How to Avoid Life's Big Fat Traps

You Moved

It wasn't in the lease, but along with more square footage, you gained poundage. It could be that there are fewer sidewalks near your new home, so you're walking less. Or maybe a burger joint is now closer to you than the supermarket. In other words, geography can make a big difference in weight. The more places a community has that are conducive to physical activity (bike trails, fitness centers, pools), the more likely college grads are to exercise sufficiently, a 2009 Canadian study found. It's no surprise, then, that Cassandra Marshall, a television producer, gained more than 10 pounds when she relocated from Brooklyn to Chicago. "I didn't just move away from my apartment; I also moved away from my favorite yoga studio," she says. "My hours turned out to be crazy, and fatty, high-cal foods were the most accessible."

Even if your new neighborhood has a gym, moving can affect your weight. "It may disrupt your social network," explains Daniel Russell, PhD, professor of human development and family studies at Iowa State University in Ames. For instance, you may be moving away from your running buddy. "Part of what motivates you is your friends," Russell says.

Outsmart it: Moving is hectic, so even before the van's loaded up, stake out your new hood to find healthy eating spots, running trails, and gyms. Look for nearby running, walking, or yoga groups so you can meet others who enjoy the same workouts you do, Russell says. Marshall eventually located a Bikram studio nearby and got her body back in six months. "I was much happier, I had more stamina at work -- and I could enjoy my life again," she says.