You’re in a new relationship. You feel like an Olympic ski jumper, floating on air, trying to ride it out as long as possible without any other care in the world. Sir Isaac Newton, however, exposed us to a sad truth. Eventually, you’ll be back on the ground and what once felt new and exciting will eventually become routine and expected.

There are two paths a guy can take after diving into a relationship: one maintains self-respect, the other throws self-respect out the window. Below, are some classic symptoms of the girlfriend effect with remedies for each.

Weight gain

This is one of the most common occurrences after slapping on the girlfriend label. Guys maintain a double standard when it comes to weight. Most are very critical when their girlfriend’s weight fluctuates, whether it is a couple of pounds or ounces. Guys should not be so critical. 

I know plenty of guys who have gained 15 to 20 pounds after getting in a relationship, only to say, “It’s winter; I can afford the extra coat.” First off, that’s garbage. Guys change their eating, exercise and sleep schedules entirely too much after getting in a relationship. I know this seems very pessimistic, but let’s face it: the girl you’re with right now is, statistically speaking, not the girl you’re going to end up with. 

What happens if your relationship ends before spring break? The last thing you want is a girl poking you on the beach because she mistook you for the Pillsbury Doughboy. If you were a gym rat prior to getting in a relationship, keep it that way. If not, make sure you pay attention to what you eat. Living in a house has its advantages, but buffet-style food service and healthy eating habits can sometimes prove difficult to balance. Just remember, having a girlfriend is no excuse to set a PR on the scale.

Disturbing tolerance of poor hygiene

I will never understand poor hygiene.  We, as Americans, are very privileged to live in a first world country. Although the ability to maintain proper hygiene only represents a small fraction of first world benefits, it is an important one. Male college students are, unfortunately, targeted as suspects when it comes to poor hygiene. Guys with girlfriends have even less motivation to maintain proper hygiene. Even if they forget a shower every once in a while, they know their girlfriend isn’t going to give them the boot, or even react by saying anything more than “OMG, you’re so gross.”  

This knowledge provides guys with way too much satisfaction. They convince themselves that their thin, pathetic excuse for a mustache looks good. They convince themselves that Febrezing dirty clothes has the same effect as washing them. They even convince themselves that the extra grease helped their flow reach new heights, alongside legends like Leonardo DiCaprio and Patrick Sharp, to name a few. These claims are all preposterous.  

Poor hygiene is very obvious. I’m all for bumming around on the couch if you have nothing to do, but don’t try to blame anyone beside yourself when classmates maintain a two-desk radius from you on a regular basis. Keep hygiene a top priority in your life. Just know that if you’re ever left standing in front of a mirror looking like Tom Hanks in Castaway, you’re doing it wrong.

Fleeting sense of drive

Girls are very attracted to guys who are passionate and have a sense of purpose in life.  In fact, that may be the main reason she’s attracted to you. But guys can become extremely complacent after picking up a girlfriend. Priorities shift and what once was important to you before the relationship is now only an afterthought. 

We’re all in college. We have yet to make a name for ourselves and passion and drive are key components to future success. Losing drive now will only lead to negative outcomes. Devote time to your passions early on in the relationship. The drive that once attracted her will remain and will help keep the passion alive in your relationship. 

Try to develop new passions as well. More specifically, try to find things you and your girlfriend are both passionate about. Though this may seem obvious, it’s easier said than done. It may take a while to find, but I guarantee that when you find it, your relationship will benefit greatly. You’ll even become a more well-rounded individual.  

Don’t ever let a girl convince you that something you’re passionate about isn’t worth your time. Likewise, don’t to do that to her. Everyone has their quirks and no matter how unproductive a certain hobby may seem, it’s those quirks and passions that make a person unique.