MANILA, Philippines?When you are in love, you experience diverse emotions that can sometimes contribute to your eating and exercise behavior and, eventually, weight gain.

It is hard to stop how you feel, but you can do something about controlling your thoughts and responses. It is your responsibility to manage your feelings and inform your partner what is going on and how he/she can help.

Numerous studies show that being in a relationship, especially marriage, will lead to weight gain. Being in love is a wonderful feeling but, for sure, being fat is not what you want.
You want the best for the person you love. And you would not want to gain weight and develop other health problems.

Here is how to deal with common feelings we experience when we are in love to prevent an unhealthy lifestyle:

Happiness

Sometimes, when you are so content, you tend to forget your health and fitness goals. You would rather eat out with your partner than attend your Monday night dance class.

Eating has always been associated with good things in life like success and celebration of something good.

Chocolates are delicious and pleasurable to eat, but there are more than a hundred other ways to express your love. You do not need to deprive yourself of food, but you have to learn to be more creative in expressing your sweetness aside from high-calorie gifts.

This Valentine?s Day think of other activities that will remind both of you to be a healthy couple. This can be an outdoor activity out of town or a whole night of dancing and moving.

Disappointment

The most common thing that people do when they feel disappointed is to use food for comfort. Be aware of your emotions and think first before you do something like stuffing yourself with food.

Change your thoughts right away and think in advance like, ?If I continue to eat because of negative emotions, I will gain more weight and feel worse in the end.?

Look for other outlets, aside from emotional eating, like strolling around your neighborhood while temporarily clearing out your thoughts. There are other things, aside from eating, that will make you feel good.

Do not wait too long to express your concerns to avoid another emotional eating incident. Say how you feel, listen to him/her and then choose a solution that will work best for both of you.

Lack of affection

Research shows that happily married couples put on less weight than their unhappily married counterparts. Unsatisfied, unhappy individuals turn to food for consolation.
This continues until they notice that they are gaining weight.

Try to recall situations when you are not satisfied by how much your partner is giving you in terms of time and love. You probably went out several times to buy your favorite chocolate bar or ice cream just to feel better.

This pattern will not stop until you get what you really want from the other. Food will definitely not make up for your partner?s shortcomings.

Tell your special someone how you feel. Letting it all out with your close friends will also help.

Insecurity

Feelings of insecurity may lead to extreme measures like starving yourself or exercising to the point of injury just to achieve your unrealistic ?ideal? body.

These strategies will just give you short-term results. And since you did it all for the wrong reason (out of insecurity of jealousy), chances are you will regain the lost weight easily since you did not undergo the gradual, healthy process.

Do not measure your worth as a person or as a lover by your physical attributes. Focus on the positive qualities that make you unique so your self-confidence will be boosted.

Tell your partner what he/she can do so you will feel more confident about your relationship and you will not resort to unsafe and unhealthy solutions.

Stress

When your life seems to be losing its balance and you have no time to reward yourself with your favorite recreational activity, chances are you would not spend additional time for exercise or to think of and prepare healthier foods at home. Eating more than you should might happen.

Stress results from change of priorities in life, numerous obligations and responsibilities to your family and work, and other personal issues. This usually happens with those involved in a longstanding relationship.

Manage your time and stressors. Ask for support from your partner. Then have time for yourself. Love should inspire you to take good care of yourself first so you have more to offer the other person.

For comments or questions, e-mail the author at mitchfelipe@gmail.com