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Lingering glances over a candlelit dinner, curling up on the sofa to gaze into each other's eyes - there's nothing like the warm glow you get in a relationship. But although being part of a couple might be great for your mood, it's not always so fantastic for your waistline.
Feeling comfortable with your man can actually be a shortcut to putting on weight, with one study finding that relationships can lead to as much as 10lbs of love chub.
But if your boyfriend is unintentionally sabotaging your figure, you can avoid the love handles without destroying your loved-up bliss. We've picked out five figure-fixing tips to combat the most common problems.
1. No time to exercise
It's not much of a choice - spend every spare minute with the man who makes your heart race or hit the treadmill. So it's no big surprise that the gym often takes a back seat to heading out on a date. The secret? Intensify your workout so you'll get the exercise effects in less time.
'When you're in a relationship, you want to spend as much of your time together as possible,' agrees fitness expert Caroline Pearce. 'You don't want to be stuck in the gym desperate to stay in shape but you needn't give up hours.
'Instead work out on Power Plate, which enables you to get a whole body workout in just 25 minutes. The vibrating platform stimulates your muscles to contract and relax 30-50 times per second meaning your workout is accelerated and so are your results. It also activates a higher percentage of muscles than conventional training.
'So you can get your body toned, your skin glowing and cellulite minimised all in under half an hour, leaving you time to spend with your loved one! Problem solved.'
Power Plate
2. Eating man-size portions
It's easy to fall into the trap of matching him bite for bite when you're having dinner together. But men need anything from 500 to 1,500 more calories a day than you do, thanks to their size and muscle mass, so while he's comfortably full, you can't do up your jeans.
'On average, women need around 25% fewer calories than men each day to keep their weight stable,' explains dietician Lyndel Costain. 'So try starting with a meal three quarters of the size of your man's. Using a smaller plate still looks like you have as much to eat or half fill your normal-sized one with veg or salad to keep your meal satisfying and your plate looking full.
'Studies also show we can eat 25% less food at a meal without missing it, so if you are coping well with three quarters, then try two thirds the size of his portion.'
3. Three-course candlelit dinners
Whether it's a Michelin-starred restaurant or a romantic night in at home, there's nothing wrong with a little indulgence now and then. But when gourmet greediness becomes a regular date, it's time to take action.
It's not just what you eat that's a problem. The flickering candlelight and fancy table linen will all help to leave you feeling more relaxed - which is great... except research has shown that this chilled-out feeling also leads to eating for 11 minutes longer on average.
'There's nothing wrong with treating yourself now and then, but if you're enjoying one long round of delicious dinners, there are a few ways to stop it piling on the pounds,' says nutritionist and psychotherapist Mary Strugar, who helped create diet personality questionnaire EaterTypes.
'Cut down on the extras. Try to resist the bread basket at the beginning, and if you can order wine by the glass rather than sharing a bottle, that can make a big difference. Instead of always indulging with three courses, stick to two, choose a main course without starchy carbs or suggest you share the dessert. And if you order first, there's less chance of being tempted to follow his lead by eating more than you intended.
'Swap some of the nights out for a romantic evening in as well, so you can control exactly what you're eating. Cooking together can be great fun, or you could try making sushi and feeding it to each other, which is intimate but still healthy.'
4. He leads you into temptation
We're not talking about him force-feeding you biscuits - but just spending time together can mean that your good food intentions start to dissolve. Pre-relationship, you might have been happy with a salad for dinner, but when he fancies a takeaway you can't quite resist. And while you never buy tempting snacks for yourself, he's stocked the cupboard with crisps and cake.
"Men are generally unconscious about the supportive role they can play," says Lyndel Costain. "Dr Howard Shapiro, a weight loss expert based in New York, spoke to over 6,000 of his patients and found 70% of women had difficulty getting support from their partners, compared to 5% of men.
"The sabotage - whether it's bringing chocolates, crisps, pizza and cake home and 'rewarding' their partner's weight loss with trips to restaurants - isn't always down to being selfish or thoughtless. It can be down to the man not knowing better ways to cheer you up or treat you.
"Your partner isn't a mind reader so tell him very clearly or try writing down what he can do that's helpful and less helpful. For example, a helpful thing might be going for a walk with you, keeping crisps somewhere you don't know about or agreeing to have ready meals in the freezer which are similar to his favourite takeaways but where you know the calorie content."
5. You're in the comfort rut
Being happy may be great for your heart - but not so good for your hips. In fact, a recent Japanese study found that you were more likely to succeed at losing weight if you had a "slightly negative and cautious outlook"!
But you can overhaul your body and boost your relationship at the same time - and not just by working up a sweat together in the bedroom... Research by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, found that women who exercised with a partner lost more weight than those who hit the gym alone.
"Some would say there's nothing more romantic than exercising together, due to the pheromones that are released when we sweat," points out personal trainer Paddy Hawksworth (www.uimproved.me.uk).
"And not all exercise has to be done at the gym. Dancing is perfect for couples. It's a great night out together, an opportunity to make friends and a brilliant way of keeping fit. There are plenty of activities to keep you in shape, you just need to find something that interests you both. Cycling, tennis, rock climbing - the list is endless!
"In the gym, a group class like spinning means you both get the workout you want while exercising at your own level of fitness. Or, if you enjoy running outside but you and your other half go at different speeds, interval training will be perfect. Work at your pace for a few minutes, and then change to the other person's pace - this can help increase fitness."
