Wedded flabs

Actually I don’t think I’m the first person to write on this; quite a while back ela wrote this post on how people tend to put on the pounds after they get married, but I only got to find out how true this is when I was in Chennai a couple of weeks ago for my best friend’s wedding.

Almost every one of my friends who got married have put on like a ton or something…and the worst part was that no one had the slightest remorse about looking like a hot air balloon!

A friend of mine (who, incidentally, is also a dad now congratulations!) shrugged it off with a, “Dude, I’m married, this stuff is normal after you get married…you’ll see”.

No I do
not see.
And I honestly don’t think there is anything ‘normal’ about inflating yourself just because you’re walking the path of bliss, and don’t have to worry about looks anymore.


Although I guess, the “look-good-feel-good” theory probably doesn’t apply here. Most newly-weds are happy with the…you know, and also the good food that comes along; with loving care too, I might add.
But I’m thinking it’s not just the food that’s causing all this. Because in spite of their high-fat, high-meat-content food, most Europeans seem to live healthier lifestyles because they do something about it. I mean, my boss is over 40 and she goes rock climbing. Most of our guys on the other hand, prefer to come home to coffee and hot samosas instead.

All fun things said and done, here’s a serious fact:
Asians (and Africans too, but I’m guessing not too many people from the Dark Continent are reading this) are more susceptible to diabetes than say, the white folks…because for something to do with genetics and stuff.
And I’m not messing you; this is a medical fact for real.

Also, I don’t know about the numbers but more and more people are starting to suffer from heart disease and diabetes than just one generation ago; and this has nothing to do with genetics. Its all to do with what we eat; how much we eat; and what we do about it.

Married or not. :)

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why don't Indian men and women realize it's important to stay healthy and fit, whether they are married or not?! And how is it okay to let yourself degenerate into rolls of fat just because now you've secured yourself a wife/husband (who can't REALLY just give up on the relationship based on your ballooning status)?? I don't get it!

Anonymous said...

Nice post bro, Jazakallah. I too have many friends who've put on loads of weight after marriage. But the case of women is slightly different. They tend to put on weight after childbirth and they have to work really hard to stay unfit unlike men who only have to control their appetite

I happened to read the minimal level of importance that one should give to looks in order to please one's spouses in various hadiths. I remember reading that our Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) used to keep himself fit and not to mention about his wives.

You are right that most of us forget to bother about looks once we are married. I hope this attitude changes, insha Allah.

Unknown said...

That is a great post. The point is that health is something to be cared about for ourselves, not to show to others.

Rayees Ahamed said...

After marriage, apart from the less important look good part, other factors too influence the increasing "belly rajas".
The responsibilities in our system is several folds more than the responsibilities in the west. many other things to worry after, lesser care about fitness.
Moreover , our food style has changed , our life style too has changed.

sari ippo enna panna ,
May be we can have public advertisement banners, " Belly Raja ku Diabetes Varuma ?"

m said...

lol at Rayees's " Belly Raja ku Diabetes Varuma ?"

but the problem is most of the Indians have comfortably fit in with the "i have diabetics" idea...
And i can't/don't agree with "As Indians we have more/different responsibilities after marriage"...what is meant by that? does that mean one should not take care to stay fit and healthy, thereby ensuring that they are avoiding future emotional and heath-related cost fatalities for their family?!

Anonymous said...

Many people eager to marry and you have mentioned its symptoms!

Marriage will put load on one but would it increase weight? A friend of mine is married but he's the slimmest of all my friends.

-=A.R.N.=- said...

@sindhu
I'm not sure if the "I-don't-have-to-bother-with-looks-because-I'm-married" theory holds true in india...since a lot of marriages are 'arranged' so to speak.
But then the problem is that most indians never bother with health in the first place.

@faiza
I'm not sure if its really that different for women either. Agreed that childbirth puts a load on you; but then c'mon - women in Europe have babies too...I know a colleague here who has a school-going son, and she's also fit as a fiddle.
The problem with our people is that people think its "okay" to be fat (especially after having kids).


@alok
True dude.
Although the "show for others" does play a part too...especially if you're a teenager or in college
:D


@rayees
Good idea...now all we need is a "belly raja development fund". Wanna have the honor of being the first contributer?

@ela
Its not responsibilities...I'd think its more to do with priorities - or rather, the lack of it.

-=A.R.N.=- said...

@saurabh

LOL dude...you took the words right outta my head.
I'm not sure of your friend but most of my friends who are married have put on weight...lots of it.
I guess if you look around, you'd probably find ppl who put on weight after marriage too..

Rayees Ahamed said...

aaga "belly raja develpment fund"aaa, ithu nalla irke, athaan already developed, innum ennathey develop seiyanum.

I can give you tips and directions where to find "Big Belly rajas", like for example, Tamil nadu Police.

-=A.R.N.=- said...

@rayees
Er...I meant "development reduction fund"
:D

btw, not all police are pot-bellied. If you take a walk along the marina (in chennai I mean) at say 6 in the morning, you find police on horses (Chennai Royal Mounted Police?) and a load of cops in training...and they are totally fit!

A wo(a)ndering mind said...

Ye! atleast with most westerners there is some sort of medical awareness.. thanks to the numerous medical soaps may be.. house, ER, scrubs, grey's anatomy.. to name a few..
well.. and trust me..my field makes sure there is maximum capitalization of this lack of healthy lifestyle .. :)No doubt!

Hari Vishnu said...

haha.. "Most newly-weds are happy with the…you know".. exactly the point maybe.. until then, ppl are worried abt finding partners or gettin married, or atleast looking good to the world.. after ure married, maybe it doesnt matter :)..

but keeping fit is not just for looking good.. thats wat most ppl fail to realise.. its for living good and healthy too..

wonder how i'll look 20 years down the lane :)

-=A.R.N.=- said...

@a wondering mind
I'm not really sure if House or ER (btw, do they still air Doogie Houser?) really helps get a guy off the couch and on the treadmill...but then again, neither does Kolangal or Anandham I'd guess.
:D

@hari
Well I didn't wanna be explicit you know...:)
But I guess the basic truth is, as ela pointed out, most indians are comfortable with the "i am fat, so what" situation.