My Better Diet And Exercise Routine Changed My Body — And My Love Life

My metabolism isn’t what it used to be. A few years ago, my fiancee and I could drink two bottles of wine and down a large pizza and still look rail thin the next day. Now that he and I are approaching our 30s, those days are long gone and we’ve begun replacing our bad habits with healthy ones. The weight loss and glowy skin were expected consequences of this new lifestyle, but the changes to my relationship have been a pleasant surprise.

  1. Meal prep time is quality time. I never thought meal planning and grocery shopping would be so fun, but getting healthy has changed my perception. My guy and I love clicking through Pinterest, deciding which meals we’re going to attempt that week. I love the funny moments we spend in the kitchen, blasting music, and dancing while we chop veggies and pretend like we know what we’re doing.
  2. I’m way more confident. When my fiancee and I first started dating, I wouldn’t even let him in the same room as me while I worked out. I felt like a total fool attempting certain moves for the first time and I didn’t want him to see me looking sweaty and awkward. Now, I work out right alongside him and I know the only thing he’s looking out for when he looks at me is proper form.
  3. I see a new side of my guy. I’ve always had insecurities about certain areas of my body. I mean, who doesn’t? I think women are just more prone to voicing their opinions about stubborn fat and imperfections than men are. Since we began working out together, my guy has opened up to me about insecurities with his body I never knew he had!
  4. I enjoy sex a lot more. Increased stamina and a boost in body confidence do wonders in the bedroom. Instead of focusing on whether my stomach looks flat enough, I’m focusing on feeling good and making sure my partner feels good.
  5. I have a new type of support system. My guy has always supported me, but he continues to surprise me with his dedication to my physical and mental health. When I’m feeling like I couldn’t possibly do another lunge or lift those weights one more time, he’s there to cheer me on and push me forward. If I’m working myself too hard or neglecting my mental health, he’s there to set me back on the right path.
  6. Cheat day comes with a new set of perks. I spend six out of seven days a week working out and making sure I’m eating clean and giving my body the nutrients it needs. One day a week, I like to give my body what it actually craves and doing that with my significant other makes it all the more fun. Binge watching my favorite shows and finishing off a box of pizza just wouldn’t be the same without him.
  7. Suddenly, there’s more time left in my day. When I lived alone, I’d swing by a fast food place on my way home from work, plop down on my couch, and watch TV until it was time to go to sleep and start all over again. I never felt like I had time to do things like work out or read a book. Now that my fiancee and I eat a healthy meal and work out as soon as we get home from work, it’s as if there are more hours in the day to do the things we need to do like cleaning the house or going for a nice long walk.
  8. I argue less. I have to admit, I’m a bit of a hot head, or at least I thought I was. Before I changed my lifestyle, I would have terrible mood swings around the time I started to get hungry and, if I ate something unhealthy, I’d just get even more guilty and grumpy. Now that I eat and work out on a set schedule, my mood has shifted dramatically and I’m way less combative. Even with the added stress of planning our wedding this year, I’ve noticed we fight a lot less and work out our problems in constructive ways.
  9. I have more in common with my guy than I thought. My fiancee and I have very similar personalities, but I never knew how deep those similarities went until we began overcoming new obstacles together. I learned that we both have a similar way of approaching new challenges and learning from our mistakes. It also doesn’t hurt that we happen to like a lot of the same food!
  10. It keeps getting better. I’ve started to realize that me and my fiancee’s ability to make positive changes together has strengthened our relationship in so many ways outside of our physical health. We’ve become more honest with one another and we take full advantage of the quality time we spend with each other. Working out and eating well isn’t always easy, but it’s not so bad knowing I don’t have to do it on my own.
Jessica is a proud Pittsburgher that loves to drink tea and adopt cats in her spare time. She is a self-proclaimed Slytherin and would like to visit Harry Potter World as soon as possible!
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