Head Over Meals: How Love Makes You Fat

by Michele Bender

THAT’S EATER-TAINMENT!
Problem: Food-centered love. Our together time often revolves around eating—whether it’s a lavish dinner out, or Grey’s Anatomy and a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. You’ve got to eat; the danger is making it your main source of fun.
Solution: Cook as a couple. Concentrate on meal creation rather than consumption. “My fiancé, Mike, and I ate out at least three times a week,” says Ranee, 32, who blames gaining three sizes on cohabitation. “Now we cook together four nights a week.” The switch helped the couple lose over 60 pounds collectively. Tip: You can find more than 950 low-fat recipes covering every course at 3fatchicks.com.

MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
Problem: Late-night snacking. His Letterman habit could actually make you heavier. Women have a tendency to snack throughout the day, says Spangle, whereas men nibble at night. But by indulging his snack attacks and yours, you may, in time, unwittingly gain weight.
Solution: Call it a night. Turning in just an hour earlier could help you stave off pounds. Research from Université Laval in Quebec City found that sleeping may increase production of leptin, a hunger-suppressing hormone. Researchers found that people who slept 6 to 7 hours a night were an average of 11 pounds plumper than those who snoozed for 7 to 8 hours.