Love Handles! Are You A Victim Of Love Chubb?

Lifestyle

by Lamar Tyler | on June 16th, 2010 | 14 comments

womanonscale

by Aja Dorsey Jackson

A little while ago I was sent a group picture that included a friend who recently got married and became a father. Although his name was listed under the picture, I had to look at it about four times before I realized that he was actually there, and that he had just gained so much weight in that short period of time that he was now unrecognizable to me. In talking to him I realized that he was not suffering from some type of condition, he was just really happy, and had therefore become a victim of Love Chubb.

I became a victim of Love Chubb in 2005. I met my husband in 2004 and prior to that had pretty much maintained the same weight for five years. An older woman told me once that the secret to staying thin forever was to never let yourself gain a pound: if you gain a pound make sure you lose it. Until I met my husband I weighed myself once a week; if my weight had gone up from the week before I ate less or exercised more the next week. This method was pretty effective until I fell in love and all of a sudden looked up a couple years later and had gained 20 pounds.

How did it happen? I asked myself this question over and over again, and could only come up with my happiness as the culprit. Like many Love Chubb sufferers, when I got happy I got comfortable in many ways. I started feeling more comfortable in my skin and stopped being as worried about trying to have six-pack abs. My nights out in the club got replaced with dinner and a movie. Somehow I lost my scale and stopped running three miles a day. Love had taken over, and so had Love Chubb.

I know there are many more victims out there. When one of my friends, male or female, gets into a serious relationship, inevitably within six months or so, Love Chubb has taken over. I don’t have exact statistics on this phenomenon, but it has to happen in about ninety percent of love cases.

I am slowly recovering from the effects of Love Chubb through diet and exercise but I wanted to share my story to help the next potential victim. Unfortunately I don’t have any real tips other than to alert the public that Love Chubb is out there and to watch your back. As time goes on, I am trying to figure out how to hold on to the love while letting go of the chubby.

Did you gain weight after you fell in love? Is there a way to prevent it or do “fat and happy” just go together?

Aja Dorsey Jackson is a freelance writer and public relations consultant in Baltimore, Maryland. Find out more about her at www.ajadorseyjackson.com or follow her on twitter @ajajackson.

About the author

Lamar and Ronnie Tyler are the creators of the award-winning blog BlackandMarriedWithKids.com . They also are behind the Amazon.com bestselling DVDs Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage, You Saved Me and Men Ain’t Boys that explores manhood in the African American community. The Tylers are also the proud parents of four children.

lakisha rivera

I will say, Yes I gained weight after I fell in love, because I was comfortable with who I was. Then the babies started to come, so that was that. Then stress contributed to my weight gain, so over the 12 years my husband and I have been together, I have gained 80 lbs. I am now really trying to get to my pre-relationship size, because now I am no longer happy!
http://www.makingitlastforever.com Fred

It wasn’t love that caused me to gain addtional pounds. It was pregnancy. While my wife was pregnant, I gained sympathy pounds. We’ve both been active and have since returned to our regular weight, but couples really need to watch their diets during pregnancy.
.-= Fred´s last blog ..To Love, Honor, and Root for the Cowboys =-.
Shayla

Love and happiness definitely= love chubb! Now while I haven’t gained so much weight to the point of not being recognized, I am definitely not the same size I was before I met my husband.. And in the past 1.5 years of happily wedded bliss, the pounds keep adding, but its ok, because I am smalled framed so its not a horrible thing to happen. I guess the saying is true, if you are truly happy, you will become a victim of love chubb!! Great article Aja!!
http://www.mrsday.com Erica

I was already chubby. I do notice myself becoming more comfortable, so I’m trying to nip it in the bud now. NO need to add on to what is already there!
Kshan

