Couples Food Therapy

photo: liquidlibraryThinkstock

DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 60
Like any close couple, Brian and I enjoy sharing as many moments together as possible: catching an awesome band, people watching in the park, having a great meal...and maybe some dessert...and maybe a bottle of champagne...sometimes we can get out of hand. 

Normally it works out so one of us is in control—limiting sweets and other naughty food to a minimum—but there are those few times when we become a couple of bad-food bandits eating everything in sight. 

With the wedding only 60 days away (!), we can't let our alter (eating) egos get the best of us...time for some food therapy to stop overeating... 

To keep on track, we need a plan...here it is: 

Have a hearty breakfast. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, Brian and I have breakfast together. We'll have eggs, toast, fruit, and occasionally throw in some turkey bacon. It's nice to get a little extra time together in the mornings—plus pack in tons of nutrition. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I eat breakfast at work, which is either oatmeal or cereal; a generous portion. 

Not allowed in our apartment: anything in a big bag. Let me paint you a picture: we're watching a movie, open a bag of pita chips...boom...end of the movie and the bag is empty. We've tried putting snack food in bowls to ration proper servings, but it doesn't work—we keep getting more from the bag. Since we can't be trusted with munchies, they are not allowed. Snack size is doable. 

No carbs after 5 pm. We've both definitely noticed that when we have carbs in the evening, they weigh us down. Dinner is a ton of vegetables and lean protein. We'll throw on some crushed red pepper to give it a kick or sprinkle some dill weed for a little zing, but no carbs. 

Three drink maximum per week. This one is tough (we live in NYC!), but it's totally doable if you stick together. How you want to divide those up, is your call. I order some soda water and lemon to keep me busy when we're at a bar. 

After dinner, only tea is allowed. When Brian and I first moved in together, he used to bring me home frozen yogurt or chocolate as a surprise treat—which I love. In the next two months, all sweet gestures will have to be calorie-free. 

Well, that about covers it. Now, do I think we are going to follow these rules 100 percent every single day? No. Will we try? Yes. From now on, instead of downing a carton of ice cream together, we'll go for a walk.