In the erudite words of Chris Rock, "When you meet somebody for the first time, you're not meeting them, you're meeting their representative." So what do you do when, a year down the line, your girlfriend's representative—and, with it, the voice that was prodding her to eat right and work out—has packed up and left? Now her exercise regimen consists of shoveling handfuls of kettle chips into her mouth and carrying a spare tire around her waist. I've seen many women succumb to the lure of a cushy relationship and let themselves go. Most of the time, it's a little extra padding that small dieting changes and using the stairs more often would quickly repair. Other times, it's developed into a much bigger (literally) problem that requires a major lifestyle overhaul. So you've observed your girlfriend's habits and, with them, her waistline, go pear-shaped—how do you broach this sensitive topic? Make it a "we" problem This isn't a problem that's exclusive to women. If your girlfriend is packing it on, it's likely you aren't just an innocent bystander. Evaluate yourself, see if your habits have taken a turn for the worse as well and approach the subject from a "We need to work out more", "We need to eat better" stance. Read More

Men aren't particularly complicated creatures. We like what we like, we don't like what we don't like. There are no "527 Ways to Please Your Man"—we just want to be left alone to do what we do in peace. That doesn't mean we aren't willing to make concessions for the right girl, but if your significant other has a habit of refusing to pick up his socks, you screaming at him about it will get you nothing more than a headache and a sore throat... and a floor still littered with socks. Some things just aren't a big deal, so women are better off accepting them before they give themselves an aneurysm. We scratch/adjust our crotch in public... and think we're being slick about it This happens—more for some men than others—and we're always certain that no one notices even when we're elbow-deep in the waistband of our jeans. But don't call us out on it and embarrass us. Just accept it and move on. Sundays are for football... and only football Honestly, this isn't much of a problem anymore because a lot of women are actually into football, and those who aren't don't give us shit for planning our lives around it. Read More

Guys cheat for lots of reasons—opportunity, horniness, or even simple boredom. Women are more discerning. We primarily cheat for one reason—we're looking for closer emotional connection than what we're currently getting. We're also much better at covering our tracks. Finding out if your wife or girlfriend is cheating is tough but not impossible, says Ruth Houston, founder of infidelityadvice.com. "Although the rate of female infidelity has increased by 50% in the past decade, no cheater can get by without displaying a few signs." Spot two of more of these red flags and you may be in trouble. Unhappiness Female infidelity is directly related to her dissatisfaction with the relationship," Houston says. Listen for complaints about your relationship—they're a sure warning sign. Something New "A drastic diet, a new haircut, or different clothes; a change in her behavior, or eating habits; a difference in your sex life or the way she smells or tastes; suspicious cell phone and computer behavior—if she's cheating, you'll find a cluster of these signs," Houston says. Even her conversation can be a sign. Is she suddenly talking politics, listening to new music, or reading different books? Read More

Everyone from Bill Clinton to Kobe Bryant can tell you that a good apology can help erase your sins (although in Kobe's case, a $4 million diamond ring did come in handy). And you needn't look farther than Chris Brown's TelePrompTer emotionless plea for forgiveness from Rihanna and the rest of the world to see that poor attempts will have the opposite effect. Apologies are essential because, assuming you adhere to the belief that no man is an island, relationship glue often comes in the form of the Big A."An apology is important because, absent an apology, the relationship may be forever strained, compromised or even terminated. The offended party may withdraw, hold back, seek revenge, or hold a grudge for a lifetime," says Aaron Lazare, M.D. and author of the book On Apology. But don't worry. You needn't be the most popular president since JFK or have Jacob the Jeweler on speed-dial to make your apology sincere. Here are some basic strategies that you should sear into your memory so you'll have the right words anytime you do the wrong thing. Read More