News headline: “Marriage Makes Women Fat”

MarriageWhen I turned on the today show this morning (yes it’s a guilty little pleasure I have, yes I do remember my blog on Technology, Friend or Foe, and again I say to you….balance!), one of the headline pieces in the news was “Marriage and Divorce Add Weight”. I had a good laugh to myself because, well, let’s admit it, we all know it to be a bit true. So many women get married, get comfortable and get…comfortable. I don’t think there is any problem with this, as long as you have a good self image and self esteem and are healthy.

But most aren’t happy with the image looking back from the mirror, and some woman out there are not healthy. After putting on those few extra kilos, I hear so many woman complaining that they are unhappy with their bodies, but they don’t take the time to do anything about it – their health starts to suffer as each year a couple more kilos add on, and before they know it they are middle aged and overweight.

The research that has been done at Ohio State University in the US (who is funding these things?) states that:

“Married women often have a larger role around the house than men do, and they may have less time to exercise and stay fit than similar unmarried women. On the other hand, studies show that married men get a health benefit from marriage, and they lose that benefit once they get divorced, which may lead to their weight gain.” – Zhenchao Qian, Professor of Sociology at Ohio State University.

In other words, Woman Rock!

Why don’t we give ourselves a break and look after ourselves more, rather than looking after everyone else? Now when I say “we” I don’t mean me – I don’t fall into this catogary of not giving myself enough time to exercise and look after my health.

I’m very selfish when it comes to getting my ‘me’ time. My ‘me’ time involves going for a run or doing a yoga class, and I’m not about to feel guily about this fact. I am a full time Mum, I work and run my own business, I look after our house and my husband but I still make time to look after myself, because if I don’t, no one else will. I’m a better person, better wife and better mother for it.

Why don’t more woman out there take a stand and say, “I’m going to the gym, dinner is in the oven – see you when I get home!” Feel good about yourselves, have a better marriage and a fuller life. If you are reading this and thinking to yourself that you just don’t have the energy, well guess what? Exercise more and you will!

It’s proven that exercise increases energy levels, and carrying extra weight decreases them. Get up half an hour earlier in the morning and go for a walk. You will sleep better at night, have more energy for your family and all you have to do, and drop a dress size in the process!

Leave your thought