day.
Including water (of which you should drink at least 2 liters each day).

Calculate from that list the total amount of calories entering your mouth.
See where you can reduce that intake. Out goes chocolade, out go cookies, out go alcohol, out goes sugar, out goes cola and any other sweet softdrinks, out goes any fat (there is much hidden fat in foodstuff - more than enough for your daily intake). Reduce intake of other carbohydrates , INCLUDING pasta!!
And no more quarter pounder burgers with mayo and chips on the sideline !
Forget the existence of MacD and BurgerKing !
If you ever want to eat a burger : prepare it yourself ! KNOW what you eat !

In stay veggies and some limited amount of protein. Eat daily a salade of lettuce , tomatoes, and cucumber.
Eat daily at least 3 pieces of different fruits. An apple a day... And that is only on the intake side!!

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Now the outgoing side :

While you reduce the intake of energy, you now also have to increase the loss of energy inside your body, and the only way to do that is by burning up fats and carbs.

START EXERCIZING!! Use a bicycle instead of your car. Walk instead of using other means of transportation. Go to a gym. In your spare time take up a delivery job : start delivering daily newspapers, mail, or advertising stuff : besides that it uses energy, it also makes you fit. Make a list of all the things you do on a daily basis, and see where you can change your habits to one in which you use more energy.

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People who run a (half) marathon eat the day before a pasta meal to get a lot of extra energy in their body to consume the next day. But if you eat pasta and do not run that marathon, you add another pound or so to your body weight.

The problem with dieting is that most people have no idea how their body functions and how and why they keep gaining weight.

Now : at least I gave you the basics of that.
It's up to you now to reduce that calory intake, and increase that calory consumption !

Success !

:)

Don't stress... its just normal, I guess... I think you should stop eating by 6pm... that's what I did and lost about 30pounds in my 20's..
But now in my mid 30's weight is more difficult to lose .
Take care...