There's already a stereotype — or pressure, depending on how you look at it — in our culture about brides having to lose weight before their big day. Now, there's apparently a new trend of women losing weight before the question is even popped. Introducing: proposal shape. As if weddings weren't already stressful enough.
Proposal shape is basically when brides-to-be and their counterparts ramp up their diet and fitness routines to lose weight in anticipation of announcing their engagement, which has become an event almost as important as the big day itself.
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We might be able to blame social media for that. According to the 2016 American Wedding Survey, 39 percent of couples reported posting their proposal photos or video on social media, and they probably feel pressure to present themselves a certain way online. (Although as we all know by now, social media doesn't always represent someone's reality.)
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That's especially due to how more couples are discussing marriage and engagement before anyone gets down on one knee, meaning people now have a while to prepare for and anticipate their upcoming engagements. According to a 2017 survey by the Knot, only one in three proposals were a surprise.
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In a Moneyish article, one woman named Theresa had a feeling her boyfriend was going to propose to her, since the two had previously discussed engagement. "So I thought, 'Why don't I start getting into shape before the proposal, so I'm not freaking out after.' And now this is one less thing to worry about," she told Moneyish*.* So she started up a new workout routine and ended up losing 15 pounds before he even popped the question.
"I think a lot of people do this before getting engaged, but they don't talk about it because it sounds superficial, she said, adding that the proposal signified more of a "lifestyle change" for her.
Dudes also feel the pressure too. One guy wanted to get "his personal health in order," otherwise his bride-to-be would probably have said no, according to the dude's personal trainer, Jeff Halevy. "Because when you're thinking about the long-term viability of a partner, you want them to be healthy. You don't want someone you love to drop dead," Halevy told Moneyish.
While becoming healthier (and there's nothing wrong with that if done in the right way) is one way to look at proposals, another could just be treating proposals as a time to celebrate your love with a person who shouldn't really care how your body looks from the view on a bended knee.
