Weight Loss Ideas for Couples

Being in a relationship doesn't have to derail your weight loss efforts. If two people have the desire to stay trim and to eat right, they can help each other towards those goals. Here are a few ways that couples can help each other in their weight loss goals.

1)Lead by Example

If you've been nagging your significant other to shed those holiday pounds or to stop eating chips in front of the TV, then you might want to try another tactic. Sometimes you make a stronger statement by doing instead of nagging. When your significant other sees how yummy your fruit platter is or how much you enjoy swimming, yoga, tennis, or whatever activity you love, they decide to join in!

2) Find a Sport or Activity You Both Enjoy

Unless you're a fitness junkie, going to the gym by yourself can be a drag. Instead, make exercise a team sport. Find a sport or activity that you and your partner can do together, whether it's tennis, yoga, swimming, hiking, or anything. You could even get discounts by going as a team or as a group. Look for 2 for 1 gym specials or discounted group activities at places like meetup.com.

If you are your partner are not into sports, there's always the old-fashioned romantic walk (great from spring or summer). If the weather is too cold, visit your local mall or supermarket and just walk up and down the aisles together. It may look silly, but you and your partner will have quality time together while trimming down.

3) Keep it Exciting in the Bedroom

Couples have added an incentive to lose weight: being physically fit and healthy translates to stamina and flexibility, qualities that will go a long way in the bedroom. On the flip side, experimenting with new activities in the bedroom can be a healthy form of exercise that not only aids the weight loss effort, but it also brings the spice to any relationship.

4) Discuss Mindful Food Choices as a Couple

Read up together on nutrition and healthy dietary choices. That way each person will be equally informed and able to pull their weight. Shopping together, exploring recipes, and cooking together can also be fun ways for couples to bond.

5) Accountability and Non-Judgmental Communication

It's easy to slip off the weight loss bandwagon if one of the partners becomes and enabler. "Oh one piece of cake can't hurt!" Instead, keep each other accountable. You could set written goals for the week, discuss them, and update each other with progress reports. That way, if one person starts to slip, the other can nudge them back on the right track.

The other side of accountability is non-judgmental communication. While it's healthy to keep each other accountable, it's important to be as non-judgmental as possible. Nagging or beating down on your significant other might just make matters worse. Instead, if something goes wrong, talk it out and find ways to improve next time.

6) Be Honest About Your Intentions

Be honest with yourself about your goals. Do you want to achieve healthy weight loss for you and your partner? Or is there something holding you back? For example, I once knew a girl who struggled to lose weight, but her boyfriend would find ways to keep her heavy by overfeeding her and showering her with candies and chocolates. She eventually realized that her boyfriend had been keeping her heavy because he worried that her losing weight would lead to other men finding her attractive.

If there's something holding you or your partner back from healthy weight loss goals, talk it out in open non-judgmental way.

7) Cheer Each Other On

Couples can make the process fun by cheering each other on and encouraging each other with every milestone, however small. For example, if your partner resisted a second piece of pie at Thanksgiving, let them know with a 'way to go' or some small token of acknowledgment. And for the bigger milestones (such as maintaining a goal weight for two months), find ways to reward yourselves and to celebrate as a couple.