Dating can be tough for many reasons, but especially if you're trying to watch your weight. The calories from all those drinks and dinners out can add up, and on top of that, dates can seriously cut into your gym time. But according to a recent story in Shape, living together or getting married may be even harder on the love handles.

Citing a recent study by the Obesity Society, Shape writes:

Women who were dating put on an average of 15 pounds over five years, those who were living with a romantic partner gained 18 pounds and the newly married packed on 24 pounds. You spend the most time with your loved one, so you're bound to be influenced by his eating habits, says Lauren Antonucci, M.S., R.D., director of New York City-based Nutrition Energy. This can lead to weight gain since women generally don't need as many calories as men.

I was initially surprised by this statistic, but now that I think about it, it makes sense. It's hard not to be influenced by your significant other. At least when you are dating, you have time alone to stick to your usual eating habits. Whether you're single or attached, Shape also has some great tips on controlling your eating habits while in a relationship, so check it out.

What about you? Do you think dating or coupledom is worse for your waistline?

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If you tried Forward Flying with a partner and loved it, then give this a try. It's a version of backwards flying called Flying Whale. The key is to move slowly to help the person on top stay balanced.

To learn how to do this partner yoga pose, read more

The mere act of taking some time to write down what you want to do for exercise each week could actually help you accomplish getting moving. In fact, recent research has found that people who write down what actions they are going to take each week to exercise (join a gym, run at the track, etc.), rather than just the reasons why they want to exercise (get healthy, lose weight, etc.) were inspired to exercise more. As a result, the folks who wrote about their actions saw their fitness levels skyrocket.

You're well on your way by reading FitSugar, and hopefully you've started a fitness journal. But why not go a step further and start your own fitness blog on OnSugar? It's free, and blogging is fun (trust me, I know), and it could help motivate you to get to the gym more. Who knows? Maybe you'll even end up motivating someone else to hit the gym too!

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People who are trying to lose weight are bound to have food on their minds. So scientists at the Institute of Food Research in Norwich, England, are going with that urge and working to develop foods that will make you feel full. They're hoping to create foods that will slow down the digestive system in order to naturally trigger the brain to suppress the appetite. From breads to yogurt, they'll be able to create foods that trick the brain into thinking you've eaten a ton when you really haven't. The idea here is to make dieting easier, and modified foods like these could hit the shelves within a few years.

Scientists all over the world are getting on board this appetite-controlling boat, and some are working on injections or implantable devices to help people feel full and lose weight. I'm all for putting an end to the obesity epidemic that continues to rise, but this idea seems a little deceptive. We all know that diets don't work and that healthy lifestyles complete with regular exercise and a nutritious, low-calorie diet are the way to go. If these modified foods switch off people's appetites and encourage them to eat a lot less, then what happens when they lose weight and go back to their regular eating habits? I'm also concerned about regulation of these foods. What if young girls or people suffering from eating disorders get a hold of them? Am I right to be skeptical, or do you think these appetite-suppressing foods are the next best thing for weight loss?

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If you're like most people, you get a new toothbrush every six months, but you really should be changing your toothbrush more often, like every three to four months. When the bristles get worn and lose their rigidity, they don't remove plaque as well. But you should also do some maintenance within that three months, when your toothbrush is just sitting out in the open. After all, think about all the germs and bacteria floating around that would love to attach themselves to your moist toothbrush.

So to prevent colds, flu, and other sicknesses, Reader's Digest recommends that once or twice a week you run your toothbrush through the microwave on high for 10 seconds immediately before brushing. If someone in your home is sick, you may want to sterilize it in the microwave each time you brush. If you're the one who's sick, after the illness passes, ditch your old toothbrush and replace it with a new one.

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