WHETHER you've said it to your other half, your mates, your kids, your dog or even by mistake to your boss/the delivery bloke, the phrase 'I love you' is said to be one of the most overused in the English language.

And according to YouGov research we only truly mean it THREE times in our lives.

10 Despite having kids, being a serial dater and having tied the knot these three women say they've never been in love Credit: Stewart Williams - The Sun

So why can't we end a phone call without saying it automatically?

Are we just saying it to please our other halves?

Three women in their 30s reveal how they’ve found themselves in certain situations - marriage, parenthood, endless dates – and yet never been in love.

'I've dated 200 men but fallen in love with none'

10 Leeanne says she goes on at least one date per week Credit: Stewart Williams - The Sun

Nanny Leeanne Bilfield, 32, is single and lives in Hertfordshire. She says:

There isn’t a week that goes by without me going on a date.

I have been ‘properly’ single for four years now - so I've had dates with close to 200 blokes.

But everyone I meet seems to have something about them I just don’t like.

10 Leeanne says she would love to fall in love one day Credit: Stewart Williams - The Sun

It isn’t that I’m picky I just can’t seem to get past the two months stage.

I’m one of ten siblings and I’m the only one that isn’t loved up in a relationship.

I lived with my ex for three years and, back then, I thought it was love – but looking back on it now, I think I was lying to myself.

Love isn't something I've ever felt - lust, maybe but love, no!

Love isn't something I've ever felt - lust, maybe but love, no! Leeanne Bilfield, 32

My ex wasn't my only long term relationship either, I was with other guys when I was younger and growing up but I always thought they weren’t forever.

I always had this niggling feeling there was something better out there for me.

I've been on dating sites and apps but in my town everyone knows everyone so I ended up deleting Tinder because I got fed up of seeing the same faces.

Although I do miss having an intimate relationship, right now a perfect day is taking my three Yorkshire Terriers for a walk and not staying in bed for sex.

Valentine’s Day is a bit depressing seeing all these loved up couples around me but I just remind myself it’s better to be with no one than the wrong one.

10 Leeanne has also had long term relationship but not one was true love Credit: Stewart Williams - The Sun

All of my girlfriends are settled down and it's not like I'm a love-phobe - I don’t want to be single anymore and I long to meet my forever bloke and fall in love but it's just not happened yet.

It'd be amazing to finally be in my 30s and be able to say ‘I Love You’ and really mean it.



'I had a kid with Mr Perfect but it was lust, not love'

10 Kayley had a baby with a man she says she never loved Credit: Stewart Williams - The Sun

Kayley Hynes, 30, is a finance officer for a housing association. She lives in Newbury, Wiltshire with her son Frankie, eight months. She says:

I started seeing my son’s dad on a casual basis.

At first I thought he was perfect and dreamt we'd go the distance as a couple but it was lust – not love.

We had a good sex life but had only been together for four weeks when I broke things off.

I’d already been told I’d never fall pregnant and I don’t even have regular periods so we were pretty relaxed when it came to being safe - but having a child was the last thing on my mind, we barely knew one another for starters.

10 Kayley is a mum but never loved her son's dad

My periods were dead unreliable and I was lucky to get one every three months.

But a month after we’d split up I started to get painful boobs and feeling queasy – everyone urged me to get a test.

I did one just to keep my friends quiet - there was no way I could be pregnant.

It was the biggest shock of my life to stare at that positive sign - I didn’t know what to do.

During the pregnancy I cried my eyes out watching One Born Every Minute and seeing all those couples going through the birth of their child together. Kayley Hynes

I’d even said to my dad there was no way I’d consider being a mum after 30. Yet here I was at 29 and pregnant!

When I told my former boyfriend he made all the right noises about being there but didn’t see any of those promises through.

I would have given it a go as a family but he was only interested in seeing me – not our child.

During the pregnancy I cried my eyes out watching One Born Every Minute and seeing all those couples going through the birth of their child together.

10 Kayley with her son Frankie Credit: Supplied

After I’d given birth I was the only single mum on the ward it was quite strange to look into my son's eyes and see my ex.

It didn’t soften my feelings for him though - he’s in his mid 30s so old enough to know better.

Thankfully, my Mum and Dad have been amazing though.

It has made me think a lot about what love is. While I do miss being intimate and cuddles, right now, my son is my life.

I definitely think I’ll fall in love one day but right now, my heart belongs to my son.



'I was married but never loved my husband'

10 Michelle married her childhood sweetheart but says it was never love Credit: Stewart Williams - The Sun

Office supervisor Michelle Lewis, 33 is single and lives in Nottingham. She says:

I've been married but wasn’t in love with my husband.

I blame it on the fact that I was very young when I got hitched.

My dad had passed when I was in my teens and mum hasn’t ever been on the scene.

Dad’s mantra when he was alive was ‘Don’t get married!’ but back when I decided to walk down the aisle I had no one to sit me down and say, 'Look love, are you sure?’

I’ve now realised that just because you are sexually compatible it doesn’t mean you should say ‘I do.’

10 Michelle says she'll never remarry even if she falls in love again Credit: Stewart Williams - The Sun

Antony* and I got hitched in September 2008 just after my 22nd birthday.

He was a friend of friends and we got on brilliantly. I loved being around him.

It was infatuation though – not love. My hormones ruled my head - I didn’t stop and think whether I was in love.

I left Essex and moved to the Midlands to be with him but moved out after three months.

Our sex life was average but it wasn’t all about sex, the emotional side wasn't there either and I quickly learnt we were on different pages. Michelle Lewis

He was a nice guy but smothered me - I needed my own space.

Our sex life was average but it wasn’t all about sex, the emotional side wasn't there either and I quickly learnt we were on different pages.

He loved me to pieces, I could see that, and wanted kids but there was no way that was happening when I was so young.

I wanted to be stable, have money behind me and make sure my child would be brought up in the right home environment.

We tried to make it work but five years in we got divorced.

10 Michelle with husband Antony* Credit: Supplied

I've been single for around four years now but don't have much luck with guys - I've been cheated on and lied to.

Luckily I don’t have a problem with being single.

I can - and do - get sex as and when I want but unfortunately my mojo has just gone.

I would love to find the right person to help me get it back and would love to settle down but I wouldn't get married again.

If I ever did love someone I don't need a bit of paper to prove it.

*Name has been changed

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