Usually, we don't point fingers, but today we're asking you to check if your better half is the one responsible for your recent weight gain. Several studies tell us that people living together, married or otherwise, tend to gain weight more easily than their single peers. The question is not about letting yourself go. Rather, study results show that weight gain due to live-in partners is because of the shared household environment, which leads to shared bad habits and temptations. Here's why you might be gaining those extra pounds, because of your partner and how you can keep the chubbiness at bay!

He: Simply can’t survive without watching his evening game while drinking beer (beers)!
At the risk of stereotyping, we think that drinking while watching television, especially sports, is a preferred passtime for men. Every bottle of beer has around 150 calories, even if you go for the ‘lite’ option. Drinking beer like water simply means empty calorie consumption. The key lies in moderating your drinking and choosing cleverly, if you absolutely must.

She: Loves snacking all afternoon long
Resist the urge of hanging around your office canteen too often. No, we are not saying don’t snack in between your work hours. But snack intelligently at office.  Stick to a more structured meal plan i.e. go for 6 to 8 meals a day, but keeping the portion control and calorie in check. A perfect snack for your healthy afternoon would be part carbohydrate and part protein. For instance, go for powerful food combinations such as apples with homemade peanut butter or strings of low-fat cheese with whole-wheat bread sticks.

He: Thinks of French fries as a vegetable
If your better half loves munching on French fries with nearly every meal and snack, he/she is unlikely to try and stock healthy small eats at home. Stereotypically, some studies have shown that men eat fewer vegetables than women. They're likelier to eat protein and carbs, rather than worry about dietary fiber intake. However, dieticians and doctors continually remind us that vegetables, whole grains, and fruits are a must for daily food intake. Go for seasonal produce and you’ll work wonders with your weight loss plan.

She: Always orders desserts
It's not just the movies. Women do, indeed, tend to veer toward sweet snacks and cravings quite often. While real food energy bars, dark chocolate, fruits with healthy dips, etc might solve some of these sweet cravings, the tendency to order dessert with meals still remains. If you end up sharing these desserts, without really wanting them, it's time you spoke up. Next time you plan to eat out or order in, buy some frozen fruits, add a bit of flavoured yogurt and cinnamon, maybe even some peanut butter and homemade sweet sauce, and offer her that instead. Healthy pancakes can also double up as great desserts with some nuts and sauce as toppings.

He: Has this thing for always ordering BIG sized meal
Well... you can (rather must) be equal to him in all other areas of your relationship, but do not try and match his serving size. If you eat every meal with your partner, you start to think that his extra portions is the new normal. But guess what? It is THAT extra serving size of the curry, which will go straight to your waistline. Because of their metabolic structure, women tend to burn 16 percent fewer calories when compared to men. 

She: Always insists on going for romantic dinner (after late night movie) dates
Dinner date? That too after a movie? It can play havoc not only to your sleep patterns, but also to your diet. When it comes to dates, we tend to continue ordering slow and steady through the evening, in order to lengthen the conversation. Catching a dinner date after eating popcorns and drinking soda at a movie, ends up burdening your daily food intake with unnecessary fat and calories. Instead, try and replace late night dinner plans with a round of bowling or a walk in the park. Revive or bring in that adventurous and romantic spark in your relationship while staying off the restaurant food that adds to weight gain issues.

Image courtesy: © Thinkstock photos/ Getty Images