I can definitely relate. The Love Chubb is hovering over me as we speak (or type), but the future hubby & I are fighting back. We’ve been together less than a year and I’ve already gained 10 pounds. His sister, who’s married, warned us about the Love Chubb and recently decided to eat healthier and work out together. I exercise 5x a week now (i.e. lifting weights, running hills & stairs for cardio) & amped my water intake.
I’m trying to have the Love w/o the Chubb… feel me?
http://blackandmarriedwithkids.com JE

Having been together for 24 years married for 20. The Love Chubb has definitely invaded our home but only within the last year or so. (We are both past 40 so that may have something to do with it as well) Anywho we are determined to put this invader in its place as we eat more vegetables, fruit, increase water, etc. and ride our bikes several times a week which gives us some great talking time as well. But overall we still see the person we fell in love with some many years ago and we encourage each other to be our best, no matter what we are in it to stay.
.-= JE´s last blog ..“You Saved Me” Summer Tour Kicks Into Gear =-.
Kisha

OMG!!yes!!!!

We’re getting married in October but I’ve put on nearly 15lbs since we’ve been dating! I was a total gym rat. Cardio, weights, yoga, pilates, tennis, swimming, everything! Not anymore! I haven’t seen the inside of a gym since who knows when. And he isn’t complaining but I can’t fit ANY of my clothes!!! Even my ‘fat jeans’ are too small!

The clincher was when my wedding dress came in last week and it does NOT zip all the way. So, we’ve been eating healthier & exercising more.

Love fat. Its stubborn too.
http://bloggingeverafter.wordpress.com {JeLisa} @ Blogging Ever After

“…alert the public that Love Chubb is out there and to watch your back.”

HAHAHA! Loved that!

I, too, became a victim of Love Chubb. Not 20 pounds worth, but maybe about 10. I think it’s bothered my mother about as much as it’s bothered me!

I’m not okay with it {and am taking steps that reflect that}, but I’m not losing any sleep over it, either. I figure being super happy and in love is an awesome reason for weight gain, anyway. And my husband has loved the fact that all the weight has gone to my hips and butt, anyway.
.-= {JeLisa} @ Blogging Ever After´s last blog ..His music could make up the soundtrack of just about any love story =-.
http://www.bereangirl.com Berean Girl

I seem to gain weight when I’m in love but just on my cheeks… so people say I look really different when the number on the scale is still the same.
.-= Berean Girl´s last blog ..He’s back! =-.
PrissMo

This is so REAL… both my husband and I have done this, were both in a rut. Yet we realize it and can’t seem to get out! Were both in ministries, have family, school; work and over all very busy lives. When we get a moment we’re thankful to grab a movie & dinner and relax. Hence….”Love Chubb”

Like Kisha said “Love fat is stubborn” The things that you used to do just don’t work.

It’s hard ya’ll!
http://blackandmarriedwithchildren.com Soon to be Mrs. Pryor

I have gained weight over the years of pregnancy but my soon to be husband (date is June 24th) he tells me that he doesn’t care about the weight. I am 5″9, 245 but I am not real fat and sloppy and he calls me thickaliscious. My fiance has been skinny all his life and I was at one point but when I met him I was the same size and we have 5 children. I am in the process of losing down to 195 but no less I like being a curvy woman lol! But love chubb wasnt my problem it was pregnancy although we do get those nights where we will snack a lot while watching me movies!
Tiya

Oh no, I am a Love Chubb victim . This is good stuff. I am happy in love and just enjoying myself, but I know I have to get back on track and get my pre-babies body back. Let’s start a support group Aja
Mzcole77

Love Chubb… funny term for it. I do agree. LOL because last year my brother commented that my hubby had gotten fat. I laughed and told him tell your brother that's all the loving you're getting. I think everyone goes through that. I think Fat and Happy do go together. Once you get settled again most people eventually pick up the old routine. I did gain weight when I met my husband, because from the day we met we just kept dating. Everyday after work he wanted to take me out. He would pick me up and we just would got out and spend time together. It was just a happy time. Now after being married a couple years we're both focused on being healthy and losing weight. The best part is we're doing it together. I have a consistent partner that either way we're both on the same path.
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