I’m not suggesting by this title you take a cruise. But if you and your mate have found yourselves drowning in a sea of soft comfortable habits, like over eating and under activity, a sea cruise for two does seem like an appropriate reward for slimming down and firming up together.

Have you heard the old saying, “the quickest way to get where you want to go is to help somebody else get there”?

Well the proof is in the low-fat pudding.

A recent study conducted at Indiana University in Bloomington found 94 percent of spouses who exercised together stayed with it longer and were able to achieve goals compared with only 57 percent who tried it alone according to Better Homes & Gardens.

You see, dieting with your spouse and enjoying the right combinations of foods, for the good of your common goal, is equally rewarding and can be great fun. Couples who dive into dieting and healthy living together enjoy consistently more success and lead happier, longer lives!

When couples plan their weekly meals together, they're able to choose the right combinations of foods in advance and they're able to implement proper strategies when faced with awkward dining out or home entertaining situations. It's win, win.

And it's no secret that couples who play together stay together. It’s because supportive partnered-activities produce healthier bodies, healthier relationships and healthier sex lives.

When you give thought, it makes natural sense for couples to set common goals to improve themselves. And if you’ve wrestled weight loss and fitness on your own you might agree a tag-team is the way to go.

Dig in. Attack those love handles. Fight fatigue. You can do it if you plan and eat the right foods and keep active. And what ever you do, don’t procrastinate. Procrastination only makes a good plan bad. When you wait to do something it usually doesn’t happen.

Better Homes and Gardens give us this from Martica Heaner, author of Cross-Training for Dummies, "The later you wait the more reasons you'll have for not doing it."

So high five your partner and get started!

And remember good people, every body loses weight differently. Peaks and valleys are to be expected. One of you may lose weight faster than the other -actually men do tend to lose weight quicker than women - so stay aware of these differences and support each other. Don’t criticize. Don’t lecture. Celebrate every milestone together and feel good about yourselves.

Even if you arrive at your goals at different times you’re still sailing in the same direction... together.

Losing the weight you want is as easy as reminding each other to do the right things while avoiding the wrong. Stay dedicated. Stay focused. Choose the right combinations of foods and get active together. And when you are slender, energized and feeling sexier, it will be time to book that sunny Caribbean cruise – why not? You’ve earned it.

And don’t fret if you’re not in a relationship. Ask a friend or family member to call and remind you to put down that biscuit and get moving.

Hey, figure out what works for you and just do it! The point is to look and feel your best. And I hear singles cruises can be a lot of fun, too!