A classic sign that your diet group needs to lose a bit more
It sounds like some kind of joke that, if Leno or Letterman had told it, would have brought a whole sackful of angry mail from offended persons of weight: “In what could be a serious setback for the company’s image, a Weight Watchers’ clinic held a weigh-in to see how much total weight its members had lost, but when they all got together, before they could start weighing, the floor collapsed.”
Except it’s not a joke. It happened just exactly like that, at a Weight Watchers clinic in Vaxjo, Sweden, last week. No one was hurt, and the plucky (if chubby) Swedes moved the scales to a sturdier setting and commenced with the weigh-in, the results of which were not reported, possibly because the numbers might help explain why the floor gave way.
Actually, the collapse probably had far more to do with dry rot than high fat, but even so, they’ve got to be laughing themselves silly at Lean Cuisine headquarters.
Want to spice up your relationship? Get physical
Meanwhile, back here in the states, various blogs and feature articles and newscasts are giving increasing exposure to the “exercise couple” concept, which promotes the basic theme that romantic partners who work out together not only stay together, but are healthier and safer and sexier in the bargain. A few of the extolled virtues and advantages of perspiring in pairs:
- Most importantly, it’s time you spend in one another’s company, which for many overscheduled couples can be elusive these days.
- It’s also shared activity, with shared goals, elements that go hand-in-hand with bonding.
- Whether you hit the jogging trail or the gym or the pilates mat, the time will go faster when you’ve got company. And you’ll be far less inclined to blow off a run or workout when to do so will disappoint your partner.
- In most cases, you’ll give 10 percent or more extra effort to whatever you’re doing, just to impress or please your partner, than you would on your own.
There’s also a safety factor: whether you’re running in the park or walking from the gym to the car or bus stop after dark, either you or your partner or both of you will be less likely to be targeted for unpleasantness than you would be alone. Not to mention the advantages of a spotter you can trust during strength training.
Speaking of which, couples often differ in their exercise priorities, with one focusing more on cardio fitness and the other on muscle toning. In reality, a complete workout regimen includes both, and by blending your two preferences, you’ll benefit from a more balanced fitness program overall.
Two qualifications, however. Try for as much common ground as possible when making up your list of exercises; your program should be enjoyable for both partners. And for the same reason, don’t make exercising into a competition.
Finally, the killer app: Exercise stimulates the production of chemicals that boost the libido, and regular exercisers in several studies claim to have better and more frequent sex with their partners. And that, of course, is the most satisfying and relationship-enhancing exercise of all.
(By Robert S. Wieder for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)
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Weight Watchers’ whoops, and “working out” your relationship