Fat happy?

You can always spot a newlywed. Not least because they're the only one smiling dreamily in Ikea as they pick out a new ladle, but largely because, just weeks after they've tied the knot, they also tend to pull the rip cord on the extreme diet that had dominated their life in the months leading up to the wedding.

In short, they will have become fat happy!

And who can blame them? Not us. With no dream frock to fit into, the temptation to collapse onto the sofa with hubby each night and nod happily as he phones Round Table, is a just reward for those pre-wedding months of gym sessions and viewing carbohydrates as slightly more dangerous than nuclear war.

But if, after those post-wedding six months that Star Style will allow you to eat roughly Kate Moss's body weight in yummy treats, you're feeling sliiiightly Bride of Fatula and want to maintain your wedding shape, we reveal five ways, you can avoid developing a wifely wobble...

1 Remember! Men need more calories

You've agreed to share your lives, your assets, your house, but hang on! Why has he filled his plate up with more food than you?! Hardly chivalrous! Well, actually, it is. Most of us know this, but it's worth remembering that, on average, men require up to 500 more calories a day than women due to muscle mass. Which means that, if their sandwich is a bit bigger than yours, their jacket potato filled with more butter, or their steak from a far bigger cow, it's because they need it. You don't.

In Practice:
If either of you is cooking dinner, make it a rule to always serve yourself a smaller portion than he gets, or make like Victoria Beckham and use a smaller plate for your food, to trick yourself that you're eating just as much.

2 Overcome the "Oh, go on then" factor

It's Thursday night, you stagger through the door after working late, and hubby shouts out, "I'm just ordering a pizza... do you want some?" In situations like these, it's very tempting to revert to the "Oh, go on then" response, especially if the thought of cooking makes you want to leap off the balcony and you're an advocate of the notion that it's the weekend and you can let yourself go. But these split-second dinner decisions could be contributing to your diet destruction.

In Practice:
When hubby asks if you want to order in, don't make an instant decision. Take a moment to think about it, and weigh up the pros and cons. If you still can't bear the thought of cooking, then order a salad and just have one slice of his pizza.

3 Beware the "You're gorgeous the way you are" statement

Years of training have meant that, when faced with the "Have I got fat?" question, most men yell, "No!", even if they're on the phone and can't even see you. Conditioning works. But, although it's lovely to hear your man say, "I think you're gorgeous just the way you are", you should be asking yourself if you feel gorgeous, as it's very easy to allow the kilos to creep on and let hubby be happy with you - even when you're not.

In Practice:
Don't ask, "Have I put on weight", because, unless you're living with Mr Brutal Truth (and who'd want to marry him?), you'll get the stock answer.

4 Let him have his own kitchen cupboard

First of all, make sure hubby knows where the kitchen is, and then, if he's a secret muncher of crisps, a scoffer of sweeties, or a complete family-size bar of Dairy Milk addict, then allocate a kitchen cupboard that's strictly for all his goodies - keeping them out of your line of temptation. Having food items you're trying to cut down on or cut out completely, constantly in your face, could fuel your cravings, so keep them out of sight and (hopefully!) out of mind.

In Practice:
Allocate your man his very own cupboard - not just a shelf in a cupboard you'll use - and vow to stay away from it. It's also handy for getting him into the kitchen, so when he enters that hallowed room on a treat raid, you can casually call out, "Oh, while you're in there, could you grill me some chicken?"

5 Maintain separate lives

The trouble with newlyweds can be that you can no longer invite Nancy out, without her saying, "Oh and Josh'll come along too," for the next, well, forever. So, as a newlywed, make sure you keep up your separate activities, meaning that if he chooses to give the gym a miss for a week, you don't have to do the same. And this goes for food too. Yes, it's lovely to sit down and enjoy a meal at home together, but you don't necessarily have to eat the same food.

In Practice:
Set your gym nights every week and keep that routine. Or, if having dinner at home and he's up for a carb-fest main meal while you'd prefer steamed fish, then have different dinners. There no rule which says you can't.