Indian weddings are renowned for their grandeur, but a fitness coach highlights a common post-nuptial trend: weight gain. Engaged couples meticulously prioritize health and appearance, only to see these habits falter after marriage. Merged routines, doubled social obligations, and mutual enabling contribute to this decline, with ‘settling down’ becoming an excuse for neglecting well-being. There is a reason wedding ceremonies in India are often called ‘big fat weddings.’ The elaborate celebrations, endless feasts, and back-to-back functions are all part of the package. The bride-to-be and groom-to-be’s self-care routines are quite popular. The bride and groom appear in their best shape and form during their nuptials. But post-wedding, self-care goes off the table. Within a year or two, most couples go above their ideal healthy weight. Most people assume it is a natural progression, but a fitness coach has now shed light on it.In a post shared on X, fitness coach Sanya Wadhera explained the reason for this weight gain. “India’s arranged marriage checklist has 50 items. Health isn’t one of them,” she said in the post.
Why do couples stay in their best shape before the wedding?
Engaged couples around the world have self-care routines. From wanting to fit into their dream wedding outfits to focusing on good health, glowing skin, and healthy hair, many people prioritize wellness in the months leading up to the big day. Not a gym session is missed, and every skin appointment is meticulously planned. Wadhera agrees. “Before shaadi (wedding): He’s in the gym. Best shape of his life. She’s eating clean. Best she’s ever looked,” she said. But what follows is less desirable.
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Why do couples gain weight post-wedding?
The fitness coach listed the reasons behind weight gain in newlyweds. She also pointed out how the failure of weight management is considered normal in Indian households.“After shaadi:Month 1 – honeymoon weight. ‘Enjoy karo.’Month 3 – gym cancelled. ‘Ghar sambhalna hai.’Month 6 – dinner at 11 PM. Every night.Year 1 – 8 kgs up. Neither says anything.Year 2 – 15 kgs up. ‘Shaadi ke baad sab aise hote hain.’”According to her, there are multiple reasons behind this weight gain. They are:Here’s what’s actually happening:Your routines merged. And both collapsed. Before marriage, you controlled your meals, your sleep, and your gym time. Now everything is shared. Nobody’s routine survived. Both adjusted to the worst version of each other’s habits.Social life doubled. Every weekend is someone’s house, someone’s dinner, someone’s function. You can’t say no because now you’re saying no as a couple. Double the obligations. Double the food. Double the pressure.“Settle ho gaya” became the excuse for everything. Stopped training. Stopped eating well. Stopped caring. And both enabled each other because it’s easier to gain weight together than to stay accountable alone.
How to regain health and fitness?
The fitness coach also shared pointers on where and how married couples can resume their wellness journey. Take a look.Start here:Sit down and have one honest conversation. Not about diet. About how both of you are feeling in your bodies right now. That one conversation changes everything.Pick one meal a day that you both fix together. Not a diet. Just one meal where you both eat real food. The rest will follow.Find 30 minutes that works for both of you. Walk after dinner. Gym on Saturday morning. Anything. Not separately. Together.Stop enabling each other. “Aaj chhod de” is not love. Helping each other stay healthy is.At a time when health and wellness often mean chasing trends, Sanya Wadhera’s message is solid: wellness above everything else. “Settling down doesn’t have to mean giving up,” she concluded.
